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Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Tariffs threaten Asian beauty product boom in US
NEW YORK — When Amrita Bhasin, 24, learned that products from South Korea might be subject to a new tax when they entered the United States, she decided to stock up on the sheet masks from Korean brands like U-Need and MediHeal she uses a few times a week. 'I did a recent haul to stockpile,' she said. 'I bought 50 in bulk, which should last me a few months.' South Korea is one of the countries that hopes to secure a trade deal before the Aug. 1 date President Donald Trump set for enforcing nation-specific tariffs. A not-insignificant slice of the U.S. population has skin in the game when it comes to Seoul avoiding a 25% duty on its exports. Asian skin care has been a booming global business for a more than a decade, with consumers in Europe, North and South America, and increasingly the Middle East, snapping up creams, serums and balms from South Korea, Japan and China. In the United States and elsewhere, Korean cosmetics, or K-beauty for short, have dominated the trend. A craze for all-in-one 'BB creams' — a combination of moisturizer, foundation and sunscreen — morphed into a fascination with 10-step rituals and ingredients like snail mucin, heartleaf and rice water. Vehicles and electronics may be South Korea's top exports to the U.S. by value, but the country shipped more skin care and cosmetics to the U.S. than any other last year, according to data from market research company Euromonitor. France, with storied beauty brands like L'Oreal and Chanel, was second, Euromonitor said. Statistics compiled by the U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent federal agency, show the U.S. imported $1.7 billion worth of South Korean cosmetics in 2024, a 54% increase from a year earlier. 'Korean beauty products not only add a lot of variety and choice for Americans, they really embraced them because they were offering something different for American consumers,' Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said. Along with media offerings such as 'Parasite' and 'Squid Games,' and the popularity of K-pop bands like BTS, K-beauty has helped boost South Korea's profile globally, she said. 'It's all part and parcel really of the same thing,' Lovely said. 'And it can't be completely stopped by a 25% tariff, but it's hard to see how it won't influence how much is sold in the U.S. And I think what we're hearing from producers is that it also really decreases the number of products they want to offer in this market.' Senti Senti, a retailer that sells international beauty products at two New York boutiques and through an e-commerce site, saw a bit of 'panic buying' by customers when Trump first imposed punitive tariffs on goods from specific countries, manager Winnie Zhong said. The rush slowed down after the president paused the new duties for 90 days and hasn't picked up again, Zhong said, even with Trump saying on July 7 that a 25% tax on imports from Japan and South Korea would go into effect on Aug. 1. Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia subsequently reached agreements with the Trump administration that lowered the tariff rates their exported goods faced — in Japan's case, from 25% to 15% — still higher than the current baseline of 10% tariff. But South Korea has yet to clinch an agreement, despite having a free trade agreement since 2012 that allowed cosmetics and most other consumer goods to enter the U.S. tax-free. Since the first store owned by Senti Senti opened 16 years ago, beauty products from Japan and South Korea became more of a focus and now account for 90% of the stock. The business hasn't had to pass on any tariff-related costs to customers yet, but that won't be possible if the products are subject to a 25% import tax, Zhong said. 'I'm not really sure where the direction of K-beauty will go to with the tariffs in place, because one of the things with K-beauty or Asian beauty is that it's supposed to be accessible pricing,' she said. Devoted fans of Asian cosmetics will often buy direct from Asia and wait weeks for their packages to arrive because the products typically cost less than they do in American stores. Rather than stocking up on their favorite sunscreens, lip tints and toners, some shoppers are taking a pause due to the tariff uncertainty. Los Angeles resident Jen Chae, a content creator with over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, has explored Korean and Japanese beauty products and became personally intrigued by Chinese beauty brands over the last year. When the tariffs were first announced, Chae temporarily paused ordering from sites such as a shopping platform owned by an e-commerce company based in Hong Kong. She did not know if she would have to pay customs duties on the products she bought or the ones brands sent to her as a creator. 'I wasn't sure if those would automatically charge the entire package with a blanket tariff cost, or if it was just on certain items,' Chae said. On its website, YesStyle says it will give customers store credit to reimburse them for import charges. At Ohlolly, an online store focused on Korean products, owners Sue Greene and Herra Namhie are taking a similar pause. They purchase direct from South Korea and from licensed wholesalers in the U.S., and store their inventory in a warehouse in Ontario, California. After years of no duties, a 25% import tax would create a 'huge increase in costs to us,' Namhie said. She and Greene made two recent orders to replenish their stock when the tariffs were at 10%. But they have put further restocks on hold 'because I don't think we can handle 25%,' Namhie said. They'd have to raise prices, and then shoppers might go elsewhere. The business owners and sisters are holding out on hope the U.S. and Korea settle on a lower tariff or carve out exceptions for smaller ticket items like beauty products. But they only have two to four months of inventory in their warehouse. They say that in a month they'll have to make a decision on what products to order, what to discontinue and what prices will have to increase. Rachel Weingarten, a former makeup artist who writes a daily beauty newsletter called 'Hello Gorgeous!,' said while she's devoted to K-beauty products like lip masks and toner pads, she doesn't think stockpiling is a sound practice. 