‘We turned over every single leaf’: Company selling &x27;Made in the USA&x27; Monopoly admits it cost twice as much to make — and they had to import the dice Clay HaltonThu, July 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM UTC 4 President Donald Trump has made expanding U.S. manufacturing a central pillar of his economic agenda (1), arguing that tariffs on imported goods will encourage companies to produce more products domestically, strengthen supply chains and create American jobs. One company that found itself caught in the middle of that strategy was board game maker WS Game Company.
‘We turned over every single leaf’: Company selling 'Made in the USA' Monopoly admits it cost twice as much to make — and they had to import the dice
Clay HaltonThu, July 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM UTC
4
President Donald Trump has made expanding U.S. manufacturing a central pillar of his economic agenda (1), arguing that tariffs on imported goods will encourage companies to produce more products domestically, strengthen supply chains and create American jobs.
One company that found itself caught in the middle of that strategy was board game maker WS Game Company.
Top Picks -
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028 — and experts say most people won't act in time. What to do before the window closes
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
After receiving a seven-figure tariff bill on imported games, the Massachusetts-based manufacturer set out to produce a special Monopoly edition (2) made in the United States to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
But what seemed like a straightforward effort to create a board game in America quickly became an expensive undertaking. Over a year later, the project was finished, and cost twice as much to (2) make as it would have in China.
The hidden cost of making Monopoly in America
WS Game Company CEO John Silva told NPR that when producing the special edition of Monopoly, the company couldn’t rely on a single manufacturer to produce nearly every component under one roof. Instead, it had to stitch together a network of U.S. suppliers for nearly every piece of the game.
A former Hasbro factory in Massachusetts printed the Monopoly board, Pioneer Packaging manufactured the tray for the Monopoly money and Stateline Industries in Indiana produced custom metal tokens shaped like American icons, including a cowboy hat, covered wagon and apple pie.
Even after sourcing nearly every other component domestically, the company still couldn’t find a U.S. manufacturer capable of producing 10,000 dice.
“We turned over every single leaf trying to find someone who would make 10,000 dice for us in the U.S.,” Silva told NPR (2). “It requires special machinery. It requires investment.”
The company ultimately imported the dice. Silva’s conclusion was that China’s manufacturing ecosystem, where suppliers for numerous components are concentrated in one place, remains difficult to replicate in the United States.
All the extra time spent manufacturing the board game caused the company to miss the first half of the nation’s 250th birthday selling season.
Advertisement
Read More: Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here’s where their money is actually going
Board games aren’t the only challenge of American manufacturing
The Monopoly experiment reflects a broader challenge facing companies trying to shift manufacturing back to the United States.
Earlier this year, Texas entrepreneur Ramon van Meer tested whether consumers would pay more (3) for an American-made showerhead after Trump’s tariffs increased his import costs. Building the product domestically would have raised its price by roughly 85%.
More than 25,000 shoppers visited the company’s website during the experiment. Roughly 600 purchased the imported version, while none bought the more expensive American-made model, suggesting many consumers still prioritize price over domestic production.
Manufacturers with long-established U.S. operations have encountered similar limitations.
The Wall Street Journal reported (4) that Idaho storage-system maker Decked sources about 95% of its materials domestically, but still relies on imported ball bearings because no U.S. supplier can match overseas pricing and availability. Medical-device maker CorVent Medical has also shifted much of its supply chain back to the U.S. but continues importing electronic components that are difficult to source domestically.
The toy industry faces an even steeper challenge. Nearly 80% of toys and games sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China (2), where decades of investment have created specialized factory networks that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association, told NPR that while reshoring may make sense for strategically important products, it is much harder to justify for toys because of their relatively low profit margins.
For Silva, the experience underscored both the promise and the practical limits of domestic manufacturing. Despite successfully producing an American-made Monopoly edition, he told NPR the rest of WS Game Company’s games will continue to be manufactured in China as the company prepares for the holiday shopping season.
What To Read Next -
Here’s the average income of Americans by age in 2026. Are you keeping up or falling behind?
Robert Kiyosaki issued grim warning for baby boomers. Many could be ‘wiped out’ and homeless ‘all over’ the country. How to protect yourself now
Vanguard’s outlook on U.S. stocks is raising alarm bells for retirees. Here’s why and how to protect yourself
Are you paying too much for car insurance? Here are 3 clever ways to slash your monthly bill
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see ourethics and guidelines.
The White House (1); NPR (2), (3); The Wall Street Journal (4)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Source: "AOL Money"
Source: Money
Published: July 16, 2026 at 05:18PM on Source: PRIME TIME
#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle