Local businesses react to Trump’s tariffs, prepare for potential long-term effects

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Local businesses are feeling anxiety and uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s tariffs — despite the president’s backing down on his tariffs on most nations for 90 days today.

Local businesses told ABC4.com that it’s hard to make decisions when the tariffs are keeping them on edge, with one store saying they are slowing down on growth because of the uncertainty. Steel workers have said that costs are increasing, and they are unsure of what prices will look like week to week.

“I’m building out till August. And, you know… I quote prices today, and they order, and I have no idea what’s going to transpire next week,” said Greg Colbert with Steel Products Manufacturing.

In 2013, the company started making dumpsters for the construction industry.

“There’s so much uncertainty right now, I’m not exactly sure where it’s going to end up… I got hit with a 20% increase as soon as the rumor surfaced that there was going to be tariffs in February,” Colbert said. “They hadn’t even taken effect yet. And my price went up 20 percent… Once the price goes up. Rarely does it come back down.”

Amanda Stewart is the founder of Mochi Kids, which started as a clothing brand 10 years ago. Stewart said the company was planning on producing new goods and expanding the business, but they are “taking a break” because of the tariffs.

“We carry products from Japan, Korea, all over Europe, China, Mexico, Canada…” Stewart said. “We got emails from different vendors and brands that carry, saying that they’re increasing their prices due to the tariffs.”

Stweart said some brands have even temporarily paused manufacturing while they wait to see how the situation unfolds.

Another business owner, Marsha Holfeltz, owns a small interior design boutique in Millcreek. She said what’s happening is “unsettling.”

“Our furniture is coming from countries like Italy and Canada,” Holfeltz said. “And so a lot of our manufacturers have just said they’re not going to sell to the U.S. until all of this gets resolved.”

Since Holfeltz was unsure of when the resolution would come, she stocked up on enough supplies in an attempt to “get through maybe one to two seasons without charging customers tariffs.”

The business owners told ABC4.com that they fear the back-and-forth with tariffs will continue as the Trump administration prepares to engage in country-by-country negotiations.