The great tariff shakedown

The ripple effects of Donald Trump's erratic trade policies have left consumers reeling. When the economist initially warned about tariffs, they were hesitant to provide specifics due to the complexity and variability across different industries and commodities. Tariffs aren't just a concern for imported goods; domestic items have also seen price increases as US businesses face higher costs from imported materials or components.

Since Trump's policies took effect, numerous companies have felt the pinch. Orvis plans to close half its stores by 2026 due to the "unprecedented tariff landscape," while Kids clothing store Carter’s has announced it will cut 300 jobs as tariffs eat into profit margins. The sporting and outdoor goods company is also downsizing.

As consumers navigate this new reality, they're facing a daunting challenge: triple-checking product origins and messaging sellers to confirm pricing. Shipments are getting stuck in customs and transit, with UPS disposing of some packages amid the backlog.

While there have been attempts at reducing tariffs, such as Trump's agreement with Chinese president Xi Jinping to trim tariffs by "10 percent," these promises are far from settled. The framework of any deal could change on a dime, leaving consumers feeling the impact regardless.

As for what happens next, the holiday season will be another test of US supply chains and Trump's commitment to his trade policies. Fake Christmas trees are made in China, and importers warn of possible shortages of decorations this year. In short, while there may be fluctuations in tariffs, one thing is clear: consumers will continue to feel the effects long after any deal is reached.

I'm low-key worried about how US businesses are getting crushed by these trade policies . I mean, who wants to pay more for their Christmas gifts or outdoor gear? It's not just about the prices, though – it's also about the impact on jobs and stuff like that . Orvis closing half its stores in 2026 is, like, super sad . And don't even get me started on the shipping backlog ... what if I order something online and it never shows up?! It's all so stressful .

man i just got back from christmas shopping with my little ones and it was like a whole new world out there... people were stressing about getting gifts on time because of all these shipping delays and whatnot... i tried to buy a present for my niece's birthday but the website said that shipment would take like 6 weeks just to get to california from china... meanwhile, she's gonna be another year older in a few months anyway, it seems like trump's trade policies are messing with everyone's holiday vibes this year and next i'm all about supporting local businesses so i can at least control the impact on my household

Man, these Trump trade moves have really thrown a wrench into things! I mean, think about it - when was the last time we had an admin that openly talked trash on our trading partners? It's like they're trying to be some kind of populist hero by squeezing every penny outta their constituents. But what about the actual people who are getting hurt? The workers at Orvis and Carter’s, for example... those are real Americans with families, not just talking heads in Washington .

And let's not forget, these tariffs aren't even that effective! They're more like a slap on the wrist to China than a meaningful step towards economic reform. It's all about grandstanding and scoring some easy points for the base. Meanwhile, the real winners are probably the special interests who get to rake in the profits from all this chaos .

The thing is, as long as Trump keeps playing this game of trade tough-guy, we're gonna keep seeing these ripple effects and shortages hitting consumers. I mean, come on, fake Christmas trees made in China? That's just lazy. We need some real leadership on our trade policies, not just a bunch of empty promises

OMG u guys I'm literally stressing about my fave Christmas trees I need those fake ones ASAP for my tree decorating party next week and I just checked online and there's like a warning that China might be having production issues because of the tariffs what if they don't get made on time?!?! I've been trying to switch to LED lights but it's not the same I just wanna get that tree lit up for my party and have fun with friends does anyone know anything about this?

Can you even imagine having to research where your kids' clothes are made every single time you shop?! It's insane that Carter's has to cut 300 jobs because of tariffs! And what about all those fake Christmas trees? Who thought it was a good idea to make them in China?! The whole thing is just so frustrating. It feels like Trump's trade policies are all over the place and no one can predict what's going to happen next. I swear, every time I go shopping, I'm like "wait, where did this come from?" And now we have to worry about customs and transit getting stuck?! This is just getting out of hand.

Ugh I'm literally so done with all these trade policies Trump's antics are like a never-ending rollercoaster of price hikes and company closures Orvis closing half its stores? That's heartbreaking! They've been such an iconic brand for years And it's not just the big companies that are getting hit, small businesses too are struggling to stay afloat I mean, what even is the point of having tariffs if they're just going to lead to more chaos and shortages? The thought of searching for product origins on every single purchase is just...no thanks And don't even get me started on the holiday season Fake Christmas trees made in China, are you kidding me?! It's like we're all just playing a big game of supply and demand, except instead of winning, everyone loses

Ugh, I'm so worried about all these retailers having a meltdown Tariffs are already affecting everyday things like Orvis closing half its stores, which isn't just about the employees who lost their jobs but also about the environment and all those beautiful birds they used to protect It's crazy that consumers have to start triple-checking product origins, it's so overwhelming. And what about fake Christmas trees made in China? That sounds like a recipe for a holiday disaster I just hope there's some stability brought to the trade policies soon, this constant uncertainty is not good for anyone's mental health

I'm so frustrated about these tariffs, lol it's like they're just messing with our wallets. I mean, who needs that extra stress during the holidays? And what's up with companies closing stores and cutting jobs? It's not good for anyone. I swear, I've spent hours researching where my clothes are made, because I don't wanna support companies that treat their workers poorly or use cheap materials that hurt the environment . And can we please just get a straight answer from our leaders about what's going on with these tariffs? It's like they're speaking a different language or something .

