’Nowhere to turn’: Small businesses dependent on imports from China are feeling more desperate
- On April 24, 2025, small business owner Calisa Kastning unloaded clothing imported from China at her storage unit in Anchorage amid ongoing tariff challenges.
- Since early April, the Trump administration has significantly increased tariffs on imports from China—reaching as high as 145%—putting considerable strain on small businesses across Alaska that rely heavily on these overseas products.
- A recent survey of 200 Alaska small businesses found 70% reported supplier cost increases, highlighting difficulties given Alaska’s high operating expenses and reliance on cross-border transport.
- Jon Bittner, Alaska Small Business Development Center director, said the tariffs are “particularly challenging” and hit the state’s mostly sole-proprietor businesses where it hurts the most.
- These economic pressures put many small businesses at risk of insolvency or forced price hikes, indicating broader community impacts and uncertainty for Alaska’s business landscape.
242 Articles
242 Articles
A tidal wave of change is headed for the US Economy - West Hawaii Today
When the COVID pandemic hit, factories in China shut down and global shipping traffic slowed. Within a matter of a few weeks, products began disappearing from U.S. store shelves and American firms that depend on foreign materials were going out of business.

Trump's tariffs loom over economy
WASHINGTON — American businesses are canceling orders from China, postponing expansion plans and hunkering down to see what trade policy surprises President Donald Trump plans next.
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