Nevada City small business suffers under Trump's tariffs: ‘$41,271 stolen from us'

Yahoo

13-04-2025

'How Trump tariffs impact California consumers and prices,' (sacbee.com, April 5)
Tarptent, Inc. has been a Nevada City outdoor gear company specializing in lightweight tents since 2007. We manufacture in Seattle, Hong Kong and Vietnam. We just received new production from our Hong Kong production company and the Trump Tariff cost us $51,589. Under the prior tariff, the same shipment would have cost $10,318.
The tariff went from 7.5% to 37.5%. Next, the tariff will jump another 25%. Over the next few months, we will be forced to charge our customers the $41,271 stolen from us.
We are but one small business that will implode in this environment. There is nowhere near enough U.S. production skill, capacity and quality materials to service the outdoor industry. To claim that the U.S. can simply invent the capacity is beyond ludicrous.
We have contacted Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, with our concern, but have heard crickets.
Henry Shires
President, Tarptent, Inc.
Opinion
'Stanford freezes hiring as DOGE proposes cut to NIH research,' (sacbee.com, Feb. 28)
If America wants to stay on the cutting edge of science, it must stop cutting science funding. The Biden administration aimed to invest in innovation, but recent funding cuts from the Trump administration are a dangerous step backward.
The National Institute of Health — the lifeblood of U.S. medical research — faces massive reductions in indirect cost funding. Harvard alone would see a drop from $135 million to just $31 million.
These 'indirect costs' fund lab space, equipment, staff and maintenance — not luxuries, but essentials. Slashing them undermines research, halts innovation and drives talent away.
Since WWII, 85% of U.S. economic growth has stemmed from scientific progress. Research drives new technologies, boosts the economy and saves lives.
If we want a future of discovery and opportunity, we need to fund it.
Robert Sherriff
Rocklin
'How Trump infuriated a new group of Americans: quilters,' (sacbee.com, April 8)
Many thanks to Mary Sue Bizzarri for her insightful op-ed about how President Donald Trump's tariff policies are not only affecting the big companies, but the 85 million 'active creatives' across the nation.
As coordinator for Sacramento Blankets for Sacramento Kids, we have quilters and sewers (as well as knitters and crocheters) who are always making blankets for children in need. How are we to help and comfort the children in hospitals, foster homes, who are homeless or just going through a tough time when Trump's tariffs affect how we get our supplies?
He is not only hurting the crafters, he is also hurting the children — the ones that need the most help from all of us.
Claire Gliddon
Fair Oaks
'How UC Davis capitulated to Donald Trump and harmed law school students | Opinion,' (sacbee.com, April 4)
It should not be considered antisemitic to speak out against the killing of over 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza, where Human Rights Watch and other groups believe that Israel is committing genocide. UC Davis students should have the right to express their viewpoints and take action in support of the human rights of Palestinians.
Harry Wang
Sacramento