Eastern Shore to feel the effects of tariffs

MARYLAND – The Trump Administration recently imposed tariffs on America’s three biggest trading partners: Mexico, Canada and China.

The move drew retaliation from those three countries and now local leaders say people on the Eastern Shore are feeling the effect.

“You’re going to see this impact every sector of the economy,” said Bill Chambers, President & CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce. “There won’t be one sector of the economy that isn’t impacted.”

Chambers said even if the Trump Administration pulls back tariffs in the coming weeks, the damage may have already been done to the economy.

“There’s estimates by some economists that even with a short-lived time frame on the tariffs, Gross Domestic Product in the United States could lose 100 billion dollars,” he said.

Trump has cited trade deficits with Canada and Mexico as a reason for the tariffs, as well as their role in the United States’ fentanyl crisis.

Chambers said those tariffs are being felt on the local level, with prices rising across the board.

“They’re already having an impact,” he said. “Perishable items in your grocery store, those prices have already gone up. You’re going to see price increases on cars, appliances, electronics, fuel, all sorts of other kinds of grocery items.”

In talks with manufacturers, Chambers says many have decided to hold off on price increases for the time being, but said that may be short-lived if the tariffs are in place longer.

Dorchester Chamber of Commerce President Bill Christopher says the long-term impact of the tariffs is hard to predict.

“For the state of Maryland, quite honestly, I think this is just a pile on for the things that the current legislature and the budgets are going to do to the businesses here in the state of Maryland,” said Christopher.

President Trump said Thursday that most goods from Mexico will be exempt from tariffs for one month.