Several businesses that rely on imported Indian goods in the Los Angeles area told The Times they would have to raise prices to maintain operations with the steep tariff. Business owners expressed anxiety over not knowing what the next couple of weeks or months will look like for their bottom lines. <\/p>\n
Devraj Keray, the owner of Pioneer Cash & Carry, said some vendors already notified him that prices will go up 25% effective Monday. The business, which is one of the largest Indian grocery stores in California, will have to raise prices on imported Indian products. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to pass that on to the consumer,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s not really any way around that.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Customers shop at Pioneer Cash & Carry in Little India in Artesia.<\/p>\n
(Luke Johnson\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
The grocery store, which has two locations in Artesia, has been owned and operated by family since 1982. Keray said he anticipates customers will buy less, but they\u2019ll still need basic grocery items. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople will cut back, so we\u2019ll feel a bit of a pinch,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s getting more and more expensive to do business day by day. It\u2019s not going to be easy for the smaller guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Artesia\u2019s Little India area is a cultural hub for the community, and it\u2019s one of the largest Indian enclaves in Southern California. Artesia City Councilmember Zeel Ahir said the strip of businesses along Pioneer Boulevard is the \u201cheart and soul\u201d of the area for Indians.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt provides a sense of warmth and a homely feeling to know that the goods that were available in India for some immigrants are available here as well,\u201d said Ahir, who has lived in the area for all her life.<\/p>\n
India \u201cis our friend,\u201d Trump said on his Truth Social platform<\/a> announcing the taxes, but its tariffs on U.S. products \u201care far too high.\u201d Trump\u2019s announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian goods on Wednesday came after a universal baseline tariff of 10%<\/a> on imports from all foreign countries has already been in place for months. <\/p>\n A worker talks on the phone at India Appliances in Little India.<\/p>\n (Luke Johnson\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Indian goods exports to the U.S. totaled more than $87 billion in 2024, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative<\/a>. The trade deficit with India was $45.7 billion last year, up more than 5% from 2023. <\/p>\n Pharmaceuticals, jewelry, textiles, spices and food products are among the common imports.<\/p>\n The Trump administration maintains that tariffs will \u201cstrengthen the international economic position\u201d of the United States and protect American workers. <\/p>\n In addition to the 25% tariff on its products exported to the U.S., India is also facing an unspecified penalty for buying Russian oil.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n