American readers fret that tariffs will lead to higher book prices

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have raised concerns among members of BookTok, TikTok’s community of readers. The possibility of book prices increasing, as well as news that international booksellers are reconsidering their policies on selling to the United States, has worried readers. Print books and children’s picture books are currently exempt from tariffs, but new tariffs could impact the cost of manufacturing books, affecting publishers’ profit margins and potentially raising prices. Most books in the U.S. are printed domestically, but imported raw materials and machine parts are necessary for production. There is confusion around how tariffs will affect Americans’ ability to buy books from foreign retailers. Some BookTok members expressed concern over authors potentially being impacted, with some canceling book tours due to travel restrictions. The community debates whether books should be separate from politics, with some arguing that books are inherently political, citing recent book bans. Overall, the potential impact of tariffs on the book industry has sparked worry and discussion among BookTok members.

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