In Nashville, Tennessee, business owner Drew Greenblatt stands in firm support of the Trump administration’s approach of using tariffs to adjust the balance of the global trading system. He believes the current system disproportionately favors international companies over American manufacturers.
Greenblatt, who owns Marlin Steel Wire Products in Baltimore, Maryland, produces baskets and racks for industries such as medical devices, aerospace, and food processing. His company, with a workforce of 115, operates from locations in Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan. The steel used in their products is sourced from states like Tennessee, Illinois, and Michigan.
He argues that it’s challenging to compete with foreign manufacturers due to what he describes as an “unfair advantage.” In Europe, tariffs and taxes significantly raise the cost for a German company to buy his wire baskets compared to American businesses purchasing German products. This, he insists, puts American workers at a disadvantage, an issue he believes has persisted for decades.
The Trump administration has prioritized U.S. manufacturing as vital for economic and national security. Over the years, American manufacturing has seen a decline; workforce numbers peaked in June 1979 with 19.6 million jobs and had dropped 35% by early 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Small manufacturers, who represent the vast majority of U.S. manufacturing, are especially affected.
By imposing tariffs on significant trading partners, the administration aims to incentivize companies to produce more domestically and avoid importing costlier goods. This strategy, it argues, could lead to more lucrative employment opportunities in sectors like automotive and appliances.
Greenblatt supports this policy, believing that equalizing tariffs could allow him to significantly increase his workforce.
Nonetheless, not all small business owners share this enthusiastic outlook. The unpredictability surrounding these tariffs breeds apprehension about disrupting the established economic framework and possibly sparking a global recession. Such instability is worrying for businesses, financial markets, and American households.
Corry Blanc, who operates Blanc Creatives in Waynesboro, Virginia, since 2012, expresses concern over this uncertainty overshadowing any potential upsides. His company, which makes handcrafted cookware using American steel and wood, employs 12 workers. Market unrest has led to anxious inquiries from his Canadian and international clients. He fears inadequate infrastructure to boost production should demand for American goods rise.
Having weathered various economic challenges, Blanc considers current conditions as the most difficult he has faced. The lack of clarity and guidance worries him.
In Standish, Maine, Michael Lyons runs Rogue Industries, creating wallets and leather goods with a small team using local and Midwest leather. He’s experiencing the downsides of tariff uncertainties, losing a longstanding Canadian client due to strained international relations. Lyons hopes to expand his business but is currently choosing stability over growth due to present conditions.
On the optimistic side, Bayard Winthrop, CEO of American Giant, anticipates a more beneficial outcome from the tariffs. Having founded his apparel company in 2011 during the decline of the U.S. textile industry, he now offers a broader clothing range. He sources materials from the Southeastern U.S. with manufacturing partnerships in North Carolina and Los Angeles.
Winthrop points out that until the mid-1980s, most American-purchased clothing was domestically produced. However, only about 4% of it remains U.S.-made today. Winthrop sees potential in tariffs to correct import-export imbalances, specifically with China in textiles, enhancing competitive conditions for domestic manufacturers.
Despite acknowledging concerns about the volatility and unpredictability of the current administration’s policies, Winthrop advocates for a focus on long-term benefits. He argues that prioritizing protection of the domestic market and supporting manufacturing jobs is a time-tested concept worth revisiting amidst recent global shifts.