Trump administration tariffs on China may change beauty product prices
COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)
The Trump administration's 20% tariff on goods imported from China is likely to have a significant impact on the beauty industry in the United States.
President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on China in February, then raised it to 20% last week.
Many beauty products, including makeup, haircare and ingredients, are manufactured and imported from China. Tariffs will increase costs for brands and could lead to higher prices for consumers.
Sarah Brown, the owner of The Beauty Trap, a local beauty supply store in Columbia says she relies on several products coming from China to fulfill her customers needs.
"My number one product coming from china would be the braiding hair, the twist and lock gel that we use and human hair as well," Brown says.
Currently, Brown says it cost her $100-$150 for a box of braiding her but she expects that to increase to about $175 under the tariffs.
For customers, Brown says the products she currently is getting from China cost them anywhere between $5-$18.
While that could soon change due to the tariff's, Brown says she has been preparing.
"Once prices go up they might go up a little bit but we plan on doing different strategies to help our customers as well," Brown says. "We might do some buy one get one to move out some of the older products and get some of the newer ones in,"
"I have been looking into more distributors so I'm planning to look at some more that might be a little bit cheaper for us on this side as well," Brown says.
Assistant Professor for the University of Missouri's Trulaske Business School Jackie Rasmussen, said smaller businesses will likely feel the impact of President Trump's tariffs on China compared to larger corporations.
"Smaller businesses might not have access to other sources of funding that can provide some type of cash flow, infusion into their business to potential whether something out that might be short term in nature," Rasmussen says.
Cosmetics company E.l.f Beauty recently told CNBC that it manufactures about 80% of its products in China. According to Vogue Business, over 25,000 products in the U.S. beauty market, primarily from China, may face price hikes if tariffs are enforced.
The Personal Care Products Council underscores the beauty industry's role in the U.S. economy, contributing to $2.6 billion trade surplus.
Last year, imports accounted for up to $625 million in beauty products, according to The Observatory of Economic Complexity.
In 2023, the U.S. became the second largest importer of beauty products in the world when $6.58 billion was imported. During that same year the U.S. imported $685 million in beauty products from China while it imported $1.17 billion from France.
