Global grocer in Kansas City shifts strategy as tariffs target Chinese imports

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) - Businesses across the Kansas City metro are preparing for major economic impacts after China imposed a 125 percent tariff on U.S. goods last week. In response, the U.S. announced a retaliatory tariff of 145 percent, sending shockwaves through international markets and local supply chains.

Pan-Asia Supermarket in Overland Park, which sources products from across Asia, says it is already making adjustments to its operations. Shoppers rely on the store for specialty items and staples from countries like Thailand, Japan and Indonesia. Roughly 30 percent of the supermarket’s inventory comes from China and could soon be affected by price hikes.

“A lot of us — there’s a lot of worry about this,” said Siew Tan, product manager at Pan-Asia Supermarket.

Hot pot soup from China is a customer favorite that currently costs about $4.49 apiece. If prices on items like this go up, Tan said the store plans to rebrand by focusing on goods from other countries and will negotiate bulk orders with vendors to cut down on costs.

“I think with a high-volume order for an item, we are able to bargain with the vendor in of the cost — to make up for the increased tariff by lowering the wholesale cost,” she said.

For international shoppers like Tanya Huynh, who moved to Kansas City from Vietnam, access to authentic ingredients is more than a convenience — it’s a connection to home.

“There are limited Vietnamese goods around Kansas City, so it makes it harder now if we can’t have access to the cultural food that we need,” Huynh said.

Vietnamese products had previously been hit with a 46 percent tariff before former President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause last week. Huynh said her family regularly cooks with Chinese herbs and ingredients and worries that rising prices could force them to turn to American alternatives. Her hope in that case is that pricing will remain competitive.

“We love our kitchen culture and traditions, so we don’t like to change as much,” she said. “I hope the government will have a solution for this — people are struggling right now.”

Pan-Asia staff say they will continue to negotiate with vendors in hopes of keeping shelves stocked and prices fair.

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