From her home in Phoenix, Erica Campbell awaits a shipping container from China to provide a shipment of thousands of Jesus’ dolls, Easter eggs, religious brittling blankets and 15,000 packages of Jesus healing bandages.
Mrs. Campbell, 36, Malik Be a heartCatholic commodity company, which has paid Chinese factories that have been making items for months. The boxes were loaded in a container before President Trump imposed a 10 percent new tariff on all Chinese imports on February 1. She said she might have avoided paying an additional duty as a result, but she was concerned that there would be more US tariffs.
“I cannot know what will happen,” said Ms. Campbell. “I am at a state of high alert.”
Mr. Trump’s targeting of China threw millions of small companies in the turmoil. For decades, American companies have designed products in the United States and have turned into Chinese factories to produce goods efficiently and inexpensive. This is the way Apple produces iPhone devices, and how it runs a businessman like Campbell, a mother of three children, a company that generates sales of two million dollars annually from her kitchen.
The New York Times has heard nearly 100 companies importing from China about how the president’s tariff affects it. It is a cross section of fallen institutions designed in the global economy: companies that make greeting cards, table games, outdoor shoes, halls, digital photo frames, coffee equipment, games, stained glass windows, and custom electronics.
Many topics appeared. American companies, not Chinese suppliers, were attending the cost of definitions. Many companies have said that they will have to raise prices to compensate for expenses if they did not already. Some talked about a feeling of business paralysis: they were afraid to develop plans in an unpredictable stream of new customs tariffs, for fear of the risk of moving production outside China due to the lack of it seemed to be a fortified country.
The shift to local alternatives was not usually unprecedented because it was more expensive, the quality was inferior and there were less options. Finally, the re -invention of their supply chain will be a huge task for companies, which requires time and expenses that they cannot spare easily.
At least, business owners face a 10 percent increase in the goods they bring from China – whether the components of the elements collected in the United States or the final products made in Chinese facilities. They may receive an invoice when the goods reach the port, or additional expenses may be assembled in shipping costs. In both cases, entrepreneurs said, in many cases, money will be from their pockets.
This may be just the beginning.
Last week, Mr. Trump promised to put another 10 percent tax on all Chinese imports that start on Tuesday, on the same day that the tariffs on Mexico and Canada begin. The status of both countries as important ways of Chinese goods and the possibility of revenge gives small business owners to be concerned. Starting March 12, there will be a 25 percent duty on steel and imported aluminum – they are minerals that dominate China’s production. US trade officials propose to impose fees on Chinese ships entering US ports, which may increase shipping costs from China.
Mr. Trump said that the 10 percent tariff was “Sulfo inauguration”. Last year at the Campaign Path, he pledged a tariff of up to 60 percent.
Even in 10 percent, the tariff is a strong blow Juliana RayThe company that sells advanced silk sleepwear, because all of its products are made in China. Its headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts, the company designs silk and pajamas and dresses that are produced in China. It imports goods to the United States and sells them on its website and on Amazon.
The owners of the company, Bill, how and Juli Lee, said that they are scrambling to deal with the cost increases imposed by Mr. Trump’s taxes. They imported a lot of inventory before entering the customs duties, in anticipation of the seasonal demand for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Mrs. Li also explores whether some shipments will be delayed in the hope that Mr. Trump will reflect his path on his definition.
Requesting is a risk. Mrs. Li, 56, is concerned that there are no products available to customers. The Chinese suppliers, who already feel the dance of the slow local economy, will be tense from the inventory contract for longer periods.
“How much is the bet you can pay for?” Mrs. Lee, referring to her suppliers, who grew up near him after working together for more than a decade. “Understanding is really difficult on both sides.”
In the end, additional expenses may have to be transferred to the consumer. Mr. Keef, 71, said that the price of the famous Pajama group, which is sold for $ 300, may exceed $ 15.
However, the 20 -year -old company has an option but to stay in China. Mr. Kevie said that silk manufacturing facilities are present in other countries, such as Sri Lanka, India, South Korea and Thailand, but “the best machines, the best experience, the ability to produce high -quality goods is located at a good price in China.”
For open manufacturing companies to the United States, the challenge is to find a factory.
For 18 years, Chris Mexicki, which is based in San Francisco, HyangerIts products and travel in the United States were designed and produced in Chinese factories.
But the sting reminds the definitions during the first Trump presidency, Mr. Mix Mixkski, 56, wanted to know if local manufacturing is more logical now. He wanted to start simple with the best -selling Humangear product but the easiest to eat: plastic utensils with a fork on one side and a spoon on the other side used in camping.
Send an email to six companies, four of which have never responded. The two who expressed interest in asking a lot of questions about the product specifications. After Mr. Miksovsky answered every inquiry, one of the companies stopped answering his emails, and the other responded after weeks, but did not provide a quote.
“It is very good to say that we will put these definitions in place to return jobs to America,” he said. “This assumes America has the ability to make your product, and most importantly, it is supposed to have an interest in making this product.”
Mr. Miksovsky said he was looking at new manufacturing sites, perhaps in Thailand or Vietnam, but it was difficult to predict the countries that Mr. Trump would target after that.
“Let’s say that you are spending all this time, effort and money to transfer your production to another country – who will say that Trump wakes up and says that morning,” We will put 60 percent of the customs tariff on Vietnam, Cambodia, South Africa or choose your country? ” He said.
Sean Ernst, 39, has diversified the suppliers of the work parts for repairing devices for his family, Snap SupplyDuring the first Trump presidency to a place he believed to be safe from the increasing costs of the trade war with Beijing: Mexico.
But now 45 -year -old family businesses, based in St. Charles, Illinois, are now tired of a dual tariff. The company’s repair parts are made from foreign steel and aluminum, so it faces costs higher than a new tariff of 25 percent on these materials. Moreover, he may have to start paying an additional tariff when he imports its products from Mexico. He said it is not clear whether taxes will be imposed twice, but the possibility “keeps me at night.”
Mr. Ernest, who runs the business with his brother, said that his Mexican suppliers were ready to accommodate the cost increased by 5 percent. However, Snap Supply will have to transfer the rest of the high cost of customers. He said that the oven’s replacement part of $ 23 could soon cost $ 31. If Snap Supply raises the prices too much, he is afraid that his business will be unable to compete with Chinese companies that sell similar spare parts for Amazon.
He also worried that the definitions may compel his company to dispense with some of his 45 employees.
“We have never felt affected by something that the president did,” he said. “It is very frustrated to see what is really happening.”
Mrs. Campbell, a religious commodity seller, said she was considering passing some additional costs of customs tariffs for her clients. However, they are hesitant because their products are not necessary and their customers are families like their salary that already deal with higher costs for grocery and gas.
The ghost of the upper Chinese import tariff was panic.
She said, “I don’t think people understand what it looks.” “Not only for my work but in life – how will we carry this because everything comes from China?”