The agreement lasts for 90 days and it’s unclear what will happen after it expires.
When 145% tariffs were in effect he paused all of his orders from China and started buying from US manufacturers instead, but the materials were more expensive and not customized.
Kim paused the order, though, because of the 145% tariffs in place at the time.
‘Guessing game’ Alexander told BI he’s anticipating a $10 to $20 price hike on his games if tariffs stay at 30%, but he can’t accurately predict costs.
Ramirez said he’s also stopped thinking about expansion because it would mean having to buy new machines from China.
When Connor Alexander’s new board game, which he is publishing, went into print, the tariffs on Chinese imports fell from 145 percent to 30 percent. If he’s lucky, the game will be shipped in 60 days and reach the US in a few weeks.
Tariffs may be reinstated by then.
“I’m not really helped by this tariff pause. Alexander, a 54-year-old board game publisher in Seattle, Washington, told Business Insider, “It just kind of terrifies me, because we’re in a situation where 90 days from now is the earliest my stuff could be hitting the port.”. “I’m out of business if that pause returns to 145 percent or is turned off. I have finished. “,”.
Associated video.
Trump announces reciprocal tariffs during a White House event called “Liberation Day.”.
The US cut tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% under the most recent trade agreement with China. There is uncertainty regarding what will happen when the 90-day agreement expires. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement that “the Trump administration is committed to restoring American Greatness with an America First economic agenda of negotiating balanced trade deals, cutting regulations, unleashing energy, and streamlining our government.”. “,”.
BI discussed the new trade agreement with four small business owners. Despite their satisfaction with the tariffs being reduced, they claimed that 90 days is insufficient to make decisions with confidence and that doing business now feels like a game of chance.
Competing with the clock.
Alexander stated that he had put two projects for his company, Coyote and Crow Games, which creates board and card games that are representative of the Indigenous community, on hold when tariffs were at 145 percent. In part because he had already invested years and money in both games, he chose to approve them when the trade agreement took effect.
However, Alexander is uncertain if he will be able to benefit from the new rates, which are much higher than they were prior to the start of the trade war.
Given the possible shipping delays, 90 days might not be sufficient to deliver his game, which is presently being printed in China, to the US under the quickest of circumstances. He doesn’t know how much tax he will have to pay when the game is delivered.
The 29-year-old founder and CEO of convertible heel manufacturer Pashion Footwear, Haley Pavone, described the trade agreement as “a mix of relief, but also frustration.”. “.
Pavone remarked, “I would be stockpiling right now if I could make a shoe in ten minutes, but they take four months to make and this is only a 90 day reprieve.”. “Aside from playing it safe, there isn’t enough time to make any changes. “.”.
She stated that she hasn’t placed her holiday order yet, but her summer shoes have arrived and her fall merchandise is in production. Although Pavone stated that her fall shoes should arrive in August, she is unsure of the taxes she will have to pay for them.
She remarked, “It’s anyone’s guess,”.
For Frio Mexican Treats, an ice cream and churro shop in Appleton, Wisconsin that serves flavors from his hometown of Chihuahua, Mexico, 42-year-old Hugo Ramirez told BI he usually purchases all of his nonperishables from China.
He halted all of his orders from China when the 145 percent tariffs went into effect and began purchasing from US manufacturers instead, but the materials were more costly and not customized.
The 90-day window gave Jessica Kim, 34, owner of Mycha LA and Chicago, a business that runs boba and specialty tea vending machines, a short window to receive a shipment but no opportunity for long-term planning. Her vending machines, non-perishable goods, and a few speciality tea leaves are all imported from China.
Ten machines that had been scheduled to arrive in February were delayed and weren’t ready for shipment until the end of April. However, because of the 145 percent tariffs that were in effect at the time, Kim put the order on hold. She gave her approval for the delivery when the taxes decreased to 30%, and the machines should be here by the middle of June.
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“I was trying to time it, almost like gambling,” she admitted to BI.
“Guessing game.”.
Alexander told BI that although he can’t predict prices with any degree of accuracy, he expects his games to cost between $10 and $20 more if tariffs remain at 30%.
“I already had to inform my clientele that I might have to charge them more in the future. “I’ll be aware when that inventory arrives,” Alexander remarked. “I’m taking a chance. I’m taking a chance on my company. “..”.
According to Pavone, she is forced to continue being “as cautious and risk-averse as possible,” which will probably have an effect on her supply and pricing in the long run.
She stated, “We’re having to play a guessing game of what happens at the end of the 90 days while we’re trying to put that budget together.”.
Additionally, President Donald Trump’s decision to close the de minimis loophole, which exempted shipments under $800 from import taxes, has affected Pavone.
She has increased the cost of her products and imposed a tariff tax on US orders in order to deal with the situation, allowing customers to see the increase in price. Her foreign clients’ prices have not changed.
Growth stopped in its tracks.
According to Pavone, she had intended to increase her workforce and had sent out an offer letter, which she has since withdrawn.
According to Ramirez, he has also given up on growing since doing so would require importing new machinery from China. He claimed that while he has been able to maintain prices for basic orders, such as a single scoop, he has increased the price of premium items.
He stated that he is more concerned with finding solutions than assigning blame, but he is uncertain about the benefits of the tariffs.
Regarding the Trump team, he stated, “I’m all for it if they’re going to fix the current markets and help us small businesses grow.”. However, from what I can tell, this is what I’ve experienced. “..”.
