Block That Punt: Every Day Congress Delays on Tariffs, American Businesses Pay $500 Million More in IEEPA Tariffs Alone

New analysis also shows states that backed President Trump are paying the highest price across all presidential tariffs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 10, 2026 – As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a resolution this evening that would block tariff disapproval votes until August, We Pay the Tariffs today highlighted that American businesses are paying approximately $500 million per day in tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) alone, based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection collection data. Every day Congress delays action, that bill grows.

IEEPA tariffs have generated more than $133 billion in collections since February 2025, according to CBP data. A vote to delay congressional action until August would add billions in additional IEEPA tariff costs to the tab already being paid by American businesses and consumers.

“Our members are reporting layoffs, canceled orders, depleted savings, and price increases they can no longer absorb,” said Dan Anthony, Executive Director of We Pay the Tariffs. “At $500 million a day in IEEPA tariffs alone, Congress cannot afford to punt this to August. Small businesses are hurting now, and every day of delay makes it worse.”

Trump-Voting States Bear the Heaviest Burden Across All Presidential Tariffs

Beyond IEEPA alone, new data compiled by Trade Partnership Worldwide examines the total cost of all presidential tariffs (including IEEPA, Section 301, Section 232, and other presidential authorities) and shows that the burden falls disproportionately on the states that supported President Trump in 2024.

From March through November 2025, companies in states that voted for President Trump paid $111 billion in presidential tariffs — $24 billion more than the $87 billion paid by companies in states that backed Vice President Harris.

Three of the top four states in terms of presidential tariffs paid — Texas ($21 billion), Michigan ($13 billion), and Georgia ($12 billion) — all backed President Trump in 2024 and are considered critical 2026 election battlegrounds that will determine control of the Senate.

The four states where average tariff rates increased the most in November 2025 — South Carolina (+16%), Wisconsin (+14.6%), Alabama (+14.6%), and West Virginia (+14.1%) — all backed President Trump in 2024.

We Pay the Tariffs is a coalition of more than 800 small businesses from across the country — restaurants, manufacturers, retailers, game companies, importers, and family-run enterprises from every region. The vast majority have 10 or fewer employees. These are Main Street businesses that are the backbone of local economies in every congressional district.

Small Business Interviews Available:

We Pay the Tariffs can connect media with small business owners from across the country who can describe firsthand the impact of tariffs on their operations, employees, and customers. Contact press@wepaythetariffs.com to arrange interviews.

About the Data

IEEPA tariff collection data is based on publicly available U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures. State-by-state presidential tariff data come from Trade Partnership Worldwide’s State Tariff Tracker database, which combines national import and tariff data from the U.S. Census Bureau, tariff schedules from the U.S. International Trade Commission, and state import value data from Census. Trade Partnership Worldwide data is frequently cited in national and international media, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC, NBC, CBS, Axios, Politico, CNBC, CNN, BBC, and more. Contact us at info@wepaythetariffs.com for more. 

About We Pay the Tariffs

We Pay the Tariffs is a grassroots coalition of over 800 small businesses that advocates against tariffs. Members include restaurants, manufacturers, retailers, game companies, importers, and other enterprises from every U.S. region. The vast majority of members are micro businesses with 10 or fewer employees. For more information: www.wepaythetariffs.com

MEDIA CONTACT: press@wepaythetariffs.com