How Tariffs Will Impact The Jewelry Industry

was one of the only independent jewelers to sign a letter sent by Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, a nationwide campaign against tariffs, to the Office of the United States Trade Representative in June, outlining the potential negative impacts of the tariffs.

The group got signatures from 661 companies, including major jewelry sellers like Macy’s, Walmart, JC Penney and Costco, as well as retail organizations. 

The Precious Metals Association of North America (PMANA) also signed the letter, warning Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer that a tariff on metal imports would “backfire” on the industry.

Some companies chose to submit letters of their own as well.

Grace Stockley, president of PMANA, noted in her letter that while the organization agreed that China should be held accountable for “unfair” trade practices, the tariffs would have “a negative impact on our domestic operations, and open the door for damaging retaliatory action.”

Timothy D. Matthews, CEO of JTV, described the country as “a vital source for our industry” in his letter, although he noted there are some “bad actors.”

“Chinese jewelry and raw material suppliers have been valued and necessary partners in developing a robust and growing U.S. jewelry industry,” he wrote.

He noted that JTV is dependent upon foreign sources for its raw materials and manufacturing, stating that the company buys an average of $190 million worth of product from vendors outside of the U.S.

Around 46 percent of JTV’s product, or $87 million per year, is sourced from China.

JTV’s average item price is less than $100, which Matthews said would not be possible without its supply chain partners in China. 

Prime Art and Jewel, a Dallas-based manufacturer, also pointed to Chinese manufacturing as the reason it’s able to keep its prices low.

The company noted in its letter that it chose to establish its manufacturing facility in China, not only for its affordability, but because the country’s jewelry manufacturing methods and supply chain management capabilities are the “most advanced.”

“Setting up operations in the United States is not an option for PAJ,” wrote Joe Meli, vice president of marketing and brand development. “Even if U.S. manufacturing capacity were built up over many years, manufacturing costs would be three times current costs, rendering jewelry unaffordable for working-class Americans.” 

Karen Giberson, CEO of the Accessories Council, a not-for-profit trade organization, wrote in her letter that there are no U.S.-based manufacturing alternatives for the products made by her organization’s members, which range from sellers of fashion jewelry and sunglasses to scarves and footwear.

She said that even if alternative manufacturing sources were available, it would take between 9 and 18 months to certify and approve new suppliers.

Giberson also noted that the U.S. retail industry for accessories is already under stress, from the closing of retail stores to the pending increase of tariffs from the European Union.

“How much more can one small industry take? There is no doubt that additional tariff on these goods would result in further contraction,” she wrote.

The trade war has been on the radars of larger companies and retail organizations for a while, but Tariffs Hurt the Heartland organized town halls to educate smaller retailers about the potential impact of tariffs.

“At the outset, it was an education effort,” said group spokesman Matt McAlvanah. “We’re no longer in that phase.”

He noted that although the intricacies of tariffs and economic policy can be confusing, the effects becomes clearer when consumer goods are impacted.

The anecdotes McAlvanah heard from retailers during the town halls, from rising costs to supply chain issues, match up with economists’ data.

“We hear a lot about the delay or cancellation of projects that are potentially job-creating or would expand their business,” he said.

The main concern of the retailers he spoke with was general uncertainty.

Business owners can’t plan when they don’t know whether or not their prices will be significantly increased, said McAlvanah.

A price increase may not be able to be absorbed without passing the cost onto the consumer.

It comes down to whether or not the supply chain is impacted, he said, and if a business can absorb that cost increase in the supply chain.

He noted that business can’t adjust a supply chain overnight, particularly if there’s a long-standing relationship with a supply chain partner.

Tariffs Hurt the Heartland’s website features a tracker that measures the cost of the trade war based on monthly tariffs on imports; it had reached about $30.52 billion as of Thursday morning.

The group estimated that the trade war costs Americans $810 per second.

The number does not take into consideration the cost of retaliatory tariffs or the cost of programs helping the farmers who have suffered losses.

“The administration is doubling down on a failing strategy. Nobody wins in a trade war, and raising tariffs further on American businesses and consumers will only result in slower economic growth, more farm bankruptcies, fewer jobs and higher prices,” the group said in a statement. 

The latest round of tariffs is set to go into effect Sept. 1.