(NewsNation) — As President Donald Trump’s tariffs begin to kick in, the National Retail Federation is warning that import cargo at the nation’s major container ports is expected to drop dramatically in May.
Next week, there is expected to be a near 30% drop in Chinese vessels entering Southern California ports. The week ending May 10 can expect to see a 44% drop from this time last year, according to Port Optimizer.
The drop has retailers warning of empty shelves and high prices for some goods as early as May.
Milwaukee judge arrested, charged with helping migrant avoid ICE
The hobbies and collectibles industry is also expected to take a heavy hit from the tariffs. A model train that sells for $300 now could jump to $500.
Shane Wilson, president of Scale Trains in Ohio, told NewsNation he’ll be forced to pass the cost onto customers.
“At 145%, there is no way we could absorb the tariffs,” he said. “If it were 20 or 25%, we could take on a good chunk of it, but this is way beyond that. We’re definitely going to have to pass those prices onto our customers.”
The tariffs could also mean less sparkle this Fourth of July, as nearly all fireworks in the U.S. are made in China.
The National Fireworks Association is warning of likely supply issues and higher costs for retailers and consumers alike.
