Trump's high tariffs could soon drive up their costs

Trump's high tariffs could soon drive up their costs

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump launched a US trade war with all countries through a variety of tariffs that are supposed to come into force almost immediately. American consumers and companies have to expect significant price increases.

price increases by tariffs

For the first time since Trump's return to the White House, the question does not arise which products could become more expensive due to tariffs, but rather when the price increases occur. In short, almost everything could be more expensive.

planned tariffs on important imports

When Trump implements his plans announced on Wednesday - and he said that there is no room for negotiations - only certain goods from Mexico and Canada could be spared tariffs. Otherwise, products from all countries with a minimum customs of 10% Sinner “classified in relation to commercial barriers, will be even higher.

particularly affected: China

The focus of the tariffs is mainly China. From April 9, the United States will charge a custom of 54% to almost all goods from China. This sentence could rise to up to 79% if Trump will make his promise true to raise an additional 25% to all nations that buy oil from Venezuela, which China is already doing.

goods values ​​below $ 800 also affected

From May 2, customs of 54% will also be applied to packages that are less than $ 800 and come from China or Hong Kong. (These include brands such as Shein, Temu and Aliexpress.)

import statistics of the USA

Last year, the United States imported a total value of $ 439 billion from China, which makes it the second largest supplier in Mexico.

other affected countries

among the other "worst Südern", on which the United States depend heavily, is Vietnam, which is occupied with a comprehensive custom of 46%, and Taiwan with a duty of 32%. According to data from the US Census Bureau, Vietnam was the sixth largest source for imports last year, while Taiwan took eighth place.

cost loads for companies

Since tariffs represent a tax on imported goods, it is initially the American companies that have to bear the additional costs as soon as the goods from these countries arrive in the United States. However, it is not always the case that companies pass the additional costs completely to consumers. In some cases, you have concluded contracts with wholesale customers in advance that oblige you to sell at a certain price. Alternatively, companies could also try to keep prices low compared to the additional costs to keep their customers.

possible price increases in view

Here are some categories in which the highest price increases are expected by the new tariffs:

laptops and tablets

Since the USA depends heavily on Taiwan for semiconductors, consumers can count on price increases in laptops, cars, household appliances, medical devices, WLAN routers and LED light bulbs. These products often not only need one or two chips - new cars contain thousands of them.

Trump had indicated a separate customs of 25% of the semiconductor, but a fact that the White House published on Wednesday said that such tariffs would not come in addition to the announced reciprocal.

Ed Brzytwa, Vice President for international trade in Consumer Technology Association, told CNN that it is expected to take three to four months before the current retail stocks have been used up. At this point, consumers could begin to experience price increases "just in time for school start and Christmas purchases".

shoes and toys

China and Vietnam delivered shoes worth $ 18.5 billion to the USA last year - almost 70% of all imported shoes. In addition, China and Vietnam with a total value of $ 15 billion prove the first two places in foreign toy deliveries to the USA.