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ago by Innovator (58.7k points)
China makes 80% of all toys” and “90% of all Christmas goods” sold in the U.S.

11 Answers

3 like 0 dislike
ago by Apprentice (1.0k points)

This statement is true-- but the statistics may be slightly off.

Although China is a dominant force in global manufacturing, the numbers on this claim is false. As of 2024, data showed that 85% of Christmas-themed imports were manufactured (which could also be rounded to 90% if we want a rough estimate). Regarding the toys, an Aljazeera article does state that data shows that 80% of all toys are manufacture in China and sold in the U.S.

Sources:

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/may/09/charles-blow/china-toys-christmas-goods-Trump-tariffs

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/11/what-percentage-of-us-toys-and-christmas-goods-are-imported-from-china#:~:text=Data%20shows%20that%20about%2080,US%20are%20manufactured%20in%20China.&text=Whether%20you%20are%20gift%2Dwrapping,made%20in%20a%20Chinese%20factory.

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ago by Novice (570 points)
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I love this fact check acknowledging its true but the statistics are wrong I really liked how the fact check was short and sweet but had the information with multiple sites with information.
ago by Novice (530 points)
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I like how you broke down what was true and what was a little misleading on this article.
ago by Novice (600 points)
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I like this, but I think you might be contradicting yourself. You start by saying the statement is true, but then call the numbers false, even though your own sources says that around 80–85% of Christmas goods and toys come from China. I’d say just clarify what you mean by “false” here.
ago by Newbie (400 points)
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I found this information beneficial. I appreciate you pointing out how the information in the initial claim was false.
ago by Novice (800 points)
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Good job pointing out how the first claim blew it out of porportion. But saying that 85% "could be rounded to 90%" is basically doing the same thing. If the data shows 85% thats the number that should be used. It would also be helpful to say if the % has to do with the number, worth, or quantity of products.
ago by Newbie (380 points)
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Your check did a great job outlining the miscalculation of rounding, while still proving this claim was true. You used credible sources to back up your argument which is always great as well.
1 like 0 dislike
ago by Apprentice (1.0k points)

The claim that China makes 80% of all toys and 90% of all Christmas goods sold in the U.S. is accurate but slightly overstated for toys.

Toys: Data from 2024 shows that approximately 73% to 78% of toy imports to the U.S. came from China. If domestic production is included, China likely supplies closer to 72% of the toys sold in the U.S. So, while a significant majority, it's slightly lower than 80%.

Christmas Goods: Multiple sources from 2024 and early 2025 suggest that around 85% to 90% of Christmas-related imports to the U.S. are manufactured in China. This supports the claim of 90% being accurate. Christmas lights are noted as a potential exception, with Cambodia recently becoming a top source.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/11/what-percentage-of-us-toys-and-christmas-goods-are-imported-from-china

https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/what-does-us-import-from-china/746291/

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ago by Novice (760 points)
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I liked how you acknowledged that the statement was mostly true but slightly off, then talked about the more accurate percentages with multiple reliable sources.
ago by Novice (920 points)
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This claim is mainly accurate, and I like how they provide good research. On the contrary, the toy part seems a bit exaggerated. The amount of toys that come from China to the U.S was said to be 80% when realistically its closer to 72-78%.
ago by Apprentice (1.3k points)
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I like that you added onto the information in the original post. It seemed like the original post included some numbers that were slightly rounded up, I appreciate the use of sources and specific numbers so readers can get a gauge on how much China is making off toys sold in the US
ago by Newbie (400 points)
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I appreciated this fact check—it acknowledges the claim as true while maintaining a balanced and evidence-based tone. Even though some of the statistics presented were inaccurate, I thought the overall structure was excellent. It was short and to the point, which made it easy to read, but it still included meaningful information. What stood out most to me was the inclusion of multiple credible sources. That added a lot of weight to the argument and made it clear that the author took the time to verify the facts. It’s a great example of how a fact check can be concise without sacrificing depth or reliability.
1 like 0 dislike
ago by Novice (780 points)

The claim that China makes 80% of all toys and 90% of all Christmas goods sold in the U.S. is actually true. It came up in a CNN segment, and when you dig into the data, it checks out. China is by far the biggest supplier of toys to the U.S.—The Toy Association and other sources back up that 80% number. And when it comes to Christmas decorations and goods, China pretty much dominates, making nearly 90% of what's sold globally. So while the numbers might shift a little from year to year, the overall point stands: the U.S. really relies on China for toys and holiday stuff.

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ago by Novice (610 points)
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Your fact check seems to be effective and responds to the claim well. However, if you could link your sources like the Toy Association, it will help your audience to know where you got your information, and ultimately "fact check" your fact check.
ago by Apprentice (1.3k points)
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I thought this was a great fact check. You explained the claim clearly and backed it up in a way that was easy to follow. I liked how you used both the CNN segment and mentioned The Toy Association, as it helped show that the numbers weren’t just thrown out without support. The way you explained that the percentages might shift but the overall point still stands was a smart way to handle the data. Really well done!
0 like 0 dislike
ago by Newbie (460 points)

This statement is true. 

