Who’s Paying Trump’s Tariffs? Foreign Producers, Walmart, Or You?
The answer is you, of course.
Walmart Pricing
CNBC reports Here’s where Walmart prices are changing — and staying the same — as Trump’s tariffs hit
The nation’s largest retailer warned in May that it would have to raise prices for its shoppers as President Donald Trump’s new duties drive up the cost of many imported goods. About two months later, some household items on Walmart’s shelves have higher prices, according to a CNBC analysis.
CNBC tracked prices of about 50 products across merchandise categories including apparel, electronics, toys and groceries over seven weeks at Walmart’s Secaucus, New Jersey, location. About a dozen of the items CNBC followed increased in price during that time, including a frying pan, a pair of jeans and a car seat, according to the analysis. Many of those items are manufactured in countries that face significant tariff rates.
While nationwide inflation data had seen a muted effect from tariffs in recent months, that showed some signs of changing in June. Though the consumer price index increased by 0.3% for the month and 2.7% year over year, the prices of tariff-sensitive segments like apparel and household furnishings rose at higher rates of 0.4% and 1%, respectively, from May.
“We’re wired for everyday low prices, but the magnitude of these increases is more than any retailer can absorb,” Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said in an interview with CNBC. The discounter’s comment sparked criticism from the White House, with Trump telling the company in a social media post to “EAT THE TARIFFS.”
The price of a 12-piece set of pots and pans from Beautiful, a private-label kitchenware brand that’s exclusive to Walmart and co-founded by Drew Barrymore, rose from $99 to $149. A 12-inch frying pan from Beautiful climbed from $24.97 to $31.97.
In addition, the price of a Graco convertible stroller and car seat increased in price from $199.99 (then noted as a Walmart rollback, or limited-time discount from the $249 original price) to $299.
Some items’ packaging offered clues that tariffs could play a role in the hikes. The Beautiful pots and pans and Graco car seat are all made in China, according to labels on their packaging. Trump has put new 30% tariffs on goods imported from the country this year.
Levi’s CFO, Harmit Singh, told CNBC in an interview that most of Levi’s goods come from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Goods from all of those countries currently face 10% tariffs, and Trump has proposed higher rates for some of those nations as of Aug. 1.
Tags of the signature jeans sold by Walmart, which came in multiple styles and washes, said they were made in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Lesotho.
Here’s how much prices rose in some categories as of the week ended May 31, relative to the week ended March 8, according to Circana data:
- Juvenile products, cribs and furniture: +23 to 27%
- Polo or golf shirts: +21%
- Plush toys: +19%
- Casual dinnerware: +23%
- Electric toothbrushes: +12%
- Televisions: +12%
Good News on Barbies
However, there were price decreases at Walmart, too: Mattel-owned Barbie Swim dolls dropped in price from $7.97 to to $5.97. The Barbies are made in Indonesia, according to their packaging. Mattel did not respond to a request about the reasons behind the price drop.
Dolls, including Barbies, are one of the items that have come up in tariff policy debates after Mattel said it may have to raise prices. Trump said that American children “could be very happy” with fewer dolls under his trade proposals.
Increasingly Clear Answer
It is increasingly clear foreign producers are not paying the tariffs.
— Bob Elliott (@BobEUnlimited) July 17, 2025
If they were, we'd see falling import prices in today's release (b/c they are reported pre-tariff). Import prices are instead continuing to rise. pic.twitter.com/ywwTr3LLIZ
There are exceptions of course. One of them is Toyota. Bur exceptions are not the rule.
Even Truflation Sees It
🚨 Truflation June BLS CPI FORECAST: 2.5% YoY
— Truflation (@truflation) July 14, 2025
The inflation tide could be turning. Tariffs haven’t hit full force yet, so we’re not out of the clear — prices can still react, and cracks in the economy are growing.
Truflation June Highlights:
📦 Goods inflation accelerating —… pic.twitter.com/McdrL2zCBx
Truflation Points
- Tariffs haven’t hit full force yet, so we’re not out of the clear — prices can still react, and cracks in the economy are growing.
- Goods inflation accelerating — frontloaded imports delaying full tariff impact.
- Tariffs from 20–40% hit in August — inflation risks skew heavily upward.
Kathy Jones
Breakdown of core CPI shows the upward drift of goods while core services turn higher and "super core" is running at 3%. pic.twitter.com/EsU5BHBjt0
— Kathy Jones (@KathyJones) July 15, 2025
Walmart Raises Prices
🚨 JUST IN: Walmart has increased prices up to 51% in response to Trump's tariffs pic.twitter.com/T8Br8xy48p
— Maine (@TheMaineWonk) July 18, 2025
More on Walmart
🚩Our team dug up on the $WMT price hike.... $WMT is squashing the middle class one penny at a time.
— Unicus (@UnicusResearch) July 18, 2025
We found:
- Clear linkage: tariffs hit → Walmart warns → shoppers see price hikes.
- Examples span through low and high-ticket items—bananas, toys, coffee, cookware,… https://t.co/NhhNvHTmF0 pic.twitter.com/hn0v7JkuUp
Our Libertarian Newfound BLS Believer Disagrees
Fed members are going rogue as “Very Dumb” Jerome Powell refuses to cut despite 1% inflation.
— Peter St Onge, Ph.D. (@profstonge) July 1, 2025
Breaking 112 years of Fed precedent.
His excuse is tariff inflation — which is nonexistent.
It turns out “independence” ends where Trump begins. pic.twitter.com/ZxJxpFM2ca
Tariff inflation is “nonexistent” says Peter St Onge, Ph.D.
Here’s a Better Assessment
This dude is going to run the economy into the ground then blame Jerome Powell. pic.twitter.com/VIjzseEZJe
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 10, 2025
“This dude is going to run the economy into the ground then blame Jerome Powell.”
You can 100% book that.
Pertinent Flashbacks
Trump Blasts Walmart on Price Hikes, Sounds Just Like Elizabeth Warren@tyillc @jlounsbury59 @USRoute41 @FM_NoAlgos @mtmalinen @jimiuorio @JonFraserTF @GratkeWealth @RobMcNealy @RealRickRule
— Mike "Mish" Shedlock (@MishGEA) May 18, 2025
Republicans should be very embarrassed by Trump.https://t.co/mHutfKEs35
"China will pay the tariffs." - DJT Jan 2025
— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) May 23, 2025
"China will pay the tariffs." -DJT Feb. 2025
"China will pay the tariffs." -DJT Mar. 2025
"China will pay the tariffs." -DJT Apr. 2025
"Walmart needs to eat the tariffs they're paying and not raise prices." - DJT May 2025
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