Companies usually pass those cost increases along to buyers, which means tariffs cause inflation. And rising prices could certainly hinder economic growth. In fact, a forecasting model from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta shows U.S. GDP declining at an annualized 2.4% in the first quarter. That would be the first drop in more than four years.

The U.S. stock market is falling Thursday, even after getting a double-shot of encouraging news on the economy. President Donald Trump keeps upping the stakes in his trade war, with his most recent threat to tax wines and other alcohol coming from Europe.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday, adding to the biggest selloff in months, as investors worried about the impact of the latest tariff threats on the global economy.