Re “Tariff uncertainly squeezes Mass. manufacturers” (Page A1, Oct. 13): Omar Mohammed’s article painfully identified the numerous ways that President Trump’s tariff actions are crippling companies in Massachusetts and across the country. Over a 40-year career I have traveled extensively oversees to design products for import to the US retail market. Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic I have never seen this kind of paralysis with wholesalers.
When companies face unforeseen tariffs that go into effect while container ships are en route or when goods are in final production — an impact for which they have not budgeted — there is no way they can avoid a massive hit to their bottom line.
When tariffs cost a company such as General Motors $1.1 billion in the second quarter alone, it is inevitable that corporate earnings reports will hit investors’ retirement portfolios at some point. With the supply chain cycling out of goods that were purchased prior to these insane levies, inflationary pressures on prices to absorb the tariffs will only increase.
As a businessman, Trump’s record of six bankruptcies speaks volumes about his indifference to the ultimate victims of his tariff policy here in the United States. The harm will fall not on China, India, or global competitors but rather on consumers and on small and large businesses, many of which are laying off workers and even closing. Outside of a grudge against President Xi Jinping and others, this erratic strategy makes no business sense.
Shannon Goodwin
Danvers
