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100+ Small Business Owners Warn Congress During Recess That Continued Tariff Chaos Will Push Struggling Businesses Over the Edge 

100+ small business owners signed on to Small Business for America’s Future’s letter urging President Trump and Congress to take action on tariffs that are forcing impossible choices between business survival and consumer price increases with 79% expressing concern about a U.S. recession within the next 12 months.

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2025 – Unpredictable tariff policies are forcing small businesses across the country into a financial crisis. With Congress home on recess and an August 1 tariff implementation deadline looming, 100+ small business owners from across the country have signed a letter to President Trump, Treasury Secretary Bessent, and members of Congress demanding immediate tariff relief, as data reveals the devastating impact current trade policies are having on Main Street businesses. With 97% of U.S. importers being small businesses, when tariffs rise these companies face steep costs that threaten their survival.

A Small Business for America’s Future survey shows a staggering 80% of Main Street businesses surveyed that are affected by tariffs view them as an existential or major threat to their survival, while 79% express concern about a U.S. recession within the next 12 months.

“Small businesses like mine are facing an unprecedented crisis from unpredictable tariff policies that are forcing us to make impossible choices,” said Walt Rowen, President of Susquehanna Glass Company in Columbia, Pennsylvania. “Unlike large corporations, we don’t have the resources to absorb sudden cost increases or navigate supply chain disruptions. When tariffs drive up costs on essential materials, we either absorb costs, eating into our margins, or pass them on to consumers who are already struggling with inflation. It’s going to raise prices across the economy. This is untenable for Main Street and the country because a strong economy requires strong small businesses. ”

The letter details the impact tariffs are having on small businesses. “Unlike large corporations that have the resources to navigate supply chain disruptions or absorb unexpected cost increases, small businesses operate on thin margins and have limited flexibility. When tariffs drive up the cost of essential materials and products, we face an impossible choice: Either absorb costs that threaten our survival or pass them on to consumers who are already struggling with inflation.”

The signers are demanding immediate action on tariff relief that recognizes the disproportionate burden these policies place on small businesses. With the August 1 deadline fast approaching, they emphasize that the administration has the immediate authority to provide relief, while Congress can use its oversight role to ensure small business concerns are prioritized in trade policy decisions. They specifically call for solutions like the Small Business Liberation Act and trade policy reforms that provide the stability and predictability small businesses require to plan, invest, and grow. With more than 33 million U.S. small businesses desperately needing relief from overly broad and unpredictable tariffs that threaten their ability to compete, the letter makes clear that small businesses cannot and should not bear the disproportionate burden of trade policy decisions. As lawmakers return to Washington after hearing from struggling Main Street businesses in their home districts, these entrepreneurs are counting on Congress to prioritize policies that will keep the backbone of America's economy alive.

Here’s what small business owners are saying: 

"I had to spend over $25,000 stockpiling cups from China just to avoid even higher tariff costs, but I'm still facing 12-15% increases on essential supplies like paper goods. These unpredictable policies are forcing me to make desperate financial decisions that strain my cash flow and limit my ability to invest in growing my business and serving my community." 

Gabe Hagen Founder

Brick Road Community Corporation 

Tempe, Arizona

"Unpredictable tariff policies forced us to delay a large project delivery by two months when suppliers suddenly demanded additional payments to cover unexpected tariff expenses. This created significant disruption for our client and damaged relationships we've worked years to build. Small manufacturers like us can't absorb these sudden policy changes without serious consequences." 

Carrin Harris

Blitz Proto 

Farmington, Michigan

“We distribute many products made with aluminum, and due to tariff volatility, these costs have increased exponentially. What's even more challenging is that our suppliers are now expecting us to handle the administration of customs, duty and taxes in addition to the product price increase which adds additional operational costs.  As a small medical supply and manufacturing, we don't have the margins to absorb these compounding expenses without it threatening our ability to stay competitive.”

Legrand Lindor

LMI Textiles 

Milton, Massachusetts

“Unpredictable tariffs on the globally sourced spices that give our soul food its signature flavor have put our family owned local business in a difficult position. Plans on expansion of our seasonings on a larger scale—creating new jobs and investing directly in our community— have been put on hold because of the uncertainty around these rising costs. Our restaurant can’t keep absorbing the increases on everyday essentials, and not pass these costs on to our customers, many of whom are working families who’ve supported us for years. Small businesses like ours are the backbone of local economies, and when we’re forced to scale back or stall growth, it doesn’t just hurt us—it limits opportunities for employment, slows economic development, and deepens hardship in the very neighborhoods we’re trying to uplift.”

Gladys Harrison Owner

Big Mama's Kitchen & Catering 

Omaha, Nebraska

Read the full letter here.

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About Small Business for America’s Future
Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders advocating for policy solutions that promote a thriving, inclusive economy. We work to ensure that lawmakers prioritize the needs of Main Street, advancing a just and equitable economic framework for small business owners, their employees, and their communities. For more information, visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org.