According to (https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/toys-expected-cost-more-new-us-tariffs-china/6176082/), " Nearly 80% of the toys sold in the U.S. are sourced from China, according to The Toy Association, a national industry group that sponsors the show formerly known as the North American International Toy Fair. Many toy makers are now renegotiating prices with retailers and taking a hard look at their products to see if they can cut costs." 

In addition, according to (https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2025/05/12/around-80-of-u-s-toys-and-christmas-goods-are-manufactured-in-china/83158743007/)Data show 73% to 78% of toy imports and 85% to 90% of Christmas-related imports in 2024 came from China, supporting Blow’s point that the vast majority of these goods come from China. We rate his statement True.

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ago by Newbie (400 points)
China's overwhelming share of the U.S. toy market stems from several key advantages. The country has built a vast and efficient manufacturing infrastructure, especially in regions like Guangdong Province, where cities such as Chenghai and Dongguan have become global hubs for toy production. These areas are home to thousands of factories that specialize in various types of toys, including electronic, plastic, plush, and educational products. This concentration of expertise, coupled with low labor costs and reliable supply chains, makes China an attractive location for toy companies like Mattel and Hasbro to produce goods at scale.
Can't be true or false (Opinion, poem, etc.)
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ago by Apprentice (1.0k points)

This claim is mostly true, but it's a bit oversimplified and could use more context.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and trade reports, China does produce around 80-85% of the toys imported into the U.S.. This stat has stayed fairly consistent over the years, despite some companies moving production to other countries like Vietnam or Mexico.

As for Christmas goods, it’s true that a huge majority (up to 90% or more) come from China. This includes things like Christmas lights, artificial trees, ornaments, and holiday decorations. NPR and other sources have reported similar numbers during past holiday seasons.

That said, these percentages refer to imported goods, not necessarily all toys or decorations sold in the U.S. — some might still be made domestically, though that’s a small share.

So the claim is accurate in terms of import stats, but it’s worth knowing that it refers specifically to imported products, not 100% of everything sold in the U.S. Still, it shows just how much the U.S. depends on Chinese manufacturing for seasonal and toy-related goods.

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0 like 0 dislike
ago by Apprentice (1.5k points)

This claim not true because the number statistics are slightly off. The author should have stated that China makes 72% - 78% of toy imports instead of rounding up to 80% in order for the fact to be fully true. As well China makes an average of 85%-90% of Christmas goods. Therefor the Christmas claim is true but could be supported by better numbers. 

According to Aljazeera “If you include domestic production – small but non-negligible – China likely supplies closer to 72 percent of toys actually sold in the US, not 80 percent,” Garcia-Vazquez said. The Observatory of Economic Complexity uses data sources from “statistical offices, open data portals or custom union websites”.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/11/what-percentage-of-us-toys-and-christmas-goods-are-imported-from-china

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (450 points)

Your claim that China makes "80% of all toys" and "90%of all Christmas goods" sold in the U.S. is accurate but the toys part might be slightly exaggerated.

 According to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) , in 2024, about 78.3% of U.S. toy imports were manufactured in China. The Observatory of Economic Complexity also reports that out of $41 billion in U.S. imports of toys, games, and sports equipment, approximately $30 billion (73.3%) came from China. While the numbers vary slightly by source, they consistently show that China dominates toy manufacturing for the U.S. market. USITC data also shows that China was responsible for producing 85% of Christmas-related imports in 2024, this includes products like lights, artificial trees, and decorations. While the statement slightly overstates the percentage for toys, it accurately shows how reliant the U.S. is on Chinese manufacturing for toys and Christmas goods. Therefore the claim is mostly true.

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/may/09/charles-blow/china-toys-christmas-goods-Trump-tariffs

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/11/what-percentage-of-us-toys-and-christmas-goods-are-imported-from-china

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0 like 0 dislike
ago by Apprentice (1.1k points)

This claim, made by Charles Blow on CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip on May 5, 2025, is mostly true. Blow cited a New York Times article, and the data he referenced aligns with multiple credible sources, including the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

According to the USITC, about 78.3% of toys imported to the U.S. in 2024 came from China, while the Observatory of Economic Complexity puts that figure closer to 73%. Analysts also note that when you account for domestic toy production, China likely supplies about 72% of the toys actually sold in the U.S. So, while the “80%” figure slightly overstates toy imports, it is within a reasonable range. However, the claim about Christmas goods is more accurate. Nearly 90% of Christmas-related imports—including decorations, lights, and artificial trees—do come from China, according to trade analysts and U.S. import data.

In short, the percentages are broadly accurate, especially for Christmas items. The toy statistic is slightly inflated, but still reflects China's dominant role in U.S. toy imports. Overall, this claim holds up with just a small degree of exaggeration.

Sources:

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0 like 0 dislike
ago by Novice (670 points)

this statement is true although it could be slightly off by a few percentages. but according to Austin American Statesman both claims that they make eighty percent of toys and ninety percent of Christmas goods is true and they actually use these exact statistics. although these statistics might be true now we might see a change in this because of the new tariffs being implicated. according to the website, "The day after President Donald Trump said during an interview about his tariff policies that girls in the U.S. "don't need to have 30 dolls" some political commentators discussed China’s influence over the U.S. toy market. The U.S. currently has a 145% tariff on goods from China." china makes about 30 billion dollars off of selling goods to the us so this statement is in fact true. 

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