Tano Tijerina: April-August 2025: South Texas Business Leaders Said Tariffs Would Increase Costs, Disrupt Supply Chains, And Hurt The Trucking And Customs Industries

April 2025: Laredo Business And Agriculture Leaders Said Tariffs Would Increase Costs And Disrupt Supply Chains

Laredo Morning Times Headline: “Tariffs Threaten Laredo’s Small Businesses And Fresh Produce Trade Routes.” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/17/25]

April 2025: Laredo Morning Times: “Local Business And Agriculture Representatives Say Tariffs Will Drive Up Costs [And] Disrupt Supply Chains.” “Local business and agriculture representatives say tariffs will drive up costs, disrupt supply chains and raise concerns about long-term impacts on food access and economic stability.” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/17/25]

April 2025: Laredo Chamber Of Commerce Executive Director Monica Martinez: “Even A Small Change In The Supply Chain Can Hurt The Small Businesses And Have Them Closed.” “Local business and agriculture representatives say tariffs will drive up costs, disrupt supply chains and raise concerns about long-term impacts on food access and economic stability. Monica Martinez, executive director of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the impact of tariffs on small businesses at Laredo College this week at the De La Garza Building. […] ‘Even a small change in the supply chain can hurt the small businesses and have them closed. About 56% of the goods that Americans consume are imported, and one of the things that can hurt a small business is if their suppliers are foreign and with tariffs it is going to disrupt their businesses in many ways.’” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/17/25]

April 2025: Texas International Produce Association President: “Our Industry Is Very Concerned About The Future Of This Conversation And How It’s Going To Impact Our Trade.” “Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, spoke about the impact of tariffs on agricultural products. […] ‘We are very concerned about this situation. We will continue to watch and monitor, and I can absolutely tell you that our industry is very concerned about the future of this conversation and how it's going to impact our trade, not just here in the U.S., but in all the countries.’” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/17/25]

April 2025: A Laredo Trucking Leader Said Implementing Tariffs Was “Not Good For Our Industry” And A Customs Leader Said He Was “Really Concerned About The Impact” Of Tariffs On The Industry

April 2025: Laredo Morning Times Headline: “Tariff Uncertainty Puts Pressure On Laredo’s Trucking And Customs Sectors.” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/16/25]

April 2025: Laredo Morning Times: Representatives Of Laredo’s Trucking And Customs Sectors Said Tariff Confusion Was Disrupting Their Operations. “Representatives from Laredo’s trucking and customs sectors say tariff confusion and a lack of federal direction are disrupting operations and worsening conditions for cross-border trade. Jerry Maldonado, chairman of the board for the Laredo Motor Carriers Association, said that his association represents the trucking industry during a discussion this week in the De La Garza Building at Laredo College. ‘The implementation of tariffs for the transportation industry is not good for our industry,’ he said. ‘The uncertainty surrounding the implementation of tariffs unbalances the market.’” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/16/25]

April 2025: Laredo Motor Carriers Association Chairman Jerry Maldonado: “The Implementation Of Tariffs For The Transportation Industry Is Not Good For Our Industry.” “Jerry Maldonado, chairman of the board for the Laredo Motor Carriers Association, said that his association represents the trucking industry during a discussion this week in the De La Garza Building at Laredo College. ‘The implementation of tariffs for the transportation industry is not good for our industry,’ he said. ‘The uncertainty surrounding the implementation of tariffs unbalances the market.’” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/16/25]

April 2025: Laredo Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers Association President Jorge Cavazos Said He Was “Really Concerned About The Impact” Of Tariffs On The Customs Industry And On Consumers. “Jorge Cavazos, president of the Laredo Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers Association, said they have approximately 200 members and another 100 who are not members. […] He said that as customs brokers and business owners, they have highly qualified personnel specializing in tariffs, and that tariffs are taxes that can be harmful and are paid by clients and, ultimately, by the end consumer. ‘The decisions they make affect all of us here in Laredo, with everything related to logistics — starting with U.S. customs brokers, trucking companies, among others,’ he said. ‘I am really concerned about the impact not only on the industry here but on something that will affect all consumers.’” [Laredo Morning Times, 4/16/25]

August 2025: Laredo Trucking And Warehousing Businessman Ricardo Sandoval Who Had Previously Supported Trump Said Trump’s Tariffs Upended His Business And Forced Him To Lay Off More Than A Dozen Employees

August 2025: Laredo Businessman Ricardo Sandoval Said Trump’s Tariffs Depressed Cross-Border Trade, Upended His Business, Pushed Prices Up, And Forced Him To Lay Off More Than A Dozen Employees. “‘The Republican Party is going to lose a lot of votes around here,’ said Ricardo Sandoval, 35, a trucking and warehousing businessman in Laredo who supported Mr. Trump in November. Mr. Sandoval said he agreed with Mr. Trump's campaign promises for tax cuts, tariffs on China and an immigration crackdown along the border. But now, he said, he feels he was misled. The roller coaster of on-again-off-again tariffs has depressed cross-border trade and upended his business, pushed prices up and forced him to lay off more than a dozen employees. Mr. Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement actions have been disrespectful to the thousands of Hispanics who supported him, Mr. Sandoval said. And he said the Republicans' redistricting effort in Texas was an unethical way to try to hold onto power.” [New York Times, 8/5/25]

• 2024: Sandoval, A Trucking And Warehousing Businessman, Supported Trump. “‘The Republican Party is going to lose a lot of votes around here,’ said Ricardo Sandoval, 35, a trucking and warehousing businessman in Laredo who supported Mr. Trump in November.” [New York Times, 8/5/25]