Small businesses around the country are speaking out about tariffs — the months of worrying about levies and countermeasures, trying to prepare amid uncertainty, and the impacts that came into devastating focus when the Trump administration announced "reciprocal" tariffs on approximately $3 trillion of imports.
And now, there is more worry and uncertainty amid a pause as they wonder what might be next and how to plan.
Small businesses shared stories of canceled bookings, rising costs, stockpiling supplies, and, ultimately, the fear of having to pass the cost of tariffs on to consumers. Or worse.
Even those that can pass the cost on to customers shared their concerns that the added costs will impact their ability to remain competitive and profitable — or to grow.
Here’s what they’re saying.
MORE: U.S. Chamber to Administration: Small Businesses Need Immediate Relief from Tariffs
July 2025
"As a family-run business, we’ve remained deeply committed to our customers, our employees, and our community. But today, that livelihood is under serious threat. The current tariff structure—especially as it applies to essential imported goods—is pushing our costs to unsustainable levels.
We are not choosing to import—we are required to. Adding to the burden, the unfavorable dollar-to-euro exchange rate has dramatically increased our landed costs on top of already high tariffs. This double pressure is rapidly eroding our margins and may soon force us to make impossible decisions, including the closure of a business that has been a trusted industry name for over three decades."
— Cindy Rust, president and CEO, Princeton Medical Group, Nashville, Tennessee
“Because of the tariffs, we could not accept any more shipments, so our tins are still stuck in China. Our distributor sales in May were only $15k. In June they were $0. Losses so far [include] $69,000 and two employees. Is there any relief?”
— Debra St. Claire, CEO, St. Claire’s Organics, Santa Clara, New Mexico
"With 36% (38% with steel) [tariffs] for Thailand, we can’t survive, and at this point have stopped ordering any new products. The uncertainty is insanity and [the] back and forth is crushing small businesses like us. ... If nothing is done soon we will have to shut down our business.”
— Matt Katzman, owner and operator, Velocity Sleep, Suffield, Connecticut
“When I opened my first tariff bill for Baby Paper, it hit like a gut-punch. A 30% increase in my cost of goods. How is a small business supposed to survive that? Every option is a no-win. Change factories? Not easy & I risk quality. Raise prices? I risk losing customers to bigger brands. Pause production? I might as well shut down. ... This is how small businesses die—not from bad products or poor planning, but from policies that shift beneath our feet. We need a lifeline. Without relief or stability, many of us simply won’t make it.”
— Sari Wiaz, president, Baby Paper, Glenview, Illinois
Watch: In a recent special event for small businesses, the U.S. Chamber's Neil Bradley shared the latest on tariffs and taxes.
June 2025
"Small businesses like mine create American jobs, but we can't survive when tariffs make it prohibitively expensive to operate. Trade supports American prosperity—these tariffs are undermining it.”
— Aabesh De, CEO, Flora, Nashville, Tennessee
"We cannot cover the cost of these tariffs, and we do not think our product would sell the way it has been at a higher price point. For this reason, we’re not comfortable passing the cost of these tariffs to the consumer. ... We have decided we will not be manufacturing any more of our product and will close the business once we sell out. We are taking a devastating hit and will likely have to file [for] bankruptcy.”
— Tanya Rasmussen, co-founder, SplashZen, Bonney Lake, Washington
"Tariffs directly impact our mission to make meditation devices accessible to American children with anxiety and ADHD. ... Tariffs force an impossible choice: absorb costs threatening our sustainability, or price out families who need accessible mental health tools. ... [W]e need nuanced trade policy - not blanket tariffs that hurt American families.”
—Anna Peterson, founder, Zenimal, Manhattan Beach, California
“What I thought was a path to the American dream has become quicksand. Trade policy is supposed to provide business with the certainty we need to make long-term decisions, and right now that certainty is missing. I’m no longer trying to thrive. I’m trying to survive.”
— Mike Mojica, founder and CEO, Outdoor Element, Englewood, Colorado, to The Colorado Sun
“You can't stockpile forever, so it's really kind of a scary time, because you just don't know… are those tariffs going to go through? Is there going to be a last-minute reprieve like there has been in the past?”
— Sue Schulz, owner, What’s Poppin' Texas, Bedford, Texas, to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
"We are at an inflection point. Highly desirable coffees are arriving just as tariffs, rising costs, and global instability hit hardest. Small roasters are being forced to choose between raising prices or compromising on quality just to survive.”
