Walmart CFO Predicts Higher Prices Under Trump Tariffs

Image copyright: Robyn Beck/Staff/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Walmart's Chief Financial Officer, John David Rainey, said on Thursday that US Pres.-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs "are going to be inflationary" for Walmart shoppers.

  • Rainey also said that "consumers are going to pay more for items" that are imported with tariffs.


The Spin

Republican narrative

If US-based retailers do the right thing, they won't have to raise prices. Tariffs are meant to make companies operate in the US and employ American workers. So Walmart's best move to maintain its advantage over its competitors will be to source products outside of China and try to get most of its products on US soil. Investors will need to be patriotic and understand that this could take some time for Walmart.

Democratic narrative

When top executives from some of America's biggest retailers tell the country that Trump's proposed tariffs will lead to higher prices, believe them. The across-the-board tariffs will be an extra tax on American families, bring back higher inflation, and force job cuts. Trump's second-term tariff policies are much more severe than those from his first term, and they should be shelved for the sake of the country.


Metaculus Prediction


Public figures in this story


Political split

LEFT

RIGHT

More neutral political stance articles