ICYMI: Following SCOTUS Tariff Ruling, Ranking Member Markey Applauds Decision, Demands Immediate Refunds for Small Businesses

RM Markey: The Supreme Court and small businesses have spoken: Donald Trump is not a king

(Washington, February 21) - Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) held a virtual press conference with Massachusetts small business owners to applaud the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Trump's illegal tariffs. Ranking Member Markey condemned the statement employed by President Trump to attack the Supreme Court's decision.

"For the last year, Trump has created Pain on Main with an affordability crisis plaguing communities across the country. At the heart of it are Trump's tariff taxes. The Supreme Court did what was right and struck down these illegal tariffs. Trump said the small businesses who brought this case hate our country. He's wrong. Small businesses are our country," said Ranking Member Markey. "I will keep fighting until every cent illegally collected from small businesses, consumers, and families in Massachusetts and across the country has been returned."

"In my company, we've been running a really tight ship," said Shayna Ferullo, Owner of Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters. "The Supreme Court decision is really welcome news for us-firstly as Americans, because democracy is working and the three coequal branches are holding up-but also to know that we're finally going to get some relief, and possibly even refunds which will go back to my employees and into my business. Thank you, Senator Markey, for working tirelessly on this issue. We are very happy to see this result from the Supreme Court."

"I have car seat blankets arriving into LAX, and $9,000 in extra tariffs will not have to be paid due to the Supreme Court's ruling-that money is going right back into inventory so that next winter I have the coats and blankets parents need," said Dahlia Rizk, Owner of Buckle Me Baby Coats in North Andover. "Small businesses can't survive when rules change overnight, and I believe that the court got it right by supporting us. American families will be safer because of it, and I am hopeful that this is the beginning of changes that we need to help American families again."

"Behind every one of these tariff decisions are real people, real jobs, and real small businesses, and we're just trying to survive," said Lisa Mullan, Owner of Uwila Warrior in Boston Massachusetts. "In 2025, tariffs increased by 30% on half of our silk production and another 20% on our seamless collection, and these are all costs that Uwila Warrior absorbed entirely, directly impacting our bottom line. Instead of focusing on growing our team, on expanding our assortment, and on reaching new customers, we were forced to redirect an enormous amount of time, money, and energy just navigating the constantly shifting tariff rules. Recouping the tariffs is a huge, important step towards repairing the damage."

"The Supreme Court's decision is welcome news for small businesses that have absorbed significant costs over the past year," said Nicole Obi, President & CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. "Massachusetts businesses paid an estimated $734 million in tariffs in 2025 and many small firms also faced the added burden of uncertainty, unpredictable pricing, delayed contracts, and stalled investment decisions. We are grateful to Senator Markey for standing with small businesses and for his ongoing efforts to ensure that trade policy is lawful, transparent, and centered on economic stability for small employers and entrepreneurs."

Ranking Member Markey has led the fight to deliver real relief for America's small businesses that are struggling because of Trump's reckless economic policies.

• Yesterday, Ranking Member Markey applauded the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Trump's illegal tariffs and called for immediate refunds for America's small businesses.
• Earlier in February 2026, Ranking Member Markey released a report detailing how Trump's affordability crisis, including his devastating tariffs, are hurting Main Streets and working families across America.
• In December 2025, Ranking Member Markey released new state-by-state data on total tariffs paid by small businesses from March to September 2025.
• In November 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Acting Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) Pierre Yared to renew his call for an equitable tariff refund process for small businesses.
• Earlier in November 2025, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference to highlight the voices of small business owners impacted by Trump's devastating tariffs, and to call on the Supreme Court to strike down the tariffs.
• Previously, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference to highlight the voices of small business owners impacted by Trump's tariffs. Ranking Member Markey introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act in September 2025, which exempts small businesses from the "Liberation Day" tariffs and requires the President to provide refunds to small businesses who have paid them.
• In August 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and CEA Chair Stephen Miran, calling on their respective agencies to establish and publicize procedures for refunding tariffs to American businesses.
• Ranking Member Markey first attempted to pass the Small Business Liberation Act, legislation that would exempt small businesses from the broad, reckless global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, in May 2025. Ranking Member Markey returned to the Senate floor in an effort to pass the Small Business Liberation Act in August 2025. Republicans blocked his legislation on the Senate floor on both occasions.

Permalink: https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/2/icymi-following-scotus-tariff-ruling-ranking-member-markey-applauds-decision-demands-immediate-refunds-for-small-businesses