Sioux City Times

Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) addressed the Senate on October 29 to criticize former President Donald Trump’s tariffs and their impact on small businesses in the United States. His remarks were made ahead of a vote on a resolution aimed at blocking tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on imports from Canada, and just before oral arguments are set to begin at the Supreme Court regarding Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for imposing these tariffs. Lower courts have previously ruled that this use of IEEPA was unlawful.

Markey stated, “Small business owners are struggling in President Trump’s economy—from energy to health care to food, costs are up, while manufacturing jobs are down. At the heart of it are President Trump’s crushing tariffs. These tariffs are taxes for American small businesses. President Trump is taxing food, clothing, toys, and even tea—and the last time there was a tax on tea, there was a revolution.”

He continued, “President Trump says it is ‘enemies of the country’ suing him over tariffs. It is actually Main Street small business owners. For small businesses, this isn’t about politics. It is about survival. Trump’s tariffs have cost small businesses more than $30 billion already this year, while big businesses and CEOs are meeting with the President and receiving generous exemptions.”

Markey concluded his remarks by saying, “Small businesses have no Mar-a-Lago memberships, no golden gifts for President Trump, and no margin for error. I will not back down. I will continue to stand up for small businesses across the country from red states to blue states who are bearing the burden of these tariffs.”

Over recent months, Markey has sought relief measures for small businesses affected by these economic policies. Last month he held a press conference with small business owners impacted by the tariffs and released data detailing their financial effects. He also introduced legislation called the Small Business RELIEF Act which would exempt small companies from certain tariffs and require refunds for those who have already paid them.

In August, Markey sent a letter to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and other federal officials urging them to establish clear procedures so American companies could receive tariff refunds more easily. Earlier efforts included returning to the Senate floor twice in an attempt to pass the Small Business Liberation Act—legislation designed to shield smaller firms from wide-ranging global tariffs put in place under Trump’s administration—but both attempts were blocked by Republicans.