Press Releases | News | U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington

04.11.25

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

In letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnick, Senators say Trump’s 10% tariff on all nations will “upend the global trade system that small businesses rely on to bring their goods to market”; Last Thursday, Cantwell introduced a bipartisan bill that would reassert Congress’ role in setting & overseeing U.S. trade policy

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. Cantwell recently introduced the 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 is HERE.

On April 3, Sen. Cantwell introduced a bipartisan bill to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, and reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral 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 up 12 additional cosponsors – an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats – and been endorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations, including the National 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:

To enact a new tariff, the president must notify Congress of the imposition of (or increase in) the tariff within 48 hours.

The Congressional notification must include an explanation of the president’s reasoning for imposing or raising the tariff, and
Provide analysis of potential impact on American businesses and consumers.

Within 60 days, Congress must pass a joint resolution of approval on the new tariff, otherwise all new tariffs on imports expire after that deadline.
Under the bill, Congress has the ability to end tariffs at any time by passing a resolution of disapproval.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are excluded.

The full bill text is available HERE.

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:

On January 31 -- citing punishment for failing to crack down on fentanyl trafficking -- the Trump administration announced plans to impose a 25% tax on many goods imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on goods imported from China, then abruptly postponed those tariffs.
In February, he doubled down, announcing an additional 25% tax on all steel and aluminum imports.
At 12:01 a.m. ET on March 4, President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, causing stock prices in the United States to plummet.
Then, on March 5, he announced that automobiles from Canada and Mexico would be exempt from his tariffs for one month.
The morning of March 6, he announced that he would suspend the tariffs for some products from Mexico. Then, later that same afternoon, he announced he was suspending most new tariffs on products from both Mexico and Canada until April 2.
On March 11, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum – increasing them to 50% - before reversing himself later the same day.
On March 13, he threatened 200% tariffs on alcoholic products from the European Union, including all wine and Champagne.
On March 27, he announced plans to impose a 25% tax on all imported sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans, and light trucks, as well as some auto parts, beginning on April 2.
On March 29, President Trump said, “I couldn’t care less,” if automakers raise the price of cars in response to his tariffs.
On April 2, he announced a “National Economic Emergency,” and signed an executive order declaring a 10% minimum baseline tariff on all countries as well as additional tariffs on nearly 60 countries.
On April 7, he threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on China.
On April 9, he announced a rollback of his April 2 tariffs down to the 10% baseline across the board, with the exception of China, which he increased to 125%.