How Will Trump’s Tariffs Impact Your Fashion Purc…

Americans were once again left with more questions than answers this week, with Trump-imposed tariffs initially set to take effect on imports from Canada and elsewhere.

In a “fact sheet” distributed by the White House at the top of the week, it was stated that Trump would indeed be moving forward with tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Furthermore, via an amended executive order that same day, the Trump administration moved to double a previous 10-percent tariff on China, bringing it to 20.

The potential impact of such tariffs, which come amid a chaotic beginning to Trump’s second presidency, have been a frequent topic of concern for many since the former Apprentice host’s return to the White House. Naturally, given that the retailer is based in Canada, SSENSE has been mentioned more than once as an example of a familiar name in the fashion space that could potentially be affected.

Below, we take a look at what, exactly, is going into effect, as well as how its ramifications may be felt, both for SSENSE fans and beyond.

What are tariffs?

In short, a tariff is a tax imposed on goods from another country.

Who pays?

Despite what you may have heard, it’s the importer that pays, with the money ultimately going to the U.S. Treasury. A key part of Trump’s messaging on tariffs has been his assertion that their implementation is a form of punishment against the targeted countries, a claim that would suggest Americans themselves will not see a noticeable increase in costs. However, research very much points to the opposite.

What is Trump doing with them?

In February, the Trump administration said that a 25-percent additional tariff would be placed on imports from Canada and Mexico, while a 10-percent tariff would be placed on imports from China. (As noted above, China’s has since been increased to 20.) Mentioned at the time was that Canada’s energy resources would carry a 10-percent tariff.

One month later, Trump said that he was moving forward with the tariffs, again claiming that the rationale behind all of this was rooted in concerns over fentanyl and other drugs coming into the U.S.

Just days later, however, another “fact sheet” distributed by the White House stated that Trump had opted to “adjust” the tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Among the tweaks mentioned in the “fact sheet” was that the previously announced 25-percent tariff would now only apply to “goods that do not satisfy” rules outlined in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, at least for now. That agreement, which dates back to Trump’s first White House term, is viewed as an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

How might this affect SSENSE?

The platform is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. On X, many have cited SSENSE as a go-to resource they fear may one day be impacted by Trump’s insistence on tariffs.

When reached for comment by Complex, an SSENSE spokesperson said that “most” of its customers would not notice any change in their shopping experience. Notably, the bulk of SSENSE products are not actually sourced from Canada.

“The incremental tariffs apply to goods originating from Canada, Mexico, and China. However, the majority of our products are sourced from other regions, meaning most of our customers will experience little to no impact on their orders,” an SSENSE spokesperson told Complex. “We remain committed to delivering an exceptional shopping experience for our customers in the U.S. and globally, and are actively working to mitigate any impact on the shopping experience.”

What’s the larger impact?

As critics of tariffs have long argued, their implementation often leads to the everyday consumer being saddled with additional costs. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Trump’s tariffs—namely those in Canada, Mexico, and China—could ultimately cost the typical U.S. household more than $1,200 a year.

In a speech prior to the White House’s tariffs tweak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the U.S. had “launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally.” In response to Trump’s tariffs, Trudeau added, Canada would be implementing 25-percent tariffs of its own against $155 billion of American goods, which, at the moment, won’t begin until April 2.