Trump Tariff, China's Trade War: Walmart Letter

Walmart, the largest US retailer, is sounding the alarm on the trade war of President Donald Trump, saying he is "very concerned" by the possible repercussions of the new tariffs announced on US consumers.

In a letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the company – which employs 2.3 million people worldwide and 1.5 million in the US – said the immediate impact of tariffs "would increase prices for consumers, "according to a CNN Money report.

"As the largest retailer in the United States and a major buyer of US manufactured goods, we are very concerned about the impact of these rates on our business, our customers, our suppliers and the US economy," Walmart wrote. according to a separate report from Reuters.

CNN Money reports that in its letter sent about two weeks ago, Walmart asked Lighthizer and the Trump administration to reconsider tariffs on Chinese consumer goods: Christmas lights, shampoo, dog food, luggage, cleaners, bicycles, cooking grills, cables and air conditioners.

The letter did not achieve this goal, as the administration advanced earlier this week by imposing tariffs on Chinese goods worth $ 200 billion, for a total of more than 5,000 different products.

"For months, we urged China to change these unfair practices and to give fair and reciprocal treatment to US companies," Trump said in a statement.

"We have been very clear about what kind of changes need to be made and we have given China every chance to treat us more equitably, but until now, China has not wanted to change its practices. "

He added, "As President, it is my duty to protect the interests of workers, farmers, ranchers, businesses and our country."

In his letter, Walmart also cautioned against the many ways in which companies could process rates. It is actually a choice between raising prices for customers or reducing their profits by absorbing the increased costs themselves.

"Either consumers will pay more, suppliers will receive less, retail margins will be lower, or consumers will buy fewer products or forego purchases," Walmart said.

Here is a calendar of the American-Chinese trade war up to now:

• 1st of March: President Donald Trump announces tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum, including metals from China.
• March 22: Trump announces its intention to impose a tariff of 25% on Chinese products up to 50 billion dollars. China announces tariffs in retaliation for steel and aluminum rights and promises a response to the latest US announcement.
• April 3: The US sales representative announces a list of Chinese products subject to tariffs. There is a mandatory 60-day comment period for industries to request rate exemptions.
• April 4th: China publishes a list of more than 100 US products worth about 50 billion, subject to retaliatory tariffs.
• May 21st: After a meeting, the two countries announce the outline of a commercial agreement to avoid tariffs.
• May 29: The White House announces that tariffs on $ 50 billion of Chinese goods will increase, with the final list of goods released on June 15. This decision seems to defeat the nascent trade deal.
• June 15th: Trump rolls out the final list of products subject to new tariffs. Chinese imports worth $ 34 billion would be subject to the new 25% tariff effective July 6, and an additional $ 16 billion in imports would be subject to the tariff at a later date. China responds with a set of equivalent tariffs.
• June 18: Trump threatens a 10% tariff on another $ 200 billion worth of Chinese products.
• July 6th: The first $ 34 billion tariff of Chinese products takes effect; China responds in kind.
• July 10th: The United States publishes an initial list of an additional $ 200 billion worth of Chinese products that can be subject to a 10% tariff.
• August 1: Washington more than doubles the value of its tariff threats against Beijing, announcing plans to increase the size of proposed tariffs on $ 200 billion of Chinese products to 25% from 10%.
• August 3: China has announced that it would impose tariffs of various rates on $ 60 billion worth of US goods if Trump moved forward with his latest threat.
• August 7th: The United States announces that the second tier of tariffs, which will reach $ 16 billion worth of Chinese products, will come into effect on August 23.
• August 23: The United States imposes tariffs on a value of $ 16 billion worth of Chinese goods, and Beijing responds with tariffs on US products worth $ 16 billion.
• September 7th: Trump claims that the slice of tariffs on the $ 200 billion of Chinese products is coming "soon" and threatens to impose tariffs on $ 267 billion of Chinese products.
• September 17th: Trump announces 10% tariffs on Chinese goods worth $ 200 billion, claiming that China has not wanted to change its practices.
• September 18th: China says that it has "no other choice" than to respond to the new tariffs "to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests". It announces tariffs on the 60 billion dollars of American goods sent to China.