D.C. children's shop owner advocates for tariff exemption
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As President Trump's tariffs on Chinese products cause prices to skyrocket on essential baby gear, the owner of a D.C.-based children's shop is trying to advocate for change.
The big picture: The Trump administration is pushing for families to have more children, but the whiplash tariffs are making it harder for families to afford products integral to safely raising kids, such as strollers and car seats.
- And this comes at a time when many people are already worried about inflation.
What they're saying: "These prices are not just impacting frivolous items. They're not just impacting toys," says Elizabeth Mahon, owner of Three Littles, a kids' shop near Union Market. "They're also impacting your necessities."
- Mahon has been spreading awareness about the impact of rising prices on families and publicly advocating for a tariff exemption on baby gear, joining members of Congress for a press conference on Capitol Hill last month.
The latest: While both Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last month that the administration is considering exemptions for baby gear, there haven't been any additional updates.
- "Talks with China continue to ultimately sign a comprehensive trade deal that will finally level the playing field for American industries and workers," White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Axios in a statement, although Desai did not answer Axios' questions about whether there was an update on a tariff exemption.
Driving the news: The Trump administration temporarily lowered its tariffs on China from 145% to 30% last month, which it will continue to carry out amid court battles over the tariffs' legality.
- All this back-and-forth has created scarcity in the baby market as people panic-buy items, while big companies like Walmart are simultaneously upping price tags to accommodate these tariffs, says Mahon. And some brands are pausing Chinese imports altogether.
- The result: "Prices are just through the roof," Mahon tells Axios.
State of play: The majority of children's gear is manufactured in China: 97% of strollers and 87% of car seats are made there, per Babylist.
- It isn't as simple as just moving this production to the U.S., says Mahon. Many retailers already have long-time relationships with Chinese factories and sites that are equipped to handle all the safety guidelines and rigorous testing required in this industry.
- And baby gear companies like Evenflo, which produces more of its parts in the U.S. than other similar companies, don't have the capacity to meet the overwhelming American demand, says Mahon.
Case in point: Stroller brand UPPAbaby has increased its prices due to tariffs, with the cost of its Vista stroller going from almost $900 to $1,200 — about a 33% jump.
The intrigue: Mahon is seeing the secondhand resale market for baby gear get more expensive as people realize they can ask more for these items.
Yes, but: It's unsafe to buy car seats or sleep gear like cribs or mattresses secondhand, says Mahon.
- Pro tip: Mahon recommends checking out Facebook Marketplace or your local Buy Nothing group for other types of secondhand baby gear.
- And the D.C. Department of Transportation offers free car seats to families in need.
The bottom line: "It's a very volatile market," Mahon says. "Companies are not inspired to bring the prices down, because they don't know what's coming next. There's no certainty whatsoever."