Editor-In-Chief
While the tariffs Donald Trump promised to impose seemed like a far-off, abstract concept after his election last November, American consumers are beginning to feel their negative effects. Over the past few weeks, social media users shared unreasonable duty fees added to their purchases from the popular swimsuit brand Triangl. The prices of items like the dolls and toys that Mattel manufactures have increased as well. And officials have predicted future increases in the prices of automobiles, imported alcohol, smartphones, technology, and other products like clothing that companies produce overseas. Although these tariffs don’t seem to be having their intended economic effects, they may help curb the rabid consumerism culture in the United States that supports fast fashion, unethical business practices, and prioritizes quantity over quality.
Last week, as I skimmed through pages and pages of swimsuits, looking to add a few to my collection for the summer, I was shocked to see the total cost at the bottom of my cart. I was in disbelief that two swimsuits could cost over 600 dollars, with more than 65 percent of the total charge coming from import duties. The company even added an announcement to their website, signalling that the price increase came from new tariffs that the US government imposed. It’s safe to say I was uninterested in spending the 600 dollars. This experience allowed me to reflect on my consumer habits and ask myself if I really needed a new swimsuit when I already had more than I could count. While it’s certainly frustrating to see prices rising from arbitrary actions, I do believe these increases will encourage Americans to be more reflective about their spending habits. By being more conscious of where they spend their money, individuals may opt out of quickly fleeting trends and unnecessary spending and instead focus on only buying essential items.
In the long term, Trump’s tariffs are meant to bolster the production of US products on US soil rather than in other countries. While this is not yet feasible due to the US’s lack of infrastructure to support these manufacturing practices, these additional charges may incentivize consumers to purchase from sustainable companies that manufacture domestically. Environmentalists and other consumer action groups have continuously promoted purchasing clothing from sustainable brands that don’t use unethical practices, but with little widespread success. With a stark increase in prices that will specifically affect fast fashion brands that manufacture abroad, consumers must begin looking domestically for products.
The newly imposed tariffs have yet to make a large impact on Americans’ everyday lives, but will soon affect most aspects of day-to-day activities.
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