Some New Hampshire businesses, including in the state's timber industry, are worried about the ongoing effects of tariffs.

The timber industry has deep roots in New Hampshire, but businesses said it's a scary time for them with so much uncertainty caused by the tariffs.

"We're in a tough spot," said Joseph Carrier, of Hardwood Sawmill in Henniker.

Carrier said China and Canada are the two biggest countries his company ships to, but it can't because of the tariffs.

"Our two biggest markets got shut off, essentially within a week of one another," he said. "And right now, we're scrambling."

Related businesses such as loggers, foresters and timberland owners also say they're affected by the tariffs.

"It's the entire supply chain. Absolutely," said Jasen Stock, executive director of New Hampshire Timberland Owners. "From the stump right up to the two-by-four."

Northland Forest Products has been in Kingston for over 50 years. It exports hardwood to other countries, such as Vietnam and China, which owner Jameson French said is one of the largest markets for American hardwood.

After the wood is exported, it's remanufactured, and those products are exported to countries around the world, including back to the United States, where the wood was originally from.

French said those products couldn't be made in this country because the United States no longer has the manufacturing infrastructure needed, and creating that can't happen overnight.

"The cost of production and the factories are no longer here to produce those kind of products," he said. "We don't have the workforce, the technological investment, and the cost of production is so much greater here."

French said dealing with counter tariffs – especially as high as they are in China, at 125% – is forcing his business to a halt. He's afraid products will be left at the docks.

"I think one of the things that's caused the most trouble in this situation is it's created an enormous amount of uncertainty," French said. "There's no consistent policy in Washington about when tariffs are going on, what the plan is. It comes at the last minute."

French said the 90-day pause on the tariffs is helping, allowing lumber to be exported without fear of more counter-tariffs, but something more needs to be done.

"It's important to connect with small businesses right now, because we know that the tariffs are creating chaos in our economy," said U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire.

Source: wmur.com