Tariffs make Christmas trees in the US more expensive

VTV.vn - Tariffs and rising component costs have US retailers worried about shortages, and consumers are advised to buy early.

A decorated Christmas tree in Washington, DC, USA. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 83% of households planning to display a tree this year will choose a faux or artificial tree. But even the holiday spirit isn’t immune to economic stress, as tariffs and supply chain pressures are pushing up prices.

Mac Harman, founder and CEO of Balsam Hill, a company that specializes in artificial Christmas trees, explained that Christmas tree prices will increase by about 10-15% this year. Most artificial Christmas trees are imported from China. Production costs have remained stable, but import prices have increased because President Donald Trump is still imposing tariffs on Chinese goods.

Mr. Harman said that hand-installing lights like his company does is a tedious process that requires zip ties and meticulous attention to detail to ensure each bulb is placed correctly, a job that American workers refused to do 30 years ago when the first Christmas trees were lit. It’s unlikely that a craft like basket weaving would first move to the United States from a country with lower wages and a lower cost of living.

Many of his company’s U.S. suppliers, who buy components from overseas, are also facing higher costs because of tariffs, Mr. Harman said. Prices have risen whether the products are made in the U.S. or elsewhere.

Mr. Harman has used a variety of strategies to keep Balsam Hill’s prices competitive. Internally, he has cut staff, paused hiring, and frozen wage increases. He has also diversified his supply chain, producing trees in Mexico, Indonesia, and other countries in Southeast Asia.

For shoppers, his advice is simple: Don’t procrastinate. As prices rise, some retailers have ordered less inventory, increasing the risk of shortages by mid-December. In past holiday seasons, shoppers might have held off in hopes of getting a bargain, but this time it might not be such a good idea.

Source: https://vtv.vn/thue-quan-khien-gia-cay-thong-noel-tai-my-dat-do-hon-100251117181050707.htm