Small business owners fear trump's tariffs will drive them out of business

In early February 2025, Donald Trump imposed substantial tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, which raised concerns amongst small business owners in the United States. Jeremy Petersen, the owner of a pet food company in Windsor, fears that the new 25% tariffs will lead to increased costs for his business, making it difficult for him to provide affordable pet food. He expressed that small businesses like his cannot absorb these costs and will inevitably pass them onto consumers, possibly resulting in doubled prices of products. Many brands he sells are tied to Canadian suppliers whose prices will also rise. Along with Petersen, other small business owners, such as Yesi Noyola, who runs a Mexican candy store, share similar fears about the impact of tariffs on their livelihood. Noyola, whose store heavily relies on imported goods, expressed that higher costs might drive her to close her shop. The situation escalated further when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would impose retaliatory tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. imports in response to Trump's actions. This trade war could have lasting effects on the relationships between the U.S. and its trading partners and endanger the strength of small businesses dependent on affordable imports. As tensions rise, it seems likely that consumers will ultimately bear the brunt of these economic policies, leading to higher prices and fewer options in stores across the country, demonstrating the pervasive tension between trade policy and small business sustainability.