May 29 Update 

According to the Washington Post, most of President Trump’s tariffs were halted late last night (Wednesday, May 28th) by a US trade court in a sharp rebuke of the president’s signature trade war policy. This decision was made by the little-known Court of International Trade, as they announced that Trump over extended his authority in imposing tariffs on all imported goods. This brought an immediate, though possibly temporary, halt to the trade wars. However, import taxes on specific products including automobiles, auto parts, steel and aluminum will remain in effect.

Everything That’s Happened So Far

Lately, it seems like the only thing anyone ever talks about is the recent tariff proposal. Almost every day I hear someone ask, “So....what’s actually going on with those tariffs?” to which someone else will say something like “Man, I don’t know, but have you seen the price of gas lately?” 

And since I don’t really feel like talking about how gas is $6 in my city right now, I think it would be a good idea to give an update on the stress-inducing and seemingly mysterious tariff situation. 

The Key Updates 

As of May 8, 2025, President Trump claimed India has offered to drop tariffs on US goods as part of a potential trade deal, which has been a relief for many who use India as a manufacturing hub including General Electric, Apple, and even Microsoft. 

Speaking at a business event in Qatar, Trump claimed that India is "willing to literally charge us no tariff." He also said he urged Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand production in India and that Apple has pledged to increase manufacturing in the US. Pretty soon, you may start seeing “Made in the U.S.” on your newest iPhone! 

Retail Changes  

In the retail space, Walmart warned that rising costs from tariffs will soon lead to higher prices for shoppers, after the company’s CEO decided to keep overseas suppliers despite potential shipping cost increases — a move that has angered many consumers. 

"We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins," CEO Doug McMillon said. 

Additionally, the US and China paused most tariffs for 90 days as of April 9, the 90-day and is set to expire on July 8, 2025 to give companies with overseas ports time to work through their possible changes. 

"The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday. He added that the 90-day pause could also be extended, saying, "as long as there is good faith effort, engagement, and constructive dialogue, then we will keep moving forward." 

The Middle East and Europe 

Meanwhile, Trump's Middle East visit has opened the door for Saudi Arabia and the UAE to push ahead with their AI ambitions, with companies like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices set to supply advanced tech between the two nations. 

There is also an optimistic outlook regarding US policy as Trump announced a trade deal with the UK, hoping to build a mutually beneficial relationship. US negotiations with the UK's neighbors in the EU have taken a bit of a different tone, with the EU unveiling a list of US products it will target with tariffs just in case the initial trade negotiations fail.  

The Full Timeline 

Here’s where things stand so far with tariffs. 

What Does This Mean for You? 

As lighting professionals, we have seen the effects of the tariffs on supply chains within the built environment, with shipping times being delayed and prices rising. However, it seems that the fear of the initial 145% tariff on goods coming from China is not something we have to worry about anymore, as these numbers have fallen significantly.  

The number still isn’t at 0%, so if you are purchasing from an overseas supplier, be sure to check their current tariff percentages. As an example, lumber, steel, and automobile parts across the board are shown to have a 25% tariff cost, which can be a significant price increase for builders and auto sellers. Meanwhile, clothing, household appliances, and food have hit a lower percentage, holding around 10%. Shopping from manufacturers like Shein, Temu, and even some Amazon shops won’t be a noticeable disruption. However, large freight and other supplies will need to adjust until the numbers potentially drop. 

All in all, things seem to be progressing slowly yet smoothly toward mutually beneficial tariffs as each country irons out the finer details of their trade deals. While things still seem to be up in the air a bit, most of the mess surrounding initial, scarier tariff numbers appears to be subsiding as we receive additional updates.