Family-Owned Jewelry Business: “Tariffs Are Punishing Small Businesses, Not Protecting U.S. Jobs”

A few months ago, one San Francisco–based, family-owned jewelry business was thriving — doubling sales year after year and proudly creating American jobs. Today, that same business is fighting to stay open.

“Just a few months ago, we were a thriving small business, doubling our sales annually and proudly creating American jobs. Today, we are struggling to pay our bills and keep our doors open. The burden of these tariffs on small retailers like us is untenable and unnecessary. We respectfully urge reconsideration of these policies that have effectively punished small family businesses while doing little to protect domestic industries that do not exist.”

Their story mirrors that of hundreds of small businesses across the country. These tariffs have hit retailers, importers, and manufacturers alike, forcing layoffs, halted orders, and deep financial strain.

For many industries, like jewelry and accessories, there are no domestic alternatives for the materials or components being taxed. That means these businesses are paying enormous tariffs simply to continue sourcing the same products they’ve relied on for years — without any corresponding benefit to U.S. production or jobs.

That’s why We Pay the Tariffs filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, representing more than 700 small businesses urging the Court to reconsider the legality of these emergency tariffs.

📢 Stand with small businesses. Sign our open letter to show your support for U.S. retailers, manufacturers, and family-owned businesses struggling under the weight of tariffs.