Tariff Delay Offers No Holiday Relief: Christmas Décor Shortages Still Expected
Sacramento, CA – July 11, 2025 —The recent announcement of a tariff delay until August may offer short-term financial relief on paper, yet it will not prevent the holiday shortages already looming over the 2025 Christmas season.
“The delay is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t solve the problem,” said Jami Warner, Executive Director of the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA). “Our members’ seasonal inventory is planned, produced, and shipped months in advance. The August deadline lands long after most retailers have already cut or canceled orders due to the earlier tariff announcements and additional costs incurred at 10%, 30%, and even 145% tariffs that were in effect as shipments arrived.”
Many Christmas décor items—such as artificial Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, and garlands—are manufactured overseas with long production lead times. Businesses must finalize their shipments by late spring or early summer to ensure delivery in time for the holiday season. The uncertainty and added tariff charges levied by US Customs and Border Patrol created by the original tariff announcement in April caused widespread disruptions to those plans.
“Retailers are now warning that consumers may see higher prices and fewer choices on the shelves this November and December,” Warner added. “I’m sorry to say that families who count on these traditions will feel the impact.”
While the temporary reprieve may ease the financial burden on a small percentage of late-season shipments for the 13% of Christmas décor that comes from non-China factories, it’s not enough to restore canceled factory orders, reverse logistical delays, or recover the trust of suppliers forced to scale back. In addition, with 87% of Christmas decorations coming from China, those goods have been subject to at least a 30% tariff throughout the shipping season and that tariff is scheduled to increase to 54% as of August 12.
“This pause doesn’t rewind the clock—it merely slows down the damage. Without a longer-term resolution, American consumers and businesses looking forward to the Christmas season may need to adjust their expectations,” Warner said.
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The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) is a non-profit organization that serves as a resource for media and consumers seeking information and education on the Christmas tree industry. For continued Christmas tree supply updates and industry news updates, visit ChristmasTreeAssociation.org or follow ACTA on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or X.