Impact of New Tariffs on U.S. Companies and Consumers

SOURCE www.npr.org
New tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico are causing concern among U.S. companies and consumers. Companies are finding ways to avoid tariffs through strategies like lobbying for exemptions, changing sourcing locations, and engaging in tariff engineering. Tariff engineering involves creative methods like relabeling products to lower duty rates or making product modifications. While companies can try to mitigate the impact of tariffs, consumers may ultimately bear the burden.

Key Points

  • Tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada are causing concern in the U.S.
  • Companies are using strategies like lobbying for exemptions and tariff engineering to avoid tariffs.
  • Consumers may face higher prices due to the impact of tariffs on businesses.

Pros

  • Companies have various strategies to mitigate the impact of tariffs.
  • Tariff engineering allows companies to creatively avoid higher duty rates.
  • Consumers may benefit from potentially lower prices due to companies' efforts to avoid tariffs.

Cons

  • Uncertainty surrounding tariffs can disrupt supply chains and increase costs for businesses.
  • Tariff engineering may involve complex legal and ethical considerations.
  • Consumers may still bear the brunt of tariff-related price increases.