Price of raw materials increasing, fewer expenses clients: in his little boutique jokes and captures in Los Angeles, Patricia Loperena suffered the consequences of the commercial war launched by Donald Trump, a marker of her first 100 days of mandate.
“Everything has increased,” Patricia Loperena told AFP, who sells mainly piñatas, these paper effigies that are destroyed with sticks to bring sweets, a very popular tradition of Central America.
From his return to power, Donald Trump has announced and then stopped customs duties. Currently, 10% of the surcharge is in place for most countries around the world, but the rate increases to 145% for Chinese products. Beijing responded with a 125% surcharge on US goods.
In this context, Patricia Loperena had to adapt: notably anticipated, placing orders for her actions before the establishment of customs duties. But his supplier warned him: his next order will cost him more.
In its boutique in Granada Hills, in northern Los Angeles, orders are rarely than the previous year.
“Will get worse”
Several small merchants are in the same situation as Patricia Loperena and find it difficult to follow Donald Trump’s fluctuating ads.
“Everything comes from abroad, from China, Taiwan,” says Angel de Luna in his sewing and vacuum machine store, which runs mainly thanks to repair and customer service instead of sales.
For the 28 -year -old, who already faces the approximate competition of online trade, customs duties are the drop of water that overflows the vase.
An observation shared by OJ Longmire, which manages a hairdressing. Customs duties “tonos all,” says the 46 -year -old barber.
The lotions, equipment or shampoos that use “are not produced in the United States,” says the one that launched its business in the middle of the COVVI-19 Pandemia. “Now we have to pay attention to how we use them.”
“Many enemies”
The uncertainty about these surcharges “does” Marcos Ochoa, 67, who sells gardening products and tools.
At the moment, he has not seen an increase in prices and thinks that it is still too early to draw conclusions.
But, according to him, Donald Trump “should think about what he will say or do before acting automatically. He must calm down a bit.”
The one who voted for the Republican in the November presidential elections because he found it good for trade, expected customs duties, but not “high.”
Trump “was good four years ago, but now I don’t know,” he continues. “There have been many enemies, that’s safe.”
Source: BFM TV
