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Why Refunds Aren't a Windfall: WPT's Dan Anthony on CNN
We Pay the Tariffs wanted to highlight recent comments from our Executive Director, Dan Anthony, on CNN as questions continue to surface around how tariff refunds may, or may not, translate into consumer price relief. Dan’s message aligns closely with concerns we've heard from partner organizations across the business community, and undercuts certain efforts to politicize the refunds as a “windfall." We wanted to share them as a resource. A few of Dan's key points: On the rea
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 28
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Small Business Stories
New Survey Shows Tariffs' Impact on Employment
Tariffs are forcing difficult decisions about new hirings, employee retention, and whether businesses can keep operating at all. Preliminary results from the new We Pay the Tariffs survey show the effect they are having on small businesses: Nearly one-third of respondents were forced to lay off workers due to tariffs. One-quarter of small businesses have cut hours, wages, or benefits for current employees. Over half of respondents have delayed or canceled expansion/investment
We Pay the Tariffs
Jun 15
Tariffs on Vietnam Threaten U.S. Small Businesses
For the first time ever in March, monthly United States imports from Vietnam exceeded those from China. This is part of a stunning supply chain shift, as American companies heeded the call from multiple Presidents and bipartisan leaders to reduce reliance on China: the U.S. imported 3x more from China than Vietnam in 2024, 5x more from China in 2021, and 11x (!) more as recently as 2018. So of course USTR announced a new, Vietnam-specific Section 301 investigation that coul
We Pay the Tariffs
Jun 4
Small Businesses Brace for Potential New Tariffs
For many small businesses, the challenge is not just current tariffs, it is the looming possibility that new tariffs could be coming. Preliminary results from the new We Pay the Tariffs survey show: 94% of respondents expect future tariffs, including potential Section 122 and Section 301 actions, to negatively impact their business. More than 57% say they expect those tariffs to very negatively impact their operations. Small business describe their issues with additional Sec
We Pay the Tariffs
May 26
The Reality of Passing Through Tariff Costs
Small businesses facing higher tariff costs are often left with two difficult options: absorb the costs themselves or pass them on to consumers. Preliminary results from the new We Pay the Tariffs survey show that more than 80% of small businesses have raised their prices because of tariffs. One company with 11 employees explained why they had no other option: “80% of our products are imported and our margins are tenuous enough that we cannot absorb much of the price. We've
We Pay the Tariffs
May 21
Small Businesses Face Growing Uncertainty Under Tariffs
For many small businesses, tariffs do not just mean higher costs. They also create uncertainty that makes it harder to plan investments, manage inventory, maintain customer relationships, and focus on long-term growth. Preliminary results from the new We Pay the Tariffs survey found that, because of tariffs, nearly 55% of respondents delayed or cancelled expansion or investment plans. One small business described how the financial strain from tariffs forced the company to put
We Pay the Tariffs
May 18
IEEPA Refunds Could Be a Lifeline for Small Businesses
While tariffs have imposed significant financial strain on businesses, IEEPA refunds could provide a lifeline for many small companies. Preliminary results from the new We Pay the Tariffs survey show: Nearly half of respondents say refunds are critical to their business’ survival. More than 25% could avoid closure altogether with help from refunds. Half of respondents say refunds would help resolve debt issues. One small business with 12 employees shared: “We are deeply in de
We Pay the Tariffs
May 14
Tariff Costs Understate the Impacts on Small Businesses
The United States has collected a staggering amount of (mostly illegal) new tariffs – yet even these drastically understate the impacts. Why? You don’t collect tariffs on canceled or reduced orders. Preliminary results from the new We Pay the Tariffs survey found that tariffs have forced over 60% of respondents to reduce inventory and/or import values. In practice, this means scaling back product lines, having less inventory onhand, and rethinking whether they can continue op
We Pay the Tariffs
May 13
The Myth of Made in America
Tariffs are often sold as a way to re-shore manufacturing, but many small businesses have no viable alternatives to imports. Based on preliminary results from the new We Pay the Tariffs survey, 97% of respondents have been unable to identify any U.S. suppliers that can meet their product specifications and budget. In some of the most frustrating cases to read, small businesses are stuck paying the tariffs even though American manufacturers seem uninterested in selling more:
We Pay the Tariffs
May 11
We Pay the Tariffs Survey: Tariffs Weigh on Small Business Growth
Tariffs have impacted small business growth. Preliminary results from a survey by We Pay the Tariffs found the following: Only 12% of respondents say their business has grown over the past year. Nearly 60% of respondents say that their business has declined. When asked whether tariffs were to blame… Over 95% of respondents say tariffs were a factor. Over 70% of all respondents said tariffs were a major factor. One business with 14 employees highlighted the unintended consequ
We Pay the Tariffs
May 8
We Pay the Tariffs Launches National Small Business Survey
We Pay the Tariffs has launched a new survey (also below) on small business tariff impacts, the IEEPA refunds/process, and future tariff expectations. Please help us reach our (lofty) goal of 500 respondents by May 15 by answering the survey now and/or sharing it with other impacted small businesses. The end product will be a report with quantitative benchmarking and company anecdotes. No company-specific info will be published without explicit permission. The ~100 respons
We Pay the Tariffs
May 5
No Alternatives. No Exemptions. No Path Forward.
