WILLISTON, Vt. (WCAX) – As the Trump administration reaches one year, Vermont businesses are reflecting on the policies that have been implemented, with many expressing concerns about tariffs.
Senator Peter Welch toured Rigorous Technology in Williston on Tuesday and sat down with other business leaders who say that tariffs imposed by President Trump have had a negative impact.
Many of them spoke to the confusion of the rollout and the financial hit it’s had on everyday operations.
“I see tariffs being a real challenge because, as manufacturers are looking to invest in their technology, you can’t buy these machines in the United States; they are not made here. So, when you are buying a multi-million dollar machine with an unknown added pricetag, it just leaves everyone in a holding pattern,” said Diane Abruzzini of Rigorous Technology.
“I don’t know what the politics are of the people here, but I do know is that they’re all hardworking and they have employees they care about. And they’re facing the same challenge of these incredible expenses from tariffs and how arbitrary these tariffs are,” Welch said.
Welch says he hopes to make adjustments to tariffs by working with his Republican colleagues who are hearing similar concerns from their constituents.
