Bad news for US shoppers as Trump's China tariffs arrive

AlArabiya English

If you’re in the US, you might still be seeing stocked shelves and stable prices despite Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports....but don’t get used to it. These tariffs are a slow-moving storm – and it’s heading straight for your wallet, very soon.

Transcript

00:00I've got some bad news for U.S. shoppers.

00:02Trump's China tariffs?

00:04You're about to fuel them for real.

00:06You might still be seeing stock shelves and stable prices, but don't get used to it.

00:11These tariffs are a slow-moving storm, and it's heading straight for your wallet.

00:16Last month, President Donald Trump hit Chinese imports with a 145% tariff.

00:21Many thought prices would jump overnight, but that's not how global trade works.

00:26Economists say it takes 20 to 40 days for cargo ships to cross the Pacific Ocean.

00:31Then there's another 10 days to unload and reach stores across U.S. cities.

00:36This means what you're buying now left China before the tariffs kicked in.

00:41But here's the thing.

00:42A third fewer ships are now leaving China for the U.S.

00:45Some orders were canceled entirely.

00:48This has experts saying that by late May or early June, you can expect higher prices, empty

00:53shelves, even job cuts in retail and shipping.

00:57Big retailers stocked up early, small businesses not so lucky, some already shutting down.

01:03So if your kids' favorite toys are gone, jeans cost more, or your Amazon delivery is delayed,

01:08that's not a glitch.

01:09That's the store making landfall.

01:11Trump's tariffs won't just be in the headlines.

01:13They'll show up on your receipts very, very soon.

01:16Have you felt the impact yet?

01:18Let me know in the comments.

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