Dozens of female founders are sounding the alarm over President Trump’s tariff hikes, warning that small businesses across the U.S. could be financially devastated if relief isn’t granted soon.
In an open letter published Thursday, 38 women-led consumer product brands urged both Trump and Congress to halt new tariffs—at least temporarily—until smaller businesses can adapt or access affordable alternatives in their supply chains. They’re also calling for targeted exemptions to shield small companies from the most punishing effects.
While Trump’s administration offered a 90-day pause on some tariff hikes—holding them at 10% for various countries—the rate on Chinese imports surged to a staggering 145%, factoring in a previous 20% levy. For many startups and small manufacturers that depend on critical components from China, the sudden spike could spell financial ruin.
“Unlike large corporations, small businesses lack the leverage to renegotiate supply chain contracts, the margins to absorb steep cost increases, or the capital required to rapidly reconfigure global supply chains,” wrote Allison Luvera, founder of Juliet Wine and lead author of the letter.
Tariffs Threaten to Wipe Out Margins, Raise Costs by 80%
Juliet Wine, a direct-to-consumer upscale boxed wine brand, now faces an unexpected $200,000 annual bill due to tariffs on a specialized packaging component sourced from abroad—with no U.S. alternative in sight.
Other founders shared similar challenges. A sustainable home-cleaning brand, for example, said the pouches it uses for refills—sourced overseas—could rise in cost by 80%, simply because there’s no domestic supplier ready to step in.
These aren’t fringe businesses. The 38 signatories collectively generate over $800 million in annual revenue, employ thousands, and rely on a blend of domestic and international manufacturing. Yet despite their scale, they say they’re more vulnerable than big corporations—because they don’t have the same flexibility or resources to absorb sharp increases in cost.
Founders Call for Relief: Exemptions, Incentives, and Impact Assessment
In addition to urging a pause on further tariff increases, the group is lobbying for a small business impact assessment—so policymakers can fully understand how trade policies affect Main Street entrepreneurs.
At the very least, they want small businesses exempted from the new tariffs. If that’s not feasible, they propose alternatives: grants, tax credits, or technical assistance to help navigate disrupted supply chains and rising costs.
Among the letter’s signers are several prominent founders and leaders, including designer Rebecca Minkoff, Alison Wyatt of the Female Founder Collective, Emily Doyle and Mei Kwok of Dune Suncare, and Yanghee Paik of Rael.
The group is also calling on other small business owners—and the public at large—to speak up and push lawmakers to support relief efforts. Their message is clear: without action, many small companies could buckle under the weight of tariff-driven price hikes.