For some small businesses, tariffs don’t just mean higher costs — they mean shutting down. A music store in Indiana is facing exactly that reality. “We import music from Europe and strings. But strings are not even made in USA and without expensive lawyers we can’t figure out how to object and apply for an exemption. We have no US option for these products. We paid $10,000+ in tariffs. We didn’t hire more employees, and we stopped importing a lot of products. We will clos
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 28
Tariffs Don’t Just Hit Imports — They Hit Innovation
For small businesses, tariffs don’t just raise costs. They disrupt planning, delay shipments, and squeeze the margins that keep operations running. For a four-person business in Rio Rancho, New Mexico — Mezelmods, which designs and sells pinball accessories and parts — that disruption came fast. “Last year I had an order of electronic parts from China which was pre-paid and had yet to ship when the tariff nightmare started last March. We ended up paying 35% after delaying t
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 28
When Tariffs Hit, Small Businesses Have Nowhere to Turn
Some products simply don’t have a domestic substitute. Açaí berries are one of them — grown in the rainforests of South America, they can’t be “reshored,” substituted, or sourced elsewhere. For one U.S. small business, that reality collided head-on with 2025 tariff policy. “We are a small business that imports açaí berries from Brazil — a fruit that grows exclusively in the rainforests of South America. As a result of the 2025 U.S. tariff policies, we were subject to a 10
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 28
Tariffs Don’t Just Cost Millions—They Kill Growth
For some small businesses, the cost of tariffs isn’t just what they’ve already paid—it’s everything they never had the chance to earn. For a Nevada-based importer operating with just one employee, the impact has been staggering. “Not only were we forced to pay, mostly out-of-pocket, for these tariff hikes, but the tariffs also were a severe deterrent for receiving more business from our customers due to fear, and uncertainty. Not only did we lose millions, but it also los
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 20
How Long Can a Business Absorb the Cost?
For many producers, tariffs don’t just raise costs—they test how long a business can hold the line before something breaks. At St. George Spirits, an artisanal distillery with 35 employees, that pressure is already clear. “We import hundreds of thousands of glass bottles directly from Germany. From previously no duty to the now 15% has added thousands and thousands of dollars to every container we import. Other imported items have had tariff surcharges added to our bill. We
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 20
Tariffs Don’t Just Raise Prices—They Shrink Small Businesses
For small retailers, tariffs don’t arrive in isolation. They ripple through every part of the business—raising costs, squeezing margins, and ultimately driving customers away. Tree Huggers Trading Co., a small gift and coffee shop in Allenspark, Colorado, is feeling that pressure from all sides. As tariffs took effect, the business was hit with additional fees before their wholesale orders could even ship. Costs that had already been negotiated suddenly increased, leaving t
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 20
The Pain Didn’t End with IEEPA—Tariffs Are Still Holding Small Businesses Back
For a California-based wine importer, the financial strain of tariffs didn’t stop with IEEPA—it continues today, driven by ongoing uncertainty and shifting tariff policies. As they explain: “The tariff on my last two shipments of 2025 had unexpectedly increased from 10% to 15% between the time that I had confirmed the orders with my suppliers and when the shipments cleared customs. As a result, I have delayed ordering other needed products because I am afraid I won't have t
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 14
Pre-Booked Orders, Sudden Tariffs—And a Small Business on the Brink
For a Texas-based sustainable fashion company with just four employees, tariffs didn’t just raise costs—they are pushing the business toward closure. As they explain: “After 12 years in business, our company is now nearing insolvency due to the impact of the IEEPA tariffs implemented in 2025. As a sustainable fashion brand, approximately 75% of our orders are pre-booked up to a year in advance, and our pricing was not structured to absorb the sudden 50% increase in costs on
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 14
When Tariffs Hit the Job Site: One Contractor’s $200K Loss
For Central Florida Electrician, an electrical contractor based in Orlando, Florida, tariffs didn’t just raise costs—they wiped out profits on projects that were already signed. As they explain: “Materials costs increased 48.7% over 3 quarters in 2025 due to tariffs. I was contracted with multiple commercial projects and had no ability for price escalation clauses. I lost hundreds of thousands in materials costs.” Like many contractors, this business operates on fixed-p
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 14
Running on Fumes: A 27-Year Business Pushed to the Brink
For nearly three decades, Wizard Industries, Inc., a small woman-owned business based in Ukiah, Utah, built its operations the way policymakers often say they want American businesses to operate—long-term investment, steady growth, and a commitment to keeping products flowing to customers. But over time, tariffs began to erode that foundation. “We are a small woman-owned USA business of 27 years. The tariffs from the first Trump administration began tearing us apart finan
We Pay the Tariffs
Apr 7
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