Uncertainty on Tariffs Hurt. Paying Them Is Worse, Survey Shows

US importers spent months wondering whether to stockpile to survive President Donald Trump’s global tariff threats, or sit tight hoping he was bluffing. With widespread duties now having been in place for almost a month, the pain of paying them is replacing the frustration of uncertainty.

That’s among the takeaways from a survey of 336 small to mid-size companies by Freightos, a Barcelona-based cargo booking platform. Almost half the respondents polled Aug. 19 through Sept. 9 said their costs have climbed by 20% or more, with about the same proportion saying they’ve reduced shipment volumes because of higher expenses. ...