President Donald Trump’s escalating use of tariffs — and threats of more — is starting to hit home in Jacksonville.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods.
Rick DeVaughn is a service advisor at Pulido’s Automotiveon Atlantic Boulevard in the St. Nicholas area of Jacksonville.
DeVaughn said on Tuesday his parts suppliers have let him know they are hiking prices due to tariffs.
“They let me know that beginning the first of this month they went to 5% on all the parts across the board. They said in July they'll go up 10%. And probably in August, they'll go up 20%," he said.
See Also: Vice President Visits Jacksonvlle To Tout New US-Mexico-Canada Trade Deal
Pulido's Automotive has been serving Jacksonville since 1965, doing work on a wide variety of cars ranging from Bentleys, BMWs to Chevys, Volvos and Volkswagens.
“You know, it's being passed on to the American people. I'm not in a position to absorb it here in the middle. So I have to pass the buck,” said DeVaughn.
NPR has reported the Trump administration is making good on a promise to raise tariffs on$200 billion worth of imported Chinese products.
Tuesday in London, Trump vowed new 5% tariffs against Mexico will take effect next week unless the White House is satisfied that Mexico's government is trying to stop Central and South American migrants from crossing into the U.S.
DeVaughn said much of his inventory comes from either Mexico or China. He said he hopes the U.S. will back off and avoid any long-term trade wars.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
