Just last week, a U.S. court ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority with many of the import tariffs, only for an appeals court to quickly pause that decision the very next day. This back-and-forth has left small business owners in a tough spot — unsure when or if tariffs will stick, and forced to rethink everything from product lines to staffing.

“My fear is if this continues, there’s going to be a mass extinction of small businesses,” said Julie Robbins, CEO of Ohio-based guitar pedal maker EarthQuaker Devices. Her words capture the frustration felt by many entrepreneurs trying to navigate this unpredictable landscape.

A Constantly Changing Tariff Game

Trump’s tariff saga kicked off on April 2 with sweeping import levies slapped on countries worldwide. Since then, the situation has been anything but steady:

• Early April: A 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs was announced — except for China.
• Later, tariffs on Chinese imports spiked to a staggering 145%.
• Some products like smartphones were then exempted from certain tariffs.
• The U.S. and China agreed to roll back reciprocal tariffs for 90 days in May.
• Late May brought threats of 25% tariffs on companies like Apple if they don’t manufacture phones in the U.S.
• Levies on European Union imports were pushed back until July 9.

These changes come through official announcements, social media, and sometimes just word of mouth — making it nearly impossible for businesses to keep track.

Small Businesses Feeling the Heat

Big companies like Gap are feeling the pinch, but it’s the small and niche brands that are bearing the brunt. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, the Small Business Optimism Index dropped for the second month in a row, largely because of the uncertainty.

Jack Leathem, an analyst at Canalys, explained, “It’s the smaller, niche brands that are really going to get hit hard.”

Take EveAnna Manley, CEO of Manley Labs, which makes high-end studio electronics. She’s had to cut employee hours by 25% due to tariffs. China, a key market for her business, has hit back with its own tariffs, complicating things even more. Manley’s sales have dropped nearly 20%, and her company has frozen product development.

“It’s just a freaking mess right now,” Manley said in late May, adding, “I’m so angry that my own government has done this to me.”

Finding Flexibility Amid Chaos

Experts say the best way for small businesses to survive is by staying flexible — diversifying supply chains and not putting all their eggs in one basket.

Assaf Gad, chief strategy officer at Intuition Robotics, shared how his company, which makes home robots for older adults, is planning ahead. They’re exploring alternatives to manufacturing in China and even eyeing international markets to reduce risks.

“This might be a good time to say, ‘Let’s not put all the eggs in one basket,’” Gad said. His company’s digital subscription model also helps cushion the blow from sudden tariff changes.

But Not Everyone Can Pivot Easily

Some businesses don’t have the luxury to shift quickly. Sarah O’Leary, CEO of Willow — a company making wearable breast pumps — says tariffs have forced them to pause exporting certain products made in China because the costs got too high.

When the recent court ruling sought to block many tariffs, O’Leary felt some relief but also warned that “there’s still so much uncertainty” and “the chaos will persist.”

Small businesses often operate on thin margins, she explained. Even small tariffs can be devastating.

“We don’t build our products with that much margin,” she said. “So we have to constantly evaluate what we can do to survive.”

The Bottom Line

For small businesses, Trump’s tariff policies have created a storm of unpredictability — leaving many anxious, angry, and scrambling to adapt. While some are pivoting and exploring new markets, others fear the long-term damage could be catastrophic.

In this high-stakes game of tariff whiplash, the hope for many is simple: some stability and the chance to get back to focusing on what they do best — building their businesses.

Source: CNN – Small businesses struggle under Trump’s tariff whiplash: ‘I’m so angry that my own government has done this to me’

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Bitcoin’s rally hit a major speed bump this weekend as the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency sank below the $77,000 mark. The dip follows renewed global market turmoil sparked by a fresh round of U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump’s latest economic policy moves.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $76,221, down about 4% in the past 24 hours, according to Coin Metrics. This marks a nearly 30% drop from its all-time high in January, when Bitcoin briefly broke past $100,000. While it had been hovering comfortably above $80K for most of the year, recent volatility has shaken that stability.

Last week, Bitcoin managed to resist the broader market plunge, even climbing slightly as stocks and gold slipped. But that resilience didn’t last.

