Fast Retailing CEO Warns of Significant U.S. Impact from Global Tariffs

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U.S. equities reflected cautious sentiment on Thursday as concerns over the escalating impact of global trade tariffs on the retail sector intensified, following recent remarks from Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai. The chief executive of the parent company of Uniqlo highlighted the potential for significant economic repercussions within the United States, prompting plans for price adjustments by the apparel giant.

The Event in Detail

Tadashi Yanai, speaking on September 17, 2025, on the sidelines of a Uniqlo event in New York City, reiterated his profound concerns regarding the economic damage stemming from wide-ranging tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Yanai expressed a stark outlook, stating:

"I'm afraid the world could go bankrupt" and "America is the one that could suffer the most."

Fast Retailing anticipates that these tariffs will incur a roughly 1% impact on its consolidated business profit during the second half of fiscal year 2025. To counteract this, the company plans to raise prices on its products in the U.S. Takeshi Okazaki, Fast Retailing's Chief Financial Officer, further elaborated on the company's strategy during a quarterly earnings conference:

"It is unavoidable that we will be significantly affected from autumn and winter. It will be difficult to absorb all costs. Our approach will be to raise prices where possible and not where it isn't possible, while ultimately focusing on creating a sustainable business that securely generates profits."

The new tariff rates, set by President Trump with an August 1 deadline, include a 30% tariff for goods from Sri Lanka and a 20% U.S. tariff for Vietnam, with trans-shipped products through Vietnam facing a steeper 40% levy. Given that the majority of Uniqlo apparel sold in the U.S. is sourced from manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia and South Asia, the company is particularly susceptible to these changes. For the nine months ending May 2025, Fast Retailing reported a 12.7% year-on-year increase in total revenue, reaching $9.96 billion. Operating profit rose by 8.4% to approximately $1.6 billion. However, operating profits for the three months through May 2025 increased by 1.4% to roughly $1 billion, falling short of the consensus forecast of $1.05 billion. The company's stock value declined over 9% in the first half of 2025, though it remained nearly 6% ahead on a 12-month basis.

Analysis of Market Reaction

The market's reaction primarily stems from the re-emerging focus on the detrimental economic implications of sustained tariff policies. Yanai's comments underscored a pervasive sentiment of uncertainty and a bearish outlook for the Global Trade and Retail Sector, particularly impacting companies reliant on international supply chains and sales in affected markets. The necessity for companies like Fast Retailing to absorb significant costs or pass them onto consumers through price increases signals a broader challenge to profit margins and consumer demand. This environment suggests potential market volatility in related sectors as investors reassess corporate earnings forecasts and supply chain stability.

Broader Context & Implications

Trump-era tariffs, now in their eighth year, have evolved into a structural impediment for global fashion retailers, leading to margin compression and supply chain instability. The Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) projects that these tariffs, as of April 8, 2025, will reduce long-run U.S. GDP by approximately 6% and wages by 5%. A middle-income household is projected to face a $22,000 lifetime loss due to these policies. Furthermore, tariffs are expected to reduce total imports by $6.9 trillion over the next decade.

Other industry players are also grappling with similar challenges. American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) reported a net loss of $69.8 million in Q2 2025, with comparable sales declining by 3% and revenue dropping by 5%. Its CEO, Jay Schottenstein, directly attributed a downward revision of full-year guidance to tariffs, projecting reductions in operating income of $20 million for Q3 and $40-50 million for Q4. Similarly, Adidas has proactively shifted its U.S. product sourcing away from China to countries like Cambodia and Vietnam. However, it still faces exposure to tariff escalations, warning of potential costs of €200 million during the second half of 2025, primarily due to duties on Vietnamese-made goods. The European Union has also responded to U.S. trade policies, announcing a 15% tariff on U.S. goods, including apparel and footwear, in August 2025.

Despite these headwinds, Uniqlo is projected to gain market share in the Asia-Pacific region between now and 2028, having already surpassed Nike as the top brand in Asia-Pacific in 2024. This success highlights the importance of strategic regional focus and a strong product offering amid global trade complexities.

Looking Ahead

Investors and market observers will be closely monitoring several key factors in the coming weeks and months. These include any further developments in U.S. trade policy and the actual implementation of proposed tariffs. The response of consumers to anticipated price increases from retailers like Fast Retailing will be crucial in determining demand elasticity. Additionally, the effectiveness of global retailers' strategies for supply chain diversification and cost mitigation will remain a central theme. Forthcoming economic reports, particularly those related to inflation and global trade volumes, along with earnings disclosures from other major international retailers, will offer further insights into the ongoing economic impact of these tariff regimes.