The Bay Inside One Bay Area Business Rocked by Trump’s Tariffs
Nov 19, 2025
Join Jillian D'Onfro, a business reporter from the San Francisco Standard, and Sana Javeri Kudari, the founder of Diaspora Co., as they dive into the ripple effects of Trump's tariffs on Bay Area businesses. They explore how these tariffs have drastically impacted food prices, with Sana sharing the struggle of her spice importing business facing existential threats. The conversation also covers consumer reactions to price hikes and discusses whether tariffs ultimately help or hurt American businesses. Tune in for insights that blend commerce and cuisine!
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Tariffs Were Broad And Far-Reaching
- The tariffs aimed to fix the trade deficit and boost U.S. manufacturing but were applied broadly to many countries and products.
- That broad application meant nearly every small business and consumer would feel the impact in some form.
Diaspora Co.'s Farmer-Focused Spice Model
- Sana Javeri Kudari built Diaspora Co. sourcing single-origin spices from Indian and Sri Lankan family farms.
- Her model pays farmers more and grew from a Bay Area shop to national online and wholesale customers.
Tariff Shock Hit During Vacation
- Sana learned on vacation that tariffs had spiked: India up to ~50% and Sri Lanka initially very high.
- She faced immediate large upfront import taxes on full containers, creating massive unexpected costs.