讀後心得

U.S. President Trump initiated a tariff war, leading to a significant fall in the U.S. stock market and triggering international retaliation. The BBC pointed out that this will lead to American consumers facing price increases on a variety of everyday products. Six major categories of affected items include: clothing (with tariffs expected to be imposed at 34%-46%), coffee (new tariffs may raise prices), athletic shoes (potential increases of 10%-12%), alcohol (French wine and beer will see price hikes), Chinese e-commerce goods (subject to a 30% tariff), and electronics (such as mobile phones and televisions facing high tariffs). These measures may cause U.S. inflation to rise again, burdening the lives of ordinary citizens.

The U.S. president has imposed high tariffs globally, resulting in significant damage to the U.S. stock market, marking the third-largest drop in history; the victims are not just other countries, as the citizens themselves may also find it hard to escape the impact. According to reports, once the tariff war begins, it could lead to a sharp increase in prices for six common household products, including clothing, coffee, sneakers, alcohol, e-commerce goods, and electronics, affecting people's daily lives.

First, in terms of clothing, three out of the five major clothing brands source their main products from China, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia. Under the new tariff policy, these brands' products may face an additional tax rate of 34% to 46%, which will impose a heavy economic burden on low-income families.

Next is coffee and other imported foods. Since the U.S. barely produces coffee beans, the primary sources of coffee are Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam. With the implementation of a new 10% tariff, citizens will have to pay higher prices to enjoy a cup of coffee. Additionally, imported foods from the European Union, such as olive oil, will face a 20% additional tariff.

The third category is sneakers, including NIKE and Adidas, both of which have 50% and 39% of their shoes manufactured in Vietnam, respectively; the current tariffs will increase shoe prices by about 10% to 12%.

The fourth category is alcoholic beverages, with wines from France facing a 20% additional tax rate, which will raise consumers' purchasing costs. Even inexpensive beers may see a price increase of 5% due to the rise in tariffs on aluminum products.

Fifth, Chinese e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein previously took advantage of the duty-free import regulations for goods under $800 but may now face a 30% tariff or $25 per item; it is expected that starting June 1, this amount will rise to $50, resulting in significant cost increases.

The final category is electronic products, including mobile phones, televisions, and gaming consoles, with the primary sources being China, South Korea, and Taiwan. The new high tariffs will significantly raise the prices of these products, and Nintendo has announced a suspension of the pre-orders for the Switch 2 console in the U.S. market to assess the impact of the tariffs.

Overall, the "tariff war" strategy chosen by the U.S. government may lead to a reduction in imported goods, skyrocketing prices, and increased inflation, potentially presenting greater challenges for citizens' daily lives.