Cantwell, Colleagues Demand Reversal of Chaotic and Destructive Tariffs that Could Devastate U.S. Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, joined 12 of her Senate colleagues in a letter demanding that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and President Donald Trump immediately reverse course on the sweeping tariffs that are devastating small businesses across the nation.  Cantwell previously chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
The senators emphasized how these new taxes on imported goods are raising prices for hardworking Americans and creating additional challenges for small businesses at a time when high costs are already making it difficult for them to operate.
Sen. Cantwellrecently introducedthe bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress’ role in setting and overseeing U.S. trade policy. It has gained the endorsement of national small business groups like the Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority.
“Most small businesses operate on razor thin margins, so any increase in costs could be devastating for both day-to-day operations and business’ long-term success,”wrote the senators.“Now is the time to invest in our small businesses to ensure they have the resources necessary to navigate today’s high-cost environment. Across-the-board tariffs will have the opposite effect, squeezing small firms that lack the capital and resources to mitigate the worst effects of President Trump’s new trade barriers.”
“From hospitality to retail to manufacturing, President Trump’s sweeping tariffs have the potential to upend decades of economic interdependence that allowed our nation’s small businesses to thrive. They must be reconsidered. To that end, we respectfully ask that you work with the President to reverse course on the 10 percent tariffs on all countries,”they continued.
Washington state is home to 644,868 small businesses, which together employ more than 1.4 million people, accounting for 49% of all of the state’s workers.
In addition to Sen. Cantwell, the letter was signed by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Gary Peters (D-MI).
A link to the letter isHERE.
On April 3, Sen. Cantwellintroduced a bipartisan billto reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, and reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs.
READ MORE:The Wall Street Journal: Senators Move to Rein In Trump’s Power on Tariffs
HEAR MORE:NPR: Sen. Maria Cantwell says there is bipartisan support to rein in Trump's tariffs
WATCH MORE:Forbes: 'I Don't Know What You Think': Maria Cantwell Laces Into US Trade Rep Over Trump's Tariffs
The bill has since picked up12 additional cosponsors– an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats – and beenendorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations,including theNational Retail Federation, which is the largest retail trade association in the world.
In addition, a bipartisan group in the House of Representatives has introduced a companion version of Sen. Cantwell’s legislation, which also is cosponsored by equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats.
The bill restores Congress’ authority and responsibility over tariffs as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution by placing the following limits on the president’s power to impose tariffs:
The full bill text is availableHERE.
For the past three months, President Trump has been sowing economic chaos across the country with unpredictable and ever-changing tariff announcements. His back-and-forth announcements and actions, which have whipsawed American businesses and consumers, as well as close neighbors and allies, include: