New Jersey Businesses Grapple with Challenges from Trump’s Tariff Policies
Amid the ongoing debates over President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy, New Jersey businesses are experiencing significant impacts, creating a complex situation for local entrepreneurs. Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican candidate for governor, has voiced support for Trump’s approach, describing it as a bold move aimed at addressing trade imbalances.
In a radio interview on March 4, Ciattarelli referred to Trump’s tariffs as a “grand experiment” that could potentially rectify trade issues, highlighting the president’s commitment to standing firm against foreign nations that exploit U.S. markets. “The president has told us that there’s going to be some pain, but he’s also told us that we’re not going to be pushed around … [and] not going to be exploited by foreign countries that don’t follow the rules and take advantage of our consumer markets,” Ciattarelli stated. “We’re just going to buckle up and see how things go.”
However, as reported by the Associated Press, some local businesses, like Fishtown, a seafood supplier in Haddonfield, face significant hurdles because of the tariff threats on Canadian imports, which have led to uncertainty in oyster pricing. Fishtown’s owner, Bryan Szeliga, expressed his concerns, saying, “I’m a smaller business, and I’m not really staffed, equipped, and knowledgeable enough to know how to navigate tariffs. It is very hard to have that level of uncertainty. Are the tariffs going to be in play, or are they not?”
In response to these challenges, Szeliga has contemplated selling lower-quality oysters to sidestep potential issues and has even absorbed tariff costs on Canadian oysters to prevent passing them on to consumers.
Other New Jersey enterprises are also bracing for the impact. A Mendham car dealership anticipates a $10,000 to $20,000 increase in vehicle prices due to tariffs on cars and parts. Liquor stores are similarly affected, with impending tariffs on European wines prompting them to stockpile inventory. David Moore of Moore Brothers Wine Company in Pennsauken noted to WPVI News, “We don’t know what to expect, except we are doing everything we can to bring in enough wine to make sure at least in the short term we’re protected.”
Despite the turmoil, Ciattarelli’s campaign underscores the importance of affordability and support for small businesses in New Jersey. On April 26, he expressed on social media, “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They create jobs, bring people together, and give our neighborhoods their unique character.”
Retaliatory tariffs pose another threat, potentially affecting New Jersey’s trade relations with key partners like China and Mexico. Notably, China has responded to U.S. tariffs with a substantial 125% tariff on American goods.
As of now, the Ciattarelli campaign has not provided further comment on the issue.
