CT beer brewers fear impacts of aluminum tariff increase NBC Connecticut [Video]

Business owners in Connecticut are bracing for the potential impacts from the 25% increase in tariffs that President Donald Trump said is set to go into effect next week.

The tariffs will impact goods from Canada and Mexico, and aluminum is among the goods that could be affected.

The looming increase has beer brewers like Curt Cameron, owner of Thomas Hooker Brewery, on edge.

“We probably process over a million cans a year out of this facility, so if cans go up a few cents, it’s real money to us,” Cameron said.

He buys aluminum by the truckload to can his popular beer and seltzer.

“What we call a bright aluminum can cost in the ballpark of 14 cents, if you buy it by the truckload. So that’s a $25,000 expense when we buy a truckload of cans. Pre-printed cans are closer to $60,000 per truckload. So, it’s a substantial amount of our expense when packaging beer,” Cameron said.

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