Trump tariffs: What will get more expensive in Massachusetts? 'Everything' MA Gov says

• Trump declared universal tariffs of 10% on imports from all countries and much higher levies on about 60 countries on Wednesday.
• Trump’s tariffs are expected to increase prices across the board.
• Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’ will lead to higher costs for groceries, gas, cars, heat and electric, among other things.

President Donald Trump announced tariffs on almost all countries on Wednesday, a move that sent stocks plummeting as economists warn the plan could trigger inflation and cause a recession.

Trump declared universal tariffs of 10% on imports from all countries and much higher levies on about 60, including the European Union and other countries he says have treated the U.S. unfairly.

Trump said that the massive tariffs will rejuvenate America’s declining manufacturing sector. But most economists think the levies could hurt the economy and expect prices to rise for almost all goods.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Trump’s so-called "Liberation Day" will lead to higher costs for groceries, gas, cars, heat and electric, among other things.

“He’s putting a tax on American families and businesses, and it will mean higher costs on everything from housing to cars to groceries to energy,” Healey said in a statement. “We’re already seeing the negative impacts on our economy – growth is slowing, the stock market is tanking, and odds of a recession are rising.”

How do tariffs work?

Tariffs are taxes on foreign goods shipments to the U.S. They are paid by importers: in this case, American manufacturers or retailers. The cost is typically passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Trump tariff chart: What is Trump’s tariff plan?

Trump’s most recent announcement includes a 10% baseline tariff on goods from all countries.

Trump is also imposing additional tariffs on about 60 countries that a White House official called “the worst offenders.” Trump said these countries contribute most to the U.S. trade deficit.

He declared a national emergency on trade in the U.S. to issue the tariffs.

Trump's universal 10% tariffs are set to go into effect at 12:01 am EDT Saturday, and his reciprocal tariffs will begin April 9. Trump's previously announced 25% tariffs on foreign automobiles and auto parts, are also expected to kick in this week.

What countries are getting hit with tariffs?

The 10% tariff applies to about 185 countries in total, including the mostly penguin-inhabited Heard and McDonald Islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean.

Of the 60 countries given reciprocal tariffs, Southeast Asian countries are among the nations hit with the highest amount, led by Cambodia, 49%; Laos, 48%; and Vietnam, 46%.

New duties for other major U.S. trading partners include an additional 34% tariff on goods from China, a 20% tariff on goods from nations in the European Union; and a 26% tariff on goods from India.

For China, the 34% tariff is on top of recently imposed 20% tariffs on Chinese goods, meaning Chinese imports are effectively hit with a 54% tariff.

Russia, North Korea, Cuba and Belarus are exempt from the tariffs. The White House said they had previously imposed sanctions on each that "preclude any meaningful trade with these nations."

Neighboring Mexico and Canada are exempt also from Trump's latest tariffs, but the 25% tariffs that Trump previously levied on both countries will remain intact. There are some exemptions, though, for goods that are compliant with the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement.

What will get more expensive with tariffs?

Trump’s tariffs are expected to increase prices across the board.

Healey said that consumers would see higher rents and mortgages, heat and electric bills, grocery bills, and car and gas prices.

Economists say that the originally proposed 10% tariff on Canadian oil would likely to cause prices of almost everything to rise as companies need fuel to transport their products around the country. The other 25% tariffs on Canada are expected to impact dairy, housing, and energy prices.

Car prices are especially expected to jump as passenger vehicles and vehicle parts are some of the top imports the U.S. receives from Canada and the EU.

Other top imports from the EU that could be affected are steel, aluminum, and alcohol like French wine and Scottish whiskey.

The cost of many agricultural products will also rise: the U.S. received 51% of its fresh fruit and 69% of its vegetables from Mexico in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tariffs on China will likely increase the cost of electronics like smartphones, laptops, and TVs, as wells as furniture, clothing and toys.

Contributing: Joey Garrison, Rachel Barber