It is the speed and uncertainty that is damaging the economy however. At one end of the scale it's about financial market confidence at the other its food and goods costs and how small businesses "Mom and Pop" outlets will fare.
Abroad, the EU/other areas sees little point in sitting down with Trump unless it's all clearer. Less orders for US goods as who knows what will happen? Pressure to make things and not US import. Tesla sales have gone down 49% in the EU.
Internally the confusion makes matters worse
(quotes from CNN)
"The back and forth is confusing enough for any retailer trying to do business, especially when they have to plan weeks or even months in advance.
“It’s kind of a ping pong back and forth. We’re trying to understand what’s on, what’s off. So it’s very difficult for retailers to try and plan ahead,” said Gold.
As retailers sit confused, fewer containers are headed for America’s ports. The 30% tariff on China was already proving too costly for many retailers to bring more inventory into the United States, according to Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. About 45% of the port’s cargo comes from China.
Those that can afford the cost are shipping already-manufactured products, but no new factory orders are being placed, he said.
“With the whipsaw effect of information that continues to come out on trade policy and tariffs – many continue to take the wait and see approach,” Seroka told CNBC on Thursday.
Container ships and products - "We still have 10 cancelled sailings of scheduled vessel arrivals for June – half of those are in the first week,” Seroka said. “So we are not seeing an uptick like some observers had called for or a big surge. It’s a moderate uptick to catch up to where we were.”
Retail "There’s probably not going to be an issue with empty shelves, but I think there will be additional costs being potentially passed on to consumers, because what we’re seeing is all this uncertainty has a cost,” said Daniel Hackett"
A number of large retailers, such as Walmart, Home Depot and Target, have already said they will increase prices to mitigate the impact of tariffs