It’s been a while since I have had the ability to publish on 2PM and there’s no better way to return by examining how presidential influence may reshape retail and eCommerce. After nearly three months of slowly recovering physical capacity, I am happy to be back in a rhythm.
Few presidencies have begun with such immediate and wide-ranging impacts on business strategy. Trump’s return to office has introduced an era of swift economic moves, regulatory upheaval, and intense cultural polarization—all promising significant disruption and opportunities for retailers, logistics providers, and technology firms alike. This isn’t a partisan take, but rather a pragmatic analysis of how executive power and strategic business decisions intersect.
Retailers navigating this landscape successfully will need agility in supply-chain management, proactive engagement in regulatory compliance, and strategic alignment with shifting political and consumer priorities.
The initial months of Trump’s renewed presidency have already signaled clear priorities: corporate tax reform, aggressive trade policies, and heightened scrutiny of international commerce. The anticipated revival of corporate tax cuts similar to those from 2017 is likely to provide significant financial breathing room to major retailers. Companies like Walmart, Target, and Amazon are expected to reinvest tax savings into wage increases, digital expansions, and omnichannel capabilities, reinforcing their competitive positions.
However, Trump’s renewed push on strict immigration policy and tighter labor regulations could exacerbate labor shortages, especially in retail warehousing and logistics. Rising labor costs and staffing bottlenecks may force companies to accelerate automation investments, reshaping operational strategies and potentially widening the gap between large enterprises with the resources to adapt quickly and smaller firms that may struggle to keep pace.
Perhaps the most impactful moves from the administration involve global trade. Trump’s reintroduction of broad-based tariffs targeting imports, especially from China, India, and certain European nations, has sent shockwaves through retail supply chains. Categories like apparel, consumer electronics, furniture, and home goods are again facing dramatic price fluctuations. Companies like Wayfair, IKEA, and Best Buy, heavily reliant on imported merchandise, are now under immense pressure to reconfigure sourcing away from tariff-heavy regions, diversifying toward Mexico, Vietnam, and other ASEAN countries.
Trump’s second term has intensified cultural divisions, causing brands to reassess their messaging carefully. Retailers must navigate heightened consumer activism, where brand choices have become proxies for political identity. Brands that overtly align with or against the administration risk consumer backlash or fierce loyalty. For instance, calculated enterprise brands like Nike, Patagonia, and Yeti, each known for strong value-driven identities, must delicately balance activism with business pragmatism to avoid alienating substantial customer segments.
Logistics and fulfillment have also emerged as critical battlegrounds. The administration has announced heightened enforcement of customs rules, particularly targeting the de minimis loophole previously exploited by eCommerce players like Shein and Wish for duty-free imports under $800. This crackdown, one that seems to be wavering in enforcement, would force significant adjustments among cross-border eCommerce players and prompts strategic shifts toward nearshoring and reshoring efforts.
Internationally, Trump’s presidency has begun to reshape traditional trade alliances, creating uncertainty but also opportunity. Diplomatic friction with China, ongoing tension with the EU, and renegotiations of agreements with Mexico and Canada demand retailers and suppliers to maintain agile and geographically diverse supply chains. Currency fluctuations due to geopolitical tensions will add complexity for multinational brands managing pricing and profitability.
Yet amidst disruption lie clear opportunities. Companies emphasizing American-made products could benefit significantly, as tariffs push retailers to source domestically. Technology startups are DOA without significant runaway. But defense-focused firms, like Anduril, Havoc, and Palantir may see growth opportunities as Trump prioritizes domestic security and defense spending.
Benefit or Suffer?
After some significant research, I identified 20 companies poised to either benefit or suffer significantly under Trump’s renewed presidency:
Likely to Benefit:
- Amazon – Positioned to benefit through tax relief and robust domestic logistics infrastructure.
- Walmart – Expected gains from reinvesting tax cuts into digital and logistics enhancements.
- Shopify – Stands to gain as retailers pivot to independent, resilient eCommerce platforms.
- FedEx – Increased demand from companies avoiding USPS unpredictability.
- UPS – Benefits alongside FedEx from growing private logistics needs.
- New Balance – Boosted by increased tariffs making domestically produced goods more attractive.
- Tesla – Gains from pro-manufacturing incentives and robust domestic EV production.
- Peloton – Positioned well through domestic sourcing and growing discretionary consumer spend.
- Target – Likely to thrive through strategic investments in domestic sourcing and eCommerce.
- Anduril Industries – Expected to benefit from increased defense budgets and border security initiatives.
Likely to Suffer:
- Shein – Severely impacted by tightened customs regulations and tariff policies.
- Alibaba – Faces renewed scrutiny and potential barriers in U.S. market operations.
- Wayfair – Vulnerable to increased tariffs on imported furniture and home goods.