— Dan Hunnewel, co-founder, Coffee Bros., New York City, New York, to Global Coffee Report
“The biggest concern for me is the cost increase that I’m having to pass on to consumers. And then not knowing if I’m going to get merchandise and how much merchandise is going to cost me. It’s extremely chaotic, it’s hard to keep track of.”
— Val Veiock, owner, Bing’s, West Des Moines, Iowa, to WHO 13
May 2025
"I recently ordered a batch of linen from my supplier in Lithuania that I've been working with for years. On a $8,400 order, I was charged over $1,000 in tariffs. With already small margins, I don't know how I can continue offering my handmade goods at the quality and price I have been. It is disheartening and frustrating."
— Elana Gabrielle, owner and designer, Elana Gabrielle, Portland, Oregon
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"It is not just the cost today or ongoing, but the uncertainty it creates for those of us who must commit to delivery on customer orders out two to six months after receipt of the order. How can we determine both cost and whether the materials will even be available? U.S. sourced components have the same issue, as domestic suppliers are being squeezed by tariff issues for their materials.”
— Pete Barlie, president, Daniel Paul Chairs, Morristown, Tennessee
“The sudden imposition of the 25% EU steel tariff was a harsh setback for my small company, hitting my sea freight order, which arrived days after the tariff was introduced, with an unexpected $8,700 charge on top of the normal customs fees I pay. A big hit for a small, family-run business.”
— Valerie Bressler, owner and CEO, VB Hose Clamps, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
“For 33 years, Bike Friday has hand-built bicycles in our factory in Eugene, Oregon. ... Trade policies "meant to help" — are hurting. ... We must import some things. Our bikes are only possible through a global supply chain—some bike parts have never been made in the USA, ever. ... Now we have lost 30-40% of our customers, even our USA customer orders are down out of concern for the economy. Our costs are up. Tariffs could kill us and our industry!”
— Hanna Scholz, president, Bike Friday, Eugene, Oregon
"After recent U.S. tariffs, several international clients canceled or paused bookings, citing trade tensions and distrust of U.S.-linked businesses. A German client said, ‘It just feels too complicated now.’ We projected 12 international clients this summer—only four booked. We’ve invested over $5,000 to grow our U.S. client base, but with recession fears and rising costs, fewer Americans are booking. Tariffs aren’t just economic—they affect perception and partnerships. My business depends on global trust. Trade policies must promote cooperation to help small businesses like mine grow and compete internationally. Tariffs affect service businesses like mine.”
— Bernie Waruru, founder, Berngo Safaris, Cedar Springs, Michigan
“I will be in business 40 years next year. ... At the end of this year, my once successful family business is done. Without warning, we may have to close unless the tariffs are taken away. I do not have time to change suppliers or build a shoe factory.”
— Jeffrey Savoca, president, Up-Front Footwear, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
“Four families and all of our employees who work for us depend on this business. We are a small company and have been in business for over 30 years — we can't afford to have these tariffs imposed on us."
— Donald Modugno, co-owner, NorthWest Enterprises, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
"I have an oral care company and all of our empty containers such as tubes, bottles and tins, as well as dental floss come from China. Currently, I have an order of 5,000 bamboo lip gloss tubes at port. The order cost me $5000. The tariff I have to pay is $9,983. Obviously, this triples the COG for this item, cutting into our profit in a huge way. I will have to take out a loan to pay this extra expense. ... Something has to be done because this is unfairly punishing small business owners. It is also important to note that none of these items are made here in the U.S., so it’s not like I can buy Made In The USA even if I wanted to!"
— Ginger Price, founder and owner, Dr. Ginger's Healthcare Products, Phoenix, Arizona
April 2025
“There are several components of [Murphy’s Naturals] products like incense sticks that cannot be sourced in the USA. ... Murphy's Naturals entered into price-committed programs with large retailers for 2025 and 2026. Tariffs will eliminate profits and put this innovative technology into a loss position after years of research and development and a significant financial investment. Prior to the new tariffs, [we were] already working to find alternative manufacturers to move manufacturing out of China, but that will be a multi-year process.”
