Executives from Walmart, Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot are expected to participate in the meeting.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with executives of some of the nation’s biggest retailers on the afternoon of April 21st and discussed the impact of clearing tariffs on their businesses, the Epoch Times learned.
Retailers such as Walmart and Target rely heavily on overseas imports, particularly from China. This is subject to sudden tariffs from the Trump administration, including taxes of up to 245%. The tariffs target what Trump called the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) plunder tactics. Includes currency manipulation, intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and subsidies that dominate markets that are disadvantaged for US business.
Analysts say that at least some of the additional tariff-related costs are likely to be passed on to American consumers in the form of higher prices for everyday items.
Trump announced tariffs on April 2, targeting dozens of countries. A 90-day suspension was later permitted in most countries, but not in China. The move has affected the US market and added uncertainty to industries that rely on the global supply chain.
According to company data, more than half of Walmart and Target’s imports come from China. Home Depot and Lowe’s also source a significant portion of their inventory from Chinese manufacturers. Some market analysts say tariffs are likely to erode profit margins across the retail sector.
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So far, Walmart stocks have been below 2% in 2025, with Home Depot, Law and Target all recording double-digit declines. Target has been hit hardest, down about 32% so far.
The meeting comes as the Trump administration attempts to attack new trade deals with countries affected by tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said dealings with at least 12 countries, including Japan, are top priority.
The key objective of Trump’s tariff policy is to reset global trade and encourage foreign governments to negotiate bilateral agreements that are fair to the United States. Despite dozens of countries seeking bilateral deals with the US, China refused to negotiate and instead raised tariffs on American goods to 125%.
“I think we’re going to do business with China, or we’re going to do business anyway because we’re setting a specific target.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he is confident the administration will launch a deal with China, which benefits both countries.
