We Pay the Tariffs

For some small businesses, the cost of tariffs isn’t just what they’ve already paid—it’s everything they never had the chance to earn.   For a Nevada-based importer operating with just one employee, the impact has been staggering.   “Not only were we forced to pay, mostly out-of-pocket , for these tariff hikes, but the tariffs also were a severe deterrent for receiving more business from our customers due to fear, and uncertainty . Not only did we lose millions, but it also lost us tens of...

For many producers, tariffs don’t just raise costs—they test how long a business can hold the line before something breaks. At St. George Spirits, an artisanal distillery with 35 employees, that pressure is already clear.   “We import hundreds of thousands of glass bottles directly from Germany. From previously no duty to the now 15% has added thousands and thousands of dollars to every container we import. Other imported items have had tariff surcharges added to our bill. We have, to date,...

For small retailers, tariffs don’t arrive in isolation. They ripple through every part of the business—raising costs, squeezing margins, and ultimately driving customers away. Tree Huggers Trading Co., a small gift and coffee shop in Allenspark, Colorado, is feeling that pressure from all sides.   As tariffs took effect, the business was hit with additional fees before their wholesale orders could even ship . Costs that had already been negotiated suddenly increased, leaving the shop with no...