The mechanism: Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports aren't a one-time event — they're a standing lever USTR can pull, and did again with the 2024 four-year review, which layered new and expanded duties onto categories including apparel, footwear, electronics, and other consumer goods with staggered effective dates running into 2026. Unlike a grocery bill, which is largely domestic and tariff-insulated, general merchandise — the stuff that fills a Target aisle — is disproportionately sourced from China. That means the tariff bill doesn't land evenly across retail. It lands hardest on whoever sells the most "stuff" and the least food.