Kansas City businesses face uncertainty as tariffs target European imports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City businesses with ties to Europe are facing uncertainty as tariff turmoil continues.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day suspension of new tariffs on most nations. However, a universal tariff rate of 10% remains in place for many countries, including those in the European Union.

Now, many local European businesses are stepping into the unknown. One of those is André's Confiserie Suisse in the South Plaza. Known for its imported Swiss chocolates and cheeses, André's depends heavily on European suppliers.

The business opened in 1955 and is a multigenerational operation with roots in Switzerland. Current owners say it took a decade for the family business to build a following for its luxury chocolates and pastries.

The Kansas City community has since embraced them. About 60% of André's products include cheese and chocolate imported from Switzerland. Other equipment is purchased from Switzerland and Germany as well.

Right now, four metric tons of chocolate are sitting in limbo as negotiations continue.

“The quality you’ll find in the U.S. is very good, but it’s not the same as what you’re getting over in Switzerland,” said René Bollier, president and executive chef at André's. “You see cocoa prices that have already doubled — and then you tack on another 30%. There comes a point where small businesses like ours just can’t absorb those costs.”

Across town in the River Market, Carollo’s Grocery and Deli is facing similar concerns.

“We just add a percentage to what we pay, so the consumer is the one who really suffers,” said owner Mike Carollo.

The Italian grocery store has been importing pastas, cheeses, olive oils and wines since it opened in 1991. Carollo, a Sicilian native, said he was inspired to open the store after another locally owned Italian establishment closed in the 1970s.

Their authentic Italian items are what they say keep customers coming back.

“This here — you ain’t gonna find this in stores,” Carollo said.

They’re confident business will remain steady.

“People care about quality,” Carollo said. “Some businesses are gonna have a problem, sure, but since we’ve been here for so long, we have a lot of repeat customers.”

Despite the challenges, Carollo said they’re not changing course.

“We’ve been doing this for so many years,” he said. “And I think we will, no matter what happens.”

Back at André's, Bollier said the worst-case scenario is that prices spike so high customers take their business elsewhere. He said they are still waiting for clear answers from federal leaders.

“We’re looking for guidance. We’re looking for assurances that they’ll be there to support small businesses,” Bollier said. “These price increases will dramatically impact us.”

For now, what happens after the 90-day pause remains uncertain.

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