U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war is causing Americans to rush to stock up.
On the 10th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) reported that Americans are stockpiling eight items in response to concerns about rising prices of imported goods due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, based on social media and online community insights.
Among these items is Korean sunscreen, which has sunscreening functions and also serves as a cosmetic.
WP noted that Korean sunscreen is well-known for meeting all three conditions: it blocks ultraviolet rays, has a refreshing texture, and pairs well with other cosmetics, leading consumers to stockpile it.
Unlike in Asia and Europe, the U.S. regulates sunscreen as a drug, making it difficult to produce products that meet the above three conditions, like Korean sunscreen.
On the social media platform Reddit, Korean sunscreen was highlighted as a 'beauty product to buy now.' One Reddit user stated that they purchased a year’s supply of their favorite sunscreen, saying, 'I cannot go back to American sunscreens.'
Other items noted for stockpiling include dried seaweed, cat food, hair bundles used for wigs, board games, perfumes, and wedding dresses.
As most seaweed is imported from Asia, sushi restaurant operators in the U.S. are buying up seaweed from Japan and other places in anticipation of rising prices.
In the case of cat food, prices for food ingredients and the tin plates used for packaging are expected to rise. WP reported that there are people buying it in bulk for their pets that eat imported food.
Additionally, the daily paper added that Americans are buying hair bundles and board games produced in China, as well as instant coffee and perfumes produced in Europe, to avoid tariffs.