Trump, currently the GOP frontrunner for 2024 and a former businessman himself, has long defended the use of tariffs as a tool to pressure foreign governments—especially China—into favorable trade agreements.
His administration raised tariffs on Chinese goods to a peak of 145%, though that was temporarily reduced to 30% under a 90-day truce.
If a permanent deal with China fails to materialize, Trump has warned that tariffs could rise again, potentially further straining the U.S. retail sector.
Cuban Weighs In
Billionaire Mark Cuban also joined the discussion, advising Americans to shop now before tariffs translate into higher shelf prices.
In a post on Bluesky, Cuban wrote:
“It’s not a bad idea to go to the local Walmart or big box retailer and buy lots of consumables now. From toothpaste to soap, anything you can find storage space for, buy before they have to replenish inventory.”
