NEW YORK, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab and Target (TGT.N) are bickering behind the scenes with their suppliers over proposed price hikes on everything from cake pans, tote bags and toys to other merchandise.
The outcome of their talks will determine when and by how much merchandise prices rise - and even which products retailers will keep on store shelves.
Major retailers say they can’t just raise retail prices without losing market share and alienating American shoppers. Their stance is leading to acrimonious discussions about pricing with goods suppliers whose costs have shot up following President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs.
Note that none of the options she is considering is U.S. manufacturing. Tariffs won’t bring jobs back to the U.S.
And those countries might be weary of doing business with US businesses, because who knows when a tariff will get slapped on them too.
Businesses need predictability and consistency, and doing business with the US is NOT those things any longer.