Some of those penalties could still be subject to change. India, for example, now faces 25% tariffs, but those are expected to rise to 50% as punishment, according to President Donald Trump, for India's decision to continue purchasing Russian oil throughout the war in Ukraine.
Even if the current tariffs hold steady, business owners say they're going to hurt.
"I can't charge $30 for a chocolate bar, I can't raise your price three times and leave us in this weird spot where we have to switch our business," said Sam Ratto, owner of Videri Chocolate in downtown Raleigh.
Ratto said the tariffs on ingredients he imports to make his confections have already spelled big trouble, and he's concerned it could get worse.
"What it does for us is we immediately have to pay 20 to 75% more for goods. The other side of it is our importers are also preemptively raising their prices to protect themselves from import tariffs as well," he said.
Ratto is a "bean to bar" chocolate maker, sourcing beans directly from Central and South America, as well as other parts of the world. Now, the sugar he buys from Brazil is subject to a 40% tariff -- and he's already seen a steep price hike in cocoa he buys from places such as the Caribbean and Vietnam.
"Last year, we were paying about $5,800 for a ton of Dominican beans. We paid $15,000 for a ton last month," Ratto said.
Across the Triangle, international business owners are bracing for new effects. Sarika Bansal represents many Indian American business owners in Cary's District D, which has a large Southern Asian population.
"It is going to impact the community. It is definitely going to impact small businesses and everybody around us. So, you know, there's definitely a sense of anxiety and concern," Bansal said.
Bansal said the evolving nature of the tariffs -- and their use as a negotiating tactic -- has left many of Cary's business owners caught in the middle.
"Nobody knows how to handle this. Once things settle down people will probably start to look for a plan B, but right now, nobody knows what to expect in the next six months. So, we're just waiting and watching," she said.