I tracked where every item was from during my Costco trip and saw just how much the US relies on global trade

Business Insider

29-04-2025

During my monthly Costco shopping trip, I kept track of where every item I purchased was from.
Most produce was imported from Mexico and Central America, which have been hit with steep tariffs.
Trump implemented a 90-day pause on the "reciprocal" tariffs announced in April.
President Donald Trump's trade war has made shoppers, including me, pay closer attention to what they buy and where it's from.
Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs on over 180 countries are expected to raise consumer prices on cars, electronics, and groceries. Some customers have begun following Mark Cuban's advice and stocking up on essentials before some tariffs take effect following a 90-day pause.
On my latest Costco shopping trip, I tracked where every item I bought was from to see how much of my grocery list could be affected by tariffs.
Take a look at my monthly Costco restock.
I shop at Costco in New York City about once a month to stock up on groceries and household items.
The first thing I put in my cart was mini fruit bars from That's It, which are produced in the US with both American and imported ingredients.
While the bars are made in the US, according to the company's website That's It sources ingredients from the US as well as countries with "reciprocal" tariffs, including Peru (10%), Mexico (25%), the Philippines (17%), India (26%), Belgium (20%), Madagascar (47%), and Canada (25%).
The KIND bars I bought also combined domestic and imported products.
The box said the bars were made in the USA "with domestic and imported ingredients," while KIND's website says all KIND products are manufactured in Austria and Great Britain.
KIND did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Austria is subject to the 20% tariff as it is part of the European Union, while the United Kingdom receives a 10% tariff.
A box of 22 KIND bars costs $20.
Kirkland's organic roasted seaweed snack was imported from South Korea, which Trump imposed a 25% tariff on.
Passion orange guava juice, also known as "POG," was produced in the US.
Costco's Kirkland-brand lemonade didn't say where it was produced, but Costco's US branch distributes it.
Barilla's packaging said their pasta was "made in the USA with USA and imported ingredients."
The pasta variety pack, which contained farfalle, elbow macaroni, and rotini for easy weeknight dinners, was priced at $9.49.
Nature's Path organic granola, which I like to mix into yogurt, was labeled "Product of the USA."
"Nature's Path does not currently purchase any products internationally that would require 'product of…' labeling," Nature's Path wrote on their website.
A 35.3-ounce bag of pumpkin seed and flax granola retailed for $8.99.
This tomato medley was grown in Mexico and distributed by a Canadian company. Before his "Liberation Day" announcement, Trump had already imposed a 25% tariff on both countries.
Mexico and Canada were not included in Trump's April list of "reciprocal" tariffs because he'd already announced a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods that aren't compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The 2-pound package of tomatoes retailed for $7.99.
Individual packets of mashed avocado were imported from Mexico.
The package of 16 individual avocado cups costs $12.99. I most often use them to make avocado toast.
The raspberries I added to my cart were another product of Mexico.
The 12-ounce container retailed for $5.99.
My favorite mini cucumbers were from Canada, which, like Mexico, had previously received a 25% tariff.
The purple grapes Costco had in stock were from Chile, where Trump imposed a 10% tariff.
Three pounds of purple grapes were priced at $7.49.
Costco's bananas were imported from Ecuador, which was also hit with a 10% tariff.
The Kirkland organic frozen broccoli I bought came from Ecuador, as well.
This pack of four microwavable 1-pound bags of frozen broccoli, priced at $9.49, makes it easy to prepare a side of vegetables for any meal quickly.
I picked up a pineapple from Costa Rica, which was levied with a 10% tariff.
Baby carrots were among the few produce items I added to my cart, grown in the US.
The organic baby carrots came in two 32-ounce bags and cost $6.99.
My go-to Pink Lady apples were grown in the US, as well.
A twin pack of Stroehmann Dutch Country whole wheat bread was baked in the US.
Stroehmann is a subsidiary of Bimbo Bakeries USA, the largest commercial baking company in the US that also owns Sara Lee, Little Bites, and Entenmann's, among other brands.
Two 24-ounce loaves cost $5.49.
Nasoya tofu said it was made in the US with "100% North American soybeans," which could mean they're sourced from other North American countries.
Nasoya did not immediately respond to an inquiry regarding sourcing its soybeans.
I use extra-firm tofu as a meatless protein in numerous recipes in my rotation.
Four packages of tofu came in a box and sold for $6.79.
Costco's house brand of two-dozen cage-free large eggs was from the US.
When I shopped at Costco in February, I had to rush to grab the last carton of eggs due to supply-chain issues amid the avian flu epidemic.
Thankfully, the refrigerated section was stocked with an ample supply of eggs this time.
The carton I bought cost $7.69.
Lactaid lactose-free milk was American-made.
The only non-food items I bought were American-made Kleenex tissues and a bouquet grown in Colombia, subject to a 10% tariff.
Out of the 23 items I purchased, at least 12 were imported or contained imported ingredients.
I spent $218.28 on about a month's worth of groceries. Roughly half of my cart was full of items from countries subject to the new "reciprocal" tariffs, which shows me how far-reaching Trump's trade policies are and how much my grocery bill may increase.