Financial concerns rise for businesses in southeast Texas during trade war with China [Video]

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — From the oil industry to small businesses, the Trump administration’s tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China are impacting people across the nation and in southeast Texas.

Giant Dollar is now having to make small changes due to the tariffs.

“As our prices increase, we keep increasing our selling prices, and that’s been difficult. It’s been so challenging, you see prices marked up throughout,” Giant Dollar owner Nick Merchant said.

Merchant owns 11 stores across Houston. He says for around 30 years, they were able to keep prices low at $1 or $1.39, but with 80% of his product from China, it’s now forcing his hand, adding several orange tags to items with lots of uncertainty.

“These last six months, it’s just been so significant, especially now. Even now, we don’t know where the final cost is going to land or what our freight cost is going to be,” …