WILMINGTON, Del. — Tom Vari’s lighting suppliers began mailing him warnings about tariffs last fall. They varied a bit in dates and percentages, but they all said the same thing: Very soon, your prices are going up.

Mr. Vari owns Brandywine Lighting Gallery, a 2,000-square-foot independent showroom on a busy highway north of Wilmington. Almost everything he sells is made in China, meaning that since September, his products have been subject to a 10 percent tax on Chinese imports levied by the Trump administration. So far, Mr. Vari has largely absorbed those costs, by accepting lower profits. But he — and his suppliers — say they won’t be able to shield customers from dramatic price increases much longer.

President Trump insists that his trade war will make America better off and that until it’s resolved, China is paying billions of dollars in tariffs to the United States. But it is small-business owners like Mr. Vari, and his customers, who are largely footing the bill for Mr. Trump’s tariffs. As the trade war reaches into its second year, companies and consumers across the United States are growing weary. Small businesses like Brandywine Lighting have been forced to adapt to new economic realities brought about by Mr. Trump’s trade fight with China, Europe, Canada and Mexico and those companies are now beginning to chafe as the fight drags on, putting their profitability at risk.

The United States and China are moving closer to a deal that would roll back tariffs on both sides of the Pacific, while requiring the Chinese to buy more American goods and make some changes to its trade practices. While details are still being discussed, the agreement does not appear to require the sweeping changes to China’s economy that prompted Mr. Trump to begin the trade war.