— Philip Freeman, founder and CEO, Murphy's Naturals, Raleigh, North Carolina, and a U.S. Chamber Small Business Council member
“We are a manufacturing company who employs 55 people. With our current offshore strategy, we are able to provide those employees with great wages, benefits and most importantly, a work-life balance. We do not have the location space, equipment or people to be able to manufacture all our demand in-house. It would take a major overhaul to our business to even make this a possibility, which would include millions of investment dollars that we do not have.
We have put a halt on our facility upgrade plans and have also stopped the imports. We will not be able to meet our customer demand without an outside supply source but we had to put a stop to our normal business plan due to the trade war. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are an American, employee-owned corporation. ... We value our people and kept them employed during the housing crisis and COVID, choosing people over profitability. This situation is putting that in jeopardy.”
— Michele Derrigo-Barnes, president and CEO, Plattco Corporation, Plattsburgh, New York
“We export to Australia, Canada, and South Korea. We import from India, China, Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands. ... This is going to have a tremendous effect on us. I don't think the administration understands that we cannot put up factories quickly enough, let alone buy the machinery quickly enough.”
— Diana Mini, president, Shark Industries, Rockford, Minnesota
“We have no choice [but] to raise prices. Tariffs are paid by Americans, by American businesses.”
— Mike Brey, owner, Hobby Works, Laurel, Maryland, to DC News Now
"The reality is that the U.S. simply doesn’t have the factories that 'produce for others' or can re-tool machinery on a constant basis, labor force, or infrastructure right now to absorb the kind of 'hand-crafted' production deficit we’d face by bringing all toy production immediately back home. I’ve looked. I’ve asked members of Congress for years about this. No one has an answer.
I face this challenge not due to a lack of innovation or a failure to adapt, but because I, along with thousands of other small businesses, simply cannot survive the crushing tariffs on an industry that has always been previously exempted. ... For industries like toys, not being excluded from these tariffs is leaving thousands of other small business owners like me on the verge of having to close up shop, let go my employees, and file for bankruptcy.”
— Joann Cartiglia, founder and president, The Queen’s Treasures, Ticonderoga, New York
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“Americans think that Chinese companies or the Chinese government are paying for these tariffs. I want to assure [them] that they are not. We are paying these tariffs. We have stopped all production.”
— Jeff Damir, co-owner, SwaddleDesigns, Seattle, Washington, to The Seattle Times
"Many of the components impacted by these tariffs are not available from U.S. manufacturers, leaving us facing skyrocketing tariff costs, disrupted supply chains, and a shrinking ability to compete in our own market. Worse still, these policy shifts have occurred with little notice and no structured plan for transitioning to domestic production. As a company working toward onshoring our manufacturing in Kentucky, we are now watching that vision become financially impossible due to the very tariffs meant to encourage domestic industry."
— Nathan Rowton, president, HVAC Distributing & MRCOOL, Hickory, Kentucky
"These tariffs create harmful consequences: forcing price increases on essential products, penalizing our use of sustainable materials, and disproportionately impacting small businesses like ours."
— Libby Anderson, community manager, Esembly, Brooklyn, New York
“Ever since the tariffs have become a reality, it's [been] absolute chaos and insanity. ... Regardless of where you fall on the politics of this, just remember that there are real people behind these products; these aren’t just pieces on a chessboard.”
— Matt Caputo, CEO, Caputo’s Market and Deli, Salt Lake City, Utah, to Fox 13
“We’re already dealing with inflationary pressure, and these tariffs are just going to add to that. I’m afraid to say it, but there’s going to be some small businesses that won’t be able to absorb this. It just might be the thing that puts them over the edge.”
— Randy Peers, president and CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, to Brownstoner
“We have just shipped a container of Sonic Alert products that we paid around $250,000 that will arrive in the U.S. in the next week or so. We have no idea how much tariffs we will have to pay. The current rate of 100% is more than the profit we will make from selling the product. We do not have the cash available to pay that amount. It probably does not make sense to borrow that much money to pay the tariff as we will not be able to recoup that when we sell the products.
Our company that has been in business since 1979 could be forced to close since we had no opportunity to plan for these changes to our operating environment. The deaf community will lose the largest supplier of products developed to help them be alerted to their doorbells, telephones, and most importantly, smoke and fire alarms.”
