05/05/2025
The new Hobby Industry Coalition, a new non-partisan hobby industry initiative calling for tariff relief on model trains and other hobbies, formally launched today:
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A new non-partisan hobby industry initiative launched today calls for targeted tariff relief to protect American small businesses, STEM education, and community-based creative industries.
The Hobby Industry Coalition ( www.HobbyCoalition.org ) represents a wide spectrum of the U.S. toy and hobby industry, including model railroading, tabletop gaming, educational kits, plastic and die cast models, radio control, puzzles, craft supplies, and STEM-related products. The industry supports over 600,000 U.S. jobs and includes thousands of small and family-run businesses.
“Trade Policy at a Crossroads: Safeguarding the Toy & Hobby Industry” outlines how current U.S. trade policy — specifically the imposition of a maximum of 145 percent tariffs on Chinese imports — is endangering the American toy and hobby industry. Tariffs imposed under Section 301, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and fentanyl-related actions have unintentionally swept up low-risk, consumer-facing products that play no role in national security.
“The toy and hobby industry — a vital source of learning, creativity, and community — is facing collapse,” according to the paper. “Tariffs have escalated into an existential threat.”
The Coalition is not calling for repeal, but for refinement: reinstating past exclusion processes, creating a transparent review mechanism, and ensuring critical hobby and educational tools remain accessible,” spokesperson Stacey Walthers Naffah said.
“We’re offering a policy solution that respects enforcement goals while correcting unintended harm,” she said. “This is practical, precedent-based, and pro-small business. We support the ideas of a reinvigorated domestic manufacturing base and healthy, happy American communities, and we can help support that aim. We stand ready with a wide range of hobbies that support learning, workforce development, plus fulfillment and enjoyment for all. We ask for relief, as time is of the essence to preserve the industry as it is enjoyed today to build the future we want tomorrow.”
The Coalition website also features:
• A Take Action center for contacting elected officials
• A public Petition for Fair Trade
• A Daily Tariff Tracker
• A Storefront Toolkit for retailers
• Shareable visuals and media resources
• FAQ's
For more information, visit: www.HobbyCoalition.org
The Hobby Industry Coalition is a non-partisan alliance of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, educators and other stakeholders. Membership in the Coalition is open to companies, organizations, and institutions that share its foundational principles. These values guide our advocacy, strengthen our credibility, and unify our voice in support of the U.S. toy and hobby industry.
Welcome to the Hobby Industry Coalition A policy initiative built to protect and grow the U.S. toy and hobby industry. The following shared values guide our work and define the membership in the Coalition. Hobby Industry Coalition Principles The Hobby Industry Coalition is a non-partisan alliance ...
