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Small business owners urge Supreme Court to strike down disastrous tariff policies that are forcing Main Street to hike prices and stall expansion

As Supreme Court hears oral arguments on president’s tariff powers, Small Business for America’s Future members detail how unpredictable trade policies are forcing price hikes, hiring freezes, and slashed expansion budgets across Main Street

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 5, 2025 –  Small business owners from across the country rallied near the Supreme Court Wednesday alongside lawmakers including Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, urging the court to strike down the disastrous tariffs forcing them to raise prices, freeze hiring, and abandon expansion plans. Small Business for America’s Future Council Member Katrina Golden spoke at the press conference as justices heard oral arguments on the legality of the president’s emergency tariff powers.

“I would hire two additional employees if I was confident I could sustain them long-term, but the constant trade policy changes make that far too risky. For example, one of my suppliers warned me that the cost of coffee cups could jump from $225 to as high as $400 per case,” said Golden, co-owner of Lil Mama’s Sweets & Treats in Augusta, Ga. “Like many small business owners, I want to expand and hire, but that kind of unpredictability and the rising costs caused by tariffs make it difficult to maintain stability.”

The tariffs under Supreme Court review are devastating Main Street businesses. While large corporations can relocate production, absorb costs or pass expenses to consumers, small businesses operate on razor-thin margins, which leaves them few options. They’re forced to raise prices, slash staffing, or abandon growth plans, decisions that threaten their survival. 

A national Small Business for America’s Future survey found that 78% of small business owners expect tariffs to increase costs for imported materials and goods, 71% anticipate raising prices to offset those costs, and 69% say the president has “moved too quickly and overreached with his policy changes.”

Wednesday’s Supreme Court tariff hearing comes as small businesses face mounting economic pressures heading into the critical holiday season. Business owners are simultaneously battling inflation, rising healthcare costs as ACA premium tax credits expire in December, and the unpredictability created by a government shutdown. For businesses already operating on razor-thin margins, tariffs are an enormous burden forcing them to raise prices, freeze hiring, and abandon growth plans during what should be their busiest season.

Small business owners during the event urged the Supreme Court to strike down the tariffs and provide relief.

“This case should be called Small Businesses v. Trump,” said Sen. Markey. “Small businesses are refusing to let Trump destroy everything they have worked for. Trump is not a king. His tariffs are illegal and unconstitutional. His reckless policies have led to economic chaos, and they must end. I have been fighting to provide relief to small businesses being crushed by Trump’s tariffs, and now I am calling on the Supreme Court to do what is legally, morally, and economically right. The Supreme Court must stand with small businesses, rein in President Trump’s king-like power grab, and stop him from turning Main Street into Pain Street.”



Small Business for America’s Future Council members who attended the rally described the impact of tariffs on their businesses:

Gabe Hagen (Brick Road Community Corporation, Tempe, Ariz.):  “I just opened a new location, but tariffs forced me to slash my expansion budget by $75,000 so I could have money to cover rising expenses. I also held back on hiring the staff I needed because I can’t predict what costs will look like next month. While big corporations can absorb these hits without breaking stride, small businesses like mine operate on margins so thin that this unpredictability makes it nearly impossible to plan ahead or grow.”

Hugo Ramirez Rivas (Frio Mexican Treats, Appleton, Wis.):  “My expenses for cups are up $300 per month, and revenue is down $8,000 compared to last year. I’ve had to raise prices on my customers and cut back on community giving — things that go against everything I built this business to do. I wanted to hire more staff this year but with tariffs constantly changing, I can’t afford to take that risk. Small businesses like mine need stability to survive, not policies that shift every few weeks.”

Walt Rowen, co-chair, Small Business for America’s Future (Susquehanna Glass Co., Columbia, Pa.):  “My business depends on imported materials from China to produce over 100,000 ceramics every year. We’ve been hit with multiple rounds of tariff increases that are eating into our profitability and threatening our long-term stability. When tariffs can change overnight, we can’t give our customers reliable pricing, and we can’t plan for next season. That’s not how you build a sustainable business. That’s how you lose one.”

To schedule an interview with a small business owner, contact Nazirah Ahmad at nazirah@emccommunications.com or 704-290-6869.

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About Small Business for America’s Future

Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees, and their communities. For more information, visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org.