Michigan manufacturer warns Trump tariffs threaten small business survival

Source: ABC News

August 7, 2025, 4:38 PM


The impact of President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs became reality for American businesses on Thursday, as dozens of countries faced levies ranging from 15% to 41% on goods entering the United States.

For Carrin Harris, CEO of Michigan-based manufacturing company Blitz Proto, the tariffs have already created significant challenges. Her company, which makes prototypes for products including toys, medical devices and car parts, has been grappling with rising costs since January. "A lot of our quotes are no longer good because the cost of components continues to go up, and it's volatile, and we can't even anticipate it," Harris told ABC News on Thursday.

The new tariffs affected more than 90 trading partners, with some nations facing particularly steep increases. Brazil, for instance, received a 50% tariff on its coffee exports to the U.S. The Yale Budget Lab estimated these new trade policies could cost the average American household an additional $2,400 annually.

Harris explained that the uncertainty forced her company to dramatically shorten their quote expiration times. "We've changed our quote expiration from one month to one week," she said. "The customers have to get a new quote every week, depending on what it is they're looking for."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/michigan-manufacturer-warns-trump-tariffs-threaten-small-business/story?id=124446294