Meaghan Tobin

For the packages that we're talking about, which previously entered the United States without paying any taxes, now they'll be subject to either a tariff of 54% or a flat fee of $100. And more than likely, it's the shopper who will end up paying that extra cost.

For the packages that we're talking about, which previously entered the United States without paying any taxes, now they'll be subject to either a tariff of 54% or a flat fee of $100. And more than likely, it's the shopper who will end up paying that extra cost.

So that means anything you buy from Xi'an that's coming from China will cost more and could mean that people will buy fewer things and a Xi'an haul might become a little bit more of a mini haul.

So that means anything you buy from Xi'an that's coming from China will cost more and could mean that people will buy fewer things and a Xi'an haul might become a little bit more of a mini haul.

I mean, that's a big question at the heart of the trade war right now. It's really difficult to say. Like I said, China is an export-driven economy, and this trade war is really bad news for the one area that had been driving growth. But it's also not just a place of manufacturing. It's also a place of innovation. China is quickly becoming a leader in other technologies.

I mean, that's a big question at the heart of the trade war right now. It's really difficult to say. Like I said, China is an export-driven economy, and this trade war is really bad news for the one area that had been driving growth. But it's also not just a place of manufacturing. It's also a place of innovation. China is quickly becoming a leader in other technologies.

In many ways, pushback from the U.S. just pushes China to become more self-sufficient in many areas. And we can see that happening in semiconductors and artificial intelligence. And so it might just be that the garment industry is one of the next places where that happens.

In many ways, pushback from the U.S. just pushes China to become more self-sufficient in many areas. And we can see that happening in semiconductors and artificial intelligence. And so it might just be that the garment industry is one of the next places where that happens.

And in the end, this could accelerate the shift that the Chinese government hopes it would to helping China become a more consumption-driven economy. And how about the U.S. ? There are several things to consider. This is definitely going to hurt the United States in pure economic terms.

And in the end, this could accelerate the shift that the Chinese government hopes it would to helping China become a more consumption-driven economy. And how about the U.S. ? There are several things to consider. This is definitely going to hurt the United States in pure economic terms.

Very few economists believe that it will actually create a significant amount of the kind of middle class manufacturing jobs that President Trump has been promising. And like I said, things will definitely get more expensive, and that means Americans will likely buy fewer things.

Very few economists believe that it will actually create a significant amount of the kind of middle class manufacturing jobs that President Trump has been promising. And like I said, things will definitely get more expensive, and that means Americans will likely buy fewer things.

Yeah, that's the story he's telling. And it's a position that extends to some of his administration, too. Scott Besson, the Treasury Secretary, said something really similar, that the American dream is not about having access to cheap stuff. It's about prosperity and upward mobility and economic security. And that for too long, the people making the trade deals have lost sight of this.

Yeah, that's the story he's telling. And it's a position that extends to some of his administration, too. Scott Besson, the Treasury Secretary, said something really similar, that the American dream is not about having access to cheap stuff. It's about prosperity and upward mobility and economic security. And that for too long, the people making the trade deals have lost sight of this.

Right. And what's interesting here is that even people who are skeptical of Trump's tariffs might be in favor of reining in fast fashion for environmental reasons or because they're against overconsumption. And you can actually see that playing out online. We need to stop filling up our closets and fill up our banks.

Right. And what's interesting here is that even people who are skeptical of Trump's tariffs might be in favor of reining in fast fashion for environmental reasons or because they're against overconsumption. And you can actually see that playing out online. We need to stop filling up our closets and fill up our banks.

On TikTok, alongside the massive Shein hauls, you can also see people having conversations about consuming less.

On TikTok, alongside the massive Shein hauls, you can also see people having conversations about consuming less.

And being more intentional about where they're buying things from. If there was ever a time to develop an interest in second-hand fashion, I swear now is the time. So the end of the de minimis loophole might result in something that a lot of people agree with, making fast fashion a little harder to buy.

And being more intentional about where they're buying things from. If there was ever a time to develop an interest in second-hand fashion, I swear now is the time. So the end of the de minimis loophole might result in something that a lot of people agree with, making fast fashion a little harder to buy.