NextFin news, Los Angeles baker Lara Adekoya, owner of Fleurs et Sel, revealed on Friday, September 19, 2025, that her cookie shop's profits have sharply declined due to increased costs from tariffs imposed on imported baking ingredients. The tariffs, enacted during the Trump administration, have raised the price of premium ingredients sourced from countries such as France and Japan by $50 to $100 per bag, resulting in an additional monthly expense of $3,000 to $4,000 for her business.
Adekoya started her baking business during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially selling cookies from her home to masked customers. Her shop has since grown in popularity, attracting customers eager for flavors like oatmeal chocolate chip walnut, peanut butter and Nutella, and matcha dark chocolate.
Despite the rising costs, Adekoya has chosen not to increase her cookie prices, instead absorbing the extra expenses herself. She told CBS News, "I guess the easy answer is like, raise your prices. I'm not at the point where I want to pass that on to my customers." This decision reflects her commitment to maintaining customer loyalty amid challenging economic conditions.
The tariffs in question, ranging from 15% to 50%, have been ruled illegal by two lower federal courts, but the Trump administration has appealed the case to the Supreme Court. Experts warn that if upheld, these "reciprocal" tariffs could grant the president broad authority to impose tariffs on various countries, limiting businesses' ability to source alternative suppliers.
Brian Peck, executive director of the USC Center for Transnational Law and Business, emphasized the impact on small businesses, stating, "Mom and pop shops, they don't have the resources to absorb these high costs imposed by these tariffs." He noted that the tariffs' continuation could severely restrict business options and sustainability.
As a result of the tariffs, Adekoya has delayed plans to expand her business and has had to limit the availability of specialty cookie flavors that require imported ingredients. She explained, "I have those core flavors that I know I can get those ingredients. And then the specialty flavors, I can just throw them in and out based on being able to source them. I have to find a way to persevere. If I didn't have that mindset when I started my business, I wouldn't have gotten this far."
The situation highlights the broader challenges faced by small businesses in the U.S. dealing with the economic consequences of trade policies enacted in previous years. Adekoya's experience underscores the ongoing debate over tariffs' legality and their real-world impact on American entrepreneurs.
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