'Maybe one or two products, but natural oils, vulnerable packaging and expiration dates mean that your products could go rancid before you can get to them,' she said. Weingarten said she'll still buy Korean products if prices go up, but that the beauty world is bigger than one country. 'I'd still indulge in my favorites, but am always looking for great products in general,' she said. Bhasin, in Menlo Park, California, plans to keep buying her face masks too, even if the price goes up, because she likes the quality of Korean masks. 'If prices will go up, I will not shift to U.S. products,' she said. 'For face masks, I feel there are not a ton of solid and reliable substitutes in the U.S.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Citi Launches the Citi Strata Elite Credit Card
Premium Card Offers Customers One of the Highest Earn Rates and Valuable Lifestyle Benefits Key Highlights: New card offers premium travel and dining benefits plus generous earn on every dollar spent Flexible benefits make it easy for cardmembers to customize to fit their lifestyle Citi Strata Elite joins Citi Strata Card and Citi Strata Premier Card to complete Citi's family of rewards credit cards that caters to cardmembers' passions NEW YORK, July 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Citi announced the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card—a new premium credit card offering 12x points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on the Citi Travel® platform; 6x points on Air Travel booked on Citi Travel; 6x points at Restaurants, every Friday & Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET; and more travel, dining and entertainment benefits. Plus, with the Citi Strata Elite Card, cardmembers can unlock nearly $1,500 in value each year—with valuable lifestyle benefits cardmembers will want to use and even more perks for those who fly with American Airlines. "The new Citi Strata Elite Card is the smart choice for savvy premium cardmembers who want to earn high rewards on travel and dining while still earning generously on every dollar spent," said Pam Habner, Head of U.S. Branded Cards & Lending at Citi. "You shouldn't need a math degree and a spreadsheet to track your credit card benefits! We have curated flexible lifestyle benefits that we know our customers will want to use—because we asked them what they value. And, this is the only branded credit card that has American Airlines benefits built right into the card." The Citi Strata Elite Card rewards cardmembers with ThankYou® Points for the things they care about most, with the ability to earn: 12x points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on 6x points on Air Travel booked on 6x points at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET and 3x points any other time. 1.5x points on All Other Purchases. With Citi Strata Elite, cardmembers can feel confident knowing they've chosen the card that can maximize their rewards earn. Citi Strata Elite cardmembers will also enjoy access to the following premium benefits and protections: Valuable Lifestyle Benefits Cardmembers Will Want to UseCiti researchi found 75% of premium cardmembers indicate that customization—like opting for perks—is a very or extremely important part of the equation. Citi Strata Elite offers: Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Every calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel. Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit℠: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits on your choice of up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy®, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation. Up to $200 Annual Blacklane Credit: Every calendar year, enjoy up to $200 in statement credits when booking with Blacklane, a global chauffeur service. Earn up to $100 on Blacklane purchases January through June and up to $100 July through December. Up to $120 Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® Application Fee Credit: Receive a statement credit, up to $120 every four years, as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Even More Perks for Those Who Fly with American AirlinesIn addition to being a Splurge Credit option, American Airlines has partnered with Citi to offer additional benefits: Four American Airlines Admirals Club® Citi Strata Elite Passes (Worth Over $300 Annually): Every calendar year, receive four Admirals Club® Citi Strata Elite℠ Passes for access to nearly 50 Admirals Club® lounges worldwide. Points Transfer: Ability to transfer Citi ThankYou® Points into American Airlines AAdvantage® miles, which can be used on flights and more to create a personalized travel experience. "American is deepening its partnership with Citi to deliver even more benefits that combine the best of American and Citi's rewards offerings," said Scott Long, American Airlines Senior Vice President of AAdvantage. "We're always looking for innovative ways to enhance our products and reward our customers for their loyalty. The new Citi Strata Elite Card provides Citi cardmembers an exciting opportunity to experience some of the fantastic benefits the AAdvantage program offers." Additional Premium Perks for Savvy Consumers Complimentary Priority Pass Select™ membership (Worth $469 Annually): Complimentary access for primary cardmembers and authorized users, and up to two guests to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide (not all lounges admit guests). Access to The Reserve by Citi Travel: A collection of 4.5-5 star participating hotels on the Citi Travel platform offering on-property benefits including daily complimentary breakfast for two, free wi-fi, a $100 experience credit (varies by property) and early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades (subject to availability). No foreign transaction feesii: No foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally. Access to Citi Entertainment®: Get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including