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Trump’s Tariff Surcharges Are Quietly Draining Your Wallet

T.J. Johnson Apr 14, 25

The ‘Tariff Surcharge’ You Never Voted For

Forget the political spin. Donald Trump’s reckless tariff war isn’t just some geopolitical flex — it’s a direct hit on the wallets of working-class Americans. Quietly, a new line item is creeping onto your receipts: tariff surcharge. That’s not a typo. That’s the cost of Trump’s trade crusade, and you’re the one paying for it.

Even with the latest 90-day pause on new tariffs, the damage has already been done. Small businesses, retailers, and online sellers are bleeding money — and guess what? They’re passing that cost straight to you.

From Sex Toys to Wedding Dresses — No One’s Spared

From clothing to wedding dresses, from tech gadgets to sexual wellness products, the story is the same: massive import tariffs on Chinese goods are forcing companies to slap on surcharges just to survive.

Take Dame, for example — a Brooklyn-based sexual wellness company. CEO Alexandra Fine recently added a $5 “Trump Tariff Surcharge” to every order. She didn’t mince words. “It doesn’t cover the full cost — not even close,” she told The Wall Street Journal. “But it felt better than pretending everything’s fine.” Translation: the administration’s economic policies are suffocating small business owners, and they’re done staying silent.

The Hidden Tax on Working Americans

These tariffs — as high as 145% in some cases — aren’t targeting Chinese corporations. They’re choking the American companies that rely on global supply chains. They’re hiking the prices of basic goods. And they’re forcing consumers to pay more while pretending it’s all part of a “strategy.”

It’s a strategy alright — one designed to appeal to nationalist voters while sacrificing American jobs, small businesses, and affordability in the process.

Even Amazon Can’t Absorb This

Meanwhile, retail giants like Amazon are feeling the pressure too. CEO Andy Jassy warned that manufacturers are left with no choice but to “pass that cost” along to consumers. It’s simple math: when costs skyrocket, the people at the checkout counter suffer.

Brides Are Paying the Price for Trump’s Ego

And the pain is hitting everywhere — even in bridal boutiques. Paul Virilli, co-owner of Jan’s Boutique in New Jersey, says gowns from China and Vietnam are now significantly more expensive. “We hope China and the U.S.' relationship gets fixed and resolved so we can continue to sell this dress at the price it’s marked at,” he told CBS.

Trump Calls It Negotiation. We Call It Sabotage.

That hope is hanging by a thread. Because while Trump claims he’s “optimistic” about a deal with Beijing, his policies have sparked a tariff tit-for-tat that’s left both countries digging in deeper. China now imposes an 84% tariff on U.S. imports. Trump calls that “negotiating.” We call it economic sabotage.

This Is a War on the Consumer

Let’s be clear: these surcharges are a backdoor tax on working Americans. They’re not punishing authoritarian regimes — they’re punishing parents trying to afford school clothes, couples planning weddings, and small business owners just trying to stay afloat.

This isn’t just policy failure. It’s a war on the American consumer disguised as a patriotic crusade.