Trump’s tariffs and his trade war’s ‘sobering’ impact on Oregon small businesses

When President Trump raised tariffs against China and other countries earlier this month, stock markets plunged, chaos rippled through the global economy and anxiety hit business owners across the United States.

The specifics of the tariffs — which soared as high as 145% on China and affected virtually every country on earth — have been changing weekly, if not daily.

And the helter-skelter nature of it all has sent businesses scrambling to adapt to Trump’s trade war.

In Oregon’s trade-dependent economy, the tariffs are particularly tough on the footwear and apparel industry, which uses factories in Asia. And while business giants like Nike and Columbia are plotting to stay afloat, the dramatic shift in policy is potentially crippling for thousands of small businesses in the state, which don’t have as much financial flexibility and muscle.

What’s the mood among Oregon’s small business owners? How are they coping? And what does the future look like?

On the latest episode of Beat Check, reporter Matthew Kish, who covers business for The Oregonian/OregonLive, breaks down the impact of Trump’s tariffs on Oregon small businesses.

Related reading:

• How Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs have rattled Oregon small businesses

• ‘Tariff tantrum’ will squeeze Oregon’s sneaker business

• Oregon food industry facing extreme uncertainty again, this time from Trump tariffs

• As trade war heats up, here are Oregon’s largest trading partners

• Trump puts 90-day pause on most new tariffs but an increase on Chinese imports

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