The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down tariffs former President Donald Trump imposed less than a year ago on certain countries and goods, ruling that he exceeded his authority by using a national emergency law to enact them.
To see how the tariffs affected food prices, Local 4 visited several Detroit-area grocery stores.
At Honey Bee Market, management said the tariffs did not cause a noticeable, direct price increase when they took effect last year.
Prices did move around, but the manager, Cameron, attributed those changes more to typical market cycles based on supply and demand than to the tariffs alone.
At Prince Valley Market, however, the manager said the store felt the impact of the tariffs.
Prices rose on products imported from Mexico and Canada, including popular staples.
Avocados and limes from Mexico went up in price, as did meat imported from Canada, the manager said.
She mentioned that increases over the last year have led some of their customers to use profanity towards them.
Those increases have forced many shoppers to rethink how they buy food.
“You have to prioritize certain items when you go to the grocery store,” said shopper Eric Calito.
Another customer, Mario Zuniga, said his family’s grocery bills have climbed = over the past year.
“Last year, my wife and I on average would see our bill at about $180, maybe like $160, we were spending every 10 days,” Zuniga said. “Now I would say that’s increased roughly $40 or $50 on average now.”
To understand what the Supreme Court’s ruling means for Detroit-area shoppers, Local 4 spoke with Peter Trumbore, professor and chair of the political science department at Oakland University.
Trumbore said shoppers should not expect immediate price drops.
“This idea that this is going to have an immediate effect on the prices people pay or that they’re going to receive some kind of rebate check, all of that is unlikely,” he said. “The reality is that once prices are up, prices stay up.”
However, Trumbore said the ruling could still have an important longer-term impact.
With the tariffs struck down, he said, inflationary pressures may ease over time.
Local 4 reached out to the Detroit Regional Chamber/MichAuto for a Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling.
The sent one that reads:
“The decision released this morning from the Supreme Court, striking down the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, correctly recognizes that the law was misapplied when targeting our friendly trading partners in North America and elsewhere.
While we recognize that other avenues exist for the Administration to again impose these tariffs, ee continue to stress that Michigan’s businesses are disproportionately negatively impacted by tariffs, especially in our automotive, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.
MichAuto and the Detroit Regional Chamber continue to support the use of tariffs as a means to ensure a level playing field in global economic exchange and will work with federal officials and the U.S.
Trade Representative to achieve a balanced approach to international trade. It remains our focus and objective that the governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico extend the USMCA this year. We are stronger together with our closest trade partners."
Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director, MichAuto; Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber