Summary

Americans, frustrated by high grocery prices, are looking to President-elect Trump for relief. Trump has pledged to lower food costs through tariffs on imports and by reducing energy prices, arguing that these measures would benefit U.S. farmers and consumers.

However, experts warn that tariffs could drive up prices by increasing costs for imported goods essential to food production and risk retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.

Economists also doubt Trump’s short-term impact on energy costs, noting that sustained grocery price drops are challenging without major economic shifts.

  • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.ee
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    7 hours ago

    “you know I hate how he doesn’t like minorities, lgbtq, ukraine, palestine, lebanon, created an insurrection, has sexual allegations, is a felon. But at least my groceries will be cheaper grin.png”

    I bet a large chunk of the Trumpers thought like this

  • Jinni@sh.itjust.works
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    10 hours ago

    Anyone who understood what tariffs are could of told you this. Harris may not of had any economic plans other than ctax the 1%', but Trump’s was demonstrably counter productive with tariffs

    • HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
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      9 hours ago

      Let me put it there for those idiots.

      Tarrifs on food imports would be great for US farmers because they no longer have to compete with low priced imports, as the cost to import increases. You would induce a shortage at the current price point, resulting in less food avaliable and at a higher price.

      Small point - farmers would probably still miss out as resellers and supermarkets take much of the marginal profit.

      • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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        7 hours ago

        I think you might be looking at this wrong. Over 20% of agricultural products are exported in the US, less than 15% is imported. Food is a substitution commodity, if you can’t buy one kind, you will buy another.

        There is and will be no shortage of food in America. Food grown in central and south America? Maybe. This will just hurt all those farms exporting soy beans when the retaliation comes in to play.

        • HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
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          4 hours ago

          Yes, you are correct but I disagree on few technicalities that make a difference.

          • products do have substitutes, but you are talking comming down from a global market. Calories are there, but we don’t eat based on calories. You can’t substitute soybeans for tomatoes, potatoes for corn, or many others i don’t have examples for.

          • when the US starts putting in tarrifs for import, other nation states will likely do the same. Your exports of unwanted goods will no longer be competitive in the global market, leading to an excess of unwanted, cheap food and shortage of wanted, expensive food.

  • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    14 hours ago

    Also deporting millions of farm workers isn’t going to help prices stabilize when farmers have vegetables rotting on the vine because they can’t afford US citizens and how much they expect to be paid to be a farm-hand and on top of that US citizens tend to be fat and fucking lazy in comparison to the immigrant laborers.

    Further, in Washington state, many immigrants have made a livelihood by working their way up and buying the orchard out from the owner. How many of those immigrants will be denaturalized and now the orchard has no ownership and is up for grabs at pennies on the dollar, further consolidating food ownership.

    If the US dollar is still somehow the world’s reserve currency after all this fucking idiocy, I’ll genuinely be shocked.

    • TheTechnician27@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      I’m also going to note that a ton of slaughterhouse workers are either undocumented or are the sorts of legal first-generation Latino immigrants Trump would still want to illegally deport. Even as a vegan who wants to see this industry die I can see how fucking disastrous that kind of shock would be for food prices. Even the change in public perception would be massive since it seems like the price of meat is one of the most significant barometers most meat-eaters use for how expensive groceries are.

      • Drusas@fedia.io
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        13 hours ago

        Probably because meats are relatively expensive and they consider them to be necessary rather than an optional luxury item.

    • Damage@feddit.it
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      10 hours ago

      If they deport them they lose both their bottom, most exploitable social group, and the hate/fear catalyst for their base… The idea is to take away all their rights and keep them subjugated.

    • TimLovesTech (AuDHD)(he/him)@badatbeing.social
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      14 hours ago

      Also deporting millions of farm workers isn’t going to help prices stabilize when farmers have vegetables rotting on the vine because they can’t afford US citizens and how much they expect to be paid to be a farm-hand and on top of that US citizens tend to be fat and fucking lazy in comparison to the immigrant laborers.

      We can just use High School kids again. /s

      If the US dollar is still somehow the world’s reserve currency after all this fucking idiocy, I’ll genuinely be shocked.

      If Trump’s admin does crash the currency look for him to try and shift the US to his crypto grift coin which is I’m sure 100% legit and will not benefit from new regulation written around it being a black box of money laundering/bribe/slush fund.

    • Frozengyro@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      Where do you get those numbers? I mostly ask because I think the new car and used car prices seem high. Also, the rent seems low, but obviously rent is extremely location dependant.

      • FoxyFerengi@lemm.ee
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        10 hours ago

        I was paying more six years ago for a run down 2 bed apartment outside of Seattle but still within the metro. That rent figure is more in line with my current mortgage payment, but I bought at what I thought was going to be a stupid time (interest is still higher than what I bought at).

        Base model 2024 Crosstrek is 25k, and I could get about 8k for my 18yo car. I’m sure a dealership would sell it for the same that I paid 9 years ago, ~12k.

  • circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org
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    13 hours ago

    Trump will lower grocery prices the same day he ends the war in Gaza.

    And if you believe that, I’ve got a hat to sell you (*made in China).

  • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    After gutting a dozen departments he might just take the savings and straight up subsidize food staples. Apparently people don’t give two fucks about why just as long as stuff is cheap.

    • Rentlar@lemmy.ca
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      14 hours ago

      Not thinking Trump enough - he’s going to give a “Trump coupon/Trump cheque” to subsidize your grocery bill.

      • proper@lemmy.world
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        14 hours ago

        that then you’d have to pay back in 4 years. added to your taxes to make the next person look bad.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      Stuff doesn’t get cheaper, only more profitable. Trump will subsidize stock prices while the price of eggs and milk continue to climb.

  • Lexam@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    At this point I’m just going to sit back eat some popcorn and enjoy the show until they have my camp reservation ready.

  • NaibofTabr@infosec.pub
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    13 hours ago

    Fuck no this administration won’t help. The best hope Americans had of lowering prices was Lina Kahn.

  • Sparking@lemm.ee
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    13 hours ago

    I would like to think that Democrats can hold him to this politically, but knowing them they will probably say it is their fault.