Wisconsin reeling from tariffs coming from Mexico, Canada, Europe

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Rick Barrett and Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Published 10:13 a.m. CT June 8, 2018

At a recent town hall meeting held by U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner in Hartford, a local manufacturer complained vehemently about the new steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

“I do recognize this is probably a negotiating tactic … the administration is using, but in the meantime real families are being crushed by these tariffs right now,” said Doug Reigle of Regal Ware, a company with 200 employees in West Bend that makes cookware and small kitchen appliances.

“We ship our products all over the world — 65 percent of our revenue comes from outside the United States … and the tariffs are hitting us especially hard,” said Reigle, who said his firm has already spent about $150,000 this year to cover the tariffs.

All of Regal Ware’s aluminum comes from Canada.

“We can’t even buy it in the United States,” Reigle said. “Our competitors, which come from all over the world, aren’t subject to these tariffs. … So I’m now at a 25 percent disadvantage immediately on all those products.”

https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2018/06/08/tariffs-take-toll-wisconsin-manufacturers/682029002/