Ugh, can you believe it? Companies are being slammed left and right due to Trump's crazy trade policies . I mean, I get it, we all want our stuff cheaper, but come on! Orvis closing half its stores? That's just devastating . And Carter’s cutting 300 jobs? So many parents are gonna be worried about where their kids' school clothes are coming from... It's like, what's the plan here?

And don't even get me started on shipping and customs . UPS is basically saying "sorry, we can't handle it" with all these packages getting stuck in transit. I mean, who has time to triple-check product origins and messaging sellers? It's just too much stress .

I'm so over the uncertainty of it all... Can't they just make up their minds already?! The holiday season is gonna be a real test for our supply chains (and Trump's sanity) . Only time will tell if we'll have fake Christmas trees and decorations this year

Ugh I feel so bad for those companies they're getting slammed by these tariffs and it's super tough on their bottom line. I get that Trump's trying to protect American industries, but this isn't just about China anymore - it's a global mess . Consumers are already dealing with price hikes and now there's even more uncertainty around what they can trust when shopping online. The thought of fake Christmas trees being made in China is crazy enough, but if we're gonna get stuck in customs... it's just another layer of stress . Can't we all just talk this through instead of playing trade politics?

I'm still trying to figure out why they haven't brought back those adorable cassette tapes yet. I mean, it's been ages since I've seen a music store with them on the shelves. It's like they're extinct or something . Anyway, back to this whole tariff thing... I feel for all these poor companies that are getting hit hard. Orvis closing half its stores? That's crazy! Do you think anyone will actually make cassette tapes again if demand increases? Would it be a novelty thing or people would genuinely want them back?

I cant believe the US economy is getting hit so hard by Trump's trade policies ! I mean, it's not like they didn't see this coming, but still... Orvis closing half its stores? That's crazy talk . And Carter's cutting 300 jobs? Yeah, that's a bummer for those employees who lost their jobs .

I've been checking the prices of some products online and it's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole - raise tariffs here, reduce them there . I don't know how much more of this we can take. And have you seen the UPS packages getting stuck in customs? Like, what's going on over there?

I'm not sure if anyone knows what's gonna happen next, but one thing for sure is that consumers are gonna feel it long after any deal is reached . I mean, fake Christmas trees are made in China... that's just the cherry on top of this whole mess . Someone needs to explain this to me and maybe some others who aren't as "in the know"

I'm getting a bit worried about the state of our economy . It's not just the big companies like Orvis that are feeling the pinch – it's also small businesses and individual consumers who are struggling to keep up with rising costs. The fact that carters is cutting 300 jobs is a major red flag . And what about all those fake Christmas trees? Yeah, I'm no expert but importing goods from countries like China can't be that complicated... or so it seems .

The thing is, tariffs might not even make sense for some products – I mean, who wants to pay more for a toy made in another country just because the US is imposing a tariff on it? It's going to take some serious thought from the Trump administration and their trade partners to figure out what works best for everyone. Until then, consumers are stuck in limbo .

I'm also wondering if we're just delaying the inevitable – will these tariffs lead to a shift towards more domestic production? Only time will tell...

Ugh I'm so done with these trade policies... like, what's the point of having a president if they're just gonna mess with everyone's pocketbook? The ripple effects are real and it's not just US companies that are getting hurt, other countries are feeling it too. China's all smiles about this "10 percent" deal, but let's be real, who knows what's really going on behind the scenes? It's like, can't we just have a stable economy for once? The whole thing is so frustrating...

I'm so done with these tariffs ! Companies like Orvis are being forced to close stores and cut jobs because of Trump's policies. It's not just about imported goods, either - domestic items are getting hit too. I mean, who has time to triple-check the origin of their kid's clothes or Christmas decorations? And what about all the packages that get stuck in customs? UPS is literally throwing some away . The holiday season is supposed to be fun, not a stress test for US supply chains. I hope Trump's advisors are paying attention to the impact of these policies on regular people. We're not just talking about businesses - we're talking about families who can't afford Christmas trees made in China

omg u can imagine buying christmas decor from china just cuz trump wants 25% tariff on them lol like what even is that?? anyway so yeah ppl r gettin ripped off left and right on their purchases now gotta double check prices and origins etc its like shopping in the wild west no one knows whats gonna happen next idk wut trump thinks he can control trade but honestly its just a mess rn

Ugh just thinking about it gives me a headache . Can't even get a new pair of shoes without worrying about prices going up ! Like, what's next? No more avocado toast ?! And don't even get me started on fake Christmas trees ...if I want one made here, it's gonna cost a pretty penny . Why can't the government just make up their minds already ? It's like trying to navigate a obstacle course while wearing high heels !