WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced he’s ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada because of a television ad opposing U.S. tariffs that he said misstated the facts and called “egregious behavior” aimed at influencing U.S. court decisions.

The post on Trump’s social media site came Thursday night after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he aims to double his country’s exports to countries outside the U.S. because of the threat posed by Trump’s tariffs. Trump’s call for an abrupt end to negotiations could further inflame trade tensions that already have been building between the two neighboring countries for months.

Trump posted, “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.”

“The ad was for $75,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts,” Trump wrote on his social media site.

“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”

Carney’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The prime minister was set to leave Friday morning for a summit in Asia, while Trump is set to do the same Friday evening.

(Source: Associated Press)

Caffeine is a part of our daily routine. From that morning cup of Earl Grey to an evening espresso, days are stimulated by cups of coffee and tea. Over the past year, getting that fix is roasting your wallet.

At Detroit Sip, a coffee shop in the city’s Bagley Neighborhood, owner Jevona Fudge has lent out the space for a campaign kickoff event. She and two employees are working to keep everyone happy and caffeinated.

Fudge says business has been a little inconsistent.

“My God, it’s up and down, to be honest, just trying to find creative ways to bring people in,” Fudge said.

“Everybody loves coffee.”

The National Coffee Association says two thirds of American adults drink coffee at a clip of 3 cups per day.

Fudge, whose day job is as an assistant Macomb County prosecutor, says money is tight.

“I don’t really know I’m going to try to make it through the end of the year. I have a job that helps fund the dream, and I need to keep my employees happy,” Fudge said. “So really, just trying to do a balancing act.”

There’s a lot of that going around within metro Detroit’s coffee community, and the industry as a whole.

Craig Batory, owner of Craig’s Coffee in Detroit’s resurgent Chinatown neighborhood, feels that way. He says prices are up 25-50% over the past year.

“Yeah, I’ve had to raise prices a couple of times in the last year, and that’s just been sort of reflective on the rising cost of coffee,” Batory said. “And that’s not even talking about the tariffs, right?”

About those tariffs, the biggie for coffee drinkers is a Trump Administration levy on imports from Brazil. The South American country is the leading provider of coffee beans in the U.S.

Batory says he’s covered—for now.

“I still have inventory from Brazil, but when that runs out, we’ll have to either figure out a different sourcing option or set our prices accordingly, based on the cost of the coffee rising by 40% the last year and the 50% tariff,” Batory said.

“So you’re looking at potentially a 90% increase.”

Not just tariffs

Coffee prices were rising before the on-again-off-again tariffs.

Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo moves about 60,000 pounds of beans each year through Chazzano Coffee Roasters in Berkley. He’s spent years developing relationships and sourcing his beans directly from farms.

“So the tariffs really aren’t the problem, and they’re only a temporary problem,” Lanzkron-Tamarazo said.

Turns out there are a bunch of factors that go into that cup o’ joe.

“There are not enough truck drivers, there are not enough workers in in warehouses. There are not enough people picking coffee beans, and there are not enough containers to put the coffee beans in,” Lanzkron-Tamarazo said.

That’s on top of changes to growing conditions due to climate change and changing political climates in coffee growing nations. At Chazzano, that’s translated into a $2-3 per pound increase.

Lanzkron-Tamarazzo says after 15 years in the business he’s used to the ups and downs.

“I lived through a time when coffee prices were unnaturally low, just maybe like three or four years ago, where it was so low that I was worried about the farmers, whether they’re doing well enough during that time, it was so incredibly low,” Lanzkron-Tamarazo said.

So while the tariffs aren’t the focus for rising coffee prices, Craig Batory says there is some concern about the levies changing the habits for coffee growers and importers.

“Tariffs have made certain countries sort of shift where they’re selling their coffee. So a lot of countries like Brazil might start shifting their sales from the United States to China, because a lot of Asian countries are starting to consume more coffee.”

Those Asian countries also consume a lot of tea—which has largely avoided the price increases.

Though there’s one big exception according to Jeff Urcheck, a Detroit-based importer of high-end teas for restaurants and coffee shops.

“The past few years have really skyrocketed matcha, in particular, into everybody’s social media algorithm because it’s been such a huge trending health and fitness focused product as an alternative to coffee,” Urcheck said.

Through his company, Hamtramck-based Noka Imports, Urcheck says the politics—even outside of tariffs—hurts his business.

“So it’s not really viable for us to deal with tea from China, because there hasn’t been an administration in the past like, well, frankly, during my entire lifetime, who’s been amenable to non-aggressive foreign policy when it comes to China,” Urcheck said.

Urcheck says America First attitudes don’t work for things that won’t grow in the U.S.

“If you’re having a bunch of inconsistent—and frankly maladaptive—trade agreements that are just there to be some kind of a bullying flex on a market that is increasingly reliant on globalization and global trade, you’re kind of putting yourself in a losing position,” Urcheck said.

