Today, the US tabletop industry braced for its next legal skirmish. While a landmark 6-3 decision by the US Supreme Court has ruled the sweeping global tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) unlawful, board game and roleplaying game publishers are not celebrating just yet. For many American creators, this is not a moment for a sigh of relief, but simply the next battle in an ongoing war over international manufacturing and import taxes.
For months, the threat of these American import taxes has severely disrupted the hobby. With a staggering 145% US tariff imposed on manufacturing partners in China, the costs of printing rulebooks, moulding miniatures, and producing custom dice skyrocketed overnight. However, several key players in the tabletop space took a stand, challenging the executive branch’s constitutional authority.
Stonemaier Games, the acclaimed publisher behind the massive hit Wingspan, was among the first to fight back. They joined the federal lawsuit Princess Awesome & Stonemaier Games, et al. v. Customs, arguing that the sweeping tariffs were fundamentally unconstitutional. The stakes for the publisher were incredibly high; the taxes resulted in nearly £1.1 million ($1.5 million) in pending bills for their business alone.
The wider American industry quickly rallied. In July 2025, The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the trade organisation representing the broader tabletop and roleplaying games sector, entered the fray. They joined a separate lawsuit in a Texas federal court, FIREDISC, Inc; The Game Manufacturers Association; and Ryan Wholesale, Inc v President Donald J Trump et al. The organisation argued that by bypassing Congress with emergency tariffs, the government was actively threatening tens of thousands of American jobs across the tabletop sector.
Other tabletop companies have also pushed for collective justice. The New Civil Liberties Alliance sued on behalf of a board game company, seeking class-action status specifically to secure refunds for American businesses financially impacted by the unlawful import taxes.
While the Supreme Court clearly ruled that the use of IEEPA to enact these global tariffs was unlawful, the justices stopped short of explicitly ordering the US government to automatically return the funds. Instead, the question of financial remedies has been left to lower courts, such as the US Court of International Trade.
Legal experts and trade analysts are warning publishers to expect a highly complex, drawn-out process to recover the duties they paid. However, the tabletop companies and trade groups that filed these preemptive lawsuits are now looking incredibly smart. By taking strategic legal action early on, they have successfully positioned themselves at the very front of the queue for refunds as this legal war continues.
If you want to support the publishers fighting on the front lines on behalf of the hobby, picking up their latest digital releases on [suspicious link removed] or securing physical board games from US retailers like Barnes & Noble is a great way to ensure their cash flow remains healthy while they await their day in the lower courts.
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