The large tariffs on U.S. imports ordered by President Trump in April have created huge uncertainty and anxiety, amplified by Trump’s frequent course changes and by tariffs imposed on the U.S. in retaliation. Small businesses can’t wait for uncertainty to clear, however. They have to make frequent decisions in real time. Today on Davisville a few businesses downtown tell us what they think of the tariffs, how they’re coping, and how their customers are responding.
The results are not conclusive -- only five businesses responded to a set of questions I sent to DDBA members prior to this program -- but they are interesting. One respondent cheers the tariffs. The other four rate the impact to be severe and negative. Even so, you’ll also hear nuance.
Today's guests are Brett Lee, executive director of the Davis Downtown Business Association, and Kevin Wan, president of the association this year and co-owner of Sophia’s Thai Kitchen. They comment on the responses and add insights of their own.
(Photo shows a downtown Davis street scene on May 22, 2025)
