U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 10 percent tariffs on the remaining US$300 billion of Chinese imports from Sept. 1 will hurt consumer purchases, raise prices further and limit hiring, four large U.S. retail trade groups warned.

Trump on Thursday moved to impose fresh tariffs after U.S. and Chinese negotiators failed to kick-start trade talks between the world’s two largest economies.

The National Retail Federation, which counts Walmart Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. among its members, called the decision to impose new tariffs a flawed strategy that will hurt American consumers.

“We are disappointed that the administration is doubling-down on a flawed tariff strategy that is already slowing U.S. economic growth, creating uncertainty and discouraging investment,” senior vice president for government relations David French said.

Another influential trade lobby, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), which counts retailers like Walmart, Target Corp. and Home Depot among its members, said the tariffs will raise prices for everyday items like clothing, toys, home goods and electronics.

“This new 10 percent tariff is a direct hit on consumer products and family budgets ... American families shouldn’t be a pawn in this trade war,” Hun Quach, RILA’s vice president of international trade, said in a statement.

Other trade groups like the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America said the tariffs could have a chilling effect on hiring.

“President Trump is, in effect, using American families as a hostage in his trade war negotiations,” said the group’s president, Matt Priest.

Stephen Lamar, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, said the tariffs would be “hugely disruptive.” He noted that while Trump uses tariffs as a negotiating tool, he had made good on previous threats in regard to Chinese imports.

The measure will hit U.S. consumers far harder than Chinese manufacturers, who produce 42 percent of apparel and 69 percent of footwear purchased in the United States, Lamar said.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, in May said prices for shoppers will rise due to higher tariffs on goods from China.

(SD-Agencies)