North Carolina Trump Voter Forced to Shut Family Lumber Mill and Lay Off Everyone Due to Tariffs

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

A 140 year business and the largest employer in a very rural county gone because of tariffs. China's retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's heavily damaged American lumber exports. This is the result.

MSN

After 141 years of operation, dating back to 1882, the Jones family lumber business faced its darkest hour. Wilson Jones, a sixth-generation lumberman, permanently closed Mackey's Ferry Sawmill in Roper, North Carolin, on July 21, 2025.

The closure resulted in the elimination of 50 jobs in Washington County, where the mill had served as the largest private employer in this rural community.

Wilson Jones supported Donald Trump's economic policies and believed in his America First agenda. However, Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, announced on April 2, 2025, triggered a cascade of consequences that ultimately led to the destruction of his family business.

Despite losing his mill and 50 jobs, Jones expressed complex feelings about his political choices, saying he regretted certain aspects of Trump's policies.

On April 2, 2025, in a White House Rose Garden ceremony, President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs—declaring the date "Liberation Day" and describing it as a declaration of "economic independence."

A 10% baseline tariff will take effect on April 5 for imports from all countries, with country-specific tariffs commencing on April 9. Trump's administration called these "reciprocal tariffs" aimed at correcting trade deficits.

China responded with severe retaliatory tariffs: a 120% tariff on American hardwood products. This effectively eliminated what had been the largest export market for U.S. hardwood lumber.

Prior to the tariffs, U.S. hardwood exports to China were approximately $2 billion—nearly 50% of total U.S. hardwood grade lumber produced, making China the dominant market.

 

[shockedcanadian]

A 140 year business and the largest employer in a very rural county gone because of tariffs. China's retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's heavily damaged American lumber exports. This is the result.

MSN

After 141 years of operation, dating back to 1882, the Jones family lumber business faced its darkest hour. Wilson Jones, a sixth-generation lumberman, permanently closed Mackey's Ferry Sawmill in Roper, North Carolin, on July 21, 2025.

The closure resulted in the elimination of 50 jobs in Washington County, where the mill had served as the largest private employer in this rural community.

Wilson Jones supported Donald Trump's economic policies and believed in his America First agenda. However, Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, announced on April 2, 2025, triggered a cascade of consequences that ultimately led to the destruction of his family business.

Despite losing his mill and 50 jobs, Jones expressed complex feelings about his political choices, saying he regretted certain aspects of Trump's policies.

On April 2, 2025, in a White House Rose Garden ceremony, President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs—declaring the date "Liberation Day" and describing it as a declaration of "economic independence."

A 10% baseline tariff will take effect on April 5 for imports from all countries, with country-specific tariffs commencing on April 9. Trump's administration called these "reciprocal tariffs" aimed at correcting trade deficits.

China responded with severe retaliatory tariffs: a 120% tariff on American hardwood products. This effectively eliminated what had been the largest export market for U.S. hardwood lumber.

Prior to the tariffs, U.S. hardwood exports to China were approximately $2 billion—nearly 50% of total U.S. hardwood grade lumber produced, making China the dominant market.

So how did they survive before they could sell into Communists countries?

Every company that fails will blame tariffs. If not the CEO than the media will

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

So how did they survive before they could sell into Communists countries?

Every company that fails will blame tariffs. If not the CEO than the media will

When companies fail because the tariffs cause a sudden spike in costs they aren't prepared for they will, of course, blame tariffs because tariffs are the reason.

The "communist country" was the biggest importer of American lumber comprising around 50% of American hardwood grade lumber produced. That's massive crippling affect. Maybe take off your biased blinders for a few seconds and think about that.

 

[shockedcanadian]

When companies fail because the tariffs cause a sudden spike in costs they aren't prepared for they will, of course, blame tariffs because tariffs are the reason.

The "communist country" was the biggest importer of American lumber comprising around 50% of American hardwood grade lumber produced. That's massive crippling affect. Maybe take off your biased blinders for a few seconds and think about that.

Sure. Markets come and go all the time though. China is sinking the U.S and Middle Class, do you prefer America do nothing? Cut off trade entirely, and/or go to war?

China had a $1T trade surplus last year. The largest in the history of the world.

I don't celebrate the loss of a company, but we have had many companies close due to Chinas stealing of our markets and it is a far greater national security threat than simply trees.

I hope they restructure and find a way back. That's the business cycle. Would you be upset if the client was Russia today or Germany in the 1940s?

The West is at war but only the CCP understand this...

 

[toobfreak]

North Carolina Trump Voter Forced to Shut Family Lumber Mill and Lay Off Everyone Due to Tariffs​

TDS kinda hitting you pretty bad, eh?

Wilson Jones, a sixth-generation lumberman, permanently closed Mackey's Ferry Sawmill in Roper, North Carolin, on July 21, 2025.

So, he closed just 23 weeks after Trump took office? That is just 5 months and Trump didn't even start the tariffs until mostly about a month later. I'm betting that any business so frail that they closed permanently just 4-5 months in, was probably already on shaky ground and the tariffs just pushed them over the edge, or they would have folded anyway.

