10/16/2025
In August, Games of Berkeley signed onto an open letter to Congress from the organization We Pay the Tariffs, a grassroots coalition of hundreds of small businesses that serves as an advocate for those of us facing the devastating impacts of tariffs. On behalf of GoB, co-owner Erik's additional comments when signing the letter were as follows:
"Games of Berkeley is a 45-year old retail store, where we sell tabletop board and card games, outdoor activities, jigsaw puzzles, and a number of novelty items and apparel. The unpredictable and capricious implementations of the Trump administration's tariffs have made the future of our business significantly more unpredictable than it already was given the slow pace of global economic and supply chain recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"More than our position as a retail business, however, we also serve as a community gathering space (or "third place"), hosting events that give people the opportunity to enjoy each other's company through shared experiences. As the tariffs cause price hikes that stifle our ability to make a profit, they also threaten the future of our community.
"I urge Congress to quit abdicating its constitutional responsibilities, beginning the process by canceling these reckless tariffs."
Yesterday, We Pay the Tariffs notified its members that it has engaged a law firm that will be filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court IEEPA case, documenting how tariffs harm small businesses. All signers of the open letter who do not opt out will be included in the brief, and GoB will absolutely NOT be opting out. On the contrary, we intend to submit additional comments for potential inclusion in the formal brief.
Whether or not our specific comments are included, this and We Pay the Tarriffs's other efforts are important not just for us and other small businesses, but for everyone forced to pay the high cost of this administration's carelessness. If you know someone who owns a small business, please share the links in the comments with them so they have the opportunity to decide whether to sign on as well. Thank you.
