WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Dozens of small business owners gathered in Washington to give their tariff testimonials.
“When these people and companies get hit with this tariff tax, it is small businesses that are the roadkill,” said Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.
“We’re down over 50% since Liberation Day,” said Beth Benike, owner of Busy Baby. “If we don’t make enough money this holiday, this holiday season, we are probably not going to make it to the end of the year.”
Dahlia Rizk, of Buckle Me Baby Coats, says tariffs caused her costs to triple.
“I planned for $30,000 in tariffs and instead I ended up paying $93,010.76 to the penny to make up the difference. I took out loans, took on extra jobs, and I’m still struggling,” said Rizk.
Hugo Ramirez Rivas owns an ice cream shop in Appleton Wisconsin and imports his cups from China.
He’s hoping his strong ties to the community will keep them afloat.
“I work and live in many states in the United States and always come back to Appleton because of the quality of the people.”
Meantime, President Trump is defending his tariff policy, which currently taxes imports between 10 and 147 percent.
He called Wednesday’s Supreme Court case “One of the most important in the history of the country”
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