Ranking Member Markey Leads Senate Democrats and Small Business Owners in Fight Against Trump Tariffs

Senate Democrats v. Trump's Tariffs | Small Businesses v. Trump's Tariffs

RM Markey calls on SCOTUS to side with small businesses and the rule of law

(Washington, November 5) - Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), alongside Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and six small business owners from across the country today called on the Supreme Court to side with small businesses and strike down President Trump's illegal and reckless tariffs. The press conference took place across the street from the Supreme Court, where today Justices heard arguments in the case brought by small business owners challenging Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs. Following the press conference, Ranking Member Markey went to the Supreme Court to listen to the oral arguments.

"This case should be called Small Businesses v. Trump," said Ranking Member 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."

"Tariffs are Donald Trump's fault, but they're Congress's responsibility," said Senator Wyden. "No matter how the Supreme Court decides this case, you can be sure Trump will keep coming back with new taxes on the essentials that Americans buy from abroad. The only way to stop Trump's price-hiking, job-killing tariffs for good is for Congress to step up and reassert its constitutional power over trade."

"These tariffs are being paid by American families who are going to spend about $1,800 more on average this year because of those tariffs," said Senator Shaheen. "And in New Hampshire, where we are a small business state, we have a housing crisis, housing costs, which are already out of reach, are going to go up about $10,000 or more because of the tariffs the President has imposed on key materials."

"What's at stake today is the simple idea that the President has been abusing his power to enact these across-the-board tariffs, which amount to a $2,000 tariff tax on every family in America. The word 'tariff' is not in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. It is an abuse of that statute," said Senator Klobuchar. "What else will be on the line? This idea that the Constitution actually allows the President to take away the power from Congress. It is clear that it does not."

"The small businesses who do so much for the well-being of our communities are under such pressure-it's our bakers, small farms and small manufacturers-they're getting hit every single day with something new on the tariff front," said Senator Welch. "Bottom line: there should be no tariffs unless Congress acts. What's at stake here is the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances. Congress has the taxing authority-we can be held accountable if people don't like the vote that we make. That's been hijacked, not by an emergency, but by a presidential whim. We want the Supreme Court to do, really, the simplest thing possible, and that is stand up for enforcing the Constitution."

"Trump's reckless and illegal trade war is sowing chaos for over 34 million small businesses throughout the country, as they bear the brunt of these harmful policies, laying off workers and raising prices just to keep their doors open," said Senator Hirono. "Trump promised to lower costs on day one. It's been almost 300 days of his administration and as millions are being forced to endure the spiking costs of these reckless tariffs, the Supreme Court has the power to provide much-needed relief to these businesses. These businesses should not be stuck footing the bill for these policies and it is up to the Court now to either uphold the rule of law, or yield more power to this wannabe dictator and his regime."

"President Trump's unilateral executive tariffs are a power grab. By sidelining Congress, they cut out the voices of the American people including small business owners like me. I've paid more than $93,000 in tariffs this season alone, and was forced to both take out loans and slash inventory in half when 145% tariffs on China were announced. This leaves parents now without access to my life-saving, crash-tested car seat coats and blankets as temperatures drop. These tariffs don't just hurt small business owners, they hurt the children and families who depend on us to keep their children warm and safely buckled in car seats," said Dahlia Rizk, Founder and CEO of Buckle Me Baby Coats in North Andover, MA.

"These tariffs don't punish foreign governments; they punish American small businesses, American workers, and American families. I want to acknowledge Senator Ed Markey for his leadership and continued efforts to get these tariffs repealed. He understands the toll this has taken on Massachusetts manufacturers like Schylling and on the small businesses who make up the backbone of our economy," said Meghann Ellis, Chief Financial Officer of Schylling, Inc. in North Andover, MA.

"Here's what I know: small businesses like mine don't have the luxury of calling the President for tariff exemptions or relying on large accounting teams to make sense of the daily changes. These new tariffs, combined with inflation and rising material costs, have driven supplier increases of 4% to 7%, plus new fees that are now being passed directly to us. Sales are down about 25%, give or take, and people are hurting - business owners, workers, and families alike. The math gets more complicated every day, but we don't give up. Small business owners keep showing up, adapting, and serving our communities even when the odds are stacked against us. We only ask to be relieved from the burden that's erasing the mom-and-pop stores that have long provided valuable services to their communities, so that we can survive, continue making a positive impact, and keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive within our communities," said Dan Marra, Founder and CEO of Fieldstone Embroidery in Lawrence, MA.

