Michigan Small Businesses Brace for President Trump's Detroit Visit as Tariff Costs Hit Record $11 Billion

Presidential tariffs cost Michigan businesses $1.8 billion in October alone and have cost the state $11 billion from March-October of 2025 – Connect with Detroit area small businesses to discuss impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DETROIT, MI – January 14, 2026  – As President Donald Trump visits Detroit today to speak at the Detroit Economic Club and tour the Ford Rouge complex, new data released by We Pay the Tariffs shows Michigan small businesses are grappling with the crushing weight of presidential tariffs that have cost the state $11 billion from March through October 2025, including $1.8 billion in October alone.

We Pay the Tariffs, a coalition of over 800 small businesses nationwide advocating against tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), is highlighting the real-world impacts these tariffs are having on Michigan's Main Street businesses—from manufacturers to retailers across the state.

"Michigan businesses are paying unprecedented tariff costs that are forcing impossible choices: raise prices and lose customers, or absorb the costs and cut jobs," said Dan Anthony, Executive Director of We Pay the Tariffs. "The new data we're releasing today shows Michigan has paid $11 billion in Presidential tariffs, with $1.8 billion in October alone. While the President tours Michigan's iconic manufacturing facilities today, small businesses across the state are struggling under this weight. These aren't taxes on foreign countries, they're costs paid directly by Michigan small businesses."

Michigan Tariff Data: https://www.wepaythetariffs.com/statereports/michigan

• $11 billion in presidential tariffs paid March-October 2025

• $1.8 billion paid in October 2025 alone

About the Data

All data come from Trade Partnership Worldwide's State Tariff Tracker ("Tracker") database. The Tracker combines national import and tariff data from the U.S. Census Bureau (Census), including details on special provisions that either lower tariffs (e.g., preference claims such as USMCA) or increase them (e.g., Chapter 99 rates for Section 301 or IEEPA tariffs), tariff schedules from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), 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.

Michigan Small Businesses Speak Out: Below are examples of Michigan small businesses who have shared their stories Please contact press@wepaythetariffs.com to learn more.

HIBLOW USA, Inc. (Saline, MI) -- As shared in the We Pay the Tariffs amicus brieffiled with the Supreme Court: "Our linear air pump technology was invented by our partner company in Japan in the late 1960's. Millions of rural and suburban Americans have our HIBLOW air pump running 24 hours per day and 7 days per week on the onsite septic systems serving their homes, to ensure cleaner wastewater is dispersed into the environment. To our knowledge, there are currently no pumps of our specific linear diaphragm type manufactured in the U.S. Our largest U.S. customers order full 40-foot ocean containers delivered directly from our partner factory in the Philippines. The majority of these customers have purchased from us for over 10-20 years, due to our quality and stability as a company. These full container orders have an approximate lead time of 4-5 months. The timeline of the reciprocal tariffs did not allow us enough time to adjust pricing to account for the additional tariffs, as many of our customer purchase orders were already in process. Thus, some of our air pump models were sold at a very low or negative margin, as we do not want to lose our long-term, repeat customers."

Jeremy Dunham, ASL Stone (Plymouth, MI)  Imports natural stone for commercial construction projects throughout the USA. Ten-person company facing less than $100,000 in unplanned tariff expenses, with costs hitting construction projects already underway with locked-in pricing.

Jon Cusack, Cusack Manufacturing (Holland, MI) Designs and manufactures electronics for the audio industry with 30 employees. Reports that "tariffs are destroying our business."

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