Shoppers are stocking up on items coming from China in light of increasing tariffs between the U.S. and one of its biggest trading partners. China accounts for 11% of U.S. trade, trailing only Mexico and Canada.
At the Sun Foods Super Market on University Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota, shoppers say they're concerned about the tariffs and what it could mean to their own budgets as they shop for Asian foods.
"I mean, it's sad. It's already, you know, hard enough out here for families to make ends meet and feed our families," one shopper told WCCO. "And to add to the tariffs, that's not making it easy for people."
Sally Twine is from Uganda and is buying the ingredients for a dish she is making for her family, ingredients only available at Sun Foods Super Market.
She fears that the tariffs will cause prices to go up and adds, "not everybody can afford to keep up with the prices."
Shelagh Connolly is regular at Sun Foods. She a retired chef and loves the items available.
"I love these stores because you can come in and get bulk, nice staples, right? The noodles, the rice," Connolly says.
She just started a retirement job at Costco and says sees a change in shoppers.
"People, I think, are panic buying and working at Costco, my perspective as the member, it's never been busier," Connolly adds.
Last year, the United States imported more than $450 million in goods and services from China.
China has announced that it will raise tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125%. The move on Friday is the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between the world’s two largest economies that has rattled markets and raised fears of a global slowdown.
While U.S. President Donald Trump paused import taxes this week for other countries, he raised tariffs on China. The new tariffs now total 145%. China has denounced the policy as “economic bullying” and promised countermeasures. The new tariffs begin on Saturday.
Citing a lack of respect, Trump set China apart from other countries. He said in a social media post that he is pausing his so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on many other trading partners because they had responded by reaching out for talks rather than retaliating.
The tit-for-tat hikes between the U.S. and China are the latest in an ongoing trade war that threatens to raise prices for consumers in America and derail China’s attempts to reinvigorate its sluggish economy. The response from the Chinese government signals its determination not to bend to Trump’s pressure, despite the risks.
“If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” China's Ministry of Commerce said before announcing its latest tariff hike.
In Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “When you punch at the United States of America, President Trump is going to punch back further."