My grocery bill has doubled amid Trump's tariffs game

Southern California has plenty of fresh produce, food items, and household goods imported from Mexico. I tried my best to find cheap options, but nothing fit my liking. Everything cost much more, even basic vegetables like cabbage, tomatoes, and onions. Higher-end products, like avocados, were shockingly expensive. A year ago, an avocado was $1.50. Now, it's $2.50.

I do not buy many Canadian products except for maple syrup, so I have not felt the full impact of the tariffs against Canada. But with Trump's back-and-forth decisions—imposing tariffs one day, delaying them the next—it is hard to say what is coming next. Luckily, I do not work in trade law or international imports. If I did, I would probably lose my mind over this whole ordeal.

A grocery store in the U.S. Illustration photo by Pexels

Sadly, my colleagues are not as fortunate. Since they specialize in trade laws and taxes, representing businesses in cross-border deals, they struggle to keep up with Trump's unpredictability. Instead of advising clients, they are glued to their phones for the latest trade updates. But even then, they have no idea what tariffs Trump might impose an hour later.

For example, a shipment from Canada to the U.S. could face a vastly different tax rate if delayed by just one hour. How can lawyers give sound advice to businesses when the laws change so unpredictably?

Meanwhile, products primarily imported from Mexico have also shot up in price. Papayas, fresh bananas, and large sapodillas are now absurdly expensive. Recently, I stopped buying papayas. Maybe I have developed a habit of saving from growing up poor, but seeing my grocery bill nearly double made me feel like I was reliving my childhood, where every cent counted.

Trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada is vast and tightly linked. Every day, goods, raw materials, and labor flow across the borders. Tariffs do not just raise prices—they throw businesses off balance. A supplier shipping goods today has already locked in contracts with buyers across the border. But if tomorrow's tax rates change, that business could take a major hit. To avoid losses, businesses raise prices in advance to cover potential tariff increases.

The idea that some businesses might lower prices to attract customers is a fantasy. Only well-funded companies can afford temporary price cuts, and even they will not last long before they go under. In the end, prices will always rise.

Last week, I told myself I would not cave to Trump's tariff game. Instead, I spent time tracking stock market trends. When Trump threatens new tariffs, stocks drop. Investors rush to buy cheap shares, hoping to sell them for a profit once the market rebounds.

I also heard people say Trump's threats were nothing more than a setup for insider trading. If you knew in advance when Trump would impose or delay tariffs, you could predict which stocks to buy or sell. Trump himself does not need to trade—his inner circle can do it for him. That theory explains his constant policy changes and the bizarre logic behind his tariff decisions.

Besides, slapping tariffs on Canada makes no sense. Canada is not exporting drugs or illegal immigrants to the U.S. The country has always been America's friendly neighbor to the north, never causing trouble. Trump never had issues with Canada—until suddenly, he did. Now, people are left guessing why.

*Khanh Huynh is a Vietnamese lawyer living and working in the U.S.