— Adam Kollin, owner, Sonic Alert, Troy, Michigan
"The best way to empower American businesses and workers is by removing regulatory barriers. Free markets and free trade benefit the greatest number of people. It’s far better for America to let businesses succeed or fail on their own merits, rather than forcing them to adapt to artificial constraints like tariffs…"
— David Boyd, vice president, Payne Oil Company, Burlington, North Carolina
“If this is the end of my American dream, I'm going to go down swinging. We can't survive the short-term pain, and especially without any sort of plan in place to create the infrastructure here. ... It would take years and millions and millions of dollars to build such a thing that's been built overseas over decades. It's just not sustainable. And it's truly catastrophic to so many businesses, and big businesses and small businesses alike. But I really think small businesses are gonna be the casualty of this trade war.”
— Emily Ley, Simplified, Pensacola, Florida, to CBS News
“I’m terrified for my business, and I’m terrified for all the other small businesses in the United States right now, because we don’t know what to do, and we’re invested in our businesses. I could lose my home, and I don’t understand it, and I don’t know what to do.
… It [the China tariff] has completely stifled my growth in big box retail, which has been our main goal for three years – to grow into that space because as a teeny, tiny business, that’s a huge achievement, huge for our brand. And now it’s halted.”
— Beth Benike, owner, Busy Baby, Zumbrota, Minnesota, to The Guardian
“The ongoing tariffs are having a direct impact on our vacation rental business, with cancellations from Latin American and Canadian guests and a noticeable drop in new bookings from these markets. While European travelers haven't begun canceling, they are holding off on making reservations, adding to the uncertainty. Combined with rising costs and broader economic volatility, these shifts are creating real pressure on our family business.”
— Heleena Sideris, general manager, Park City Lodging, Park City, Utah, and a U.S. Chamber Small Business Council member
"The proposed tariffs on Chinese imports will be devastating to small businesses like mine. These aren’t tariffs on luxury goods for mega-corporations; they’re affecting American-made wellness products built by entrepreneurs like me who are creating jobs, paying taxes, and promoting healthy living. We’re trying to grow and thrive, but these policies put that at risk.”
— Tyler Fish, founder, Sun Home Saunas, San Diego, California
Questions about tariffs? Please contact us: Sam@uschamber.com
"Clear and consistent policies are essential for businesses to thrive, make long-term investments, and ensure the well-being of our workforce. The time for decisive action is now to prevent further disruption and to foster a climate where businesses can grow and contribute positively to the economy.”
— Traci Tapani, owner and co-president of Wyoming Machine, and a U.S. Chamber Small Business Council member
“These [tariffs] are devastating. We ordered about $200,000 of product, already sold to customers, with pricing based on a 28% tariff. The extra 84% tariff threatened will cost us an extra $168,000 in tax that we can't even pass on to our customers. We are a very small company and don't have a lot of extra funds. If this tariff stays, we could be put out of business due to decreased demand, and our 10 employees will be out of a job. If the tariffs had not been increased, we were hoping to hire another engineer or two.
— Lynnette Stokes, co-owner and CFO, Stokes Robotics, Carl Junction, Missouri
“With the expiration of the 90-day pause occurring well before our holiday order can reach the U.S., and compounded with the fact that producing in China is no longer an option at current tariff rates, we either place an order without understanding what our costs are, or we die a slow death.
— Adam Fazackerley, COO and co-founder, Lay-n-Go, Alexandria, Virginia, and U.S. Chamber Small Business Council member
“It’s a big shock to the system. We're going to have no choice but to pass this on, a portion of it, to our customers. It's a matter of survival.”
— Craig Freedman, CEO, Freedman Seating, Chicago, Illinois, to ABC 7 Chicago
“These are ridiculous tariffs that make no sense. Small businesses like mine have to pay these tariffs, and it’s not a small thing. It’s a lot. So, there’s no way to see this as something that’s good for anybody. ... People buy my shoes because they like them, but it’s a luxury item. ... If you feel like your job is shaky and the economy is shaky, your way of life is shaky, you go into survival mode. And in survival mode, most people don’t spend. And that comes back to hurt the small business owner.”
— Devlin Carter, founder, SIA Collective, New York, New York, to NBC News
“We’ll now be paying an additional 10% or more for all of our cocoa beans on top of their already elevated prices. This is not going to bring cocoa farming jobs to the U.S. or increase American manufacturing—it’s just going to hurt American chocolate manufacturers.”
— Matt Weyandt, co-founder, Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate, Atlanta, Georgia to CBS News
Watch: In a recent special event for small businesses, the U.S. Chamber's Neil Bradley and John Murphy shared the latest on tariffs and how they are impacting small businesses.
