The United States is expected to raise the prices of some Barbie dolls sold in the country by imposing a 145% tariff on imports from China. In this context, President Donald Trump noted, "Children do not need 30 dolls."
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 6th that Barbie doll manufacturer Mattel plans to raise the prices of some toys sold in the United States. Mattel produces 20% of its products sold in the United States in China. Other toy companies are also reviewing price increases due to tariff issues. About 80% of toys sold in the United States are produced in China.
President Trump recently made remarks regarding doll prices. According to The Washington Post (WP) and The Hill, he said at a Cabinet meeting on the 30th of last month, "Perhaps children will have 2 dolls instead of 30" and added, "And that 2 dolls could be several dollars more expensive than usual."
In an NBC interview on the 4th, he explained, "I just said that children do not need 30 dolls," and noted, "You don't need 250 pencils either; 5 are enough." He added, "We do not need to waste money on a trade deficit with China to buy things we do not need, unnecessary junk."
Members of the Trump administration are also sending similar messages. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said in an interview with CBS that it is "worth enduring" a recession to realize the vision of sustained prosperity, while Treasury Secretary Scott Valenti claimed in March at the New York Economic Club that "Buying cheap products is not the essence of the American Dream."
Although President Trump has said that tariffs will make the United States wealthier, he has recently described them as an expense that must be borne to improve the U.S. economy's fundamentals. However, it has been pointed out that the public is unlikely to view this positively.
Mark Short, who served as an aide to former Vice President Mike Pence, said, "I don't think the reaction will be good," noting, "Especially when the president has made billions of dollars in cryptocurrency while asking Americans to reduce toys and supplies for children, it will be visually difficult to comprehend."