Senator Kelly Visits Somerton Auto Shop to Discuss Tariffs

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) - Senator Mark Kelly visited a small business in Somerton to talk about the impact of new tariffs on local shops.

Kelly stopped by Yepez Automotive and Sales to hear from owner Jose Yepez about rising costs. The visit comes after President Donald Trump announced he plans to move forward with new tariffs on imported goods.

Kelly says small business owners across Arizona are feeling the effects. He says when businesses import products, they must pay the tariff at the border, which raises their costs.

Yepez says the price of automotive parts has increased by about 15 percent. He says those added costs are passed directly on to customers. He also says when repair prices go up, some customers delay fixing their vehicles.

Kelly says that is why he believes it is important to hear directly from business owners. He argues that higher costs for small businesses can also mean higher prices for families.