Trump tariffs disrupt Missouri and Kansas business climate

Tariffs and shifting federal policies are shaking up businesses and workers across Kansas and Missouri. This list of stories outlines the sharp import taxes expected to squeeze Kansas City Bier Company, the ripple effects on local shops like Au Marché and Brits facing price hikes from Europe, and massive challenges for Kansas manufacturers after federal program cuts. Kansas City’s deep ties to Canadian exports add to the region’s vulnerability when trade wars heat up.

Meanwhile, legislation from Sen. Jerry Moran seeks more congressional oversight on these trade moves while Sharice Davids seeks help for Kansas businesses, highlighting how uncertainty and government shakeups hit local economies on every level, from a closing furniture store to threatened federal jobs downtown.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

CORONAVIRUSKC Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler will close all of their factories due to worker fears about the coronavirus. The Ford motor plant in Claycomo, above, will be part of the closure. By File

NO. 1: WHICH ITEMS PRODUCED IN MISSOURI ARE ON CANADA AND MEXICO’S RETALIATORY TARIFFS LISTS?

Missouri imported and exported the most items from Canada and Mexico in 2024, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

Karlton Graham, head brewer with Kansas City Bier Company, was notified this week that the company would have to pay a tariff for equipment for its canning operation ordered from a Canadian supplier.

NO. 2: ‘MAKES YOU NERVOUS’: KANSAS CITY BREWERY HIT WITH NEW TARIFF FEE AMID TRUMP TRADE WAR

“What I’ve heard is that someday things will be much better than they are now,” Kansas City Bier Company’s head brewer said. “Well, when? How?” | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nathan Pilling

Kansas City is bracing for potentially thousands of federal workers in the region to lose their jobs. By Neil Nakahodo

NO. 3: KANSAS CITY FEARS LOSING THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL JOBS. HOW MUCH ECONOMIC PAIN WILL FOLLOW?

As President Donald Trump’s administration slices through the federal workforce, Kansas City businesses and civic leaders await the economic impact. | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman Kacen Bayless

Kansas City’s Internal Revenue Service employees are preparing for as many as 1,000 layoffs this week, a sweeping cut that would significantly impact one of the metro’s largest employers. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 4: HOW FEDERALLY DEPENDENT IS MISSOURI? SEE HOW IT COMPARES TO OTHER STATES IN NEW STUDY

“For every dollar residents of the top states pay in taxes, they get several dollars back in federal funding, which often leads to higher-quality infrastructure, education, public health and more,” the analysis said. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

NO. 5: KANSAS CITY IS ONE OF THE MOST CANADIAN EXPORT-DEPENDENT CITIES IN THE US. HERE’S WHY

A recent study by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says the KC metro area will be hit harder than most by Donald Trump’s trade war. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

NO. 6: KANSAS SEN. JERRY MORAN WANTS CONGRESS TO WEIGH IN ON TRUMP TARIFFS

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have sent stocks plunging. Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran wants to reassert Congress’s authority over them. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman

Sally Helm, owner of Brits, a shop that sells British imported items, in Lawrence on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Helm says nearly 100% of her items are imported. By Dominick Williams

NO. 7: ‘UNCERTAINTY’ ON TARIFFS LOOMS FOR KANSAS SHOPS THAT SELL GOODS FROM EUROPE

“It’s so hard to know what to expect,” said Lora Wiley, who owns Au Marché in downtown Lawrence. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman

Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat, wants to restore funding to Kansas Manufacturing Solutions, which provides consulting services to businesses in the state.

NO. 8: TRUMP CUT HELP FOR KANSAS MANUFACTURERS. SHARICE DAVIDS WANTS TO RESTORE FUNDS

Kansas Manufacturing Solutions was providing consulting to manufacturing businesses in the state before it lost its federal funding. | Published April 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman

My Home Contemporary Furniture is closing after tariffs skyrocket.

NO. 9: KC AREA FURNITURE STORE WILL CLOSE OVER TARIFFS. ‘NOBODY CAN AFFORD THAT’

As a KC area furniture store prepares to shut down, the owner says tariffs have reached an alarming height. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.