 

[TruthSeeker112125]

Trump's Insane Tariffs this time around, are following the same path/promises that he made while Campaigning for POTUS the first time, except now, that process is on steroids!

Trump Campaigned in the Appalachians, & promised that the Coal Industry was going to be back in business (I'll have to find the Names of the Companies, & Dates, in an older folder on my PC.) . The Coal mine owners immediately began investing $$$ in to expanding their Mining Operations, & that caused a large "Trickle down Effect" to the towns & cities surrounding those mines. Everyone was expecting their coal to be sold to China & India, & they foolishly spent, &/or borrowed $$$ to expand their Businesses, hire more police, invest in badly needed Infrastructure, etc.

Trump won the Office of POTUS, & then started his Tariffs,....No "Economic Boom" occurred & the bulk of those Companies went Bankrupt. The local communities suffered an Economic Catastrophe.

I experienced major Price Increases before the "Man-made Wuhan Virus", & it's resulting economic slow downs, due to Trump's Tariffs. Wiring by the 250ft roll increased at least 60%, Refrigeration & HVAC Controls & materials increased 35% to 65%. In several cases HVAC Equipment & Parts were not available for months! Equipment that is "Assembled in America" was back-ordered due to controls made in China, not being available

Trump during his first term, was bragging about how he talked a Carrier Plant in Indiana, from leaving America, & Carrier made a liar out of him, when it's production was moved to Mexico, but,.... In a small concession to Trump, they kept Administration staff in Indiana.

If Trump wanted to "MAGA!", then as a Wise Business man,.... He should have gathered every leader of Industry, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Mining, "Big Pharma", & worked out some kind of "Manhatten Project", that would've prepared America, & actually caused an Economic Boom, but,.... Trump, since "He Knows All", Royally screwed up America's Economy the First Time, & he damn sure is zealous for finishing that this time around.

 

[Dekster]

Canada is also rerouting about 10% of its lumber exports from the US to other nations instead.

 

[Blaster]

Companies fail because of poor management and not because of tarriffs.

 

[Care4all]

Sure. Markets come and go all the time though. China is sinking the U.S and Middle Class, do you prefer America do nothing? Cut off trade entirely, and/or go to war?

China had a $1T trade surplus last year. The largest in the history of the world.

I don't celebrate the loss of a company, but we have had many companies close due to Chinas stealing of our markets and it is a far greater national security threat than simply trees.

I hope they restructure and find a way back. That's the business cycle. Would you be upset if the client was Russia today or Germany in the 1940s?

The West is at war but only the CCP understand this...

China did not steal our markets silly, American businesses CHOSE to do business in China...even encouraged to, by govt trade policies....and with a push from the govt theme.... that if we could make China more capitalistic, the people would rise up against communism.

 

[Blaster]

China did not steal our markets silly, American businesses CHOSE to do business in China...even encouraged to, by govt trade policies....and with a push from the govt theme.... that if we could make China more capitalistic, the people would rise up against communism.

It was Richard Nixon that normalized relations with China in the belief that once capitalism was adopted that China would become a peaceful nation. It was a big mistake.

 

[Woodznutz]

We have to win the trade war. Our future depends on it.

 

[petro]

China doesn't have trees?
Plenty of lumber to sell in America for Americans if we didn't import lumber products from Canada.

 

[cnm]

So how did they survive before they could sell into Communists countries?

The US had a furniture manufacture base, I suppose. Then its owners chose profits over national employment. Very capitalist.

 

[Mac-7]

A 140 year business and the largest employer in a very rural county gone because of tariffs. China's retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's heavily damaged American lumber exports. This is the result.

MSN

After 141 years of operation, dating back to 1882, the Jones family lumber business faced its darkest hour. Wilson Jones, a sixth-generation lumberman, permanently closed Mackey's Ferry Sawmill in Roper, North Carolin, on July 21, 2025.

The closure resulted in the elimination of 50 jobs in Washington County, where the mill had served as the largest private employer in this rural community.

Wilson Jones supported Donald Trump's economic policies and believed in his America First agenda. However, Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, announced on April 2, 2025, triggered a cascade of consequences that ultimately led to the destruction of his family business.

Despite losing his mill and 50 jobs, Jones expressed complex feelings about his political choices, saying he regretted certain aspects of Trump's policies.

On April 2, 2025, in a White House Rose Garden ceremony, President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs—declaring the date "Liberation Day" and describing it as a declaration of "economic independence."

A 10% baseline tariff will take effect on April 5 for imports from all countries, with country-specific tariffs commencing on April 9. Trump's administration called these "reciprocal tariffs" aimed at correcting trade deficits.

China responded with severe retaliatory tariffs: a 120% tariff on American hardwood products. This effectively eliminated what had been the largest export market for U.S. hardwood lumber.

Prior to the tariffs, U.S. hardwood exports to China were approximately $2 billion—nearly 50% of total U.S. hardwood grade lumber produced, making China the dominant market.

China plans to dominate every market coming and going

And when they do they will treat everyone like this