What You Might Want to Buy Before Tariffs Fully Kick In
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The newly announced tariffs are already here, but their effects are still to be determined. Because they apply only to goods that are imported from here on out, the prices for items currently sitting in American warehouses are likely to hold steady for least a few more weeks. So if you’ve been saving up for any major purchases, it’s time to close the deal before the price hikes begin.
The bad news is that the already high tariffs levied against China have more than doubled (up to 104 percent), and since many of the heaviest new tariffs target other Asian countries — like Vietnam (46 percent), Cambodia (49 percent), and Bangladesh (37 percent) — companies can no longer skirt them by moving production around the region. Additionally, packaging of all kinds, electronic components like batteries and microchips, and raw materials like thread and zippers will become increasingly expensive, raising production costs for domestically made goods as well. This means everything from clothes to computers to couches will be getting much more expensive in the near future, regardless of where they’re manufactured.
The less-bad (but not-quite-good) news is that tariffs are calculated on the declared value of goods, which only includes the cost of manufacturing and shipping and is much lower than the retail price we encounter in stores. For example, a pair of Vietnamese-producedNike runnerssells for $140, but that includes a retail markup of 40 to 60 percent, so its declared cost is probably closer to $70. A tariff of 46 percent on $70 is $32.20, meaning that same shoe will likely cost closer to $170 if the majority of the cost increases are passed onto customers.
Smaller purchases will get more expensive, but not by enough to warrant rushing to buy things you wouldn’t otherwise need. However, if you’ve been saving up for something large and expensive that can’t be produced domestically, now is the time to act.
Editor’s note: Since the latest update to this story, the White House announced a 90-day halt to reciprocal tariffs, with a maximum 10 percent levy now on most countries, and with the exception of China, which would be hit with additional tariffs totaling up to 145 percent.
Updated on June 6, 2025
Swapped in our new overall pick forbest window air conditionerand checked prices and stock for all recommendations.
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Spring and summer climate control
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Whether you need a new air conditioner or are replacing a musty older model, most window air-conditioner units are made in China, including our overall pick from Hisense. Its unique L-shaped design is quieter than any other unit I’ve used and includes a mounting bracket.
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LG makes its air conditioners in many countries, but we heard from many companies that when prices for some in the industry go up, other brands will raise their prices too to pad their margins and give themselves more wiggle room to weather economic uncertainty. We expect to see prices on ACs go up across the board.
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Allergy season is already upon us, and even though the brands that design our picks are based all around the world, most of them manufacture exclusively in China.
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This is the same air purifier as the one above with different colors.
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Anything electronic, regardless of provenance
Almost all electronics are manufactured in Asia, and even the ones that aren’t rely on Asian-made components that simply aren’t manufactured elsewhere and won’t be for at least a while. Analysts predict thatApple products will be hit particularly hard— so upgrade youriPhoneposthaste if you haven’t done so in a while and take advantage ofany salesthat might still be ongoing. But basically anything containing a battery or a microchip is sure to increase in price sooner than later.
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LED masks are all the rage and they’re mostly made in China. And even if they weren’t, the vast majority of LEDs are made in Asia. If you’ve been on the fence due to their high cost, you should know thatthey do actually workand that they’re about to get even more expensive.
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Most gaming consoles are made in China, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
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The bestnoise-canceling headphonesfor Apple users are already expensive, and they won’t be getting cheaper.
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Same goes forthe latest iPads, including the iPad Air, which we think is the best option for everyday use.
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Zojirushi makes its rice cookers primarily in China and Japan (and to a lesser extent, Thailand), and our pick for bestrice cookeroverall, a favorite of many Strategist writers and editors as well as food experts, is among them.
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Almost allmicrowavesare made in China.
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Manyvacuum cleaners, including Dyson’s, are made in Malaysia and are now subject to 24 percent tariffs. That’s a lot lower than some other Southeast Asian countries, but still enough to matter given how expensive they are.
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Leather apparel, shoes, and goods
Much of the leather we wear is imported, whether from Asia, specifically China and Vietnam for less expensive items, or from Europe, usually for the higher-end items.
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Madewell’s very popular line of handwoven totes and shoulder bags is made overseas.
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Furniture at any price
Even cheaply made furniture is bulky and expensive to ship, adding to its declared value. You can expect to see significant price hikes from even the most budget-oriented brands. But even domestically produced items will be affected by tariffs on raw materials.
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If you’ve had your eye on Article furniture, like this bed that’s made in Mexico, you might want to consider purchasing it now rather than waiting much longer. (Mexico is currently facing lower tariffs than any other country, but that could change at any moment.)
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Many of the mattresseswe recommendare made in America, but the materials involved in their construction may come from abroad. This is especially true of mattresses containing latex, a plant-sourced material farmed primarily in Southeast Asia.
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Although Asian countries are the hardest hit by the tariffs, European imports — like this Polish-madecoffee-table set— are now subject to a 20 percent tariff.
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Baby and kid items
Many baby and kid products are made in China or have parts made in China, as well as other countries that will have high tariffs levied against them, and these include strollers and car seats, which are among the most expensive items new parents usually need. (SomeCongress membersand the industry trade group, theJuvenile Products Manufacturers Association, have called for exemptions on these and other child-safety products, but it remains to be seen what will happen.)
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The Vista V3 is the latest version of our pick forbest strolleroverall and is a favorite of Strategist staffers.
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Like the Vista, the Doona is also made in China, but it has the benefit of working as both an infant car seat and a stroller (and is our top pick for travelcar seat).
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Britax’s prices will go up on May 1. Our pick for best all-in-one car seat is not only cheaper to buy now, it may also help you avoid having to buy several car seats as your child grows: It can accommodate infants starting at five pounds and can handle kids all the way up to 66 pounds forward-facing with the harness and 120 pounds in booster mode.
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Most bikes (for kids and adults) are made in Taiwan and China. Woom, one of our favorite makers of kids’ bikes, makes its in Poland, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bangladesh, in addition to Taiwan.
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Toys
Nearly 80 percent of the toys sold in the U.S. are imported from China.
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Around40 percent of Mattel’s toys are made in China, and the company had already stated in February, when the first additional 10 percent tariffs on China were levied, that it may increase prices to offset their impact.
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American Girl (another Mattel brand) dolls are all made in China.
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Little Tikes makes many of its toys (like theCozy CoupeandTurtle Sandbox) at its production facility in Hudson, Ohio, but all of its bounce houses and inflatable slides are made in China, Isaac Larian, the founder and CEO of Little Tikes parent company MGA Entertainment, told us.
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Outdoor clothing and accessories
Pretty much every piece of outdoor clothing or gear sold in America in recent years has a tag that says “made in Vietnam” on it, unless it reads Bangladesh, Cambodia, or Thailand — all of which face similarly high tariffs. Making these products requires specialized equipment and the knowledge of how to use and maintain it, none of which is easy to transport across international borders.
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Arc’teryx’s renowned hardshell jackets are all made in Vietnam, and although their prices are on the higher end, brand-name Gore-Tex fabrics and cutting-edge manufacturing methods don’t come cheap either.
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The Black Hole Duffel has long been a staff favorite — it’s the first item in ourguide to shopping at Patagonia. It’s also long been manufactured in Vietnam.
More on Tariffs
- How Tariffs Will Affect Holiday Shopping This Year
- What Does the End of De Minimis Mean for Online Shopping?
- Our Top-Pick Anker Charger Is Already Up $10
- Silk Is About to Get Harder to Find. Here’s What to Get Now.
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
