Since President Donald Trump took office in January, his economic policies have significantly changed the prices of many imported goods. Chief among these policies are tariffs, taxes for consumers imposed on imports from other nations.
In April 2025, President Trump announced that there would be a 10 percent baseline tariff on imports from all other countries, though this rate varies greatly depending on a particular nation’s relationship with President Trump. For example, there is a 25 percent tariff added to imports from countries that purchase Venezuelan oil, while products shipped from Europe are taxed at a rate of 15 percent. This tax on such a number of goods has a large impact on affordability and the stability of the U.S. economy. This means that holiday shopping and traditions rooted in consumerism will be more expensive for more people this winter. For teens, this becomes an opportunity to create a new era of community building instead of continuing the tradition of spending tons of money in the holiday season. The difficulty that tariffs are creating for shoppers opens the opportunity for prioritizing making memories over making purchases.
One of the most crucial factors in the steep increase in holiday shopping prices is President Trump’s complicated relationship with China, one of America’s top trading partners. While most countries are facing tariffs on their imported goods, China has received incredibly high rates due to the current trade war between the two countries. This has posed a large issue for manufacturing prices, as most popular gifts during the holiday season, and indeed many of the United States' manufactured goods, are made in China. For example, due to Trump’s combined tariff rates of 20 percent on Chinese toy imports, toys have become an incredibly expensive purchase for this holiday season. Additionally, common gifts like makeup, electronics, and clothes are commonly made in China and are more expensive this holiday season. The current tariffs imposed on China have made shopping for gifts significantly more expensive this year.
Buying gifts has generally been an important practice in the holiday season. While this custom isn’t always problematic, it isn’t very inclusive to Americans under financial strain. Seeing material objects as the only way to express love creates extra stress during the holiday season. Buying extremely expensive gifts is already an important factor for financial strain during and after the holidays, and with the recent imposition of tariffs, gift giving has become increasingly costly. According to a survey conducted by the Consumer News and Business Channel, 78 percent of respondents felt that holiday shopping has become much more expensive since 2024. This is an opportunity to reduce consumerism during the holiday season. Spending money can become a smaller part of the holidays and relieve consumers from the financial burden that tariffs impose.
Extravagant purchasing during the winter removes buyers from the true intentions of the holiday season: connecting with one another. Holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa center around strengthening community bonds, and buying extravagant gifts further separates holidays from the core values they preach. Zoe Knisbacher, a BHS sophomore, reflected on the holiday season feeling extremely centered on gifts. “There's no real meaning to buying things for people. I mean, sure, you can get a thoughtful present, but … half the time, they're going to not like what you get,” Knisbacher said. “Someone in a country across the world is working in terrible conditions … I don't think (buying gifts) has a net positive outcome.” In America, gift-giving doesn’t create true connection between people during the holidays. Making memories with experiences with friends and family is infinitely more valuable than acquiring objects.
While tariffs are making the holiday season more expensive, they can also remind holiday buyers to prioritize finding true connection with friends and family. As a new generation with the power to build new traditions, teens have the opportunity to change holiday conventions. Even after Trump’s tariffs are no longer a part of our economic policy, building community should still be the most important part of the holidays. Focusing on emotional connection with loved ones during the winter time will establish new customs that bring the holiday season back to its true purpose of community. In the end, what we will remember isn’t the gifts we receive, but the memories we make during the holiday season.