How Trump’s tariffs on metal import could affect the price of beer in Brooklyn

January 30, 2019 By Raanan Geberer Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Beer. Photo: Pexels

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When people think of tariffs, they often think of restrictions on imports of concrete, steel, wood, machinery and other heavy-duty items. However, President Donald Trump’s tariffs could affect all sorts of items in people’s daily lives, including the cost of a can of beer in Brooklyn, says City Limits.

In March, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on imports of steel and aluminum, including metals from China. Aluminum is used for cans, computers, kitchen utensils, window frames – and beer kegs.

Thus, according to City Limits, businesses that depend on steel and aluminum, such as metal stamping firms and breweries, have been affected by these federal tariffs.

“So, businesses such as Brooklyn Brewery are still absorbing the costs of the tariffs,” City Limits reported. “CEO Eric Ottoway said that the tariffs have increased the cost of materials for their cans right at a time when cans [as opposed to bottles] are increasing in popularity for craft brewers.”

Ottoway told City Limits that he was able to prepare for the higher costs by buying ahead of time, but if the impact of the tariffs continues to increase, “We are going to have to make an increase.”