presale tickets and exclusive experiences for the year's most anticipated concerts, sporting events, arts and dining experiences. Access to The Mastercard Collection benefits: Citi Strata Elite is the first World Legend credit card issued featuring Mastercard's new premium tier benefits, offering priority reservations at thousands of the most sought-after restaurants abroad; ticketing access across music, theater, and sporting events globally; and more. "We're thrilled to introduce World Legend with Citi, a payment experience to meet people's growing expectations of a payments card," said John Levitsky, U.S. co-president at Mastercard. "Our new World Legend card tier will help deepen cardmember loyalty by offering elevated benefits, experiences and exclusive Priceless access in categories that people love—dining, entertainment, and travel." Protections for Peace of MindAdditionally, Citi Strata Elite cardmembers will receive travel and shopping protections including trip delay protection, enhanced trip cancellation and trip interruption protection, lost or damaged luggage protection, MasterRental coverage, extended warranty and purchase assurance plus. With access to nearly $1,500 in value and a suite of new benefits, the new Citi Strata Elite comes with a $595 annual fee and $75 annual fee for each authorized userii. Rewards for Citi Wealth Clients Citigold® Private Client Relationship Tier credit: Qualifying Citigold Private Clients receive a $595 first year banking relationship credit and $145 Annual Credit each year thereafter if the primary cardmember has an open and current Citi Strata Elite Card account. Citigold® Relationship Tier credit: Qualifying Citigold clients receive $145 Banking Relationship Annual Credit if the primary cardmember has an open and current Citi Strata Elite Card. Rounding out the Citi Strata Family of Rewards Credit CardsThe Citi Strata Elite Card and new Citi Strata℠ Card join the Citi Strata credit card portfolio, a range of products uniquely tailored to what cardmembers value most. Each of the cards—Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier®, and Citi Strata—is designed to give cardmembers the flexibility to curate the life they envision for themselves. Today, the Citi Strata Card—a rich enhancement of the former Citi Rewards+® Card—offers cardmembers increased opportunities to earn more points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel, and at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and on select transit purchases. Additionally, the new Self-Select category offers 3x points on an eligible category like fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, among others that speak to their personal desires, all at no annual feeiii. The Citi Strata Card offers benefits that cater to cardmembers' everyday routines and passions while helping them enjoy experiences now and in the future. With the Citi Strata Card, cardmembers can earn: 5x points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on 3x points at Supermarkets. 3x points on Select Transit and at Gas & EV Charging Stations. 3x points on an eligible Self-Select Category of their choice. (Eligible categories include Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores.) 2x points at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services. 1x points on All Other Purchases. For more information on the Citi Strata credit card portfolio, visit About CitiCiti is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services. Additional information may be found at | X: @Citi | LinkedIn: | YouTube: | Facebook: i Citi partnered with Material in June-July 2025 to conduct a poll of 1,000 adults ages 18+ who own at least one premium credit card (annual fee of $395 or more) and contribute to financial decision-making for their household. In addition, this survey included another 854 adults age 18+ who own at least one credit card, that is not a premium credit card and contribute to financial decision-making for their household. ii Pricing for Citi Strata Elite Card: The variable APR for purchases and balance transfers is 21.24%-29.24% based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 21.24%-29.24%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.49%. The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99% and may be applied if you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned. Minimum interest charge - $0.50. Annual fee - $595. Annual fee for Authorized Users - $75. Fee for foreign purchases - None. Cash advance fee - 5% of each cash advance (min. $10). Balance transfer fee - 5% of each transfer (min. $5). Rates as of 07/27/2025. iii Pricing for the Citi Strata Card: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening; after that, the variable APR for unpaid promotional balances, new purchases, and new balance transfers is 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.49%. The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99%. Minimum interest charge - $0.50. Annual fee - $0. Fee for foreign purchases - 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase. Cash advance fee - 5% of each cash advance (min. $10). Balance transfer fee - intro fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). Rates as of 07/27/2025. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Courtney Klopfer(718) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Tariffs threaten Asian beauty product boom in US
