Norwood businesses dealing with tariffs

In 2025, President Trump’s tariffs created uncertainty across global trade, with new rates and targeted countries nearly every week.

Over the past year, tariffs have impacted businesses across the U.S., driving up costs and disrupting supply chains. According to a survey by Small Business Majority, half of small-business owners reported raising prices due to the tariffs. Many businesses in Norwood, both large and small, have also faced challenges.

Julie Vecchio of Custom Art Framing explained that many of the frame companies they work with are based in Europe, route their products through Canada, and then distribute them to U.S. centers. Keeping up with the changing tariff policies can be challenging, but most companies explain the charges when placing an order, she noted.

If the U.S. distribution centers are out of a frame, they will ship it from Canada, which can cost roughly 35 percent more due to tariffs.

“That is a cost I do not pass on to my clients, as I never know if it will happen until it does. I decide whether to wait for a restock in the United States or pay the extra charge, depending on the timeframe and my client’s expectations,” Vecchio said. “This typically happens once a week. It's a bit of a juggle.”

Last week, President Trump threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on Canadian goods if Prime Minister Carney proceeds with Canada’s newly negotiated trade agreement with China.

Many customers have asked David Anastasia, the Sales Manager at Sam’s Appliances TV & Furniture, whether they should buy a new appliance or have their older one serviced because of the tariffs.

“That can be a tough call because each situation is different. We do our best to recommend the best course of action for each customer,” he explained.

Last March, there was a high level of uncertainty due to the looming tariffs, but the store’s stance was to not panic and “see how it plays out and adjust accordingly.”

Over the past nine months, prices on popular models of stoves, fridges, washers and dryers have remained steady. Anastasia remarked that some prices are even lower now compared to last year. Upholstered furniture has slightly increased in price. Manufacturer parts for repairs have also gone up slightly, especially control boards for appliances (which have chips inside).

“The good news is that we did not have to make a lot of adjustments and have been able to keep prices low,” he stated. “Currently, we have not raised prices on furnishings, so customers are getting to enjoy affordable pricing for high quality mattresses and furniture.”

Trump’s tariffs have significantly impacted the auto industry, which has led to increased vehicle prices, supply chain disruptions, and a slowdown in consumer demand.

The tariffs have increased prices on all tires, regardless of where they are made, explained Jay Condrick of Boston Mobile Tire. Some of Boston Mobile Tire’s warehouses raised prices across the board on “liberation day” in April 2025.

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“The difficulty of this situation was hammered home for me recently. I was replacing tires on a BMW (German) that was made in South Carolina. It had Bridgestone (Japanese) tires on it that were made in Mexico. I was replacing them with Michelin (French) tires that were made in the United States,” he remarked.

For years, Trump has claimed that foreign countries would pay the tariff costs, even though decades of economic research suggests otherwise. A few weeks ago, a new study from Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy shows that U.S. businesses and consumers are taking on a majority of the costs.

After analyzing over 25 million shipments of goods imported to the U.S. in 2025, the study found that foreign exporters absorbed just four percent of the $200 billion tariff payments. The remaining 96 percent was passed on to U.S. importers and consumers.

To learn more about this study, visit: https://tinyurl.com/mt8aebey

“Donald Trump is a [redacted] moron,” stated one local business owner.

Most recently, Trump said he would increase tariffs on cars, pharmaceuticals and lumber from South Korea from 15 percent to 25 percent, escalating trade tensions even further.