Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) held a press conference with Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and two small business owners to address the financial challenges facing small businesses due to recent economic policies. During the event, Markey presented new data showing that from March to September 2025, small businesses across the United States paid $46.6 billion in tariffs, with Massachusetts businesses contributing $489 million.
Markey stated, “What should be a season of giving has become a season of paying for America’s 36 million small businesses. They are paying more for affordable health care, more for electricity, and more for just about everything, thanks to Trump’s tariffs. Because of Trump and MAGA Republicans’ reckless policies, this holiday season is anything but a ‘Wonderful Life’ for Main Street small businesses. We need to end the Pain on Main Street to ensure that starting and running a small business is affordable, not impossible.”
Senator Kaine added, “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I came out of a small business family—my dad ran his iron working and welding shop in the stockyards of Kansas City, and we all pitched in. And it pains me to hear about the suffering the Trump Administration’s economic chaos, from broad-based tariffs to the expiration of tax credits employers rely on to ensure their employees have access to affordable health insurance, are inflicting on small businesses across the country. I’m deeply grateful to Shirley from Powhatan and Julie from Akron for joining Senator Markey and I today to shine a spotlight on these issues, and will keep doing all that I can to undo Trump’s disastrous tariffs and extend critical health care tax credits.”
Julie Robbins, CEO of EarthQuaker Devices in Akron, Ohio said, “Tariffs and rising energy costs are harming U.S. small businesses like ours—sales are down while costs are skyrocketing, creating an unsustainable future. We’ve spent countless hours searching for solutions that don’t exist. This year, we’ve paid over $60,000 in tariffs, sales revenue has dropped 10 percent, and electricity rates have risen 30 percent. Proposed ACA cuts are also driving up healthcare costs, adding to an affordability crisis that’s slowing innovation, limiting hiring, and forcing cuts to marketing and charitable giving. Main Street needs relief now, not higher prices.”
Shirley Modlin, Co-owner of 3D Design and Manufacturing in Powhatan, Virginia commented: "Affordability for small businesses like mine is increasingly out of reach, from our ability to provide benefits that retain talented workers to our ability to keep our lights on and balance our supply chains amid inflammatory tariff spikes. Lawmakers must do more to offer small businesses relief during this difficult and uncertain time."
Markey has been active in advocating for policy changes aimed at supporting small businesses affected by these economic measures. He has sent letters urging federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative's office, and Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) leaderships for equitable tariff refund processes.
He also introduced legislation including the Small Business RELIEF Act—which seeks exemptions from certain tariffs—and previously attempted passage of the Small Business Liberation Act aimed at removing broad global tariffs imposed by the administration on small enterprises.
Efforts by Markey have included calls for procedural clarity regarding tariff refunds as well as multiple press conferences highlighting business owner experiences with current trade policies.
