New parents are raising concerns that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could significantly drive up the cost of baby care products.
What Happened: Sam Rutledge and his wife, who are expecting a baby in mid-July, have fast-tracked their purchases of baby gear due to the tariff announcement in early April.
The couple has bought two strollers, a car seat, a nursery glider, a crib, and a high chair, all of which are made overseas. “These are all pretty expensive under normal conditions, but when it became clear tariffs were coming we decided to buy them in case they became prohibitively expensive,” Rutledge said, according to a report by Fortune.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, a U.S. trade group, estimates that 90% of the core baby care products and their parts are made in Asia, with the majority coming from China. The tariffs, ranging from 10% for imports from most countries to 145% for imports from China, could significantly increase the cost for new parents.
Steven Dunn, CEO of Munchkin Inc., has halted orders from China and instituted a hiring freeze at the company’s California headquarters in response to the tariffs. Dunn expects Munchkin will run out of some products within three months. “There is no possibility of being able to pass on those tariffs” to customers in the form of price increases, he said.
Many baby brands and companies have declined to comment on the tariffs. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has asked the Trump administration for a tariff exemption, arguing that baby products are essential for children’s well-being.
Why It Matters: The tariffs, part of Trump’s strategy to stimulate domestic investment by companies seeking to evade import taxes, took effect in early April. The retail sector was hit hard, with stocks under heavy selling pressure as Wall Street digested the tougher-than-anticipated tariff plan.
Former Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence H. Summers described the tariffs as the "most expensive and masochistic" move by the U.S., which could roil the economy, erasing trillions of dollars. According to him, the stock futures fell 2-3% after Trump’s announcement, erasing about $1.5 trillion, and the market had already priced in some of the impact.
With the majority of baby care products being imported from Asia, particularly China, the tariffs could significantly increase the cost for new parents, making essential baby care items unaffordable.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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