Second-hand retailers believe they will come out on top despite ongoing economic uncertainty, with more shoppers encouraged to visit their stores if sanctions raise the cost of fast fashion.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Goodwell CEO Lisa Rusyniak supported Trump’s tariffs, claiming that the move will boost store sales and help the non-profit achieve its mission of assisting disadvantaged people and keeping goods out of landfills.
Rusyniak, President and CEO of Goodwill’s Baltimore branch, expressed her belief that the trade war would encourage more people to shop at secondhand stores.
“I think more people will get into thrifting who may not have been in that space previously,” Rusyniak told The US Sun.
“We try to put high-quality items on our sales floor, and as prices rise, so do customer counts.
“They not only support our mission, but they also help us keep clothes and household items out of landfills.
“It really is a benefit for the circular model for everyone in the community.”
President Donald Trump has imposed a 145% tariff on all goods imported from China in an effort to re-establish domestic production, create jobs, and boost the economy.
China retaliated by raising tariffs on US goods to 125%.
The Trump administration also eliminated the “de minimis exemption,” which allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the United States tax-free, a loophole that Chinese brands such as Temu and Shein were taking advantage of.
Given China’s significant role as a clothing supplier to the US market, the escalating trade war has raised concerns among domestic clothing retailers.
In 2024, the United States imported nearly $15 billion worth of clothing from China, which included both textile and pre-made goods.
However, with the price of imported goods expected to skyrocket in the coming months, secondhand retailers are eager to capitalize on the opportunity.
‘UNFAIR’ LOOPHOLE
ThredUp, an online consignment and thrift store, welcomed the tariffs but criticized China’s de minimus exemptions in a statement issued shortly after the announcement.
According to the organization, the loophole gave “unfair advantage to fast fashion retailers, enabling them to flood the market with low-cost, short-lived items while circumventing import duties.”
“This policy change will increase the cost of cheaply produced, disposable clothing imported from China, directly impacting the business model that fuels overproduction and environmental degradation,” according to the report.
“We believe that making fast fashion more expensive will encourage consumers to choose quality, durability, and secondhand options.
“ThredUp sees this policy as a significant win for both the environment and the future of sustainable fashion.”
TARIFFS WILL ‘HELP US’
Rusyniak agreed, stating that consumers will be drawn to stores such as Goodwill, which offer high-quality products at low prices.
“I think the tariffs will help us, especially as people get out of fast fashion and are looking for high quality goods…we’re a natural fit for them,” she told the U.S. newspaper.
“A lot of fast fashion has caused a huge crisis in our countries…a lot of it is made from polyester and nylon, which have little resale value and are extremely wasteful.
“The material is so inexpensive to make, but it doesn’t have a resale value and it creates a real problem in the resell market.”
The CEO also revealed that women’s clothing was Goodwill’s top seller, with dresses starting at $15.
“It’s incredibly cheap,” she said.
