Local business owners react to President Trump's tariffs
Apr 03, 2025
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) --President Trump’s new tariff plans are already pushing some San Diego County business owners to make immediate adjustments. But others are choosing to hold off, instead hoping for clarity on future economic policies.
These sweeping tariffs on 60 nations are set to take
effect April 9, next Wednesday, and will impact a variety of products -- likely driven up costs for consumers.
The vast majority of items inside Nicholas Tran’s family-owned store in City Heights are imported from Asia. That part of the world is in the cross hairs of a growing trade war with the United States.
RELATED: Markets plunge in reaction to Trump ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs
Tran, the co-owner of World Foods Supermarket, said, “For our store, it’s going to be a lot more pain because we mainly deal with the countries involved: Vietnam, China, Thailand, Japan.”
On top of a 10% universal tariff announced by President Trump on Wednesday, some nations will have it worse than others. Chinese goods will face reciprocal 34% tariffs in addition to the existing 20% levies. Cambodia is in for 49% duties, while Vietnam isn’t far behind at 46% tariffs.
“In my store, about 70% of the items will be affected,” Tran told FOX 5/KUSI. “Some items will be affected 34-35%. Other items will be affected 50%.”
While the local business owner says he’s not seeing vendors change prices yet, others are.
“I am seeing across the board price increases from a lot of the people that I buy from: Canada and China,” said Kimberly Nabours, owner of Replay Toys in North Park.
RELATED: Trump announces sweeping ‘reciprocal’ tariffs
Customers are paying more but she’s trying to avoid passing down higher costs where she can. She said, “When things get to be a price that I don’t feel comfortable selling it for, I’m not carrying it anymore.”
And she’s also trying to stay proactive, stating, “I put in huge orders to help keep my backstop full."
But when it comes to food, Tran says there’s only so much hoarding he can do. He’s not raising prices right now and is waiting to see how tariffs shake out, as well as what changes -- if any -- he’ll make.
“We do what we can,” said Tran. “We got to stay calm, and I think that things will work its way out.”
It’s unclear exactly how much increased costs could be passed down to consumers, with some estimates ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 per family. ...read more read less