Meghan Markle Foresees US Recession Due to Trump’s Tariffs, But Remains Unconcerned About Her “As Ever” Brand, Calling It “Accessible” and a Source of “Creature Comforts”
In an interview with Fortune Magazine, the Duchess of Sussex discussed the potential impact of President Trump’s tariffs on the US economy, predicting a recession but expressing confidence in her new “As Ever” brand. She described her range of jams, honeys, teas, and flower sprinkles — priced between $9 and $28 — as items that could offer comfort and “joy” during tough times.
Markle, 43, emphasized that even in a recession, people still seek small comforts that bring happiness. “During any time of recession, people still want to find creature comforts, items that can bring them joy,” she said.
Meghan Markle implied that the US is on the brink of a recession.
A recession is typically defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.
The US economy grew by 2.8% last year, with the final quarter of 2024 showing a 2.3% increase.
“Right now, all of our products are made in the US, so we don’t expect tariffs to impact us directly,” the former Suits actress explained, referring to President Trump’s tariffs aimed at protecting American trade interests.
“However, when we consider the broader impact on consumers day to day, I’m grateful that when creating this brand, I wanted to offer products that look prestigious but remain accessible and affordable,” she added.
Meghan Markle’s As Ever product collection.
President Trump holds a “Foreign Trade Barriers” report while speaking on tariffs in the White House Rose Garden in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2025.
“You’ll notice that most of our SKUs are priced under $20. From my perspective, even as the brand grows, it’s important that everything still feels accessible,” Markle said.
The Duchess of Sussex’s new product line—a collaboration with Netflix—launched online last week with eight items and sold out in under an hour.
The collection features a $28 jar of honey, $15 artisanal flower sprinkles, crepe and cookie mixes priced at $14, raspberry jam in “keepsake packaging” for $14, and a variety of teas for $12.
That same day, President Trump announced a new 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S.
Markle’s partnership with Netflix to launch her product line was first announced in January. Her new Netflix cooking show premiered in March, but it received largely negative reviews—many critics calling it “pointless” and even describing it as an “exercise in narcissism.”
