STORY: Walmart is set to cut about 1,500 jobs.

That’s according to a memo seen by Reuters.

It’s part of a push to simplify operations at the retail giant.

The plan will hit teams working in global technology operations and e-commerce fulfilment, as well as at the Walmart Connect advertising business.

Walmart is a bellwether for the retail sector, and the country’s largest private employer, with some 1.6 million staff in the U.S.

It is also the country’s biggest importer, with about 60% of those imports coming from China.

That has recently put it on collision course with Donald Trump.

He told the firm it should “eat” the cost of tariffs, after Walmart warned that steep duties on Chinese goods would force it to raise prices.

The company said those increases would start kicking in from the end of May.

It said it was working with suppliers to find substitute goods that are less affected by the levies.

But it said that was challenging for goods, including some fresh produce, where it is dependent on imports.

Earlier this year, Walmart cut some roles and closed an office in North Carolina as part of move to focus on its main hubs in California and Arkansas.