CohortNews

By  Rachel Suleymanov Wine retailers in the United States are being hit with tariff-induced price hikes, pressuring businesses in an already-struggling industry to pass along costs to consumers. Price increases at the wholesale level are reaching as high as 20%, leaving little room for retailers to try to swallow rising prices stemming from recently unveiled US import tariffs, some industry experts said. “I'd like to eat some of the tariff cost, but because I need to cover increasing expenses, it's not really doable,” said Paul Janeczko, Owner of Eight & Driggs Wine and Liquors in New York City. More than 80% of wine purchased in the US comes from France, Italy and other European countries. As US President Donald Trump unleashed a rash of tariffs on trading partners this year, the European Union agreed to a 15% levy. That tax is paid by US businesses, or eventually consumers, when the products arrive on US shores. The American wine industry has been trudging through deman...

B y Ada Carlston  While many small US businesses are trying to navigate a drastic change in trade policy, New York City's Karma Nepal Crafts is one of the exceptions. This small boutique in Greenwich Village imports colorful jewelry and skirts from Nepal, and it is the only physical location of the woman-owned family business. All the items are handmade in India and Nepal. As many importers of goods made in China and India reel from steep tariffs up to 50% imposed by US President Donald Trump, Nepal's tariff rate was set at a comparatively mild 10%. This alone offers businesses like Karma Nepal Crafts some relief. “It’s a family business, so we are doing well, everything is handmade in Nepal,” said Tal, a shopkeeper who didn't provide her last name.. She declined to say exactly what the process of importing looks like for the business. According to the Nepali Times, “ Nepal has a trade deficit with the US of Rs7.64 billion, which is probably why Trump has not increase...

  By Madhulika Pathak   “Made in Asia” textiles are taking global detours. To skirt steep tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, some fabric and clothing are being rerouted across multiple borders through legal loopholes and backdoors to keep costs down, vendors say, as local manufacturers and small businesses scramble to keep up with soaring costs and supply chain chaos.  “People are having second thoughts about purchasing new clothing these days. They worry about buying food, not clothes,” a longtime business owner of a small ethnic boutique in downtown Brooklyn said, who asked to not be named because of the subject matter. Enter transshipping, or rerouting shipments via third countries, to  fulfil orders. The practice comes with the possibility of steep penalties if caught, yet business owners say it is a risk they’re willing to take to avoid offloading heavy duties onto loyal customers. US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on scores o...

 By  Priya  Batchu Seeking to capitalize on the massive success of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, some compounding pharmacies and telehealth startups are offering compounded GLP-1–based products, a "grey market" that has attracted lawsuits from pharmaceutical giants and raised regulatory concerns. Current companies like Biogen and Eli Lilly are focusing on the next round of their medications, including oral pills and strategies to help preserve lean muscle mass.  Early in the GLP-1 hype, users reported a loss of lean muscle alongside fat loss, raising health concerns given muscle’s role in the body’s metabolism and strength and mobility.  According to Morgan Stanley, the weight- loss medication market is forecast at $62.85 billion in 2025, and is projected to grow at 17.5% CAGR by 2034.  GLP-1s were originally developed for patients with Type 2 diabetes. There is a subset of these medications called semaglutide tirzepatide, that is being used for weight...

By Muyang Cao NEW YORK — Phone accessory sellers in New York say tariffs on Chinese imports are raising costs and squeezing margins, even as President Donald Trump’s administration spares some major electronics from new levies. Shubon, who has run his phone accessory shop in Manhattan for five years, said vendors now charge more because of tariffs, leaving his store with smaller profits. “Like this screen protector, it was $7 or $8 before. Now it’s $9 or $10,” he said, sliding one across the counter. “But I don’t increase the price. If I do, customers won’t buy.” For small business owners like Shubon, the Trump administration’s selective tariff exemptions have created an imbalance. In April, the White House excluded high-value goods such as smartphones, laptops, and semiconductors from new import duties, shielding products like iPhones from tariffs that had climbed as high as 125%. But lower-priced items such as cases, chargers, and protectors were left exposed, often facing duties of...