Walmart warns higher tariffs will mean higher prices

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Walmart warned on Thursday that higher tariffs on imports from China will mean higher prices.

The comments came after the nation’s largest retailer reported its best sale performance at its established U.S. namesake stores for the fiscal first quarter in nine years. It marked 19-straight quarters of same-store sales gains.

“We’re monitoring the tariff discussions and are hopeful that an agreement can be reached,” said Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs. But he told reporters, “Increased tariffs will lead to increased prices for our customers.”

Walmart declined to comment on what type of price hikes shoppers could expect and which products would get the biggest increases.

But the specter of higher prices was also echoed by Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette. He told investors that if a fourth round of tariffs takes effect, that could mean higher retail prices for both store label and national brands.

Walmart, Macy’s and other major retailers have been left largely unscathed by the first several rounds of tariffs since they focused more on industrial and agricultural products. But that changed last week when the Trump administration slapped 25 percent tariffs on imports like furniture.

The administration wants to extend the 25 percent tariffs to practically all Chinese imports not already hit with levies including toys, shirts and household goods. That’s roughly $300 billion worth of products on top of the $250 billion targeted earlier.