DELAWARE— Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride is calling on the Trump-Vance administration to exempt essential childcare products from new tariffs she says will drive up costs for struggling families.
McBride, along with Representatives Kelly Morrison of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, led a group of 40 lawmakers in urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to exclude baby safety items such as car seats, highchairs, strollers and cribs, from tariffs imposed on imports from Canada, Mexico and China.
“These aren’t luxury goods—they’re basic safety items that every parent needs,” McBride said. “At a time when families are already facing rising costs, we should be working to ease the financial pressures on parents—not making it more expensive to care for their children.”
Families with infants and toddlers already spend about $20,000 in a child’s first year, including nearly $1,000 on safety gear, according to estimates cited by the lawmakers. Tariffs on these items, which are required by law, would add another financial burden on parents, they argue.
The lawmakers pointed to a 2018 decision by the Trump administration to exclude baby safety products from previous tariffs and urged the current administration to follow that precedent. In their letter, they called for either executive action or a waiver process to exempt these products.
“Parents shouldn’t have to choose between financial stability and their children’s safety,” McBride said. “This is a moment to show that we’re serious about building a pro-family economy—one that lifts up parents, reduces costs, and ensures every child has a healthy start."