I used to say, Don’t say the T word and mean “typhoons.” 

These days, the T word is “tariffs.”

I read that the price of steel is going up already in the U.S. mainland in anticipation of tariffs.

But for many of our residents their biggest concern is their household budget, and that includes everything that we all choose to eat, whether that’s at home or eating out. 

We’ll see whether a new legislative bill in Guam that proposes to suspend tax on baby products, feminine hygiene and food among other things will be modified and/or is passed into law. 

But back to tariffs, and the likelihood they will affect the wholesale industry in 2025, as they directly increase the cost of imported goods, which wholesalers then need to pass on to retailers. That potentially leads to higher prices, a fluctuation in demand, and squeezed profit margins; particularly in sectors reliant on imported goods from regions with new tariffs imposed – like Mexico.

On Guam, new tariffs will include those that the Port of Guam Authority is planning, adding another unexpected zinger to the cost of doing business. 

So, while the leaders from the wholesale industry on our cover look happy, they really have fresh challenges on their to-do lists, and less to smile about until the latest decisions to affect their businesses become clearer. 

Still, if you do business in the islands, you probably know how to work closely with your supply chains, manage cost-plus pricing, price dynamically, and more. 

It seems that for years now we all have been managing risk and seizing opportunities. 

Wholesalers who distribute to the islands in our region come in many shapes and sizes and cater to local preferences as well as introducing the result of new trends to our markets.

And we are grateful to have them all.

In addition, Pauly Suba looks at whether business is climbing up in “Talking Shop.”

And our employment market is offering new opportunities for a slew of executives in “Making Moves.”