Last month, Susanna Smith-Darley felt great. She just bought a used Chanel handbag from a Japanese seller on eBay for $800, and the original asking price was $1,400. About a week later, an email filled her: DHL asked U.S. tariffs to pay $142, and then it handed the worn souvenir bag to Smith-Darley’s Atlanta gate. “It went to Japan, it had a lifetime, and it could be literally trash,” she said. “I was willing to pick out of the garbage, and I got this huge tariff. It’s ridiculous.”
President Donald Trump’s tariffs on it this year trigger higher prices and lower options, with some shoppers surprised to find that the tax applies to second-hand goods.
Several online markets, including eBay and Vestiaire collectives, have been urging Washington, D.C. lawmakers and officials to exempt them from use, including projects recently imposed by President Trump, according to industry executives. “We are still a mature industry, but we are the future,” said Rachel Kibbe, CEO of American Cighular Textiles, an advocacy group representing about 30 organizations including Vestiaire Collective, which will manufacture, repair, rent, sell, sell, recycle or resell clothing. “We hope to preferential trade processing for second-hand imports.”
But, according to a person near the White House, those who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussion said the carvings of second-hand items did not appear to be in the work. The exemption could lead importers to try to transfer new projects through the new items they use, creating an additional enforcement burden for the government, which has been extended by Trump’s “government efficiency” efforts.
Historians say imports of use have been subject to U.S. tariffs, from ancient jewelry to outdated smartphones. They point out that the history of the concept of duty for pre-used goods can be traced back to at least the medieval era of trade. But Trump has put tariffs on more countries and raise interest rates to historically high levels. This combination has prompted people to question the benefits of tariffs and has led to an increase in calls for calls. “We’ve never had this happen before,” said Andrew Wender Cohen, a historian at Syracuse University.
Trump described his policy as an increase in the need of domestic manufacturing, and it can be seen how the expense of preventing the import of new clothing and gadgets over time has prompted some companies to transfer at least a portion of their manufacturing to the United States. It is even more challenging to imagine applying these used goods with the same tariffs rather than those of landfills to second-hand goods.
A reasonable approach is to maintain tariffs on second-hand items, but at a lower price, which is commensurate with the risks to domestic manufacturing, Cohen said.
Some used projects have no other options. The new version may not be attractive, or the product may be discontinued. For niche markets, such as trading cards and used handbags, the appearance may also be inevitable overseas. Circular economy advocates believe that even if projects cross national borders involve projects, reuse may still generate some kind of environmental benefit by reducing waste. “There should be some policies that encourage people to choose second-hand items first,” said Liisa Jokinen, founder of Vintage Clotsing App Gem.
“Pre-love”
New supply chains emerge as consumers seek products that are more sustainable for the environment and their wallets. Now that merchants refurbish and resell goods used, such as clothing and electronics, an increasing number of online markets make it easier for Americans to source these items from anywhere in the world.
Earlier this year, eBay’s Japanese unit revealed demand for used cameras as people panic before Trump’s tariffs took effect. Globally, about 40% of eBay’s total sales come from what it calls “pre-loved and refurbished items.”
