Tariff costs to companies this year to hit $1.2 trillion, with consumers taking most of the hit, S&P says

Tariff costs to companies this year to hit $1.2 trillion, with consumers taking most of the hit, S&P - Professional coverage

Trump Tariffs to Cost Companies $1.2 Trillion in 2025, Consumers Bear Bulk of Burden: S&P Analysis

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Massive Financial Impact on Global Supply Chains

According to a groundbreaking analysis from S&P Global, President Donald Trump’s tariff policies will impose staggering costs of $1.2 trillion on global businesses in 2025, with the majority of these expenses ultimately being passed through to consumers worldwide. The firm’s white paper, released Thursday, indicates this conservative estimate stems from data provided by approximately 15,000 sell-side analysts covering 9,000 companies that contribute to S&P’s proprietary research indexes. This comprehensive S&P analysis of Trump tariffs reveals how trade barriers function as systemic taxes on supply chains, diverting substantial capital toward governments while creating ripple effects across global markets.

The report’s authors, Daniel Sandberg and Drew Bowers, S&P Global’s senior quantitative analyst, emphasized that “the sources of this trillion-dollar squeeze are broad.” They explained that “tariffs and trade barriers act as taxes on supply chains and divert cash to governments; logistics delays and freight costs compound the effect.” This financial pressure represents what they term “a systemic transfer of wealth from corporate profits to workers, suppliers, governments, and infrastructure investors,” fundamentally reshaping economic relationships across sectors.

Consumer Burden Exceeds Corporate Impact

Contrary to administration officials’ assertions that exporters would bear the greater share of tariff costs, the S&P analysis presents a different reality. Under conservative estimates, only one-third of the $1.2 trillion burden will be absorbed by companies, while consumers will shoulder the remaining two-thirds through higher prices. The breakdown includes a direct $907 billion impact on covered companies within S&P’s analysis, with additional costs affecting uncovered firms, private equity, and venture capital portfolios.

Sandberg noted the particular strain on household budgets, stating that “with real output declining, consumers are paying more for less, suggesting that this two-thirds share represents a lower bound on their true burden.” This dynamic emerges as the latest challenge for global corporations navigating increasingly complex trade environments, similar to the pressures highlighted in recent confrontations between Canada and Stellantis over potential US manufacturing shifts.

Implementation and Expansion of Tariff Measures

The Trump administration initiated this new tariff regime in April with across-the-board 10% duties on all goods entering the United States, accompanied by individual “reciprocal” tariffs targeting dozens of specific countries. Since the initial implementation, the White House has engaged in numerous negotiations and agreements while simultaneously expanding tariffs on specific product categories including kitchen cabinets, automobiles, and timber.

This escalating trade policy environment creates additional operational challenges for multinational corporations, compounding existing pressures from other market disruptions. The situation mirrors the operational difficulties companies faced during incidents like the recent YouTube outage that disrupted service for 90 minutes, though with substantially greater financial consequences and longer-term implications for global trade flows.

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Broader Corporate Implications and Responses

The massive financial impact documented in S&P’s analysis comes as corporations worldwide are implementing various strategies to manage rising costs. Many companies are pursuing operational efficiencies and restructuring initiatives similar to Nestlé’s recent announcement of major workforce reductions affecting 1,600 positions. These measures reflect the challenging environment businesses face as they attempt to mitigate the effects of tariff-related expenses on their bottom lines.

Meanwhile, technology companies continue developing products for cost-conscious consumers, exemplified by Apple’s potential $599 MacBook targeting Windows 10 migrants seeking affordable alternatives. Such market responses highlight how companies across sectors are adapting to the new economic reality shaped by trade policies and their associated costs.

Long-term Economic Consequences

The S&P report underscores that the $1.2 trillion estimate likely represents a conservative projection, with potential for greater economic disruption as tariffs persist and potentially expand. The analysis suggests that the cumulative effect of these policies extends beyond immediate financial costs to include long-term structural changes in global supply chains, investment patterns, and consumer behavior.

As businesses and consumers continue to adapt to these new economic realities, the full impact of Trump’s tariff policies may extend well beyond the immediate financial figures, potentially reshaping global trade relationships for years to come. The transfer of wealth from corporate profits to other economic participants represents a fundamental shift in how trade barriers redistribute economic value across the global economy.

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