As the Trump administration pushes forward with a sweeping new round of tariffs, economists are warning that the real cost may be felt disproportionately by one group: American women.
Dubbed the “Liberation Day” tariffs by the President, the policy includes a universal 10 % tax on the majority of imported goods and then further tariffs. This aggressive move would raise the effective U.S. tariff rate to levels not seen since the 19th century.
The Yale Budget Lab estimates that this could lead to a 2% spike in inflation and cost American households between $3,400 and $4,200 per year while other economists estimate nearly $4,000 to almost $8,000 per household. But for many women, especially those in low-income brackets or heading single-parent households, the price could be far steeper.
In an interview with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent by Tucker Carlson, Bessent claims that “the ultimate goal of the tariffs, and the President says it all the time: bring your factory here.” Further, the White House released a fact sheet on April 2 tariffs as a goal to protect sovereignty and strengthen national security, stating that foreign countries manufacturing U.S. products is a danger.
Bringing back American jobs might seem good in theory, but as Matthew Yglesias points out, the jobs Trump intends to create are for labor-intensive economic opportunity for “blue collar men.” The intent of the tariffs, which are not looking to be successful, is not to uplift all Americans, but only certain men.
Tariffs are often described as regressive taxes meaning flat fees that eat up a larger share of income for poorer households. Since women are 35% more likely to live in poverty and represent two out of three of workers earning at or below minimum wage, any across-the-board price increases hit them harder. Women also make up 80% of all consumer purchases making the rising cost of goods hit women even harder.
Single-parent households, 81% of which are headed by women, spend roughly 40% of their income on goods, compared to just 20% for top-earning households. That means any tariff hike will consume a far larger chunk of a single mom’s paycheck than it will for a wealthier, dual-income family.
Layer that on top of the existing “pink tax,” the higher retail prices often charged for women’s versions of products like razors, shampoos, and even toys, and the cumulative effect becomes a serious financial strain.
In response, Democratic Representatives Lizzie Fletcher (TX) and Brittany Pettersen (CO) are reintroducing legislation as H.R.2047 that would require the Treasury Department to study and publicly report on the impact of gender-based tariff disparities.
Whether the bill gains traction in a divided Congress remains to be seen. So far, H.R.2047 has 9 co-sponsors and has been introduced to the House Committee on Ways and Means. But as President Trump continues to double down on his trade strategies, the cost could be felt most in women’s wallets.
