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Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs

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Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs
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Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs

2024-12-04 04:58 Last Updated At:05:00

Small businesses are bracing for stiff tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has proposed as one of his first actions when he takes office.

Trump has proposed importers pay a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. He previously floated a tariff of up to 20% on everything else the United States imports.

This means small businesses may end up paying more for goods and services. Small business owners say they're waiting to see what final form the tariffs take, but are bracing for higher costs that they may in turn need to pass on to consumers.

Laurel Orley, cofounder and CEO of Nashville-based sprouted nut snack company Daily Crunch, said at first she didn't think the tariffs would affect her business, because she doesn't import very much. But she realized the tariffs will have a ripple effect. For example, she had planned on sourcing bags from China to save 5 cents a bag. But with the tariffs, she might need to scuttle that plan.

“That was one of our big initiatives for 2025, moving all our bags to China for 15 cents a bag,” she said. “And now I don’t know if we can save any money on the bags when the tariffs go into effect.”

Warehouse prices are going up because of the expected tariffs, too, Orley said. Her warehouse provider said demand has been increasing since the tariffs were announced.

“As many other companies are buying bulk inventory overseas to get ahead of tariffs, warehouse availability is becoming limited, which will increase costs for everyone,” she said.

So, Orley is trying to lock in her warehouse contract for 2025 and find a third-party logistics provider for the year, “to get ahead of what’s to come and pre-planning as much as we can,” she said.

Across the border in Canada, Julie Bednarski-Malik runs another snack company, Healthy Crunch, based in Mississauga, Ontario, that specializes in foods that are free of the top 11 major food allergens like peanut, tree nut and dairy as well as low in sugar.

She sells her products in both Canadian and U.S. retail stores, and said tariffs will affect consumers on both sides.

“If you have a severe anaphylactic reaction to some type of dairy or soy and you can’t find a product in the U.S. because we’re the only ones that make it, it’s going to be a lot more expensive for U.S. consumers," Bednarski-Malik said. ”So I think these tariffs are really not only going to be penalizing, you know, other countries such as Canada, but also U.S. consumers."

She's holding off on making any major changes in her business until the tariffs are finalized, but expects to see higher prices.

“Ultimately, the consumer is going to have to pay at the end of the day because our margins are so tight beginning with our food prices, (which) have been increasing dramatically over the last few years,” she said. “So there’s not much margin left to keep the same price and maintain that price while incurring a 25% extra tariff on our product.”

FILE - Ashley Crafton looks at tennis shoes at at Shoe Stop while shopping during Small Business Saturday in Wesleyan Park Plaza on Nov. 25, 2023, in Owensboro, Ky. (Greg Eans/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP, File)

FILE - Ashley Crafton looks at tennis shoes at at Shoe Stop while shopping during Small Business Saturday in Wesleyan Park Plaza on Nov. 25, 2023, in Owensboro, Ky. (Greg Eans/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP, File)

Workers sort avocados at a packing plant in Uruapan, Mexico Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Solis)

Workers sort avocados at a packing plant in Uruapan, Mexico Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Solis)

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Mitchell scores 27 points as Cleveland rallies past New York for 61st victory

2025-04-03 09:38 Last Updated At:09:41

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers matched the second-most wins in franchise history, defeating the New York Knicks 124-105 on Wednesday night.

Jarrett Allen added 21 points for the Cavaliers, who have 61 wins, equaling the 2009-10 squad. That was the final season in LeBron James’ first stint with the team. The franchise record is 66 wins during the 2008-09 season.

Cleveland has a 4 1/2 game lead over Boston for the top seed in the Eastern Conference with six games remaining.

The Cavaliers trailed 60-53 at halftime before taking control in the third quarter. The game was tied at 83-all before they went on a 15-2 run over a four-minute span late in the third and early in the fourth to go on top for good.

New York's Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven turnovers after missing Tuesday's game due to knee soreness. OG Anunoby scored 23.

Knicks: New York is 8-6 without Jalen Brunson, but the star guard has been cleared to resume basketball activities and could return to the lineup for the the final week of the regular season.

Cavaliers: They have scored at least 120 points 44 times this season, a franchise record. ... Forward Dean Wade did not play due to illness.

Cleveland started its decisive run late in the third quarter with eight straight points. That included a steal and driving layup from Isaac Okoro to extend the lead to 89-83.

Allen is 31 of 34 from the field in the Cavaliers' last three home games.

Both teams are on the road. The Knicks are at Atlanta on Saturday while the Cavaliers travel to the Spurs on Thursday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) shoots as New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) shoots as New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) shoots over New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) shoots over New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots as New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots as New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) dunks in front of New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) dunks in front of New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) goes up for a dunk in front of New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) goes up for a dunk in front of New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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