The US-China trade war is still very much a thing in 2026 and it’s hitting me—and probably you—in the wallet in the dumbest, most everyday ways possible.
I’m writing this from my couch in the Phoenix suburbs right now, feet up on a coffee table that’s wobbling because one leg is held together with duct tape (thanks, inflation + tariffs). Outside it’s 82 degrees in February which is just wrong, the AC is humming, and I’m staring at a $22 DoorDash receipt for two tacos that should’ve cost $14. That’s not all DoorDash greed. A chunk of that creep is the trade war tariffs working their way through the supply chain like a slow-motion stomachache.
I used to think tariffs were this big geopolitical chess move that mostly affected soybean farmers and steel plants. Turns out they also affect whether I can afford new running shoes without crying a little.
My Dumb “I Didn’t Notice” Phase (2018–2020)
Back when the US-China trade war first blew up I was… not paying attention.
Like at all.
I vaguely remember Trump tweeting about China and unfair trade and thought “cool, whatever, pass the wings.” Then my favorite cheap wireless earbuds died and the replacement was suddenly $15 more. I blamed “supply chain issues from COVID” even though COVID hadn’t hit yet. Genius move, Montu.
It wasn’t until 2020 when I tried to buy Christmas presents early and everything was either out of stock or jacked up 20–30% that I finally went “wait… is this the tariffs?”
Yes. Yes it was.
Section 301 tariffs on List 3 and List 4A goods (basically a ton of consumer crap—luggage, electronics, toys, clothing) were still in full force. Companies passed most of the cost to us. Shocking, I know.
Where We Actually Are Right Now (February 2026)
The US-China trade war never really ended.
Phase One deal? More like Phase “Please Buy More American Stuff” that China mostly ignored.
Biden kept almost all the Trump-era China tariffs, then piled on new ones:
- 100% on Chinese electric vehicles (lol good luck selling those here anyway)
- 50% on solar cells and semiconductors
- 25% on batteries, steel, aluminum, medical gloves, port cranes, etc.
Just this month I saw headlines that the USTR is reviewing whether to hike even more categories because “national security” and “overcapacity.” So the trade war tariffs are basically on life support but nobody’s pulling the plug.
For me personally:
- My last pair of workout leggings? $48 → $62 in under two years
- Replacement AirPod case? Was $29, now $41 with “import fee” tacked on
- Even the cheap plastic storage bins at Target feel noticeably pricier
I’m not imagining it. Prices on tariffed categories are up an average 10–20% more than non-tariffed stuff according to the data nerds I trust.
The Stuff That Actually Pisses Me Off Day-to-Day
Here’s my real-life US-China tariffs hit list right now:
- Phone accessories (cases, chargers, stands) — always feel like I’m getting robbed
- Small kitchen appliances — toasters, blenders, air fryers (the ones that aren’t $200+ anyway)
- Fast fashion & athletic wear — the $15 tees are now $22–25
- Holiday decorations & party supplies — Halloween was brutal last year
- Car repair parts — my mechanic literally said “Chinese parts are killing me”
Meanwhile companies are scrambling:
Some moved to Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico → tags say “Made in Vietnam” now
Some just eat thinner margins
Some straight-up raise prices and hope we don’t notice
We notice.
The Embarrassing Personal Confessions Section
I once spent 45 minutes in Home Depot comparing two cordless drills just to find one that had fewer Chinese components.
Ended up buying the more expensive one “to support American manufacturing.”
Then I got home, read the fine print, and realized like 60% of the parts were still from China anyway.
Felt very smart.
Also I tried the “buy local” thing with coffee. Bought beans from an Arizona roaster. Cool. Then realized my grinder, drip machine, kettle, and favorite mug were all tariff-impacted imports.
Patriotism: 0. Hypocrisy: 100.
Okay So What Now? (My Non-Expert Survival Tips)
I’m not telling you to start a revolution or anything. I’m just trying to not go broke buying socks.
What I actually do:
- Wait for Black Friday / Prime Day / random sales because prices aren’t dropping otherwise
- Buy refurbished or open-box for tech whenever possible
- Check “country of origin” on bigger purchases (doesn’t always help, but sometimes does)
- Accept that $12 Temu junk now costs $18–22 delivered and move on with my life
The US-China trade war isn’t vanishing in 2026. It’s just quieter now—less dramatic tweets, more boring policy memos, same higher prices.
If any of this is ringing true for you—what item has pissed you off the most price-wise lately? Drop it below. Misery loves company and I’m clearly in the mood.
For actual non-ranty reading I keep these tabs open: