Big Take The American Toymaker Caught in Trump’s Trade War
Dec 24, 2025
Alana Woldenberg-Ruffman, Vice President of Marketing at Learning Resources, joins the discussion about the chaos caused by Trump's trade policies. She shares insights on the company's legal battle against tariffs, highlighting the challenges of diversifying supply chains from China to Vietnam. Alana also explores the impact on production costs and innovation, with rising prices leading to budget cuts in R&D. Additionally, she discusses the evolving landscape of factory jobs and vocational training in rapidly industrializing Vietnam.
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Family Business Fights Tariffs
- Learning Resources, a family-run toy company, shifted production out of China after Trump's tariffs and sued the administration.
- CEO Rick Woldenberg and his team pursued litigation and supply-chain moves as survival tactics.
Vietnam Factory Still Depends On China
- At Dong Phu factory in Vietnam, Learning Resources found many raw materials and engineering staff still sourced from China.
- The plant imported plastic resin and relied on relocated Chinese managers to bridge technical gaps.
Productivity Gap Raises Costs
- Vietnam factories tend to be less automated and less productive initially, requiring more workers and Chinese expertise.
- That productivity gap translates to roughly 10–15% higher manufacturing costs versus China.