The trade wars conducted by Donald Trump are putting significant pressure on American manufacturers. Shapes Unlimited, located in North Jackson, Ohio, stores aluminum profiles and building materials, facing additional costs amounting to millions of dollars due to the aluminum tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Doug Rende, head of an aluminum products manufacturer in Ohio, reported that Donald Trump's tariffs have led to millions of dollars in increased annual expenses. Furthermore, the recent conflict with Iran has made shipments even more expensive.
Rende is the CEO of Shapes Unlimited, one of many American companies suffering from Trump's economic policies as the midterm elections approach. He noted that it would be 'one word to describe' and expressed a feeling of distrust in both the administration and the congressional oversight process meant to restrain the executive branch.
Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Donald Trump has used executive power to impose tariffs on various goods and countries. In addition to aluminum, duties also affect steel and automobiles, and US trading partners face additional tariffs that vary depending on the country.
While some American manufacturers have benefited because their foreign competitors faced higher barriers, others are struggling with rising costs and constant uncertainty. Trump's escalating trade battles with Canada and the conflict with Iran have only worsened concerns.
Complaints about Trump's trade policy are one line of disagreement that Democrats hope will benefit them when attempting to gain control of the Senate and House of Representatives in November.
Struggling to Cope
Rende's company in North Jackson, Ohio, manufactures and distributes aluminum building products used in elements such as fences. Trump's aluminum tariffs have steadily risen: they increased from 10 percent during his first presidency to 25 percent, and then to 50 percent last year, and Rende has felt this impact.
'Just this year, the additional costs amount to between $4.5 and $5 million,' Rende stated. He added that the end consumer is willing to absorb only a limited portion of these costs, forcing the company to absorb a significant part.
These extra costs include higher transportation fees, as fuel prices have sharply risen due to the US-Iran war. Rende reported that surcharges amount to 'over $6,500 per container' from suppliers. As a result, he has paused hiring new employees while investing in more robotic assembly.
Sam Miller, another manufacturer from Ohio who makes kitchen and bathroom fixtures, has been affected by both sides of Trump's trade wars: he pays tariffs on imported materials from Asia and faces difficulties expanding into Canada due to trade tensions.
Miller told AFP from his production facility in Warren: 'It has been difficult for businesses to manage.' He also speculated that there might be a shift away from Republican views.
Although Miller received compensation after the Supreme Court overturned many of Trump's tariffs, the US leader subsequently reinstated many of them.
Tension
The deteriorating relationship between the US and Canada exacerbates the problems, as Washington and Ottawa imposed tariffs on each other after trade negotiations broke down in August. Miller noted that 'we sell to Canada, and this is particularly stressful for us and our customers.'
He had originally planned to open a distribution center in Canada this year, but progress has slowed. Guy Covielle, president of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, told AFP that he is closely monitoring the tariffs, the war with Iran, and immigration. He described the situation as 'mixed,' but generally negative for businesses.
According to him, some companies have lost customers or been forced to reduce staff. Canada is also a major export market for Ohio, receiving a third of the state's total exports. Covielle emphasized that the situation is complicated by the fact that some goods cross the border multiple times.
The war with Iran adds stress, increasing freight costs and affecting the supply of aluminum due to drone attacks in the Middle East. In the absence of new American aluminum smelters, Covielle stated: 'We are all for tariffs on critical items such as defense and medical industries.' However, he added that 'one must be careful when it comes to non-essential and unavailable products in the US.'