The Trump Administration’s across-the-board tariffs are raising prices for consumers, increasing costs for businesses, and forcing small companies to make difficult choices about their future.
Since April, the administration has imposed tariffs of 10%–50% on nearly all imports, with higher rates for dozens of countries and industries. The average tariff rate now tops 17.9%, the highest since 1934.
The Group Tariffs Cost US announces they will be running a college football ad highlighting the small business owners across Florida and how tariffs are driving up costs, narrowing margins, and threatening their ability to survive.
“The ad will provide the public with reliable, comprehensive information about global trade and tariffs, and their impact on both businesses and consumers.
Some of the business owners featured in the ad talk like Ginger Alemaghides, owner of Summer House in Tampa, says the tariffs on their imported goods have brought challenges and they are seeing their prices increase and items are taking longer to be shipped anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks.
Restaurants import food items from countries like China.
Florida business importer John Wong says items they bought last year came in at $2.75. Now they are up to $3.95. “We just had this shipment come in yesterday — it’s $5 dollars. “We cannot catch up. Every shipment coming in, we have to put a new price on it,” said Wong.
Fiber artist and educator Suzanne Conners does Japanese textiles. She imports tools and supplies from Japan and buys fabrics from India and from different countries.
“I always had to pay some sort of tariffs. You were always allowed, up to your first $800 to be totally exempt from paying tariffs. Now we’re paying tariffs on everything. India’s tariffs right now are 50%. So, on a $3,600 order, there’s going to be $1,800 in tariffs on top of the shipping,” said Conners.
