Trump’s trade war has found new targets – America’s retail behemoths. Top executives from Walmart, Target, and other major chains met with President Trump at the White House this week, raising serious concerns over his volatile tariff policies.

🔹 Urgent Talks: Prices Surge, Customers Panic

As American shoppers rush to stock up ahead of looming price hikes, retailers are caught in mounting chaos. Executives from Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s arrived in Washington with a unified message: the unpredictability of current trade policy and escalating import tariffs are putting the entire retail industry at risk.

While company representatives described the meeting with Trump as "productive," sources behind closed doors report tough conversations. The constant tariff flip-flopping is destroying supply chain predictability, complicating logistics, and pushing prices higher.

🔹 A Buying Frenzy Before Price Spikes

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, retail sales jumped 1.4% in March, the biggest monthly gain in over two years. Americans rushed to stores, snapping up cars, electronics, and home goods in fear of steeper prices ahead.

Auto sales alone spiked by 5.3%—just before the 25% tariff on finished vehicles took effect in early April.

“It’s like one giant clearance sale and the panic buying hasn’t stopped,” said FWDBONDS chief economist Chris Rupkey.

🔹 Retailers Under Pressure: Shifting Strategy, Changing Suppliers

Walmart said it sources roughly two-thirds of its inventory domestically but still relies heavily on imports for key product categories. Target and others are adjusting, but unpredictable tariffs make pricing strategies nearly impossible.

Best Buy’s CEO warned earlier: “Tariffs at this scale will inevitably lead to higher prices for consumers—the only question is how high.”

🔹 Consumer Confidence Falls Off a Cliff

While prices climb, consumer sentiment is crashing. The University of Michigan’s sentiment index fell 11% in April, marking the fourth consecutive monthly drop. Since December 2024, public confidence in the economy has plummeted by more than 30%.

🔹 Trump Signals Openness… But Remains a Hard Negotiator

Despite his public claims of being willing to listen, Trump’s stance on trade remains firm. “You have to show some flexibility. Nobody should be that rigid,” he stated—yet exact takeaways from the White House meeting remain vague.

As U.S. households brace for steeper bills, America’s largest retailers are ringing the alarm bells—waiting to see if Trump will back off or double down.

#TRUMP , #Tariffs , #TradingCommunity , #TrendingTopic , #worldnews


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