FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Janel Knight Trulear
janel@emccommunications.com
(617) 875-6581

Small Business Group: Court ruling on tariffs shows need for balanced power in trade decisions that cause chaos

Statement by Walt Rowen, President of Susquehanna Glass Company in Columbia, Pennsylvania and Small Business for America's Future Co-Chair

May 29, 2025 – “While I'm relieved that a federal court has temporarily blocked the bulk of President Trump's tariffs, the ongoing uncertainty shows why we can't allow one person to single-handedly destabilize entire industries with the stroke of a pen. The court was right to rule that the president overstepped his authority emphasizing why we have separation of powers. However, the damage from months of economic uncertainty has already been done to small businesses like mine.

“As someone whose family business has survived 115 years through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Covid pandemic, I can say the economic uncertainty created by these unilateral tariff decisions has been some of the most challenging and unpredictable economic conditions I've ever experienced.

“Right now, I should be preparing for our busiest time of the year,the fourth quarter when we make our profit decorating Christmas ornaments and glassware. I should be hiring seasonal workers for our holiday rush. Instead, I'm paralyzed by uncertainty. With tariffs that at one point reached 145% on Chinese-manufactured ornaments. I don't know what orders will look like or whether I can afford to hire the workers my community depends on.

“Small Business for America’s Future’s recent survey found that 72% of small businesses agree that the whiplash effect of rapidly changing tariff policies makes it nearly impossible to plan effectively. This kind of erratic trade policy is devastating for small businesses -- 51% are putting all business decisions on hold, one-third are canceling expansion and hiring plans, and 66% believe these tariffs are actively hurting the U.S. economy. When small businesses can't hire or expand because of policy uncertainty, it creates exactly the conditions that can trigger a recession.

“We hope the courts assert the rule of law and enforce the division of power. Small businesses need stable, predictable policies, and not the economic chaos that comes from too much authority in one person’s hands.”

To schedule an interview with a representative from Small Business for America's Future, contact Janel Knight Trulear at janel@emccommunications.com or (617) 875-6581.

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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.