Some CNY Companies Thriving Despite…or Because of Tariffs

* Article originally posted on WAER 88.3 Syracuse University

Several Central New York companies gathered Thursday to share how they’re weathering the trade war now that tariffs and retaliatory tariffs are starting to be felt by many industries. The CNY International Business Alliance held its second monthly meeting, and director Steven King says the impact varies.

“We have some companies that have been impacted quite significantly. Other companies, it’s just a small part of their costs. So they’re feeling maybe a few cents on a product that’s added on, and they just absorb the costs.”

King says they did discuss strategies on how to avoid tariffs, or how to defer payments to manage cash flow. None of that is an issue for Liberty Tabletop in Sherrill. Co-founder and CEO Greg Owens says they’re largely immune to the trade war and are actually thriving. As the only flatware maker in the country, there are no tariffs on their products, and they buy only American stainless steel.

“What we have seen is a broadened awareness of the whole trade issue, especially focused on China, which now represents 73 percent of the American flatware market. The made in America movement and support for American labor has really helped us market our American-made flatware in an effective way.”

Owens says they’ve grown about 20 percent over each of the past four years, and have hired more workers. Darco manufacturing has also been growing long before the trade war began. General Manager Laura Miller says there’s increasing awareness of the hidden costs of global sourcing, and the advantages of having a supply chain closer to home.

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