Trump’s tariff increase is causing concern on the Eastern Shore
EASTERN SHORE, Md. – Local officials are reacting to President Donald Trump’s recent tariff actions, as some citizens are concerned about rising costs, and how this federal decision will affect the shore.
Just 2 days into April, President Donald Trump declared a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries. Nations that were hit with additional reciprocal tariffs are those who run trade surpluses. The White House calls them “the worst offenders” when it comes to barriers against U.S. Products, and they will receive “reciprocal tariffs.”
Revenue or Revenge?
President Trump made this statement: “April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed, and the day we began to make America wealthy again.”
Tariffs, also known as import taxes, have emerged from negotiations between dozens of countries- dating back to the 1960s. Now with President Trump’s 10% increase and 20% on some nations, the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce’s President Bill Chambers says this would be bad for the Shore.
“A lot of these goods that we enjoy here on the shore that are brought in from overseas markets, are just going to be unaffordable for the average consumer and so that demand will dry up.”
President Trump: “For decades our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far both friend and foe alike…”
Scarce Supply
Among the most prominent countries hit by the reciprocal tariffs are China at 34%, and the European Union at 20%. Chambers says these nations supply us, so this will affect us. “The chances of a recession now are increasing exponentially now that tariffs have been announced. Inflation’s a big concern, some economists are saying we’re going to bump to 4% pretty quickly.”
The president said the tariffs would reverse decades of what he called unfair trade, which has some calling this revenge. Chambers says whatever it is, it will definitely hurt revenue. “Agriculture which relies heavily on equipment, they could take a big hit, and here we are in the midst of a drought on top of that. The decreased demand for agriculture products that we send overseas.”
Moving Manufacturing
Chambers goes on to say, “The thought that you’re going to bring back manufacturing rapidly to the United States for companies that have moved manufacturing overseas, is hard to fathom, it’s frankly hard to believe.”
President Trump: “Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country, and you see it happening already.” Trumps argument is that steeper tariffs can help reverse long standing trade deficits. The Salisbury Chamber of Commerce advises business owners who need to purchase durable goods like automobiles, refrigerators, or washer and dryers, to buy it now. He says it will be significantly more expensive in the upcoming months.
The 10% tariff on all countries will take effect April 5th, and the steeper reciprocal tariffs will begin on April 9th.