“We can’t get or make a lot of stuff here. We don’t have the climate for it. We don’t have the natural resources for it. So we are we have to import a lot of stuff.”

So while the initial impact of seemingly arbitrary and constantly changing tariffs isn’t the biggest driving factor for prices it’s still having an impact.

“Smaller businesses, including the ones that I work with… just everybody’s been really kind of stalled and nervous about how these tariffs are going to affect the consumer demand, but also the longevity of their own businesses,” Urcheck said.

Getting creative

Even through this time of higher prices, there’s a thought that independent roasters and importers can provide something that chains like Dunkin’ and Starbucks cannot.

“I think that consumers are going to start being a lot more thoughtful about how they’re spending their money. So the focus right now is to provide a good quality bean, a good quality cup of coffee. And, you know, focus on what our messaging is like. We provide sustainable, traceable coffee, we roast it with care, and we want to make sure that our consumers are have something that’s enjoyable for them to drink,” Batory said.

At Chazzano, Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo ships out coffee beans to every state in the nation. He feels like he’s threading the needle when it comes to prices.

“There’s an axiom that if you raise your prices and everyone complains, then it’s too high, and if you raise your prices and and no one complains, then it’s too low, and a couple people complain then it’s perfect. And unfortunately for the consumer, no one has complained.”

Back at Detroit Sip, that’s something Jevona Fudge has been thinking about even as she’s been hesitant to adapt to the current coffee market.

“I haven’t raised my prices really like I need to, because I have to balance my customer base and what’s happening in terms of inflation, the increased prices, the tariffs, hoping that they will reach some sense of normalcy before, you know, passing that cost on to the customer. So for right now, I’m eating it,” Fudge said.

Since the pandemic, consumers have been eating the cost of higher food prices too making this rise in coffee prices even tougher to swallow.

The next Senator representing Michigan could shift the balance of power in Washington, and their policies relating to the auto industry, tariffs and electric vehicles could make Michigan’s economic interests pivotal nationwide.

The four main candidates are Abdul El-Sayed, Representative Haley Stevens, State Senator Mallory McMorrow and Mike Rogers. They’re all vying to replace Gary Peters as Michigan’s next Senator.

The domestic auto industry has been on an economic roller coaster. Ping-ponging tariff policies and rollbacks of Biden-era electric vehicle tax rebates have added economic uncertainty to the equation of domestic automakers and parts suppliers.

So, what policies might the next Senator from Michigan bring to Washington?

Molly Boigon is a reporter who covers technology and innovation for Automotive News. She spoke to the four candidates on the Daily Drive Podcast and wrote a piece breaking down where they stand on key automotive economic policies.

 She joined Robyn Vincent to share what she learned about the candidates’ positions on electric vehicles and tariffs.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

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What does it feel like to be a small business owner in southeast Michigan right now?

It’s hard to get a firm picture of that, but we do have some numbers to put some paint on the canvas. Right now, the broad story is that the economy is doing well despite uncertainty from high tariffs. 

Corporate profits are strong, the jobless rate is 4.3 percent, and wages are going up. 

In Detroit specifically, the unemployment rate fell to below 10 percent, dropping from 11 percent in 2024. And a new report says that gains are expected to be had here in the finance, leisure, hospitality and public administration sectors. 

But, as noted, difficulty is looming. An effective US tariff rate at almost 16 percent is expected to hamper auto-related jobs. Many have companies stockpiled goods to counteract the tariffs, and some businesses anticipate raising prices. What’s more, companies are hiring much fewer people than they were four years ago.

What does all this mean for small businesses in our area? What does it look like to own a coffee shop, a clothing store, or a small construction company in Metro Detroit?  

Mark Lee is the president and CEO of The Lee Group, where he consults for small businesses. He spoke with Robyn Vincent.

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Detroit and Windsor’s economies are intimately connected. On a typical day, thousands of trucks cross the Detroit River with parts that may cross back again several times before a single car rolls off the line. 

But that rhythm is off. 

New tariffs and shifting border rules have fueled uncertainty, and you can see it in fewer trucks and feel it in prices. The port handled about 1.4 million inbound trucks last year, down from over one and half million the year before. The flow has been wobbling through 2025. 

Canadian travel to the U.S. has also slumped this summer, draining foot traffic from border businesses. A new crossing, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, could add capacity later this year, but the rules at the booth still set the tempo. 

Marta Leardi-Anderso, executive director of the Cross-Border Institute at the University of Windsor, joined The Metro to unpack the mechanics and the human impact of President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Business leaders say President Trump’s tariffs on various countries and products are creating a high level of uncertainty for companies.

That appears especially true for small business owners who often operate with razor-thin profit margins.

A national coalition of CEO’s called Small Business for America’s Future estimates owners of smaller firms account for the vast majority of U.S. imports, the kind directly impacted by tariffs.

The group recently drafted a letter to President Trump and other officials claiming tariffs place a disproportionate burden on small businesses and are creating a crisis for owners.

