SALT LAKE CITY — Though President Donald Trump announced a temporary 90-day pause on most tariffs, many Utah business owners say the damage has already been done — and the lingering uncertainty is putting their plans on hold.
Local entrepreneurs and manufacturers expressed frustration over fluctuating costs and unclear future policies, saying the instability is slowing growth and forcing difficult decisions.
Greg Colbert, who runs Steel Products Manufacturing, described the challenges of running a business in such an unpredictable environment. “I’m quoting prices today for products I’ll be delivering months from now, and I honestly can’t predict what the costs will be even next week,” he said.
Colbert’s company, which pivoted to producing dumpsters for construction sites in 2013, has already felt the impact. He recalled seeing a 20% spike in steel prices just on the rumor of new tariffs earlier this year. “The tariffs hadn’t even started, but the prices jumped — and they haven’t gone back down,” he said.
Amanda Stewart, founder of the children’s apparel company Mochi Kids, said the tariff climate has prompted her to hit pause on expansion plans. “We import goods from countries like Japan, Korea, and several in Europe,” she said. “We’re hearing from vendors around the world that prices are going up, and some have even paused production altogether.”
The growing uncertainty has forced her company to scale back operations for now. “We were planning to launch new collections, but with the way things are, it just doesn’t make sense,” Stewart added.
In Millcreek, interior designer Marsha Holfeltz is facing similar disruptions. Her boutique specializes in furniture from Canada and Italy, but she said many international suppliers are now refusing to ship to the U.S. altogether.
“The situation is unsettling,” Holfeltz said. “I’ve tried to stockpile what I can to get through a season or two without passing on additional costs to my customers, but that’s not a long-term solution.”
Many Utah businesses are bracing for further complications, with fears that tariff negotiations could drag on for months. As the Trump administration pursues country-by-country deals, business owners say they’re left waiting — and worrying — about what comes next .
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