Ohio manufacturers say Trump tariffs raise costs and curb hiring ahead of midterms
AFP interviews with Ohio manufacturers and a chamber of commerce head describe higher costs from US tariffs, the Iran war and a trade dispute with Canada, as Democrats target trade policy in November's midterms.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Ohio manufacturers told AFP that President Donald Trump's tariffs, a trade fight with Canada and the war with Iran are raising their costs and slowing hiring and expansion as the November midterm elections approach. The Straits TimesRC “Trump’s spiralling trade fight with Canada and war with Iran have only deepened worries.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ South China Morning PostN “one of many American producers smarting from Trump’s economic policies as the midterm election approaches.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Mixed · 2Doug Rende, chief executive of an aluminium products maker in North Jackson, Ohio, said tariffs have added "upwards of US$4.5 million to US$5 million" in costs this year, and that his company absorbs "a healthy portion" of them rather than passing them all to consumers. South China Morning PostN ““This year alone, it’s upwards of US$4.5 million to US$5 million in additional costs,” Rende said.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC ““So, we absorb a healthy portion.”” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2The aluminium tariff has risen from 10% in Trump's first presidency to 25% and then 50% in 2025, and the US-Israel war on Iran has pushed up fuel prices, with supplier surcharges of "upwards of US$6,500 per container", according to Rende. The Straits TimesRC “Trump’s tariffs on aluminium have steadily climbed, from 10% during his first presidency to 25% and then 50% in 2025” Read at The Straits Times ↗ South China Morning PostN “Surcharges are “upwards of US$6,500 per container” of goods from suppliers, Rende said.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Mixed · 2Rende has paused recruitment for new jobs and is investing in more robotic assembly, and said he senses "a lack of trust" in the administration and in Congress's role in reining in executive power. South China Morning PostN “As a result, he has paused recruitment for new jobs while investing in more robotic assembly.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “we’re sensing a lack of trust in not only the administration but the governmental process” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2Sam Miller, who makes kitchen and bathroom products in Warren, pays tariffs on materials imported from Asia and has slowed plans for a Canadian distribution facility because of trade tensions; he said he expects "a shift away from Republican views". South China Morning PostN “He originally planned on opening a distribution facility in Canada this year, but progress has slowed.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC ““I do think that there will be a shift away from Republican views.”” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2Miller received refunds after the Supreme Court struck down many of Trump's duties, but Trump has since reinstated many of them; Washington and Ottawa have also imposed tariffs on each other's products since trade talks collapsed in August. South China Morning PostN “Although Miller received refunds after the Supreme Court struck down many of Trump’s duties, the US leader has since reinstated many of them.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “with Washington and Ottawa slapping tariffs on each other’s products after trade negotiations collapsed in August.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Mixed · 2Guy Coviello, president of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, which has about 3,000 members, called the combined effects of tariffs, the Iran war and immigration a "mixed bag" for firms but negative overall, with some losing customers or downsizing. South China Morning PostN “These are a “mixed bag” for firms but negative overall, said Coviello, whose business group has some 3,000 members.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “Some firms have lost customers or had to downsize, he said.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2Canada is Ohio's biggest export market, taking a third of its exports, and Coviello said the Iran war is also hitting aluminium supplies through drone attacks in the Middle East. South China Morning PostN “Canada is also Ohio’s biggest export market, with a third of Ohio’s exports going to the country.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “hitting aluminium supplies due to drone attacks in the Middle East.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2Coviello said he backs tariffs on critical items such as defence and medical goods but urged care with non-crucial products not available in the US, and AFP noted that some American manufacturers have benefited as foreign competitors face higher barriers. South China Morning PostN ““We are all for tariffs for critical items such as defence and medical industry.”” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “Even as some American manufacturers have benefited as their foreign competitors encounter higher barriers, others struggle with ballooning costs and persistent uncertainty.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Centre · 1AFP says Democrats hope grievances over trade policy will help them flip control of the Senate and House in November. South China Morning PostN “Grievances over Trump’s trade policies are among fault lines that Democrats hope will work in their favour as they push to flip control of the Senate and House of Representatives in November’s vote.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- AFP copy run by the South China Morning Post under a headline that says Trump's policies 'hammer' US firms, leading with Rende's extra costs.
- Emphasis
- Costs, the Iran war and Trump's policies as a combined burden on US firms.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include the Straits Times' 'trade wars sting' framing; text is otherwise near-identical.
- Charged language
- “hammer”
- For example
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“Tariffs, millions in extra costs, Iran war: Trump’s policies hammer US firms” — South China Morning Post
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- AFP copy run by the Straits Times (lean right) under a headline saying Trump's trade wars 'sting' manufacturers ahead of the midterms.
- Emphasis
- Midterm political stakes and Ohio businesses' sales, hiring and expansion.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Reads almost identically to the SCMP copy; no distinct editorial additions.
- Charged language
- “sting”
- For example
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“Trump’s trade wars sting US manufacturers ahead of midterms” — The Straits Times
“Ohio businesses say higher duties and Canada tensions are hurting sales, hiring and expansion plans.” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Both outlets carry the same AFP report from Ohio.
- Rende estimates US$4.5-5 million in extra costs this year and has paused hiring.
- Miller's Canadian expansion has slowed amid US-Canada tariffs after talks collapsed in August.
- Coviello calls the effects a 'mixed bag' but negative overall.
Where accounts differ
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Name of Rende's company
- Centre
- SCMP's copy calls it Shapes Unlimited.
- Right
- The Straits Times' copy calls it Shapes.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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South China Morning PostN · · via AFP
Tariffs, millions in extra costs, Iran war: Trump’s policies hammer US firms
Critical AFP wire copy under a headline stressing that Trump's policies 'hammer' US firms, with the same Ohio testimony.
Right1 article
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The Straits TimesRC · · via AFP
Trump’s trade wars sting US manufacturers ahead of midterms
Critical AFP wire copy presenting Ohio manufacturers' complaints about tariffs and Canada tensions with a midterm angle.
- 11 Oct 06:55 First The Straits TimesRC Trump’s trade wars sting US manufacturers ahead of midterms via AFP
- 11 Oct 07:10 +15m South China Morning PostN Tariffs, millions in extra costs, Iran war: Trump’s policies hammer US firms via AFP
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.