Tariffs: Why Small UK Businesses Simply Move On

Trump and Tariffs, At SaverStreet, we work with suppliers from all over the world. So like many small UK retailers, we constantly balance quality, price, availability, and customer demand. Therefore when one of those factors changes dramatically, we adapt. That’s not politics — that’s survival.

Recently, we’ve had to make a decision that perfectly illustrates why tariffs often fail in the real world.

A Real Example From Our Product Range

One of the products we sell is PAWZ Rubber Dog Boots, a well-known and well-made American product. We don’t buy directly from the US; we purchase through a UK importer who brings them in from America.

Additionally due to the latest round of Trump-era tariffs, our importer — along with many others — has chosen not to restock. Furthermore the sudden increase in import costs has made the product commercially unviable.

So for small retailers like us, the outcome is simple:
We remove the product from our range and look elsewhere.

What Happens Next for Small Businesses with Trump and Tariffs?

Contrary to popular belief, trump and his tariffs don’t crush small businesses. They inconvenience us.

Therefore we don’t lobby governments. Don’t wait for policy changes. We adapt.

As a result in this case, there happens to be a high-quality Chinese-made alternative already available. Customers are open to it. The pricing works. Supply is stable. Highlighting the problem with trump and tariffs.

So that’s the direction we’re taking.

Our first shipment of alternative rubber dog boots will arrive shortly, while the American-made product quietly disappears from our shelves.

Who Really Loses?

Not us.
Or the importer.
Even the large retailers.

So the real losers of trump and his tariffs are American manufacturers and workers.

As a result once supply chains change, they rarely change back. Retailers rewrite product ranges. Importers shift relationships. Customers adjust expectations.

So when trump and his tariffs are eventually removed and US suppliers ask for another chance, the honest answer will be: we’ve already moved on.

This Is Happening Everywhere

As a result this isn’t an isolated example. Globally, trade patterns are shifting fast:

• Canada is reducing reliance on US-made vehicles
• China has moved much of its soybean sourcing to South America
• Retailers worldwide are replacing American brands with alternatives

These decisions aren’t driven by ideology. They’re driven by cost, reliability, and continuity.

Trump and his Tariffs Don’t Protect — They Replace

Tariffs are often sold as a way to “protect domestic industry”. In practice, they do something very different: they make products easier to replace.

Therefore good American products don’t fail because they lack quality. As a result they fail because they become too expensive, too uncertain, or too difficult to source.

So small businesses like ours, the calculation is straightforward. We stock what works for our customers. When it stops working, we move on.

The Bigger Picture

Multiply this story by thousands of small retailers across dozens of industries, and the long-term impact becomes clear.

Tariffs don’t bring trade home.
They push it elsewhere.

And once it’s gone, it rarely comes back.

A view from a small business forum Stronger Together – UK Business & Veterans