A century-old furniture manufacturer in western Michigan has closed, citing former President Donald Trump's tariffs as the decisive factor.
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Howard Miller, based in Zeeland, announced the closure of its operations, resulting in the loss of 195 jobs.
CEO Howard J. "Buzz" Miller stated the company faced "a convergence of market influences beyond our control," including a struggling housing market, inflation, and rising interest rates. He added that the firm was "directly impacted by tariffs" which raised costs on essential imported components and forced key suppliers out of business.
Although industry conditions were already difficult, the company pointed to Trump-era tariffs for aggravating supply chain disruptions and fuelling recession fears. The local economy, heavily reliant on manufacturing, has seen similar shutdowns in recent years.
Ottawa County, where Zeeland is located, voted heavily for Trump and Republican Representative Bill Huizenga, who has defended the tariffs despite their economic fallout. In March, Huizenga described the situation as an "adjustment," calling it "the right thing to do" despite the local consequences.
The closure has sparked renewed debate over the long-term economic effects of protectionist trade policies in traditionally Republican strongholds.
Source: www.dailykos.com
