Trump says trade policies may mean children have fewer toys that cost more

Why the system slowed down past 4th

Surge of imports successful effect to Trump tariffs led to economical slowdown, information shows 02:08

President Trump appeared connected Wednesday to admit that his high tariffs connected China whitethorn pb to less goods connected shelves and astatine higher prices.

As economists pass that Mr. Trump's tariffs connected Chinese imports volition disrupt the proviso concatenation and pb to higher prices, Mr. Trump insisted the existent symptom is being shouldered by China, portion recognizing consumers whitethorn spot less toys connected shelves and astatine somewhat higher prices for a while. Speaking during a Cabinet gathering astatine the White House, the president said Americans don't request astir galore of the goods coming from China. 

"I told you before, they're having tremendous trouble due to the fact that their factories are not doing business," the president said of China. "They made a trillion dollars with Biden, a trillion dollars, adjacent a trillion 1 with Biden, selling america stuff, overmuch of it we don't need. You know, idiosyncratic said, 'Oh, the shelves are going to beryllium open.' Well, possibly the children volition person 2 dolls alternatively of 30 dolls, you know? And possibly the 2 dolls volition outgo a mates of bucks much than they would normally. But we're not talking astir thing that we person to spell retired of our way. They person ships that are loaded up with stuff, overmuch of which, not each of it, but overmuch of which we don't need." 

U.S. imports of goods made successful China grow acold beyond toys to see electronics, clothes, household goods, appliances, operation materials and more. 

Mr. Trump's remarks came hours aft the Commerce Department reported U.S. home gross merchandise shrank astatine an 0.3% yearly complaint successful the archetypal 4th of 2025, down from maturation of 2.4% astatine the extremity of 2024. It was the country's worst quarterly show since aboriginal 2022. Despite taking recognition for a beardown banal marketplace aft his predetermination triumph and inauguration, Mr. Trump connected Wednesday insisted Wednesday's economical numbers had thing to bash with him, and were the responsibility of his predecessor. 

"This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's," the president wrote Wednesday connected his societal media level Truth Social. "I didn't instrumentality implicit until January 20th. Tariffs volition soon commencement kicking in, and companies are starting to determination into the USA successful grounds numbers. Our Country volition boom, but we person to get escaped of the Biden 'Overhang.' This volition instrumentality a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, lone that helium near america with atrocious numbers, but erstwhile the roar begins, it volition beryllium similar nary other. BE PATIENT!!!"

On Wednesday afternoon, the president took that connection a measurement further, telling reporters, "You could adjacent accidental the adjacent 4th is benignant of Biden."

Mr. Trump has dismissed the anticipation of higher prices stemming from tariffs before. Last month, helium told NBC News successful a telephone interrogation that helium "couldn't attraction less" if automakers raised prices arsenic a effect of his caller tariffs. This week, the president took enforcement actions to soften the impact of the 25% tariffs he's imposing connected overseas cars and overseas car parts. 

A caller CBS News/YouGov poll found astir Americans — 69% — accidental the Trump medication isn't focusing capable connected lowering prices, and 62% accidental he's focusing excessively overmuch connected implementing tariffs.