business backgrounder | federal affairs
Businesses Navigate Tariffs
Bumps to international trade hit hard in Washington.
Jacqueline Allison
In one of the most trade-driven states in the nation, Washington businesses are feeling the impacts of wide-ranging new tariffs.
At A Glance
Sweeping new tariffs are impacting Washington businesses in industries from agriculture and manufacturing to wholesale and recreation.
AWB spring survey data shows 72 % of Washington employers fear adverse effects of tariffs and 48 % have already experienced direct impacts. In the state’ s manufacturing sector,
58 % of firms report direct impacts.
Tariffs have increased the cost of critical business inputs, caused supply chain disruptions, reduced or eliminated export markets, and led to cancelled orders, employers say.
In response to the tariffs, businesses are opting to delay investments, switch suppliers, raise prices and pause hiring – with some even considering layoffs.
Shipping containers sit at the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia on June 24, 2024. AWB led a delegation to Canada on its fourth international trade mission.
Broad new tariffs are hitting Washington businesses across many industries, driving up costs, stalling production, and reducing exports. In response, employers are delaying investments, raising prices, freezing hiring, and even planning layoffs.
That’ s according to data from
“ The loss of businesses and jobs as a result of these tariffs will be detrimental to all Washingtonians.”
— Michelle Parkinson, owner of Carstens, Inc., a Burlington-based home décor wholesaler.
AWB’ s latest quarterly employer survey as well as personal stories from dozens of Washington employers shared with AWB.
AWB has serious concerns about the impacts of the tariffs on Washington’ s economy – one of the most trade-driven in the nation. While targeted tariffs may be helpful, broad tariffs bring unintended consequences that threaten businesses and jobs, while driving up prices of everyday goods.
50 association of washington business