No Guarantees: Tariffs Could Cost Currituck Families $2,600 a Year
When asked if he could guarantee American families won't pay more under his planned tariffs, President-elect Trump's response was stark: "I can't guarantee anything. [https://www.tiktok.com/@nowthisimpact/video/7446471540272631083] I can't guarantee tomorrow." While Trump won't guarantee stable prices, one thing is guaranteed: working families will feel the squeeze first.
For Currituck families, that's no small matter — it's meals, medicine, and monthly bills. When costs rise, working families face real choices: Which bill gets delayed? Which repair waits? Which activity do the kids skip?
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What’s at stake: By sticking to his campaign pledges, Trump would all but assure a fresh spike in inflation, which was a deciding factor in the election [https://www.axios.com/2024/11/07/inflation-democrats-election-losses].
* Trump plans to impose 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, and additional tariffs on China
* These three countries are America's largest trading partners, accounting for over 40% of U.S. trade — food, lumber, and consumer products.
* The National Retail Federation estimates tariffs could cost middle-income households up to $2,600 annually [https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/2024/trumps-bigger-tariff-proposals-would-cost-typical-american-household-over]
Local impact: Currituck’s economy is closely tied to nearby Hampton Roads, where trade-dependent industries employ many of our residents. If these tariffs take effect, it won’t just raise prices at big retailers — it could put jobs at risk.
Here's another guarantee — while corporate profits will be protected, working families will bear the burden. Stores like Walmart have already warned they may raise prices [https://www.axios.com/2024/11/20/trump-tariffs-retailers-raise-prices-products-walmart] if the tariffs take effect.
Where are our representatives? When Currituck Weekly reached out to our representatives about protecting local jobs and businesses, we got more uncertainty. Rep. Don Davis's staff couldn't specify his position on the tariffs. Meanwhile, Rep. Goodwin's office dismissed concerns, telling us "They're just threats. We can't do anything about it until we see it."
That's cold comfort for families who need to plan their budgets now. While our representatives wait and see, working families can't wait to figure out how to absorb extra costs.
Immigration: Trump frames the tariffs as leverage to address immigration and drug trafficking. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum points out that migrant encounters at the border have already dropped 75% [https://www.tiktok.com/@heavytero/video/7433957310420028677] since December 2023. The remaining arrivals are largely people with legal appointments through the U.S. government's own system.
Looking back: Trumps claim first-term tariffs didn't impact consumer prices, telling NBC's "Meet the Press": "We had no inflation." However, Federal Reserve data shows prices rose consistently during his presidency. Research from that period found:
* American consumers and businesses, not foreign countries, bore most tariff costs — a “net loss to the US economy of $16 billion annually [https://taxfoundation.org/blog/who-really-pays-tariffs/].”
* Farmers required billions in government aid to offset retaliatory tariffs [https://www.npr.org/2018/07/24/631953880/trump-administration-to-provide-farmers-12-billion-to-offset-tariffs]
* Manufacturing jobs [https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2019/09/05/trumps-trade-war-inflicts-pain-on-manufacturing-states/] actually declined in states hit hardest by trade disputes
We can't guarantee what Washington will do, but we can guarantee this: Currituck families look out for each other.
Building community power: The tariffs won't take effect January 20, but we can start building stronger networks of mutual support now. Here's how Currituck families can look out for each other:
* Share what we have: Start local sharing networks for everything from home repairs to digital skills, tools, and carpools — whether through apps or just talking to our neighbors.
* Pool our resources: Form buying clubs for bulk purchases, share wholesale memberships, connect with local farmers and fishers for direct purchases, and create emergency funds so neighbors can help neighbors through tough times.
* Build care networks: Connect with neighbors who might need extra support, share information about assistance programs, and help each other navigate everything from childcare to bureaucratic systems.
Know a neighbor already doing this work? Tell us by emailing currituck@substack.com. We'll feature their story and help expand their impact.
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