Trump’s trade drama is a nightmare for business

The Tariff Man sequel is proving to be even more confusing and chaotic than the original.

The Tariff Man sequel is proving to be even more confusing and chaotic than the original. Each week, new tariffs are threatened against friends and foes alike, on an ever-growing list of products. Administration officials hint at compromises, only to be contradicted by the boss. Some tariffs kick in. Others fade away after “very good” phone calls. And yet others are watered down after complaints from CEOs. It’s hard to imagine a more perplexing backdrop for businesses trying to make decisions about the future. Should they hire or fire workers? Should they expand or retreat? Will they need to raise prices or can they hold steady? “It’s frustrating and stressful,” Trevor Frampton, who owns a feed and pet supply store in Santa Rosa, California, said of the back-and-forth nature of the tariff threats. Frampton told CNN he’s monitoring the trade developments closely because he fears these import taxes will force him to lift prices on pet food and other items at a time when many customers are already feeling financial pressure.