Retailers are turning the trade war into a sales event

The add-to-cart callouts are widespread, and lately they’re coming with a trade war twist: buy now to beat the tariffs.

The add-to-cart callouts are widespread, and lately they’re coming with a trade war twist: buy now to beat the tariffs.

Retailers and e-commerce brands have been flooding social media in recent weeks with appeals to shoppers’ well-founded fears that President Donald Trump’s import taxes will raise prices, urging them to act now before that happens.

“Tariffs are rising — but our prices aren’t (for now)!” promised DTG Pro, a printing equipment seller, in a recent Instagram post with a 10% discount code.

“Unfortunately, the bridal industry is not excluded from the rising tariffs, so take advantage of our pre-tariff SAMPLE SALE until 4/15, when we will be forced to raise our prices!” New York-based Adrienne’s Bridal posted last month.

The marketing blitz comes amid souring consumer attitudes that have already fueled a buying spree among businesses and ordinary shoppers alike. The U.S. economy shrank in the first quarter as consumers scooped up foreign goods and companies raced to stockpile materials and inventories before steeper levies hit their supply chains.