Behind Valentine’s Day Bouquets: How Tariffs and Rising Costs Burden American Consumers While Imports Surge

Every Valentine’s Day, millions of Americans express love with roses and bouquets whose journey begins far from home—in a sprawling cargo warehouse at Miami International Airport. This year, even as tariffs and wage hikes attempt to shield national industries, flower imports from Colombia and Ecuador are reaching record highs, leaving everyday consumers to shoulder soaring prices.

Why Are Flower Imports Still Climbing Despite Tariffs?

One might ask: If tariffs were meant to protect American businesses and workers, why are imports through Miami up by 6% compared to last year? The answer lies in the complex interplay of global supply chains prioritizing foreign production despite escalating costs. Avianca Cargo alone is running over twice as many full flights carrying nearly 19,000 tons of blooms in preparation for Valentine’s Day. This flood of imports undercuts domestic growers and signals a failure in enforcing true economic sovereignty.

Christine Boldt from the Association of Floral Importers confirms that tariffs on Colombian and Ecuadorian flowers combined with Colombia’s new minimum wage increase have significantly driven up bouquet prices. Yet these increased costs don’t seem to deter importers or shift market reliance back toward American producers. Instead, it is American consumers—families working hard to celebrate their loved ones—who face higher prices at florists and supermarkets nationwide.

Is America Truly Protected When Borders Are Open for Such Massive Import Volumes?

Miami International processed approximately 400,000 tons of flowers last year alone—a staggering volume considering it makes up one of the airport’s largest import categories. While Customs and Border Protection diligently inspects these shipments for pests and diseases—a necessary safeguard—the overwhelming reliance on foreign floral imports exposes vulnerabilities in our supply chain. This dependence runs counter to national interests in preserving agricultural sovereignty and protecting American jobs.

As Customs agriculture specialists find dozens of plant pests daily among prized blooms bound for U.S. homes, how can we claim victory when our agricultural borders remain porous? The romance of Valentine’s Day shouldn’t come at the expense of America’s economic independence.

This situation poses a clear question for policymakers committed to putting America first: How long will Washington tolerate policies that empower foreign exporters while burdening average Americans with inflated costs? The current trajectory benefits globalist trade models rather than fostering robust domestic agricultural growth or fair market conditions.

For families balancing budgets amid ongoing inflationary pressures, this year’s pricier roses represent yet another challenge imposed by failed tariff strategies that neither curb imports nor protect national prosperity.

America deserves better protections that reinforce national sovereignty rather than hollow gestures that allow unchecked surges in foreign goods. It is time to demand accountability for policies affecting our economy—and ensure that freedom includes control over what crosses our borders.