These Products Could Cost Utahns More With Surging Tariffs

President Trump has made it clear he will use tariffs as a bargaining chip with other nations to get them to make changes beneficial to the United States. A tariff raises the cost of products coming in from these countries.  

What Countries are Involved? 

From the Whitehouse.gov, it explains that President Trump is focused on drugs and people coming over the border. Specifically, he sees the drug fentanyl as a national emergency and the reason for raising tariffs. From the site:  

President Donald J. Trump is implementing a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China.  Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff. 

What Does this Mean for Prices in Utah? 

As products from these countries will cost more to be sold in the U.S., it is likely that cost will be passed on to the consumer. Here are some of the products that could cost more in the near future. 

Automobiles, food and beverages, avocados and lumber that come from Canada and Mexico will be subject to a 25% tariff. Also, energy from Canada including oil and natural gas will get a 10% hit. 

Electronics, household goods and smartphones that comes from China will be subject to 10% tariffs. China also supplies steel and aluminum that could have a trickle-down effect in products made from metal. 

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We will have to see how this plays out in the next few months. How it affects the average consumer will depend a lot on if the trade war escalates or if new solutions are found.