You’ve heard of the Pink Tax, the sneaky price hike on women’s products like razors and shampoo. But Pink Tariffs? Those might be the most expensive gender-based tax you’ve never heard of.

According to The Guardian, women’s goods—especially clothing—are taxed at a higher rate when they enter the U.S. This invisible bias costs women at least $2.5 billion a year. That’s right—before a pair of jeans even hits the rack, they’re already taxed higher just because they’re labeled “women’s.”

And as tariffs become a hotter political issue, these price hikes are only getting worse.

Why Are Women Paying More? The History Behind Pink Tariffs

Pink Tariffs aren’t new. According to The Guardian, gender-based taxes on imported goods have existed for decades, baked into the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, the country’s complex import tax system.

Trade experts told the media that no other country has gender-based tariffs like the U.S. It’s a uniquely American problem with roots in old-school misogyny.

“Men dominated these discussions, and women were not fully considered in these negotiations,” said Sheng Lu, a fashion and apparel professor at the University of Delaware, in an interview with The Guardian.

And because women drive 70-80% of all consumer spending, governments have an economic incentive to tax their goods at higher rates.

How Pink Tariffs Show Up in Everyday Shopping

The impact of Pink Tariffs is everywhere—you just don’t see it at checkout. Unlike sales tax, tariffs are baked into the final price, making them invisible to shoppers.

According to recent numbers, imported women’s clothing is taxed, on average, 3% higher than men’s clothing. But in some cases, the difference is even more extreme:

  • A men’s wool coat? Taxed at 10%
  • A women’s wool coat? Taxed at 18.8%

Even gender-neutral clothing gets hit. The 19th reported that unisex apparel is taxed at the same rate as women’s clothing, automatically increasing costs for women and anyone shopping outside the binary.

The same pattern applies to underwear, sneakers, and even toys marketed toward young girls.

Why Tariffs Matter More Now—And How Trump’s Policies Are Making It Worse

Tariffs have been a major political issue ever since Donald Trump’s first presidency. His trade war with China led to increased taxes on imported goods, affecting everything from fast fashion to basic necessities.

And now? His new tariffs could make it even worse for women.

According to The 19th, Democratic Representatives Lizzie Fletcher (Texas) and Brittany Pettersen (Colorado) recently reintroduced a bill to investigate gender bias in tariffs. The goal? Force the Treasury Department to study the impact of Pink Tariffs and find solutions.

“With President Trump imposing tariffs and starting a trade war, it is even more important that we understand how higher tariffs will raise costs for everyone, and women in particular,” Fletcher said in a press release.

But with a Republican-controlled Congress, the bill is unlikely to pass. Instead, lawmakers are focusing on raising awareness of the issue—because as Vogue Business put it, most people don’t even know Pink Tariffs exist.

Women Already Earn Less—Why Are They Paying More?

Pink Tariffs hit women where it hurts—in their wallets.

According to Vogue Business, American women earn just 84 cents for every dollar a man makes. That wage gap is even worse for women of color. And yet, women are forced to pay more for the exact same necessities.

“This is really a big outrage of U.S. politics, and it ought to be easy to fix,” said Ed Gresser, director of trade and global markets at the Progressive Policy Institute, in an interview with Vogue Business.

But as Susan Scafidi, director of Fordham’s Fashion Law Institute, told The Guardian, there’s little political incentive to fix Pink Tariffs. “Tariffs make money in a way that voters don’t see,” she said.

Since they don’t show up as an extra charge on receipts, Pink Tariffs go unchecked and unnoticed—while the financial burden on women keeps piling up.

Is There a Way to Avoid Pink Tariffs?

Short answer: Not really.

Since 98% of clothing sold in the U.S. is imported, almost everything in stores comes with a built-in tariff. Some brands—like American Giant and Lake Jane Studio—source their clothing entirely in the U.S., avoiding the tariff system. But these brands are expensive and niche, leaving most shoppers with no real way to escape the Pink Tariff trap.

And even if Pink Tariffs disappeared tomorrow? Women would still be stuck with higher prices thanks to the Pink Tax—a separate issue that states like California and New York have tried to outlaw.

What Needs to Happen Next?

Lawmakers like Fletcher and Pettersen say awareness is the first step. Until Pink Tariffs become a bigger conversation, they’ll keep costing women billions in invisible fees.

So the next time you wonder why a simple coat costs more just because it’s labeled “women’s,”—just know it’s not a coincidence. It’s policy. And it’s overdue for change.

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