On the 17th, U.S. President Trump stated that chain retailer Walmart should absorb the tariffs rather than blaming its price hikes on the government's tariffs on imported goods. Walmart recently announced that it would have to raise prices later this month due to high tariffs.

Trump mentioned on social media, "Walmart should not blame the entire supply chain’s price increases on tariffs. Walmart made billions in profit last year, far exceeding expectations." He added, "As stated, Walmart and China should 'eat the tariffs' and not charge customers any fees."

Walmart responded that it has always committed to keeping prices as low as possible and will continue this approach. In a statement to Reuters, Walmart said, "Considering the realty of low retail margins, we will strive to keep prices at a low level for as long as possible." CEO Doug McMillon explained that due to low retail profits, the company cannot absorb all tariff costs.

Despite this, Walmart is committed to ensuring that tariff costs on everyday goods from China do not raise food prices. As tensions rise between the U.S. and its trade partners, especially China, and consumer spending declines, many American businesses have significantly cut or lowered their annual earnings forecasts. Walmart serves as a bellwether for the U.S. consumer market, and its clear statement on the impacts of tariffs signals how the trade war affects the retail industry. Walmart is more aggressive in managing costs to maintain low prices, a well-known strategy. Each week, approximately 255 million people shop at Walmart stores or order online; 90% of the U.S. population lives within 16 kilometers of a Walmart.