Trump’s proposed tariffs would raise prices for these products, experts say

November 19, 2024.

President-elect Donald Trump has promised a major escalation of the nation’s tariffs.

Trump has proposed tariffs of between 60% and 100% on Chinese goods, and a tax of between 10% and 20% on every product imported from all U.S. trading partners.

Economists widely forecast that tariffs of this magnitude would increase prices paid by U.S. shoppers, since importers typically pass along a share of the cost of those higher taxes to consumers.

Trump’s tariffs would cost the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

“This will directly impact people’s pocketbooks,” Rob Handfield, a professor of operations and supply-chain management at North Carolina State University, told ABC News.

In response to ABC News’ request for comment, the Trump transition team rebuked concern about potential price increases as a result of his tariff proposals.

“In his first term, President Trump instituted tariffs against China that created jobs, spurred investment, and resulted in no inflation. President Trump will work quickly to fix and restore an economy that puts American workers by re-shoring American jobs, lowering inflation, raising real wages, lowering taxes, cutting regulations, and unshackling American energy,” Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the transition team, told ABC News in a statement.

@RalphHightower: Of course Team Trump, (Karoline Leavitt), would say that his tariffs won’t affect consumers because he doesn’t understand a fuck about tariffs acting like a national sales tax.

  • Electronics
    • smartphones
    • tablets
    • laptops
    • video cameras
    • headphones
    • and
    • video game consoles
  • Clothes
    • jeans
    • T-shirts
    • sweatshirts
  • Toys
    • dolls
    • stuffed animals
    • board games “Electronics are basically ubiquitous,” Raymond Robertson, a professor of trade and public policy at Texas A&M University, told ABC News. “I don’t know how this wouldn’t be incredibly disruptive.”

Prices of laptops and tablets could rise as much as 46%, while smartphone prices could jump 26%, according to a study published last month by the Consumer Technology Association, a trade group that represents tech firms.

Many of those goods are imported from China, which would face the steepest tariffs under Trump’s proposal, Handfield said. Since Trump plans to also impose tariffs on all imported goods, manufacturers would not be able to circumvent the tariffs by shifting production to other countries, he added.

Imports account for roughly 90% of video and audio electronic equipment sold to U.S. consumers, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found in 2017. Meanwhile, 88% of electronic computers and 78% of small electric appliances are imported, the BEA said.

“The prices of electronics would definitely go up,” Handfield said.

The U.S. imports more than 80% of clothing items offered up by retailers, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data last year showed.

For decades, the U.S. has increasingly relied on apparel manufacturers in China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and other low-cost markets abroad, said Jason Miller, a professor of supply-chain management at Michigan State University.

“Obviously, and not surprisingly, apparel is very strongly imported,” Miller said.

The price of a set of 500 apparel goods ranging from swimwear to gloves to baby clothes could rise as much as 20% in response to the potential tariffs, according to a study earlier this month by the National Retail Federation, a trade association that represents retailers.

After the proposed tariffs, a $50 woman’s cotton sweater could cost consumers as much as $60 while the price of men’s jeans could rise from $80 to $96, the NRF found.

Imports account for about 90% of toys and dolls sold to U.S. consumers, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data in 2017 showed.

Top U.S. toy makers are “very, very dependent on China,” Handfield said. “Almost all toys are manufactured in Asia.”

The price of a $50 tricycle could jump an additional $28, while a plush toy could climb from $17 to $27.

Economists face challenges forecasting the exact price increase since it remains unclear whether firms involved in the supply chain for products, such as toys, will take on a share of the added cost by relinquishing some profits or will pass along all of the cost to customers, Miller said.

The current body of academic research, however, suggests that many companies will add the full cost of tariffs onto the consumer.

Miller said, “It is difficult to predict the exact price increase. But it will be inflationary.”