PRICESMART INC

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We are vulnerable to changes in political and economic conditions, including the effects of tariffs and/or international trade wars and disruptions to remittances.

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The U.S. government has implemented significant tariffs measures, including a baseline tariff of 10% on products from all countries and higher rates targeting specific countries such as China, Vietnam, and the European Union. The U.S. and/or countries into which we import merchandise and equipment may, in the future, adjust and/or impose new quotas, duties, tariffs or reciprocal tariffs or other restrictions which may affect our operations and our ability to purchase imported merchandise at reasonable prices. This might result in our having to increase prices to our Members to maintain our target margins or our not being able to obtain sufficient supplies of certain products, either of which could adversely affect our sales and profitability. The ultimate impact of any tariffs will depend on various factors, including how long such tariffs remain in place, the ultimate levels of such tariffs and how other countries respond to the U.S. tariffs. Our Miami Distribution Center, which operates within a Free Trade Zone ("FTZ"), helps us avoid some of the economic risks posed by tariffs, but the use of the FTZ may not mitigate the impact of duties on items we purchase from U.S. vendors that are either imported finished goods or that contain significant amounts of imported inputs. We may also choose to re-route merchandise directly from the country of origin directly to the markets where we have warehouse clubs to bypass the impact of U.S. tariffs. However, if we are unable to mitigate tariff-related risks through supply chain adjustments, pricing strategies, or other measures, our financial performance and growth prospects could be negatively affected.

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Remittances make up a significant portion of GDP in certain markets, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. A remittance is a transfer of money by a foreign worker to an individual in his or her home country. If deportations of these workers from the United States increases, either due to changes in immigration policy, enforcement actions, or legal challenges, it could disrupt their ability to send money back to their families. Additionally, the financial strain of relocation and reintegration into their home countries may further diminish workers' disposable income and their ability to provide financial support. The resulting decline in remittance flows could have a direct negative impact on the economies of several of the Latin American nations where we operate, which rely on remittances as a key source of income and poverty alleviation for millions of families. In May 2025, the U.S. government proposed a tax bill which imposes a 3.5% tax on non-citizens sending money abroad. With no minimum transaction limit, even small transfers may be taxed, meaning that this tax could reduce net remittances received in our markets from the U.S.