“Our U.S. automakers have invested billions of dollars in the U.S. to meet these requirements and should not be subject to tariffs, which will increase the cost of building vehicles in the U.S. and invest Stymie’s investment in the U.S. labor force.
Automobile companies said they could not quickly transfer production to the U.S. and had to transfer tariffs to customers, adding thousands of dollars in car prices. “You don't have to be an automotive expert to see how harmful it will be,” said John Helveston, an assistant professor at George Washington University.
The prospect of tariffs also brings strong uncertainty to small business owners. Logan Vanghele, 28, who runs a small company that sells aquariums of lighting and equipment, all made in China, says he faces tariffs of about $25,000, a large number of products from China.
When the $120,000 shipment left Yantian port in southeast China in January a few days before Trump's inauguration, Mr. Vanghele was unaware it could face such fees. Mr. Vanghele immediately called the logistics company that handled the goods after Mr. Trump announced last week that a 10% tariff would be imposed on Chinese goods on Tuesday.
He begged them to unload his container at a port in Norfolk, Virginia and stop there Friday instead of heading to Boston, hoping he could bring the product in before the tariffs take effect. While Mr. Trump's new tariffs may include exemptions for goods already on the water, they cannot be guaranteed.
“Even if I had to pay a ridiculous amount for it to run, it wouldn't be close to tariffs,” Mr Vanghele said. “I'm basically in hail Mary mode.”
Reported by Joe Rennison,,,,, Minho Kim,,,,, Paulina Villegas,,,,, Rebecca F. Elliott,,,,, Jack Ewing and Danielle Kaye.
