5 Costco Items Retirees Need To Buy Now Amid Trade Wars
Written by
Stacy Sare Cohen
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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If restocking your pantry or upgrading that kitchen appliance has taken a back seat, now might be the time to shift into high gear — Trump’s tariffs are set to expire on July 9, a change that could impact prices, even for Costco shoppers who save money buying in bulk.
Roughly one-third of Costco’s inventory is imported, CEO RonVachris told Entrepreneur. In March 2025, most Costco imports came from China (1,731 shipments), Norway (72 shipments) and India (41 shipments), reported the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). Costco also sources goods from Canada, Mexico, Asia and the European Union (EU).
With the 90-day pause on tariffs expiring soon, retirees living on a fixed income or those wanting to stretch their dollar may want to take advantage of current Costco prices before they could get more expensive. Here are the Costco items retirees may want to stock up on now.
Seafood
Retirees who freeze seafood should consider buying in bulk. Eighty percent of seafood is imported, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While buying from overseas manufacturers might have kept prices down in the past, this could change when reciprocal tariffs resume on Canada (25%), Vietnam (46%), India (26%) and Indonesia (32%).
Cooking OilÂ
The price of olive oil is already sky-high, but it can even climb higher if tariffs increase. Olive oil is imported from the Mediterranean countries of Italy and Spain, which face an EU tariff of 4.4% to 50%.
If you like to cook with avocado oil, consider stocking up your pantry shelves to avoid the 5% tariff imposed on Mexico — one of the largest producers of avocados worldwide.
SpicesÂ
India is a leading producer and exporter of spices, including cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and cloves. You’ll find others that go into tasty, aromatic and healthy dishes as well, such as Kirkland vanilla bean, which comes from Madagascar off the Indian Ocean, facing a 47% tariff, according to according to Eating Well. Spices that come from China include peppercorn, cinnamon, ginger, chile and star anise.
Electronics
If you’ve been considering buying a new iPhone from Costco, the price might be higher in a month. President Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on Apple products manufactured outside the U.S. The countries Apple has used for manufacturing iPhones include China, India and Vietnam. Other electronic products, such as TVs and headphones, are manufactured in China, the EU, Asia, and Mexico.
Appliances
If you’re planning on upgrading your home appliances, you may want to purchase them sooner rather than later. The largest manufacturer of appliances is in China. LG Products, one of Costco’s brands, sells large and small appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and other appliances manufactured in China and South Korea.
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