Tariffs impacting small businesses in Yuma
Manoah Tuiasosopo
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Small businesses in Yuma are facing some new challenges due to the recently imposed tariffs.
We shared just how much these tariffs are being felt by our local mom-and-pop shops.
Eddie Ramirez, owner of Fast Eddie’s RC Hobbies, says, “Take like a $200 truck, that would be $500 you’d pay, and that’s just not going to happen.”
Ramirez says the challenges his hobby shop is facing include rising prices, disruptions in the supply chain, and economic uncertainty.
He says his some of his usual incoming shipments have come to a screeching halt.
“They’re not bringing in any more products. They’re not letting anything leave China because of the tariffs right now, they can’t,” shared Ramirez.
Other businesses affected include tech repair shops and local Asian markets.
While speaking with the owners of the Asian Store in Yuma, they told us that nearly all of their products are imported from China, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries.
They also say they’ve seen items disappear completely from the market.
But even with some empty shelves nd a raise on some prices, they say it’s still better on the wallet than going out to eat.
A computer repair shop in the Foothills says they’re bracing for impact after the tariff announcements sent some winter visitors home early.
Charles Wright, the Manager of My Internet Place, says “We try to charge reasonable prices so that people will be willing to fix their screens instead of buying a new one, especially if prices do go up… This year more people left earlier than before so it affects small business that way.”
In response to the recent tariffs, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is joining a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration to impose the president’s authority to impose tariffs.
Mayes states “This lawsuit is about protecting Arizonans and businesses large and small.”
During the press conference on Wednesday, a small business owner from Phoenix shared the magnitude of the challenges small businesses in Arizona face.
Bill Sandweg, owner of Copper State Coffee, “I have been in the restaurant industry for 37 years and this is going to cost us and it’s going to cost our customers. Some of us aren’t going to make it.”
Despite the expected price hikes, some customers say they’ll continue to make purchases and business owners are recommending locals to purchase their favorite imported goods before they go out stock.