[Text by Guancha Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]

American small businesses and retailers that rely on overseas suppliers, especially Chinese manufacturers, have been suffering under the pressure and uncertainty of the past week. According to a report by U.S. media The Washington Post on the 10th, President Trump's continued escalation of tariffs against China has not only caused them great distress but even those who originally supported countering what they call "China's unfair competition" are now afraid of Trump's out-of-control madness.

Casey Parris from Tampa, Florida, is a long-time reseller of second-hand goods. According to U.S. media reports, he runs a group with 170,000 members on Facebook, where these friends sell products on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Poshmark.

Many of them believe that "Chinese sellers overwhelm American sellers in terms of labor costs, import costs, and transportation costs," hoping that Trump's cancellation of the small package tax exemption policy and increase in tariffs on China would help them compete with Chinese sellers.

However, as Trump's tariff policies hit without logic, the initial joy among these small business owners has turned into worry.

"Even the most ardent Trump supporters keep messaging me asking, 'Will this work? Will it succeed?' And all I can say is, I don't know. This is beyond my ability. We'll just have to take it one step at a time..."

The reactions of Parris' friends are just the tip of the iceberg for the current state of American small business owners. According to The Washington Post, due to Trump's unpredictable trade policies, independent retailers in the United States face severe uncertainty, completely unable to predict how tariffs will impact their businesses and livelihoods.

Gina Castagnozzi is one of them. Like her, many small business owners purchase goods from overseas, particularly from Chinese suppliers and factories, then sell them online through platforms like Amazon.

"I can hardly believe he would do this!" Castagnozzi couldn't help but complain loudly about Trump's absurd tariffs, sharing her outrageous experience with U.S. media.

Last week, Castagnozzi had just signed a contract to transport thousands of biodegradable dog waste bags from China to Los Angeles for her pet supplies business. However, the next day, Trump raised the tariffs on imported goods from China to 54%.

By Tuesday of this week, when the goods had been at sea for several days, Trump announced that the tariffs on Chinese goods would rise to 104%. The next day, this number increased again to 125%.

Castagnozzi was devastated. If this trend continues, she fears that when the shipment arrives in the United States in two weeks, she won't have enough money to pay the tariff bill. She was furious, "You must give people enough warning so they can make strategic plans."

Trump's flip-flopping has left small merchants like Castagnozzi in a dilemma, unsure of how to proceed in their business decisions.

She revealed to U.S. media that this week she called an American manufacturer to discuss the possibility of sourcing locally. However, the quoted price was twice as high as continuing to import from China and bearing the tariff costs.

This left Castagnozzi in a bind, unwilling to act rashly—what if Trump changes his mind again?

She frowned, "These tariffs on China may be temporary or permanent. (Who knows?) Trump never gives anyone any notice."

Castagnozzi and the dog waste bags she sells. The Washington Post

Meanwhile, Jerry Vida, head of Amazon platform strategy at beauty product company Triton Distribution, also has a full plate.

Some of the company's products, such as skincare serums, are manufactured in factories in Wisconsin, Florida, and California. However, most of the company's profits come from high-end curling irons and facial care devices made in China. To make matters worse, these Chinese products "cannot be produced in the United States."

In addition to production costs, Vida requires factories to sign strict non-compete agreements and spends money hiring intellectual property lawyers. Moreover, Amazon's fees continue to rise.

In short, due to Trump's tariff policies, he said, "All the different factors that drive up business costs have now converged, creating a chaotic situation."

Vida considered raising prices, but this might cost him the advertising recommendation position on Amazon product pages and even result in penalties from the platform. This made him sigh, saying that tariffs have triggered a "major storm."

According to U.S. media reports, before Trump's tariff policies took effect, Vida's company received a shipment of approximately 8,000 items from China. However, the challenges he faces next are more daunting: he needs to arrange the next large order in time to prepare for the promotional event in July, one of the most important events for Amazon sellers each year, which Vida relies on to achieve profitability.

Looking at the calendar, Vida said that it takes a month to produce his products in China, another three to four weeks for shipping and customs clearance, and then Amazon distributes the goods through its logistics network. "Time is running out for me. I really hope these tariffs are temporary and that China and the U.S. can reach an agreement before I start transporting the goods."

Trump posted on social media urging Americans to "stay calm," but Vida found his words easy to say while completely disregarding the "pain" people were experiencing due to his policies.

"I employ workers and am responsible for them, ensuring they can pay their mortgages, eat, and ensure their children can afford clothes." Talking about Trump's tariff policies, Vida sighed, "Of course, I hope there will be more job opportunities for Americans, meaning more Americans will have more money to buy my products."

"But I'm just not sure if this implementation method is the best," he added.

This article is an exclusive piece by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491887208069218831/

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