President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $2.2 trillion worth of imported goods, claiming they protect domestic producers. Ironically, American small businesses are among those bearing the heaviest burden of these taxes. Now, these businesses are telling their stories. Recently, a group of over 700 small businesses joined forces by forming We Pay the Tariffs, a coalition that contends Trump's trade policies have caused irreparable harm.
Included in this group is Wild Rye, a women's outdoor apparel brand founded in 2016. Cassie Abel originally launched Wild Rye as an American-made brand, but domestic manufacturers' minimum order quantities and unit pricing made sourcing in the U.S. economically unviable. Chinese manufacturers had markedly lower minimum purchase requirements, prices, and higher quality, so Wild Rye ultimately went with them. By 2024, Wild Rye was one of the fastest-growing brands in the outdoor industry. Now, in the wake of Trump's tariffs, they've frozen all new hires.
