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 lost us tens of millions more in potential new business opportunities.”

To date, this business has paid $1.8 million in additional tariffs.

For a one-person operation, that’s not just a financial burden—it’s existential. But the bigger story is what didn’t happen. Customers pulled back. Orders didn’t materialize. Growth stalled before it could begin.

Tariffs didn’t just raise the cost of doing business—they introduced uncertainty that made future business feel too risky. And for small companies, uncertainty is often more damaging than the cost itself.

That’s what makes this case so stark. The tariffs didn’t just drain resources—they deterred opportunity. Tens of millions of dollars in potential business never came through the door.

That’s lost expansion. Lost hiring. Lost momentum.

And it’s happening to businesses that are small enough to feel every single dollar.

When policymakers talk about tariffs, they often focus on revenue or strategy. But for businesses like this one, the real impact is measured in lost growth—and in opportunities that may never come back.

If tariffs have cost your business not just revenue, but opportunity, join us in calling for relief and refunds. Sign the letter today.