- Wish – Will struggle under stricter international shipping regulations and postal rate increases.
- Harley-Davidson – Faces international retaliatory tariffs affecting global competitiveness.
- IKEA – Pressured by increased tariffs affecting imported European home products.
- Overstock.com – Margin pressures due to tariff impacts on imported home décor.
- H&M – Challenged by tariffs on apparel imports, forcing higher prices or reduced profitability.
- Patagonia – Forced to navigate increased material import costs conflicting with sustainability commitments.
- Allbirds – Affected by supply chain volatility, requiring strategic sourcing adjustments to mitigate tariff impacts.
Beyond policies themselves, key figures within Trump’s administration are also poised to influence the retail and eCommerce landscape.
The Acolytes
Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI Director, represents the administration’s firm “America First” approach to national security and technology. Patel has consistently voiced concerns over U.S. dependence on foreign technology, particularly from China. His previous criticism of tech leaders and scrutiny over corporate ties to foreign entities suggest future policies emphasizing stringent oversight of eCommerce platforms and data privacy. Patel’s dual stance, publicly criticizing monopolistic tech practices while previously holding interests in China-based eCommerce giant Shein, highlights potential internal complexities indicative of the greater Trump administration. Retailers should anticipate stricter enforcement of technology imports, targeted scrutiny of foreign platforms such as Shein or Temu, and possible disruptions for brands heavily reliant on China-based supply chains.
Pam Bondi, now serving as U.S. Attorney General, signals a regulatory shift toward deregulation with selective enforcement, particularly concerning corporate governance and consumer protection. Bondi’s past moves to pause enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) reflect a belief that excessive corporate oversight limits American competitiveness globally. However, Bondi’s targeted criticism of corporate DEI initiatives suggests increased regulatory scrutiny of corporate social responsibility practices. Retailers might navigate fewer hurdles in international expansion but must simultaneously review internal diversity and inclusion policies to avoid potential investigations. Bondi’s immigration policies, favoring stringent labor regulations, could also exacerbate existing labor shortages in retail and logistics sectors, prompting accelerated adoption of automation technologies.
Pete Hegseth, appointed Secretary of Defense, brings a nationalist and protectionist economic ideology to the administration. Hegseth publicly supports aggressive tariffs and economic confrontation as tools for national security, notably advocating tough stances on China and even traditional U.S. allies. His backing of higher tariffs and strict export controls will likely create additional friction and cost pressures for retailers importing goods from affected regions. However, Hegseth’s advocacy for bolstering domestic production and infrastructure improvements offers potential long-term benefits for companies shifting to U.S.-based sourcing strategies. Retail brands emphasizing American-made goods or aligning with defense and patriotic themes—like Anduril Industries or veteran-founded startups—could particularly benefit from Hegseth’s policies.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leading the Department of Health and Human Services, injects a distinct populist and consumer-protectionist stance into the administration. Kennedy’s focus on public health and skepticism towards big corporations, especially in food and pharmaceuticals, may translate into tightened product safety regulations and increased transparency requirements in retail offerings. His early actions, including a crackdown on artificial additives and enhanced labeling initiatives, will force retailers to prioritize health-conscious product lines and rigorous compliance standards. Kennedy’s populist rhetoric against monopolistic practices also suggests potential support for antitrust actions aimed at breaking up dominant eCommerce platforms, aligning with broader bipartisan skepticism toward Big Tech.
Together, these administration figures embody the complex interplay of nationalism, deregulation, protectionism, and populist consumer advocacy.
Their combined influence suggests a retail environment marked by heightened geopolitical risk, selective regulatory enforcement, increased domestic manufacturing incentives, and growing consumer demands for transparency and safety. Retailers navigating this landscape successfully will need agility in supply-chain management, proactive engagement in regulatory compliance, and strategic alignment with shifting political and consumer priorities.
Ultimately, Trump’s presidency highlights how executive decisions reverberate through global commerce, shaping retail strategies and redefining competitive landscapes. Retailers that anticipate and adapt swiftly to these shifts—embracing agility, geographical diversification, and strategic alignment—will emerge stronger. Those that fail to respond effectively will face considerable challenges, underscoring the essential connection between political foresight and business success.
Research, Data, and Insights by Web Smith
Editor’s Note: I am returning to form after a slow recovery from a December 2024 heart incident that continues to impact me in ways that have diminished my capacity. Sorry about that, I’m good though.
Sources:
- Tax Policy Center
- The Wall Street Journal
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Bloomberg Retail Analysis
- Business Insider – Amazon and USPS Analysis
- CNBC Trade Coverage
- Federal Reserve Consumer Confidence Index
- Harvard Business Review
- New York Times Brand Coverage
- Retail Dive
- Deloitte Retail Outlook
- McKinsey Supply Chain Reports
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Financial Times
- Fortune – Defense Industry Outlook