Among President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs are added charges on imports like produce from about 60 countries, according to the Washington Food Industry Association (WSFIA). That could mean higher prices at the grocery store.
On Wednesday, the president imposed a baseline 10% tariff on imports and a new 20% tariff on the EU.
KOMO News (ABC 4) provides the latest breaking news, sports, weather, traffic, and local event coverage in the Seattle and Western Washington/Puget Sound area, including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bellingham, Yakima, and surrounding communities.
As for how that may change the price tag on what's in shoppers' grocery carts, think common purchases like olive oil, wine, and chocolates.
"It really sucks. We already have a hard time affording groceries here in Seattle with a high cost of living," Westley McKane from Queen Anne told KOMO News. "It’s only going to get worse and worse with higher and higher tariffs."
Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh said he believes when tariffs are used quickly and effectively, they can be a useful way to ensure fair trade.
"Trump is a business guy, and he’s using the tools that he’s got to try to negotiate better relations with some of our trading partners," Rep. Walsh stated. "Let’s give it a little time and see if it makes some headway here."
The Washington State Food Industry Association broke down a list of the countries with impacted produce like grapes, citrus, asparagus and avocado.
KOMO News asked representatives from the big chains like Kroger to the smaller markets like Red Apple, Town and Country and Thriftway if they plan to source more products from the U.S. or make other changes to save costs. KOMO is waiting to hear from the big chains as of Thursday evening, and the others said it's too soon to know what the impact of these tariffs will be and how the stores might prepare for them.
Customers say a few more dollars on multiple items really add up.
"We import so much. I think I have Italian tomatoes and stuff like that,” McKane stated. “So, it’s going to affect everyone across the board. That’s just to make pasta sauce, which is supposed to be cheap, right? But, if we’re talking about stuff from Europe, it’s not going to be that way anymore.”
The WSFIA reports its biggest issue is getting consumers from Canada to spend money in Washington state. The agency is working with leaders in Washington and Canada to determine how to revive travel across the border, as the Canadian border towns like Blaine rely on that support.
The association expects rising demand on products produced and grown in the U.S., but no shortages. It explains the timing of when people may start to notice the price boost will be demand-based, and dependent on when distributors starts getting new products, and after the stores place their orders.
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