As tariff negotiations continue at the federal level, local businesses are trying to navigate what comes next. That includes one Native-owned business in Sisseton.
Denise Hill said one thing keeps her up at night and her mind racing.
“Tariffs. And I’m like ‘God I gotta stop this,’” Hill said.
She said those thoughts begin to spiral.
“I’m closer to retirement. Supposed to be. You know, I don’t, I don’t have years to make up for my losses that my 401 took," Hill said. "You know, it’s, I don’t know. The whole thing is just terrible."
That’s because Hill’s business could be in trouble if tariffs don’t come down. Family Affair LLC in Sisseton purchases fabric from Native American manufacturers in Canada, but that price is expected to rise. She's worried it could go up by 150%.
She said that much of a raise would put her out of business because with times as hard as they are in the community, she would have to pass those high prices onto her customers. The thought of that is unbearable.
“Oh. I hate it. It’s just really sad,’” Hill said.
One Canadian company Hill works with is called 49 Dzine. The company said “most Indigenous made items aren’t exempt and will be tariffed based on where the raw materials were made.” That means a ribbon skirt with ribbon from China would be tariffed as a Chinese product.
Hill said with all the changes, the Native population is certainly going to feel an impact.
“I think Indian country is going to suffer. We’ll suffer not only from all the cuts that the programs are feeling, but also, you know, here with our products that we use for our outfits, for our regalia, for, for our skirts our shawls. Everything is going to be expensive. Even more so than it already is right now,” Hill said.
Hill said there is so much uncertainty, and the hard part is knowing that she doesn’t know what’s going to happen.