Overnight, Ethereum (Ether) and Solana took steeper hits, falling 8% and 6%, respectively. The downturn wasn’t just price-based — massive liquidations followed.

According to CoinGlass:

• $247 million in Bitcoin long positions were wiped out in 24 hours
• Ether traders lost $217 million over the same period

These forced sell-offs occurred as leveraged traders betting on price increases were caught off guard and had to unwind their positions.

The crypto crash coincides with a massive global market rout. Investors scrambled to unload risky assets after Trump rolled out new blanket tariffs on all imports, with additional duties aimed at key trading partners.

The impact was immediate:

• $7.46 trillion in global stock market value evaporated in just two trading sessions
  • $5.87 trillion lost in U.S. markets
  • $1.59 trillion dropped globally outside the U.S.

The fear? A full-blown trade war leading the U.S. and possibly the world into recession.

Bitcoin is now down 15% in 2025, and analysts see few crypto-specific catalysts on the horizon. Instead, Bitcoin’s movements are expected to mirror equities, as economic worries and recession fears dominate sentiment.

Still, some experts see a potential silver lining.

“There is a lot of noise at the moment,” said Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered.
“But U.S. isolationism could increase the risks of holding fiat. In that light, Bitcoin may eventually emerge as a hedge against tariff risks.”

Bottom Line: As traditional markets convulse under the weight of tariff fears, crypto is no longer dancing to its own beat. Traders and investors should brace for more turbulence — and watch closely for signs of decoupling, or deeper entanglement, between digital assets and traditional finance.

Source: CNBC – Bitcoin drops below $77,000 as cryptocurrencies join global market rout

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Stellantis, the automotive giant behind popular brands like Jeep, Ram, and Citroën, has announced it will temporarily halt production at two of its plants in response to the newly imposed 25% auto tariffs. This decision follows President Donald Trump’s recent tariff announcement on imported vehicles, which is set to impact global automakers.

Starting April 7, Stellantis will suspend operations at its Windsor assembly plant in Canada for the weeks of April 7 and 14. Production is expected to resume by the week of April 21. In Mexico, the company will also pause production at its Toluca assembly plant throughout April, beginning on the same date.

As a result of these shutdowns, several Stellantis facilities in the U.S. will be affected. Temporary layoffs will take place at the Warren and Sterling stamping plants in Michigan, as well as the Indiana and Kokomo transmission plants and Kokomo casting facility. The company assured employees it will keep a close eye on the situation and make adjustments as needed.

Antonio Filosa, Stellantis’ North American Chief Operating Officer, addressed the situation in an email to employees. Filosa emphasized that the company is committed to adapting swiftly to the evolving circumstances. He assured staff that the measures being taken are necessary given the “current market dynamics.” He also acknowledged the uncertainty caused by the changing environment, reassuring employees that Stellantis is working closely with key stakeholders—including government officials, unions, suppliers, and dealers across North America—to navigate the challenges ahead.

The decision to impose a 25% tariff on auto imports, announced by Trump late last month, was framed as a move to bolster U.S. domestic manufacturing. However, the White House’s justification has raised concerns that the tariffs could put a financial strain on automakers like Stellantis, which rely heavily on global supply chains. The situation escalated further Thursday when Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada would impose its own 25% tariff on U.S.-made vehicles in response to Trump’s actions.

The tariff uncertainty comes at a time when Stellantis has been grappling with its own set of challenges. CEO Carlos Tavares stepped down in December amid declining sales and mounting competition. North America, traditionally the company’s most profitable market, has been facing increased pressure as Stellantis contends with evolving market conditions and consumer preferences.

To counter these issues, Stellantis has been making significant leadership changes. In October, the company named new heads of its North American and European operations. It also unveiled plans in January to reopen an assembly plant in Illinois and begin producing the next-generation Dodge Durango in Detroit. These efforts are part of the company’s strategy to address ongoing struggles, including labor issues with the UAW.

As Stellantis navigates these turbulent waters, it remains committed to adapting to shifting market dynamics and addressing the challenges posed by both tariffs and internal struggles. The coming weeks will be critical in determining how the company responds to the evolving landscape of auto manufacturing and global trade.

Source: AP News – Stellantis temporarily halts production at 2 plants in Canada, Mexico as auto tariffs take effect

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