MSNBC went to Ohio over the weekend to examine the impact of tariffs (separate from the Chinese tariffs) on businesses and retailers in the area.
Glen Fish, CEO of Revere Plastics Systems, said that “since the tariff activities have kicked in, it has been a benefit for us.”
“We’ve seen investments from our customers. We’ve also, in terms of capacity enhancements and additional volume, which has helped stabilize and strengthen our workforce. And we’ve seen opportunities arise with other companies moving to the U.S. as a result of some of this,” he continued.
Fish said that the tariffs have provided “stability and predictability in terms of volumes and continued investment and growth” for his company.
Fish’s business is based out of Clyde, Ohio and provides plastic parts to Whirlpool, which has a factory in the town. The tariffs have brought roughly 1,800 new jobs to America, but have also resulted in an increase to the cost of washers and dryers.
Tom Phillips, an appliance retailer from Tiffin, Ohio, said the tariffs “have hurt us because of the price increase.”
“You know, for 38 years or whatever I’ve never had this much of a price increase over two or three years. Never. And if we did, we could always make it up one way or another,” he said.
WATCH: @GarrettHaake reports from Clyde, Ohio, where tariffs have driven up the cost of washing machines and dryers at a local plant. pic.twitter.com/Al5wu9zz6J
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 10, 2019
Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted a video of the segment and said “an Ohio manufacturing CEO explains that cracking down on China has meant stability and predictability for his business.”
“Donald Trump is fighting for business owners all across the U.S.,” she said.
An Ohio manufacturing CEO explains that cracking down on China has meant stability and predictability for his business.@realDonaldTrump is fighting for business owners all across the US!pic.twitter.com/NJwydmgNTS
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) May 11, 2019
But MSNBC reporter Garrett Haake pointed out that “these are washing machine tariffs that have absolutely nothing to do with cracking down on China.”
“They mostly affected South Korean manufacturers,” he explained.
Nope. These are washing machine tariffs that have absolutely nothing to do with cracking down on China. They mostly affected South Korean manufacturers. https://t.co/1M6aL70aem
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) May 11, 2019
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