That includes Farmington Hills, MI-based Blitz Proto, a company that specializes in helping customers bring ideas from design and engineering to production.

Blitz Proto CEO Carrin Harris says tariffs are making it hard for her company to survive.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Carrin Harris:  Blitz Proto is a small, three-person team. We’re focused on bringing innovative ideas to life. We help companies make prototypes from toys to medical devices and auto parts. Most of our prototypes involve electronics. That’s why we are having difficulty with the tariffs right now. Most of the electronic parts come from China. But we also do machining. So, the cost of all materials for machining has gone up. Aluminum, steel, everything’s going up quite a bit.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: Have you been able to absorb some of the costs from the tariffs? Or do you have to pass the full cost on to consumers?

CH: We do work on very small margins. We have done what we can to absorb the cost. But for the most part, we are passing it on to the customers.

QK: How is that going over?

CH: So far, it has been very difficult. Many of our customers come to us with very small budgets and they can’t afford the additional cost to make their product. So, we have lost some opportunities this year due to the increased costs that we’re passing on.

QK: There’s been reports that some suppliers are demanding additional payments to cover tariff-related costs they say they were not expecting. Has that happened with your business?

CH: Yes, it has. We had placed some orders back in December. Then we received communication from our vendors telling us the cost had gone up. They’re attempting to absorb the costs as well but they had to pass some additional fees on to us to account for the tariffs and duties and additional shipping costs.

QK: How does that affect your business? I imagine it impacts not only costs but also quoting people what you might have to charge them or the time frame for when you’ll be able to deliver a product?

CH: Yes, it has. We have changed our policies internally this year. Our quotes are now expiring in one week rather than one month. And a lot of our lead times are being pushed out because the shipping times are much longer.

QK: It must be difficult to form a business plan with that kind of a situation.

CH: It has been extremely difficult. I’m doing the best that I can to assure our customers that we are exploring alternative vendors. We’re looking into more suppliers here in the United States, although costs for items coming from the United States tend to be quite a bit higher, sometimes three times the cost.

QK: You are one of the owners included in the letter sent to President Trump and other officials regarding tariffs and how they’re affecting small business. President Trump has said over and over that he loves tariffs. But he’s also proposed huge tariffs and then reduced them and then added others. Given all that, how realistic do you think it might be that he could reverse course on any of these tariffs, especially ones dealing with electronics from countries like China?

CH: It does sound like a possibility. But it’s pretty unpredictable. I’m hoping that he’ll at least choose and stick with a tariff rate so that we can anticipate better. Because we quote customers ahead of time, sometimes months ahead of time, so they can plan their budgets. If they’re ready to start a project and the cost has skyrocketed in the meantime, they usually have to scrap the project.

QK: The president said earlier this year that his use of tariffs could mean, for example, that maybe someone can only buy two dolls for a child this year for Christmas instead of 30. That’s as he says he’s bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. For you, whose company actually makes prototypes for toys, among other things, what do those comments mean to you?

CH: It really means the supplier that wants to create a new toy is probably not going to do it. We are a very small business among many small businesses and these tariffs are threatening our livelihood. We already are working with almost no capital. So I don’t see how we can sustain this in the long run. I’d like to see more consistency.

QK: How long have you had your business going and how has it been doing?

CH: We started in mid-2022. It’s done pretty well up until the tariffs were put in place. We had really good outlooks for this year. We’ve formed a lot more customer relationships and have had a lot of new opportunities this year. Unfortunately, a lot of those customers have held back from putting in orders that they planned on making with us this year. I am sure that’s due to the fluctuating cost.

QK: And not being a huge corporation, I imagine you don’t have the extra assets or resources available to help tide you over the way that a large company might?

CH: We’ve actually had some suppliers tell us that big corporations came in and bought up all of their stock. So they wouldn’t actually honor the orders that we’d already put in and paid for.

QK: How can they do that if you already paid for them?

CH: That’s a good question. They didn’t really have any answers for us

More tariffs on imported goods took effect last week. 

The federal government is making big money from tariff revenues, which reached $29 billion last month. It is important to note that the money is coming from American wallets. 

Tariffs aren’t just numbers in a trade deal. They are hidden costs baked into the price of almost everything we buy and sell, and they have become a point of contention and anxiety with President Trump’s erratic maneuvers — announcing them, delaying them, increasing them, walking them back. 

He says his new tariffs aim to protect American industries, but they are hitting small businesses and big supply chains in Michigan and beyond. 

Economists warn that the state’s manufacturing base and retailers are especially vulnerable. That means higher costs for business owners, tougher choices on pricing, and potential sticker shock for many of us.

So we’re connecting the dots, from the global supply chain to the boutique sales floor with Rachel Lutz, owner of The Peacock Room, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique in Detroit, and Professor Jason Miller, interim chair of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University. 

They joined The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to explain tariffs’ local and less understood impacts.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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