Small Business Owners and Sen. Cantwell Urge Supreme Court to Block Trump's Tariffs

Strategic Insights -

Sen. Maria Cantwell and small business owners from the Northwest spoke in front of the Supreme Court on Thursday, highlighting the impact of President Donald Trump's signature trade policy on their companies. The policy, which has imposed sweeping import taxes, has hurt businesses that rely on imported goods, with some owners forced to shift manufacturing to other countries or risk going out of business.

Key Takeaways:

  • Small businesses are paying the Trump tariff, with some owners forced to pay as high as 50% on imported goods.
  • Companies that rely on imported goods won't be able to survive tariffs as high as 50% and can't plan for the future amid the whiplash of frequently changing rates.
  • The Constitution gives Congress authority over tariffs, but congressional Republicans have chosen not to use that power in deference to a president who has embraced import taxes as a do-it-all tool.
  • Business owners have met with Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and were told that if the Supreme Court blocks Trump's ability to impose tariffs based on emergency powers, the president could simply invoke a different authority to do the same thing.
  • The humanitarian cost of Trump's tariffs is significant, with some business owners estimating that their livelihoods will be decimated if relief doesn't come fast enough.
  • Sen. Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, called on her colleagues to heed the advice of small business owners and do something to put Congress back in charge.

Statistics:

  • 50%: The tariff rate imposed by Trump on goods imported from India, which was raised from 7% in August.
  • 19%: The tariff rate imposed on goods imported from Thailand, which is affecting the business of Boise-based Mike's Organic Curry Love.
  • 2008: The year when Mike's Organic Curry Love began sourcing ingredients from Thailand, but was forced to stop due to the high tariffs.
  • 50%: The estimated percentage of business owners who will lose their livelihoods if relief doesn't come fast enough.

Sources:

  • [Orion Donovan Smith, "Small Business Owners and Sen. Cantwell Urge Supreme Court to Block Trump's Tariffs," The Spokesman-Review, Sep. 18, 2025]
  • [Sen. Maria Cantwell and small business owners, statement in front of the Supreme Court, Sep. 18, 2025]
  • [We Pay the Tariffs, coalition of members, visit to the Capitol, Sep. 18, 2025]
  • [Sen. Mike Crapo, meeting with small business owners, Sep. 18, 2025]