Product shortages hit US stores as Chinese shipments plummet after new tariffs
Product shortages expected as 145% China tariff disrupts US supply chains (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
American shoppers could soon see empty shelves again as imports from China nosedive following Trump's 145% tariff hike, reports NBC News.
Retailers across the United States are warning that empty store shelves and steep price hikes may return, echoing the chaos of the Covid era.
After President Donald Trump imposed a 145% tariff on nearly all Chinese imports, businesses have begun canceling shipments and halting new orders, causing a sharp 33% drop in expected freight arrivals at the Port of Los Angeles.
Jonathan Gold of the National Retail Federation explained, "It's a challenge for folks to figure out how to properly order and price with all the uncertainty that's out there on the tariffs."
The steep fees are forcing companies to either raise prices or sell at a loss — costs many say are unsustainable.
Some Chinese vendors confirmed that even major retailers like Target have stopped placing new orders, and many products — including lower-cost apparel, toys, and shoes — are at risk of disappearing from shelves.
Tariff fallout ripples through the supply chain
Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council, warned, "Like back during Covid where we had shortages of toilet paper, we are going to start seeing that in more and more goods."
He predicted shortages and possible consumer hoarding if the issue isn't resolved quickly. The National Retail Federation estimates imports could drop another 20% if tariffs remain at current levels.
Smaller businesses face the harshest impact. Jessica Berger, CEO of Bundle x Joy, shared, "Luckily for me, I have the resources, but six months ago, I wouldn't have. It would potentially have put me out of business."
Many lack the cash or credit to pay massive new fees, leaving containers stranded at ports and threatening wider supply chain snarls.
Dean Croke of DAT Freight and Analytics added, "It may take well into the second half of this year before truckload volumes recover — even if everything went back to normal now."
With uncertainty ahead, American consumers and businesses alike are bracing for a turbulent shopping season.
Meanwhile, hopes for relief remain slim. Despite President Trump's recent suggestions that negotiations with China could lower tariffs, Beijing has firmly denied any ongoing talks and insists that no progress has been made.
Both sides continue to escalate the tariff standoff, fueling concerns about even deeper supply chain disruptions and a wider economic crisis.