NEW YORK (AP) — When Amrita Bhasin, 24, learned that products from South Korea might be subject to a new tax when they entered the United States, she decided to stock up on the sheet masks from Korean brands like U-Need and MediHeal she uses a few times a week. 'I did a recent haul to stockpile,' she said. 'I bought 50 in bulk, which should last me a few months.' South Korea is one of the countries that hopes to secure a trade deal before the Aug. 1 date President Donald Trump set for enforcing nation-specific tariffs. A not-insignificant slice of the U.S. population has skin in the game when it comes to Seoul avoiding a 25% duty on its exports. Asian skin care has been a booming global business for a more than a decade, with consumers in Europe, North and South America, and increasingly the Middle East, snapping up creams, serums and balms from South Korea, Japan and China. In the United States and elsewhere, Korean cosmetics, or K-beauty for short, have dominated the trend. A craze for all-in-one 'BB creams' — a combination of moisturizer, foundation and sunscreen — morphed into a fascination with 10-step rituals and ingredients like snail mucin, heartleaf and rice water. Vehicles and electronics may be South Korea's top exports to the U.S. by value, but the country shipped more skin care and cosmetics to the U.S. than any other last year, according to data from market research company Euromonitor. France, with storied beauty brands like L'Oreal and Chanel, was second, Euromonitor said. Statistics compiled by the U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent federal agency, show the U.S. imported $1.7 billion worth of South Korean cosmetics in 2024, a 54% increase from a year earlier. 'Korean beauty products not only add a lot of variety and choice for Americans, they really embraced them because they were offering something different for American consumers,' Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said. Along with media offerings such as 'Parasite' and 'Squid Games,' and the popularity of K-pop bands like BTS, K-beauty has helped boost South Korea's profile globally, she said. 'It's all part and parcel really of the same thing,' Lovely said. 'And it can't be completely stopped by a 25% tariff, but it's hard to see how it won't influence how much is sold in the U.S. And I think what we're hearing from producers is that it also really decreases the number of products they want to offer in this market.' Senti Senti, a retailer that sells international beauty products at two New York boutiques and through an e-commerce site, saw a bit of 'panic buying' by customers when Trump first imposed punitive tariffs on goods from specific countries, manager Winnie Zhong said. The rush slowed down after the president paused the new duties for 90 days and hasn't picked up again, Zhong said, even with Trump saying on July 7 that a 25% tax on imports from Japan and South Korea would go into effect on Aug. 1. Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia subsequently reached agreements with the Trump administration that lowered the tariff rates their exported goods faced — in Japan's case, from 25% to 15% — still higher than the current baseline of 10% tariff. But South Korea has yet to clinch an agreement, despite having a free trade agreement since 2012 that allowed cosmetics and most other consumer goods to enter the U.S. tax-free. Since the first store owned by Senti Senti opened 16 years ago, beauty products from Japan and South Korea became more of a focus and now account for 90% of the stock. The business hasn't had to pass on any tariff-related costs to customers yet, but that won't be possible if the products are subject to a 25% import tax, Zhong said. 'I'm not really sure where the direction of K-beauty will go to with the tariffs in place, because one of the things with K-beauty or Asian beauty is that it's supposed to be accessible pricing,' she said. Devoted fans of Asian cosmetics will often buy direct from Asia and wait weeks for their packages to arrive because the products typically cost less than they do in American stores. Rather than stocking up on their favorite sunscreens, lip tints and toners, some shoppers are taking a pause due to the tariff uncertainty. Los Angeles resident Jen Chae, a content creator with over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, has explored Korean and Japanese beauty products and became personally intrigued by Chinese beauty brands over the last year. When the tariffs were first announced, Chae temporarily paused ordering from sites such as a shopping platform owned by an e-commerce company based in Hong Kong. She did not know if she would have to pay customs duties on the products she bought or the ones brands sent to her as a creator. 'I wasn't sure if those would automatically charge the entire package with a blanket tariff cost, or if it was just on certain items,' Chae said. On its website, YesStyle says it will give customers store credit to reimburse them for import charges. At Ohlolly, an online store focused on Korean products, owners Sue Greene and Herra Namhie are taking a similar pause. They purchase direct from South Korea and from licensed wholesalers in the U.S., and store their inventory in a warehouse in Ontario, California. After years of no duties, a 25% import tax would create a 'huge increase in costs to us,' Namhie said. She and Greene made two recent orders to replenish their stock when the tariffs were at 10%. But they have put further restocks on hold 'because I don't think we can handle 25%,' Namhie said. They'd have to raise prices, and then shoppers might go elsewhere. The business owners and sisters are holding out on hope the U.S. and Korea settle on a lower tariff or carve out exceptions for smaller ticket items like beauty products. But they only have two to four months of inventory in their warehouse. They say that in a month they'll have to make a decision on what products to order, what to discontinue and what prices will have to increase. Rachel Weingarten, a former makeup artist who writes a daily beauty newsletter called 'Hello Gorgeous!,' said while she's devoted to K-beauty products like lip masks and toner pads, she doesn't think stockpiling is a sound practice. 'Maybe one or two products, but natural oils, vulnerable packaging and expiration dates mean that your products could go rancid before you can get to them,' she said. Weingarten said she'll still buy Korean products if prices go up, but that the beauty world is bigger than one country. 'I'd still indulge in my favorites, but am always looking for great products in general,' she said. Bhasin, in Menlo Park, California, plans to keep buying her face masks too, even if the price goes up, because she likes the quality of Korean masks. 'If prices will go up, I will not shift to U.S. products,' she said. 'For face masks, I feel there are not a ton of solid and reliable substitutes in the U.S.'
