Small business owners are feeling the pinch as the Trump administration’s tariff policy takes effect on Canadian goods. Bill Butcher, founder of Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia, is one such owner who depends on pilsner malt from Canada to brew his beer. A 25% tariff on this key ingredient would increase his prices significantly, making it uncertain for his business.
Butcher notes that the uncertainty about tariffs has led him to lay off two employees and raise prices by $6 per six-pack of beer. Canadian concerns about Trump’s policies have also affected Dave Cuttino, founder of Richmond-based Reservoir Distillery. After returning from a trip to western Canada, he discovered that stores had removed his whiskey from their shelves in retaliation for the US tariffs.
Legislation cosponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner aims to block these tariffs, calling them a tax on everyday Americans. The senators argue that the emergency declaration used to justify the tariffs is unfair and would benefit billionaires at the expense of ordinary citizens.
For small business owners like Butcher and Cuttino, the trade fight isn’t about politics; it’s about making a living. They’re concerned about the impact of widespread cuts to the federal workforce on local businesses and everyday consumers. As budgets tighten, luxury goods like craft beer or whiskey are becoming less affordable.
The bill requires at least four Republican votes to pass the Senate, but small business owners like Butcher and Cuttino hope that lawmakers will prioritize their needs over political wins.
Source: https://wtop.com/virginia/2025/04/tariff-impact-nearly-20-for-a-6-pack-of-beer