Farmers markets are grappling with financial challenges as rising import costs take a toll.

Protests erupted nationwide, including in Tampa, as citizens voiced their discontent with recent policies from the Trump administration. These demonstrations come ahead of the president’s speech tonight, coinciding with the implementation of new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

Tommy Whitehead, a local contractor, expressed concerns about the financial impact, stating, “Most of our lumber comes from Canada, drywall from China, and granite from Mexico. With these tariffs, material costs are set to rise by 10 to 25 percent.”

The new tariffs, which took effect overnight, impose a 25% increase on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 20% on Chinese products. Whitehead emphasized that these costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers, adding, “We don’t profit from tariffs; we have to pass the costs along, which is especially tough in disaster restoration when homeowners have already maxed out their insurance policies.”

Dem Cannon, who has run farmers markets with her family for decades, shared her struggles: “While some prices remain stable, most are climbing.” She noted that the financial strain began even before the trade war officially started.

Key imports from Mexico and Canada, such as automobiles, oil, and auto parts, are also affected by these tariffs, further highlighting the widespread economic impact.

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(Image credit: Thrillist)

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