• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

2

Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026

3

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?

1

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

2

Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026

3

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
RetailDonald Trump

Target Goes to Capitol Hill As Retailers Fret Over Trump’s Border Tax

Phil Wahba
By
Phil Wahba
Phil Wahba
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
Phil Wahba
By
Phil Wahba
Phil Wahba
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 24, 2017, 6:34 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Of all of President Donald Trump’s ideas for putting “America first,” the proposal most likely to cause retailers agita is the so-called border adjustment tax.

The tax proposal, which is still very much in flux and months away from any prospect of becoming law, is intended to boost U.S. manufacturing and bring back to America jobs that have gone overseas over the years. Trump has said that companies that shut manufacturing plants and lay off workers in the U.S., only to open new facilities abroad, would pay a 35% tax or tariff on products they ship back to the U.S. market.

For retailers, this would effectively create a border tax on imported goods from many of their suppliers. But a more concrete version of the border tax, currently under consideration by House GOP leaders, would hurt them a different way. The House plan would effectively eliminate their ability to deduct the cost of merchandise they bring into the U.S. Instead, stores would be taxed, at the current 35% corporate rate, on the full selling price of imported merchandise and not just their profit. And it’s all the more terrifying for retailers given that about 97% of all clothing and footwear sold in the U.S., and more than 90% of electronics, are imported. Items like sugar, coffee and many foods could also be hit.

Target (TGT) CEO Brian Cornell recently visited lawmakers in Washington to lobby against the House Republican proposal. The visit by Cornell, first reported by Politico, was confirmed by a Target spokeswoman, who said the retailer was “monitoring closely” the potential impact of any legislation along those lines. A Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) spokesman would only say the company is “tracking the issue.”

In an environment that has seen Trump lash U.S. corporations on Twitter, it’s not surprising for companies to be circumspect about criticizing the new president’s plans. Many companies have been publicly proclaiming their commitment to adding more domestic jobs. Last week, just days before Trump’s inauguration, Walmart announced 10,000 new jobs stemming from initiatives like new stores it had announced before Trump was elected.

The retail industry’s trade group has been more outspoken. Last week, at the National Retail Federation’s annual conference and trade show, NRF CEO Matt Shay took pains to say the industry was “optimistic” about Trump’s presidency, citing the president’s status as a businessman (without mentioning his multiple bankruptcies). But Shay also that the border tax could be “potentially disastrous.”

“This can’t be borne by retailers,” Shay said, adding that extra costs from any new tax or tariff “will be passed on to consumers.” The NRF expects apparel prices, for instance, would immediately rise 15% on the first day of such a tax. Prices for electronics and food with sugar, among many other categories, would also go up sharply, the NRF says. And the NRF applauded when Federal Reserve Bank of New York President and CEO William Dudley said at the conference that a border adjustment tax would have “unintended consequences” for American consumers and be a “risky experiment” for the economy.

An NRF spokeswoman told Fortune on Tuesday that the group is bringing some members to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and their staff, and is organizing a briefing with House staff this week.

The NRF points out that retailers cannot easily or quickly switch to domestic sources because they don’t exist for many goods bought by U.S. consumers. The president’s daughter Ivanka Trump conceded as much last year when confronted about the contradiction of supporting her father’s “Made in the U.S.A.” mantra and the fact that her clothing collections are largely manufactured in China.

For now, retailers are in wait-and-see mode, since any legislation is likely months away from passing, with its details uncertain. Trump himself last week suggested he found some elements of the House GOP proposal too complicated.

As for the NRF, it has found much else to cheer about when it comes to Trump. At the NRF conference, Shay notably pointed to what he sees as easing gridlock in Washington (an easy trick, since it is dominated by Republicans in all branches of government), tax code reform including the discounted repatriation of trillions in corporate profits stashed abroad, and a reduced burden on employers from the repeal of many aspects of the Affordable Care Act.

“We see change and disruption and that’s what voters chose this past November,” said Shay. “This is the chance to move our agenda.”

About the Author
Phil Wahba
By Phil WahbaSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Phil Wahba is a senior writer at Fortune primarily focused on leadership coverage, with a prior focus on retail.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

Gina Rinehart
InvestingSpaceX
Australia’s richest person just bought a SpaceX stake worth more than $1 billion. ‘Elon has done what very few people in history have done’
By Jacqueline MunisJune 15, 2026
10 hours ago
Why Patagonia is risking its progressive brand image with a lawsuit against a drag queen
RetailEnvironment
Why Patagonia is risking its progressive brand image with a lawsuit against a drag queen
By Phil WahbaJune 15, 2026
14 hours ago
gene
Arts & EntertainmentObituary
Gene Shalit, who made film criticism a television institution, dies at 100
By Mark Kennedy and The Associated PressJune 15, 2026
17 hours ago
target
HealthRecalls
FDA recalls Nara Organics baby formula after infant botulism cases in 3 states
By The Associated PressJune 15, 2026
18 hours ago
korea
RetailStarbucks
Starbucks Korea called a tumbler ‘SS Tank’ on a military anniversary. Now every store is closing early
By Kim Tong-Hyung and The Associated PressJune 15, 2026
18 hours ago
‘There simply isn’t enough product for the U.S. customer’: GLP-1 craze eats whey too much protein
RetailFood and drink
‘There simply isn’t enough product for the U.S. customer’: GLP-1 craze eats whey too much protein
By Dee-Ann Durbin and The Associated PressJune 14, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
Success
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
By Preston ForeJune 13, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 15, 2026
17 hours ago
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
Economy
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
By Nick LichtenbergJune 14, 2026
2 days ago
Meet Gwynne Shotwell, the engineer-turned-COO who runs SpaceX in platform heels and is now worth over $2 billion
Startups & Venture
Meet Gwynne Shotwell, the engineer-turned-COO who runs SpaceX in platform heels and is now worth over $2 billion
By Eva RoytburgJune 15, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 15, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 15, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 15, 2026
17 hours ago
Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
Personal Finance
Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
By John W. Diamond and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
4 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.