An Instagram video going viral from a Walmart store in the US has rekindled controversy over President Donald Trump’s tariff policy, with the video depicting steep price increases on clothing and everyday items allegedly linked to new import duties on India and other countries. The video, posted by influencer Mercedes Chandler, who has over 527,000 followers, was shared on August 1 the day Trump’s latest tariffs came into effect. Walking through Walmart’s clothing section, Chandler compares current price tags with remnants of older ones, alleging that original prices had been covered or torn off to hide increases.
In one case, Chandler is indicating a shirt that previously cost USD 10.98 but is now priced at USD 11.98. A child’s outfit went up from USD 6.98 to USD 10.98, a backpack saw a hike from USD 19.97 to USD 24.97. “Guys, the tariffs are in active effect,” Chandler says in the clip. “Look at these clothes in Walmart. All the tags have these bottom pieces ripped off, but then you find one with the bottom still on and see the difference,” she added.
Mixed Social Media Reactions
The post triggered thousands of comments. Netizens questioned whether the policy was worth the cost, with one user writing, “Was it worth it? Are we great yet?” Another commented sarcastically: “Wasn’t China supposed to pay those tariffs?” Even a Target employee got in on the action, stating that their store had also started taking original perforated price tags off of clothes “starting a few days ago.” Other users defended Trump’s action, contending that increased tariffs save American industries. “We receive billions in tariffs and in turn pay an additional dollar for a shirt not the end of the world,” wrote one.
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Why Prices Are Rising?
Though the recent increase aims at Indian imports with a duty of 50 per cent and a tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese products, US consumers are paying more because retailers tend to transfer import expenses to consumers directly. According to the US Trade Representative’s office, tariffs are applied at the point of import, meaning companies like Walmart and Target pay higher taxes on goods sourced abroad. These costs are then reflected in retail prices.
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The latest escalation came on August 7, when Trump doubled duties on Indian goods from an additional 25 per cent to a total of 50 per cent, citing New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil. The move significantly impacts India’s USD 35.87 billion textile exports to the US, with readymade garments making up 41 per cent of that value. The US is India’s biggest textile export market, importing USD 10.05 billion in textiles in 2023-24 nearly 28 per cent of India’s total textile exports. With retail store prices already increasing, political blowback from Trump’s tariff drive is set to increase in the next several months, particularly as the 2025 holiday selling season is nearing.