Saturday, March 29, 2025
Trump’s trade tariffs impact is being compared to the Covid-era economic disruption, as businesses nationwide battle uncertainty and rising costs.
Across Pittsburgh and beyond, U.S. businesses are struggling under the weight of Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. The impact is drawing strong comparisons to the initial shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. As supply chains falter and prices surge, local business owners say the Trump’s trade tariffs impact is turning economic planning into guesswork.
Matt Katase, co-founder of Brew Gentleman brewery, describes the environment as chaotic. “It feels like Covid 2.0,” he says. His colleague Alaina Webber has seen prices on existing orders jump by as much as 130%, with essential imports like Chinese-made tap handles stuck at customs.
The brewery sources malt from Canada and hops from New Zealand and Australia—ingredients now affected by new tariff layers. “You can’t grow New Zealand hops in the U.S. overnight,” Katase explains. The unpredictability is putting their entire operation on edge.
Workers near the Edgar Thomson steel mill express cautious optimism. While divided on a proposed takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel, some hope Trump’s aggressive trade stance will revive local industries.
David McCall of the United Steelworkers union defends the tariffs, calling them essential to protect American industry. But Tom Croft of the Steel Valley Authority warns that Trump’s trade tariffs impact is unsettling small manufacturers, who are unsure how to plan ahead.
At Lotus Food, an Asian grocery store, manager Joy Lu reports sharp price increases on Chinese products—fresh noodles that cost $6.99 now sell for $8.49. “One supplier now limits orders to five cases per customer,” she says, fearing shortages.
Across the street, Bill Sunseri of the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company is feeling the 10% tariff burden but remains confident it’s all part of Trump’s negotiation strategy. “I don’t think it’s gonna happen,” he says, brushing off the EU tariff threat. “It’s the art of the deal.”
Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based aerospace company preparing for a moon mission, isn’t directly hit by material tariffs. Still, CEO John Thornton keeps a close eye on Washington, since NASA is their biggest customer.
Budget cuts driven by Elon Musk’s proposed “efficiency reforms” could affect Astrobotic’s science-backed funding. Thornton says their future hinges on how science budgets fare under Trump’s evolving policy.
Carnegie Mellon economist Lee Branstetter warns that the broader Trump’s trade tariffs impact is eroding business confidence. “If companies don’t know whether tariffs will be 60%, 10%, or 5%, they’ll delay investment,” he says. That delay has a ripple effect—stalling hiring, dampening consumer confidence, and slowing the U.S. economy.
Trump’s Treasury secretary insists new trade deals are near, but the president’s claim that “I set the prices” adds to the confusion. With unpredictable tariff hikes, businesses are forced to adapt on the fly, unsure how long shelves can stay stocked in this “giant, beautiful store.”
