What do bad breath, wilted flowers and protectionism have in common? They might spoil Valentine’s Day.
Tariffs are making life more expensive for all Americans. Not even Cupid is spared. The duties imposed on imports over the past year are tantamount to a tax on everyone’s love life.
Boxes of chocolates from outside the United States cost an extra 8 percent thanks to 2025 tariff increases, according to the Cato Institute’s Scott Lincicome. Imported Valentine’s Day classics are up across the board: flowers cost 9 percent more, jewelry is up 23 percent and lingerie costs an extra 25 percent.
Everyone knows getting a reservation on Valentine’s Day is a nightmare. Some like to stay home and cook instead. Even then, imported wine costs about 13 percent more than it did last year. Because of the 15 percent tariffs on European alcohol, many will swap a full-bodied Bordeaux for a bottle from California. But rising demand raises prices for Napa and Sonoma varieties too.
For budget-conscious lovebirds, there’s no better way to say “I love you” than writing a heartfelt letter. But even that will cost extra.
Broad tariffs on countries like China, which manufactures paper products, are driving up the cost of some greeting cards sold in the U.S. The Trump administration’s decision to ditch the de minimis rule, which exempted import fees for shipments under $800, could also raise costs for overseas greeting-card producers.
Valentine’s Day, of course, is not the only day people feel tariffs. If everyday life is going to be more expensive, Americans need a better reason than they’ve been given so far.
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