US consumers could end up paying an additional $2,500 to $5,000 for the lowest-cost US cars, and up to $20,000 for some imported models, according to an April 2 estimate from Anderson Economic Group.

"Businesses are starting to raise prices in anticipation of how to weather this storm, which means costs are going up for families," said Senator Elizabeth Warren on CNBC on Wednesday.

A Reuters and Ipsos survey found that three out of four US citizens expect prices to increase in the months ahead. Some 57 percent of poll respondents of the survey said they opposed the new tariffs, which include levies of at least 10 percent on imports from almost every country.