Overview

• President Trump's 145% tariff on Chinese imports has caused shipping costs for Chinatown businesses to double or triple, forcing price markups of 40–50%.
• Merchants are stockpiling goods like rice and soy sauce to mitigate further price increases, while delaying shipments to manage costs.
• Business leaders warn that the prolonged trade war could lead to increased commercial vacancies and significant job losses in Chinatown.
• California has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the tariffs and is exploring direct financial aid to support affected small businesses.
• Chinatown merchants hope upcoming trade negotiations by July will provide relief, but uncertainty continues to cloud the local economy.