“This Is Hurting Us,” Michigan Small Business Owners Feel The Weight Of Trump Tariffs

Today, as part of National Small Business Week, business owners Michael Howard II and Alex Bronson issued the following statements denouncing Trump’s tariffs and the harms they have inflicted on small businesses across Michigan and the rest of the country. 

Michael Howard II Owner of Howard Family Designs 

“Small business owners are being told to expect chaos and confusion as we plan for the months ahead while we continue to face rising costs from the tariffs coming out of Washington. A tariff policy that relies on this much uncertainty is going to hurt people. It is going to force businesses to make decisions that could cost people jobs and hamper our ability to grow. It is going to force customers to make hard decisions that inevitably affect our bottom line, so we are at the wrong end of any outcome with these tariffs.” 

As of May, nearly a third of small business owners across the country have indicated they will be increasing prices as employment continues to decline. It is estimated that over 350,000 have been lost since Donald Trump took office. The well-being of our small businesses contributes directly to our country’s GDP, no wonder it is shrinking. 

Alex Bronson Owner of Blackout Painting

“The problem is that our issues are not unique, and small businesses across the state and country have had to raise their prices because of increased costs due to tariffs, and not all of us are staying afloat. Consumers are nervous and can’t plan for their own finances because we still aren’t sure just how expensive things will get. This means we can’t take on additional overhead, which means less jobs are available for people. What are we building here that requires this much sacrifice with so little to show for it?”