‘No one’s buying anything now’: how tariffs are striking a blow to historic Chinatowns

The resilience of Los Angeles’s Chinatown small businesses is under strain as US tariffs on Chinese goods hit 145%, forcing shop owners like Amy Tran to raise prices repeatedly while struggling to cover basic expenses for families and seniors. The escalating costs and fierce competition are reshaping the area’s economic landscape, with older stores closing and new businesses deterred by rising expenses. Decades of community-serving businesses have been vital to Chinatown’s identity, but now face compounded challenges from gentrification and anti-Asian sentiment.