The Tariff Excuse

Any time prices start rising, explanations follow. Some are legitimate. Others? Not so much. And lately, one excuse has been popping up more and more: “Because of tariffs.”

Retailers and manufacturers know that most consumers don’t fully understand how tariffs work—or whether they even apply to the products they’re buying. That gap in knowledge creates a convenient space for markup justification. The result? Companies charging more and blaming tariffs even when the connection is flimsy, exaggerated, or flat-out false.

Watch for the Red Flags

Here are a few common variations of the tariff excuse:

• Generic blame: “Due to the China tariffs…” (on goods that aren’t made in China)
• Patriot markup: “Made in America, so it costs more – but it’s tariff-free!” (even if there was no tariff impact to begin with)
• Preemptive pricing: Price hikes before any tariffs are enacted, just in case
• Bundled claims: “Increased shipping, tariffs, inflation…” (vague enough that you can’t pinpoint the real cause)

In many cases, the product in question isn’t even affected by current tariff policies. But unless a consumer checks the country of origin, import status, and relevant trade codes, the company’s explanation sounds plausible.

Real Tariff, Real Excuse? Not Always

Yes, some imported goods do carry steep tariffs. And yes, it’s fair for a business to pass along real costs. But the problem arises when:

• The product wasn’t imported at all
• The cost increase far exceeds any applicable tariff
• The company quietly raised prices across the board and used tariffs as a scapegoat

In other words, tariffs become the new “supply chain issues” – a phrase vague enough to go unquestioned.

How to Spot the Gimmick

You don’t need to be a trade policy expert to protect yourself. Here are a few questions that help cut through the marketing fog:

• Where is the product actually made? Country of origin matters.
• Is the seller naming the specific tariff or just invoking it vaguely?
• Has this brand already raised prices multiple times recently?
• Are similar products from domestic competitors priced differently?
• Is the price hike consistent with actual tariff rates (e.g., 10–25%)?

Transparency is key. If a company is being vague, hedging, or leaning on buzzwords instead of facts, that’s a red flag.

Made in America? Still Check the Label

There’s also a growing use of patriotic marketing to justify higher prices – phrases like “proudly American-made” or “no foreign components.” And while it’s true that domestic production often costs more, tariffs shouldn’t be part of the explanation if the product was never imported to begin with.

The irony? Some “Made in the USA” products still include foreign parts that are tariffed so the label alone doesn’t tell the full story.

In the End…

Tariffs do raise prices but not on everything. And when companies start using them as a blanket explanation for every cost increase, it’s worth asking questions.

In a world where pricing is increasingly opaque and marketing spins faster than facts, don’t be afraid to look a little deeper. The word “tariff” may be doing more work than it deserves.