By WTOC Staff and Hayley Boland
Published: Apr. 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM CDT|Updated: 20 hours ago
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – Georgia economists and business leaders say the White House’s tariffs are set to have a big impact on products and the economy.
That includes all sorts of small businesses, like the craft beer and brewing industry.
The Georgia Craft Brewer’s Guild says local brewers will be especially impacted by tariffs on aluminum and steel.
Aluminum is used for cans, which many brewers say, is irreplaceable for selling their products. Steel is used for brewing equipment and storage, as well as kegs for draft beers.
Joseph Cortes is the executive director of Georgia’s Craft Brewer’s Guild, he says breweries are put in a tough spot when it comes to passing on costs to the consumer.
“If you produce toilet paper, or a basic staple food item, folks have to have that,” said Cortes. “Whereas where you’re producing something that really affects the quality of life of communities, that’s a discretionary item. The last thing that our small breweries will do is raise prices on the consumer and pass that on.”
Cortes says the uncertainty around tariffs in the U.S. is impacting small business owners’ ability to plan for the future.
Read more: https://www.wtoc.com/2025/04/10/tariffs-steel-aluminum-impact-local-small-businesses/