"I've owned a children's shop in Massachusetts for 36 years. When devastating floods ruined my shop and when the pandemic closed my doors, federal disaster loans saved my business. It made me proud to be an American to know my government had my back. Now, it's our government that is out of control and because of these tariffs, my costs have skyrocketed, suppliers have cancelled orders, and the math keeps changing. I am asking the Supreme Court to please be the grown-ups in the room and find the Presidents' tariffs illegal," said Beth Hanlon, Owner of Pinwheels in Nantucket, MA.

"The tariff power the president has appropriated from Congress has resulted in policies that are devastating Main Street. The Supreme Court must strike them down. My bakery and coffee shop expenses are up 33% because of tariffs. My holiday catering orders have dropped dramatically, and daily sales are down 40% as people focus on buying essentials because tariffs are increasing prices everywhere. These tariffs are piling the economic pressure on top of rising healthcare costs, inflation, and the government shutdown that's crushing my federal employee customers. I built Lil Mama's from my kitchen over six years but now my growth has ground to a halt and I may have to close my brick-and-mortar shop. It looks like Christmas on Main Street may be cancelled this year-and these disastrous tariffs are the reason why," said Katrina Golden, Founder and CEO of Lil Mama's Sweets & Treats in Augusta, GA.

"I've tried to do everything right as a small business owner. When the administration said we needed to reduce reliance on China, and after facing the threat of increased tariffs there, I began moving my manufacturing to Cambodia, but the IEEPA tariffs chased me there, too. No matter how much I adapt, these sweeping policies keep undercutting small businesses like mine that shoulder the full cost of these tariffs while just trying to survive, employ Americans, and support families in our communities. The Supreme Court's decision in this case will matter deeply to entrepreneurs who need stability and fairness in trade policy. I'm grateful to Senator Markey and the Senate Democrats for standing with small businesses and fighting to restore balance for the millions facing these same challenges," said Sarah Wells, Founder and CEO of Sarah Wells Bags in Fairfax, VA.

"Since the so-called 'Liberation Day' in April, we've received thousands of price increases from our suppliers - increases directly caused by the tariffs. These price changes have cost both my business and our customers thousands of dollars. What's more, the impact of tariffs on our cashflow is severe because we either must purchase more stock now and sit on it, or purchase later at the higher price and lose the profit. This simply isn't sustainable for my business, and the Supreme Court needs to offer relief to my small business and millions of others just like it," said Michael Brey, President of Hobby Works in Laurel, MD.

"I'm Beth Benike, a ten-year Army veteran and Minnesota's 2025 SBA Small Businessperson of the Year. I built Busy Baby from my kitchen table to a seven-figure business with 8 patented products now in Walmart and Target. Just weeks after receiving my award, Liberation Day tariffs jumped from 0% to 145%, forcing me to abandon products overseas and cut contracts with American service providers. As both a small business owner and a 6th generation farmer's wife, I'm experiencing how blanket tariffs devastate American businesses. Sales are down more than 50% from the 7 months leading up to Liberation Day. Unless holiday sales drastically increase, we might only have a few months left in business. I'm here today hoping the Supreme Court upholds the Constitution and restores the careful deliberation of Congress on decisions that affect millions of American businesses and families," said Beth Benike, President and Founder of Busy Baby in Oronoco, MN.

Ranking Member Markey has led the fight to deliver real relief for America's small businesses who are struggling because of Trump's reckless economic policies. Last month, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference to highlight the voices of small business owners impacted by Trump's devastating tariffs, and to release data on the cost of the tariffs for small businesses. Previously, Ranking Member Markey introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act, which exempts small businesses from the "Liberation Day" tariffs and requires the President to provide refunds to small businesses who have paid them.

In August, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) Stephen Miran, calling on their respective agencies to establish and publicize procedures for refunding tariffs to American businesses. Earlier that month, Ranking Member Markey returned to the Senate floor in an effort to pass the Small Business Liberation Act, legislation that would exempt small businesses from the broad, reckless global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Ranking Member Markey first attempted to pass the Small Business Liberation Act in May. Republicans blocked his legislation on the Senate floor on both occasions.

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