this post was submitted on 09 May 2025
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Brooklyn electronics company Adafruit hit with surprise $36K tariff bill: "pay in one week" (boingboing.net)
submitted 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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When DHL delivered mail to Adafruit Industries last week, it wasn't a typical invoice but a gut punch: a $36,126.46 customs duty bill that had to be paid within seven days.

The bill comes from Trump's multi-layered tariffs that can stack up to 170% on certain electronics components. For Adafruit, a company that supplies makers and engineers with specialized electronic parts, this creates a perfect storm.

These components were ordered months ago before tariff changes, can't be sourced elsewhere due to intellectual property restrictions, and must be paid for immediately โ€” not after sales are made.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 15 points 17 hours ago

Needless to say, most companies aren't Apple. They don't have cash reserves, can't reroute shipping, can't lawyer/bribe up, can't afford to lose money for even a month. We're going to see the first bankruptcies and/or layoffs soon. Shit.