THE WESTCHESTER BRIEF
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
The tariff whiplash hitting Westchester small businesses
Tariffs Hit Westchester Small Businesses
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on February 20th that tariffs imposed under IEEPA were unlawful. That should have been relief. Instead, the administration imposed a new 10% surcharge under the Trade Act of 1974 the same day. It runs through July 24th.
For Westchester businesses, the legal whiplash has real costs. A roundtable at the Westchester County Center on February 27th painted a stark picture. Importers may be owed refunds from the $175 billion collected under IEEPA tariffs, but the refund process has not been established. That question is now before the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Meanwhile, prices are already up. Construction materials, consumer goods, restaurant supplies, retail inventory—businesses across Westchester have raised prices or are planning to. The uncertainty itself is a cost: when you do not know what the tariff rate will be in sixty days, you cannot plan inventory, negotiate contracts, or set prices with confidence.
Why it matters: This connects to the county's fiscal picture. Westchester's 2026 budget was built against a $197.7 million gap. Sales tax collections came in flat through September 2025—$26.3 million below budget. Department budgets were cut 8%, 180 positions eliminated, and property taxes were raised for the first time in seven years. If consumer spending softens further, that gap widens.
QUICK HITS
White Plains Housing Lottery. The 99 Church Street drawing took place March 17th. Sixty-eight affordable condominiums at 100% AMI. Move-ins expected July 2026. The 6 Cottage Place lottery (40 units) drew earlier this month. Developer WBP Development with state, county, and city funding.
Biotech Campus Opens in Rye. New York Blood Center Enterprises opened a 187,000 sq ft campus at 601 Midland Ave. The facility houses blood collections, cell therapy manufacturing, and the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute. One of the largest biotech investments in Westchester in recent years.
Minimum Wage Update. Westchester's minimum wage hit $17/hour as of January 1st, matching NYC and Long Island. Rest of state is at $16. If you employ hourly workers or manage a small business, confirm your payroll reflects the change.
ONE MORE THING
The tariff story is fundamentally about small businesses absorbing costs that were imposed, struck down, and reimposed in the same news cycle. If you run a business in Westchester and have felt the impact, reply to this email. I want to hear it firsthand.
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