Walmart to Cut Up to 1,500 Jobs Amid Tariff Response Concerns

Cost-Cutting Measures
Company States Move Unrelated to Tariffs
Some Price Increases Expected Starting This Month

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, is cutting jobs at its headquarters in Arkansas and other locations in the United States to reduce costs and respond to economic uncertainty, Bloomberg reported on May 21 (local time).

According to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, Walmart is eliminating some positions in its global technology team, with fewer than 1,500 employees affected by the move.

According to a memo obtained by Bloomberg, Suresh Kumar, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and John Furner, CEO of Walmart U.S., explained that these changes are intended to accelerate decision-making and reduce complexity. They also stated that while some positions are being eliminated, new roles are being created as well.

The company explained that it is simplifying the structure of its technology team to move faster and adapt more effectively, and that the workforce adjustments at Walmart U.S. are also aimed at improving efficiency.

The move appears to be a response to supply chain instability and the resulting increase in costs, which are expected due to the tariff policies of the Donald Trump administration. However, a Walmart spokesperson stated that these changes reflect the company's growth strategy and are not related to tariffs.

Previously, Walmart reported results in the first quarter that exceeded market expectations, but also stated that "price increases on some products will be unavoidable as early as the end of May."

In response, U.S. President Donald Trump warned the company not to pass on tariff costs to consumers and urged Walmart to withdraw its price increase plans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.