The high tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on Chinese products are driving up prices of baby products, adding extra burden to American households. There are warnings that some items could face shortages within this month.
On the 7th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) pointed out that baby products sold in the U.S., such as car seats, strollers, cribs, and diaper racks, are generally manufactured in China, and reported that the Trump administration's tariffs against China have dealt a severe blow to the entire industry.
According to WP, prices of Chinese baby products have more than doubled due to the imposition of reciprocal tariffs. According to an analysis by the international credit rating agency S&P Global, an average tariff of 129% is imposed on baby furniture products, while toys (113%) and baby clothes (41%) are also subject to high tariffs. This adds an additional burden after prices for groceries (28%), childcare (23%), and formula and baby food (10%) have steadily increased over the last five years.
As a result, there are concerns that some items, such as strollers and baby beds, may face shortages within this month. According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), over 70% of baby products sold in the U.S. are produced in China. However, with high tariffs imposed, manufacturers and distributors are currently halting or delaying shipments.
The reason the baby products industry is vulnerable to tariffs is that most production bases capable of meeting the strict safety standards in the U.S. are concentrated in China. According to WP, baby products are one of the most regulated categories in the U.S., and it requires years of certification and substantial investment in facilities to meet safety and quality requirements. This contrasts with the relatively rapid shifts in production bases to countries such as Vietnam, India, and Thailand in the apparel and electronics industries.
Looking back at the past Trump administration, some baby products received tariff exemptions for safety reasons, but this time tariffs are applied indiscriminately across product categories, leaving the industry unable to avoid negative impacts.
Delta Children, the largest baby furniture brand in the U.S., halted most shipments from China right after the announcement of the tariff increase and continues production at some plants in Wisconsin and Kansas, but most products are made in China, leading to rapid depletion of inventory.
Iowa-based Harkla, a seller of special education baby products, also raised prices on major products, but upon facing a tariff of 145%, ultimately halted orders. Harkla has considered domestic production in the U.S., but the cost would increase more than fourfold, making it likely that consumer prices would exceed $200 (approximately 279,820 won), which is practically unfeasible.
Newell Brands, which owns brands like Baby Jogger and Graco, has raised prices by 20% in response, but reported that its sales are still impacted. According to JPMA, the prices of baby products are expected to increase by about 30% on average.
The cloudy industry situation is reflected in stock prices. Newell Brands' stock has fallen 49% this year, while its competitors, Dorel Juvenile and The Children's Place Inc., have plunged 59% and 48%, respectively.
Nevertheless, as President Trump shows a seemingly indifferent attitude towards tariff exemptions, anxiety is amplifying. At a Cabinet meeting held at the White House on the 30th, he reacted as if it were not a big deal, saying, "Children will only have two dolls instead of 30." In response, parents who experienced the baby product shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic are preemptively purchasing major items due to concerns about a similar situation.
Daniel Cook, a professor of consumer culture at Rutgers University in the U.S., warned that "affordable baby products in the past have played a role in alleviating childcare burdens between different income levels, and this price surge could hinder access for low-income parents, thereby exacerbating social polarization."