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Mass. businesses grapple with changing tariff plans and 'tremendous' uncertainty
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Josh Kraft is making his Boston mayoral bid official today. WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann reports Kraft will kick off his campaign this morning in Dorchester. Read Walt’s full feature for more on Kraft’s career and political history — or the TL;DR version here.
But first, let zoom out to the rest of the state:
Trade war on hold: President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China — Massachusetts’ three biggest trade partners — were set to officially take effect today. However, two of the three are getting a little more breathing room. Trump announced yesterday he’s putting the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico on hold for a month after reaching deals with their governments to work on border security. (The 10% against China still took effect just after midnight — eliciting a wave of retaliatory countermeasures.)
- Behind the scenes: Gov. Maura Healey told reporters yesterday that the whiplash in plans is creating headaches for local businesses. “It’s been the problem the last couple weeks,” Healey said. “These actions create a tremendous amount of uncertainty and chaos. What our businesses need in Massachusetts, they need to have certainty in their supply chain.” There’s evidence some companies have been stockpiling shipments before the tariffs hit. But for businesses like restaurants, the uncertainty is particularly difficult. Steve Clark, the CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, told WBUR’s Amanda Beland that it makes it hard to source perishable food and plan menus for the coming weeks and months. “It’s one of those things, ‘What’s going to happen one week, two weeks, three months down the road?’ ” he said.
- What should consumers expect? Grocery prices, energy bills and car repairs would be the main areas where Massachusetts residents likely see prices rise, if all the tariffs eventually take effect next month, according to Jim Brett, the head of the regional business group The New England Council. In a recent press release, Healey singled out a number of every-day imports to Massachusetts that would be hit, from seafood and car parts from Canada, to fruit and TVs from Mexico, to clothing and electronics from China. She is also worried tariffs on Canadian lumber could stall local housing production.
- Tell us: Healey has said tariffs would increase the cost of electricity in New England and some heating oil providers have warned the costs would be passed onto consumers. Do you heat your home with oil or another delivered fuel? Are you worried about how tariffs will affect your next fill-up? If so, WBUR’s Miriam Wasser wants to hear from you. Get in touch by replying to this email or reaching out to her at mrwasser@bu.edu.
Massachusetts now has a poet laureate position. Healey signed an executive order yesterday to create the role, which is intended to promote poetry and the written arts across the state. “A poet laureate will help us cultivate a love of poetry and all the skills it develops through reading, writing, seeing, thinking, creating,” Healey said.
- Fun fact: While there are a handful of states that currently don’t have poet laureates, Massachusetts — home to a long list of famous poets, like Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson — is the only state that has never had one. New Jersey and Pennsylvania abolished their poet laureate roles in 2003 (for very different reasons), and a few other states have vacancies in the position.
- Who will our first poet laureate be? The job is open! Healey’s office plans to release info on how to apply this spring.
- What will they do? The gig includes organizing literary events across the state, composing poetry for ceremonial events and advising the state on a school outreach program for poetry. (It also comes with a stipend, though the amount is still TBD.)
Heads up: Residents of Beverly (and also part of Wenham), you have a special election coming up this spring. It’s for the seat of ex-state Rep. Jerald Parisella — who decided to take a judgeship instead of an eighth term on Beacon Hill — and voting day has been set for May 13, with primaries on April 15. (Here’s an early look at the candidates.)
The Lynn teen who was shockingly taken into ICE custody after allegedly pushing her brother during an argument is home. WBUR’s Deborah Becker reports that 18-year-old Zeneyda Barrera was released on Friday, after state prosecutors said they would not pursue domestic assault charges against her.
P.S.— Today is Massachusetts’ first-ever Rosa Parks Day. Here’s the story of how a Unitarian Universalist minister from Fitchburg convinced state leaders to officially commemorate the day.
