Explained: How Trump’s new tariffs could raise prices on food, electronics, and cars for US consumers

Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - US President Donald Trump and his son Eric Trump drive in a golf cart after arriving on Marine One on the ninth hole during previews for LIV Golf Miami at Trump National Doral Miami yesterday. — AFP pic

WASHINGTON, April 4 — As global financial markets plunge in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, Americans must also grapple with the potentially long-lasting impact of the move on household budgets.

The tariffs—which are paid in the first instance by US importers—will likely push up the price of many household items in the United States and reduce consumers’ spending power.

Grocery store costs

The US imports a growing share of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed each year, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Many of the fresh goods come from Canada and Mexico, two countries not immediately affected by the tariffs announced Wednesday.

But other goods will be hit by the stinging duties set to come into effect this month.

For example, the United States imports large quantities of bananas from the Latin American countries of Guatemala, Ecuador and Costa Rica, which will all face a 10 per cent tariff from April 5.

Coffee—around 80 per cent of which is imported, according to the USDA—is likely to see a price increase, given that top exporters Brazil and Colombia will also face the new baseline 10 per cent rate.

Olive oil and alcohol imports from Italy, Spain and Greece will be hit with a new 20 per cent levy against the European Union from April 9.

And Thai jasmine rice and Indian basmati rice will face tariffs of 36 percent and 26 per cent respectively, while Indian shrimp—which the US imports large quantities of—will face the same 26 per cent rate.

Electronics and cars

Consumer electronics are also set to be hit with steep tariffs this month, given how many of products are manufactured or assembled in India and China.

Despite moves to expand its supply chain, Apple still makes the vast majority of its iPhones in China, through supplier Foxconn, where hardware exports will be hit with a tariff totaling 54 per cent from April 9.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that US buyers of high-end iPhones, who account for as much as 70 per cent of sales, are “relatively more accepting of price increases.”

On top of the measures announced Wednesday, the Trump administration has also rolled out a 25 per cent tariff against vehicles not made in the United States—a step analysts have warned could add thousands to the cost of the average car.

Shoes, clothes

Shares of clothing and textile companies, which rely on cheap labor in countries including China and Vietnam, fell sharply Thursday, with Nike sinking more than 13 per cent and Gap tanking more than 20 per cent.

The new tariffs announced Wednesday mean imports to the United States from China and Vietnam will be taxed at 54 per cent and 46 per cent respectively.

Yale’s Budget Lab estimated the effect of recent tariffs, up to and including Wednesday’s announcement, would cause a 17 per cent rise in the cost of clothing and textiles.

The think tank calculated that the overall effect on prices of the tariffs announced so far was equivalent to an average per household consumer loss of US$3,800.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Trump insisted that tariffs would make the United States “very rich.”

“The operation is over,” he said, referring to the recent tariff announcement. “And now we let it settle in.” — AFP