Why tariffs might make real Christmas trees more attractive this holiday season
Manton, Michigan — At Dutchman Tree Farms in northern Michigan, it’s all hands on deck as the Americans prepare to lay out the corridors.
More than 1,500 workers cut and pack row after row of pine trees. This year they will ship over 500,000 real Christmas trees.
Scott Powell helps manage his family’s 9,000-plus acre farm.
“Our desire is for people to put up a real North American-grown Christmas tree in their home,” Powell told CBS News. “No customs duties, grown by families.”
While Powell tree prices I didn’t go upthe price of imported plastic trees is increasing. The majority of them are made in Asia and subject to tariffs introduced by President Trump earlier this year.
Chris Butler, CEO of National Tree Company – a company that sells artificial Christmas trees and other holiday-themed products – says tariffs on these items “have gone from zero” to between 20% and 30%, “depending on the country of origin.”
Butler said his company has had to pass some costs on to consumers. He estimated that 85% of Americans still choose artificial Christmas trees over real ones, and said he was actively lobbying lawmakers to push for tariff relief. He says the price of an artificial tree of about $100 has increased by about $10 to $15 because of customs duties.
“We want to be treated the same as bananas, coffee, mangoes, etc.,” Butler said, referring to to a decree signed by Mr. Trump earlier this month, which exempts products such as beef, coffee, tea, bananas, mangoes, avocados, cocoa and some spices from the new tariffs. “These products are not grown in the United States. We know they are now exempt. Our raw materials are not available in the United States. So we believe we should be treated the same.”
Meanwhile, for the Pena family, it was tradition that led them to hand-pick an 8-foot-tall Fraser pine from Dutchman Tree Farms as their Christmas tree.
“The smell triggers these childhood memories, and I just want to give that to my family,” David Pena said.
It’s a flavor that farmers like Powell are banking on to increase their sales.
“It’s the smell and the joy of bringing this real tree into their home,” Powell said. “That’s what we’re actually selling.”
