President Trump has set in motion a 10% tariff, in essence, an additional tax on goods imported into the United States, effective immediately. This new tax applies to nearly all countries, exception being China which faces a staggering 125% tariff. The President retains the right to hike the tariffs for other countries, but such increases have been kept on hold for the next 90 days.

The pertinent question on every American's mind is the impact of these tariffs on the cost of groceries, particularly key supplies, health foods and daily necessities like coffee and chocolate. Put into perspective, grocery prices have already seen an increase of over 20% since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to David Ortega, a professor specializing in food economics and policy at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Dr. Ortega warns that the new tariffs can potentially result in a further surge in food prices. "Being dependent on foreign supply for several seasonal food items, these extra costs will inevitably be transferred to the American consumers," he observes. Such a scenario is particularly daunting amid the existing trend of price hikes felt by consumers.

The impending price surge might have an effect on both healthy and junk food, but luxury health foods commonly known as superfoods, could burn the biggest hole in your pocket. Several of these nutritious food items also act as excellent sources of antioxidants and help protect against diseases like cancer and heart problems. But the tariffs may significantly add to the cost of these purchases.

Dark chocolate, for example, may face the direct brunt of these tariffs.

About a third of the chocolate imported into the U.S. is sourced from Ivory Coast and Ecuador, while the Hershey Company imports cocoa beans from a vast number of countries. These imports are subject to the baseline 10% tariff, which will most likely lead to an increase in the cost of your favorite chocolate bar, says Dr. Ortega.

Other key kitchen ingredients, like olive oil, mostly imported from European countries are also likely to see a price hike, with food industry analyst Phil Lempert predicting price escalation. Lempert told NPR, "Olive oil prices have skyrocketed and are set to climb even higher.”

A similar predicament is likely to impact the price of berries, known for their nutrient richness, and coffee. Much of these food items are imported from Latin America, and considering these countries are subject to 10% tariff, a price hike seems inevitable, predicts Thilmany, a professor of agricultural and resource economics at Colorado State University.

"At a time when people find it difficult to find cheaper substitutes for luxuries like coffee, a price increase can be burdensome," he points out.

However, the tariffs would not be impacting avocados and nuts, which are largely imported from Mexico and, thus, remain unaffected for the time being.

Lempert and Thilmany both caution about an overall escalation in the cost of groceries, potentially affecting nearly 40,000 items available at a supermarket. Metallic products like aluminum may also become expensive, as a result increasing the cost of canned items.

Americans grappling with food insecurity are likely to be the most affected. However, a positive outcome of this situation could be smarter shopping strategies and resultant reduction in food waste, Thilmany suggests.