Reading time: 4 minutes
Published: April 4, 2025
If you start to notice prices creeping up on some of your favorite imported products, you’re not imagining things. New tariffs will drive up the cost of everyday goods imported into the United States—and the effects are already hitting consumers at the checkout line.
At Raining Pennies, we remain strictly apolitical—we’re not here to pass judgment on tariff policies or political decisions. Instead, our goal is simply to illustrate how tariffs might affect your finances in real-world terms.
The table we’ve included below (with tariff rates sourced from a recent New York Times analysis) highlights consumer products from major exporting countries. For example, tariffs on smartphones imported from China—the leading exporter of these devices to the U.S.—have reached as high as 62.9%. This means that a smartphone previously priced at $500 could now cost around $814.50 after tariffs. Apparel from Cambodia, another major exporter, faces tariffs of nearly 55%, turning a typical $30 clothing item into about $46.50.
Even daily staples aren’t exempt. Coffee from Honduras now faces tariffs around 13%, and Greek olive oil could see prices increase by about 21%. Meanwhile, products ranging from maple syrup from Canada (up 12.9%) to footwear from Vietnam (up 48.4%) all show noticeable price jumps due to these recent tariffs.
It’s important to note that tariffs under the Trump administration have been notably fluid, often changing weekly—and sometimes daily. This volatility can make planning budgets challenging, as product prices might vary significantly within short periods.
Recent developments have further influenced the landscape of international consumer goods pricing. As of May 2, 2025, the U.S. government will close the de minimis loophole, which previously allowed imports from China and Hong Kong valued under $800 to enter the country without incurring tariffs. This exemption had been extensively utilized by Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu to ship low-cost items directly to American consumers without additional duties. With the closure of this loophole, products from these retailers will be subject to the standard tariffs applied to Chinese imports. Consequently, consumers may experience noticeable price increases on goods purchased from these platforms.
It’s also important to remember that the price increases we’ve highlighted represent the full impact if retailers choose to pass along the entire tariff to consumers. In reality, some retailers may choose to absorb part of these costs to remain competitive, leading to smaller price hikes.
On the other hand, be aware that some unscrupulous retailers might take advantage of these tariff increases, raising prices beyond what’s justified and unfairly attributing the full blame to tariffs. Consumers should stay informed and be alert for unjustified price changes.
Regardless of one’s views on trade policy, understanding these tariffs can help consumers anticipate and manage their household budgets effectively.
Below is a sample table showing how consumer product prices could change based on current tariff rates (products chosen by Raining Pennies based on research into the most commonly exported consumer goods from each country to the U.S.).
| Country | Tariff | Typical Price | Price with Tariff |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 62.9% | $500 (smartphones) | $814.50 |
| Cambodia | 54.9% | $30 (apparel) | $46.47 |
| Sri Lanka | 53.6% | $20 (tea) | $30.72 |
| Bangladesh | 51.6% | $25 (apparel) | $37.90 |
| Vietnam | 48.4% | $50 (footwear) | $74.20 |
| Pakistan | 37.5% | $30 (apparel) | $41.25 |
| Thailand | 35.8% | $300 (furniture) | $407.40 |
| Indonesia | 34.9% | $10 (coffee) | $13.49 |
| Taiwan | 28.9% | $600 (LED TVs) | $773.40 |
| Slovakia | 26.6% | $500 (furniture) | $633.00 |
| Japan | 24.0% | $40,000 (passenger car) | $49,600 |
| South Korea | 23.4% | $40,000 (passenger car) | $49,360 |
| India | 22.8% | $30 (apparel) | $36.84 |
| Romania | 22.1% | $20 (wine) | $24.42 |
| Poland | 21.7% | $500 (furniture) | $608.50 |
| Greece | 21.2% | $10 (olive oil) | $12.12 |
| Czech Republic | 21.1% | $15 (beer) | $18.17 |
| Estonia | 20.6% | $50 (fashion accessories) | $60.30 |
| Malaysia | 19.7% | $100 (electronics) | $119.70 |
| Bulgaria | 19.5% | $20 (wine) | $23.90 |
| Germany | 19.2% | $50,000 (passenger car) | $59,600 |
| Sweden | 18.9% | $400 (furniture) | $475.60 |
| Italy | 18.6% | $100 (fashion accessories) | $118.60 |
| Switzerland | 18.5% | $500 (watches) | $592.50 |
| Spain | 18.5% | $20 (olive oil) | $23.70 |
| France | 18.4% | $100 (perfume) | $118.40 |
| South Africa | 18.1% | $15 (wine) | $17.72 |
| Austria | 18.0% | $15 (beer) | $17.70 |
| Ukraine | 17.8% | $10 (sunflower oil) | $11.78 |
| Philippines | 17.4% | $30 (electronics) | $35.22 |
| Hong Kong | 16.9% | $400 (designer bags) | $467.60 |
| Mexico | 15.9% | $30,000 (passenger car) | $34,770 |
| Hungary | 14.8% | $20 (wine) | $22.96 |
| Finland | 14.6% | $150 (electronics) | $171.90 |
| Denmark | 14.5% | $400 (furniture) | $458.00 |
| Lithuania | 14.5% | $30 (textiles) | $34.35 |
| Portugal | 14.0% | $20 (cork) | $22.80 |
| Honduras | 13.2% | $10 (coffee) | $11.32 |
| Canada | 12.9% | $30 (maple syrup) | $33.87 |
| Israel | 11.9% | $50 (cosmetics) | $55.95 |
For more information on U.S. tariffs, check out these articles by Boldin ↗ (affiliated link):
- A Brief History of U.S. Tariffs and Their Economic Impact ↗
- Trump’s Tariffs and Markets in Turmoil: Commentary and Advice from 12 Financial Gurus ↗