Lydia DePillis — ProPublica

Lydia DePillis

Reporter

Photo of Lydia DePillis

Lydia DePillis joined ProPublica in 2019. Before that, she covered national economics issues for CNN Business, Texas’ economy for the Houston Chronicle, labor and the workplace for The Washington Post, and the business, culture and politics of the technology industry for The New Republic. DePillis was also previously a real estate columnist for the Washington City Paper, where she authored its award-winning Housing Complex blog. Her work has appeared in the New York Observer, Pacific Standard, Slate and various trade publications. She’s from Seattle, and is based in Washington, D.C.

How Trump’s Trade War Is Making Lobbyists Rich And Slamming Small Businesses

Washington’s influence industry, including former Trump officials and allies, has made big money helping companies get exemptions from tariffs — sometimes by undercutting small business owners like Mike Elrod.

Jan. 6, 2020, 5 a.m. EST

A UPS worker sorts packages in the back of his truck. UPS, DHL and FedEx lobbied Congress to raise the “de minimis threshold” –– the dollar value below which imports wouldn’t be subject to duties or the paperwork required of larger shipments.

How Trump’s Tariffs Are Creating Jobs — for Canadians

A tariff loophole lets companies ship small boxes across the border duty free. So the huge shipments are now heading to warehouses in Canadian and Mexican border towns, instead of the U.S.

Oct. 9, 2019, 5 a.m. EDT

Companies Are Using a Depression-Era Law to Escape Trump’s Tariffs — and It’s Costing Them

Tariffs are hurting U.S. companies’ bottom lines. Free Trade Zones, a 1930s rule which they can use to shield themselves from those costs, require expensive legal help. One Michigan manufacturer called it “a no-win situation.”

Sept. 23, 2019, 5 a.m. EDT

Everything You Need to Play Baseball Is Made in China — and Getting Hit by Trump’s Tariffs

Baseball is America’s pastime, but prices on its China-made gear are about to rise as the trade war escalates. Golf, lacrosse, basketball and other sports will feel the pinch, too.

Sept. 3, 2019, 12:30 p.m. EDT

Bibles but Not Textbooks: Trump’s Tariff Exemptions Pick Winners and Losers

Products won exemptions from the U.S. Trade Representative for “health, safety, national security and other factors,” but the criteria remain unclear.

Aug. 22, 2019, 6 a.m. EDT

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