A North Carolina sawmill that once anchored its rural community has fallen silent, its closure emblematic of the far-reaching consequences of recent U.S. trade policy. On July 21, 2025, Mackeys Ferry Sawmill in Roper, North Carolina—once the largest private employer in Washington County—ceased operations after nearly 140 years, leaving 50 workers jobless and a region grappling with economic uncertainty.
A Century of Lumber and Livelihood
The Jones family’s roots in the lumber business stretch back to 1884, when William Sawyer Jones filled his first order for sawn lumber. Over five generations, the family business grew and adapted, with each era marked by new challenges and opportunities. In 1987, brothers Wilson and Stephen Jones established Mackeys Ferry Sawmill, building on their father’s legacy and expanding operations through strategic equipment acquisitions.
As the U.S. furniture industry shifted overseas in the 1990s and 2000s, the Joneses pivoted to exporting premium hardwoods, primarily to Asia. By 2025, about 80 percent of the mill’s output was bound for manufacturing hubs in China and Vietnam, sustaining both the business and the local workforce.
Tariffs Reshape the Global Playing Field
The mill’s fortunes changed abruptly on April 2, 2025, when President Donald Trump announced sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs. The executive order imposed a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, with some countries facing rates as high as 50%. Citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the administration declared a national emergency over the U.S. trade deficit.
China responded with a 120% retaliatory tariff on American hardwoods, effectively shutting Mackeys Ferry out of its primary export market. At the time, $350,000 to $400,000 worth of the mill’s lumber was already en route to China. Reimporting the shipment was financially unfeasible, as return freight costs from Asia were prohibitively high.
Seeking alternatives, Wilson Jones attempted to reroute shipments through Vietnam, where tariffs were initially lower. However, Vietnamese buyers typically sought lower-grade lumber, forcing Jones to accept steep price cuts and absorb a 40% loss on the redirected cargo.
By September, the Trump administration announced additional tariffs targeting wood products and furniture, including a 10% duty on softwood lumber and 25% on wooden furniture and cabinetry—rates set to rise further in 2026 unless new trade agreements were reached. These measures rendered 15 to 20 truckloads of Mackeys Ferry’s premium hardwood inventory unsellable, as overseas buyers could no longer afford the added costs.
Economic Fallout for Workers and Community
The closure of Mackeys Ferry Sawmill delivered a heavy blow to Washington County. More than 40 of the 50 laid-off employees had worked at the mill for over a decade, with some present since its founding. Only a dozen accepted transfers to the Jones family’s sister mill in Elizabeth City, 60 miles away—a commute unfeasible for most in rural North Carolina.
The mill’s shutdown reverberated through the local economy, affecting not just workers but also businesses and suppliers dependent on sawmill activity. With limited alternative employment in the area, the loss of its largest private employer left a significant void.
Nationally, the impact of the tariffs contradicted promises of a manufacturing revival. Between April and August 2025, the U.S. lost 42,000 manufacturing jobs, and by year’s end, the sector had shed 33,000 positions overall. Manufacturing employment fell for four consecutive months, with a net loss of 78,000 jobs compared to the previous year.
Ripple Effects Across the Sawmill Industry
Mackeys Ferry’s closure is part of a broader crisis in the North American sawmill sector. In Quebec, Domtar shuttered two mills in late 2024, eliminating over 500 jobs. Wisconsin and Michigan saw similar declines, with sawmill closures triggering job losses throughout the supply chain—from logging and transportation to equipment suppliers and real estate.
Research from Michigan State University highlights the multiplier effect: for every sawmill job lost, two additional jobs disappear in related industries. Between 2019 and 2023, Michigan’s sawmill sector lost 273 jobs, but the total economic impact reached 820 jobs lost and $211.55 million in output decline.
Debate Over Policy and the Path Forward
Despite the devastation, Wilson Jones remains politically aligned with President Trump, though he expresses deep regret over the trade policies that destroyed his business. He has called for more nuanced policymaking and direct engagement from national leaders, urging them to witness firsthand the consequences of blanket tariffs on rural communities.
The story of Mackeys Ferry Sawmill raises pressing questions about the future of rural manufacturing and the balance between political loyalty and economic self-interest. As the lumber industry seeks relief and adaptation, the fate of communities like Roper hangs in the balance—caught between global trade shifts and the enduring ties of family and tradition.