March 2025
“We are a small custom metal products manufacturer. The increase in steel and aluminum tariffs directly impacts the input costs of our business, whether or not the metals we are buying are imported or not. Domestic producers are increasing their prices too...It's a simple tax increase for us that we can't absorb. We are raising our prices also, and seeing customers delay or cancel projects.”
— Sandra Ryan, vice president of operations, Ryan Industries, Inc., Hillsboro, Oregon
“My firm specializes in long-term growth consulting, and our five-year strategic plan rests strongly on expansion into international markets. Trade talks, tariffs, and shifting international relations will have a major impact on our ability to build the networks that we need to reach our goals.”
— Josh Brockway, founder and CEO, Key and Crown, Keller, Texas
Impact of Tariffs
Are tariffs impacting your business?
“Our company, DensityUSA, a security fog business located in St. Louis, Missouri, is concerned about experiencing significant challenges due to the looming threat of new tariffs, and the uncertainty surrounding potential retaliatory measures. As a growing small company, these tariffs and tariff threats could not only hinder our capacity to expand and create jobs but also serve as a substantial obstacle for many similarly situated small companies. While the negative impact of tariffs on consumers is well-known, it is crucial to recognize that they also pose serious barriers to growth for businesses like ours.”
— Mike Egel, president, DensityUSA, St. Louis, Missouri
“We pursued our dreams 25 years ago and opened a manufacturing company for mountain bike components in Grand Junction, Colorado.
While we manufacture many of our products in the United States, we still import some key components and raw materials to support our production. And more importantly, we also export to Europe and Asia resulting in almost 50% of our annual revenue. Additional tariffs on the components and raw materials we are importing will increase our costs and increase the likelihood of retaliatory tariffs on our exported products adding additional headwinds against our small business.
I want to be optimistic that the new tariffs will be lifted soon and allow our company, and our dream, to continue to flourish. But being realistic, I am very concerned about the negative impacts of a trade war and our ability to continue to support our employees and our community.”
— Tim Frey, president and CEO, MRP Bike, Grand Junction, Colorado
“Since we sell aluminum and steel products for the commercial truck market, we are deeply concerned about the ramifications of tariffs being imposed. Inflation has negatively impacted the automotive industry and our aftermarket industry, and as a small business, it's been challenging to navigate in the last year. I cannot even imagine more bad news at this point.”
— Leslie Scafidi, president, American Automotive Aftermarket, Billerica, Massachusetts
More on Tariffs
“There is no way for my business to buy cheaper without [lowering] quality, [and] that would risk my business reputation to stay in business. [I’m] not sure if I am willing to do that.”
— Ellen Randleman-Eldridge, owner, The Appliance Store & More, Berryville, Arkansas
One Company's Story
"We are very concerned that most designers will have to add the tariffs. This will destroy our margin on past sales and most likely substantially reduce our future sales since we will have to increase prices for the tariffs. As a family business, we are very concerned.”
— Franco Salerno, co-owner, Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, Warrington, Pennsylvania
“The recent increase in tariffs on imported goods will have a significant negative impact on my business. Many of the products I sell are imported, higher tariffs will directly raise my costs.
These increased costs will force me to either raise prices, which may drive away customers, or absorb the costs, which will threaten the sustainability of my business. Many of my customers are from immigrant communities who rely on these products as part of their cultural and dietary traditions, and price increases may make essential goods unaffordable for them.
I urge policymakers to consider the real-world consequences of these tariffs on small businesses like mine and the diverse communities that depend on them.”
— Bridget Ofor, owner, Nana African Market, Aurora, Colorado
See the State-by-State Impact
Impact on Americans
While the U.S. Chamber shares concerns about issues including border security, the scourge of fentanyl, and unfair trading practices around the globe, tariffs won't solve those problems and instead would lead to higher prices for Americans.
"The bottom line is this: tariffs are a tax paid by Americans, and their broad and indiscriminate use would stifle growth at the worst possible time," Chamber President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark said in her annual State of American Business address. She stressed that to boost economic growth, America must participate in the global economy. That includes seizing opportunities to increase trade.
In 2024, the Chamber unveiled the Growth and Opportunity Imperative for America, an initiative to urge policymakers to focus on a goal of 3% annual real economic growth, which will raise wages for workers and create new opportunities for Americans to reach their dreams.
