SPOKANE, Wash. — Local small businesses that rely on imported goods are facing major challenges as new tariffs on Chinese products threaten their inventory and profits.
Pamela Barclay, owner of Wonders of the World gift store in Spokane, calls the situation “heartbreaking for retail.” After 32 years in business, she now faces losing one-third of her inventory that comes from China.
“It will definitely impact our business and lower our profit or possibly make us an unprofitable year, which would be very sad,” Barclay said. “There will be no Chinese purchases, which will clear out a third of my product.”
The more than 100% tax on Chinese imports is too high for store owners to pass on to customers.
Jillian Joseph, who owns Kizuri, a fair trade store in downtown Spokane that sources from over 40 countries, shares similar concerns.
“I am concerned about the impact it’s going to have on us as a store, on our customers if we have to raise prices, but I’m also really concerned about the impact it’s going to have on our artisans,” Joseph said.
While President Donald Trump argues these tariffs are necessary to reshape the American economy, local business owners see them disrupting essential trade relationships.
“I’ve got many things that we’ll just never be able to get again or not until there’s no tariffs,” Barclay said.
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