US Import Tariff Update
We’re sorry we don’t have better news for you this weekend. Trump’s obsession with acquiring Greenland just brought more bad news for the US flower industry.
As if the fear of losing our trade partners (who are fed up with Trump’s previous tariff hikes and threats of action in Greenland) weren’t enough, a new tariff on goods from The Netherlands and the other European countries defending the autonomous territory of Greenland (a territory of Denmark), has been levied against US importers by the Trump administration.
Greenland and Denmark are members of NATO (as is the United States), so Trump’s aggression is a breach of the NATO charter and other members are stepping in line to defend Greenland. Trump is penalizing Americans who trade with those countries by adding to the import tariffs we already pay.
This new 10% tariff will be added to the existing import tariff of 15% on incoming Dutch products like flower bulbs, plants, and cut flowers. US bulb suppliers, flower farmers, and florists will feel these changes almost immediately. The tariff takes effect on February 1st. Any products entering the US on or after that date will face the new fee at customs. We’ll be forced to pass price increases down to our customers.
This tariff increases the amount US importers (like us) must pay US customs upon arrival of European goods in the US from 15% to 25%. At this time last year, we had next to no import tariffs on flower bulbs and it’s been a wild ride ever since. We paid over $100,000 to US customs fee collectors in 2025. All of that money had to be raised through fees added on to customer invoices.
In 2025, the 15% tariff on the cost of the raw materials (flower bulbs) translated into about 7.5% of the cost for our buyers. We saw 7.5% become an industry standard fee added to US flower farmers’ invoices this past fall. We expect 12.5% (half of 25%) to become that new standard as companies scramble to update invoices and disappoint customers with news of another fee ahead of spring shipments.
Trump also declared that if he does not acquire Greenland by June 1, an additional 25% tariff will be added to European products, raising the total import taxes for our Dutch products to 50% of our cost of goods. If that happens, US flower bulb wholesale buyers can expect the tariff fee line to reflect 25% of their total invoices for products entering the US after June 1 (all fall flower bulb imports).
We’re afraid 2026 will be more challenging for US farmers and florists with Trump’s new plan to raise tariffs on European countries until Greenland is made available for him to purchase. In short: he is demanding that we all pay more taxes as flower farmers and florists until he’s able to purchase or acquire Greenland. To Trump we say, “hands off Greenland, and stop your assault on American farmers!”
We know the existing tariff is a burden. We know the hike on goods entering the US as of February first and later will make things even harder. And we know the proposed hike on June 1 will prevent many growers and florists alike from accessing Dutch products altogether. Please know that we continue to lobby our representatives here in New York to stand up for us all. We hope that you are also reaching out to your representatives and working to inform your customers of the reasons for price hikes.
Both The Netherlands and the US Government have been in agreement that imported flower bulbs for agricultural purposes should be tariff free, but the legislation has not been signed and will not come into effect until then. Given the current US aggression toward Europe, it seems unlikely that the Trump administration will come to the table over this legislation without substantial pressure from the public, including republican voters.
Let us know if you have any questions. We’ll do out best to help.
Linda
