Tariff week with the Third District’s small businesses

Minnesota’s Third District is home to so many incredible small businesses and small business owners. Each one of them is unique, innovative – and a cornerstone of our community. 

One of the best parts of my job is getting to represent them in my role as a member of the House Small Business Committee. 

Unfortunately, over the past several months, I’ve heard from countless small business owners about how the Trump Administration’s tariff policies are posing an existential threat to their business. 

So I’m taking steps to try to protect small business owners from these reckless policies: I introduced the Small Business Liberation Act to immediately exempt the more than 34 million small businesses in the United States from the catastrophically high tariffs President Trump unilaterally enacted on April 2, 2025. I called on the Trump Administration to exempt small businesses from their tariff war, and I pressed the U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to support tariff exemptions for small businesses. 

And last week, ahead of President Trump’s latest tariff deadline on August 1st, I traveled around our district to meet with several small business owners and operators to hear how they are being affected. It was a privilege to be welcomed into these businesses and to learn more about their work, products, and operations. They are all unique and vibrant businesses that contribute to our community in many ways. It was deeply concerning – but not surprising – to hear that the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff policies are harming all of them.

The first stop on my tour was Fireaway Inc, a fire suppression manufacturer in Minnetonka. They create lifesaving fire suppression devices that are manufactured right here in the United States, but as CEO Lance Harry explained to me, because Fireaway does business with other countries, they are still being negatively impacted by tariffs.

I visited yum! Kitchen and Bakery in Minnetonka, where owners Patti and Robbie Soskin explained how the uncertainty of the Trump Administration’s tariff policies hurt hard-working small businesses like yum! The tariffs create uncertainty in ordering items that are necessary to the operations of the restaurants – like bags, napkins, and some foods – that make budgeting and planning challenging. 

Our next stop was Productivity Inc, a metal machinery supplier in Plymouth. President Greg Buck highlighted how tariffs are a tax on the American consumer. The ability of great Minnesota companies like Productivity Inc to grow and thrive should not be hindered by the uncertainty and randomness of Trump's tariffs.

Great to visit Smith Coffee and Cafe in Eden Prairie! Owner Ann Schuster and General Manager Alex Schuster explained that over 99% of coffee in the U.S. is grown in other countries – which means that *we* are the ones who will pay the price for tariffs on coffee growing countries like Brazil.

I had an amazing trip to Asia Mall in Eden Prairie, home to a plethora of outstanding small businesses! It was great to meet Michael Bui, the owner of Pho Mai, a Vietnamese restaurant in Asia Mall. Michael shared that margins are already low in the restaurant business – and tariffs are making those margins even tighter.


I also got to visit Excelsior Brewing. Excelsior serves so many people in the South Lake Minnetonka community – but Trump's tariffs are posing a real threat to their business. Thanks to founder Patrick Foss for taking the time to sit down to talk about his business and how the administration's tariffs are adding more challenges and adversely impacting America's brewing industry.

I had a blast visiting LMNTS and Third Degree Heat, two stores who specialize in sneakers, fashion and streetwear, (and are way too cool for me!). Owner Brittany Ward says some of her goods have had to double in price since Trump’s tariff policies were announced, which represents a serious threat to her business. 

As I wrapped up this tour of small businesses, I joined local small business owners for a press conference at Avant Garden Bookstore and Coffee in Anoka to highlight what small businesses across our district are going through as a result of President Trump’s tariff policies. I was joined by Amber Bullock, owner of Metta Coffee, Sarah Piepenberg, owner of Vinaigrette LLC, and Daniel Swenson-Klatt, owner of Butter Bakery Cafe. All three of these dedicated and hard-working small business owners are facing challenges like needing to raise prices, cut the products they can offer, or close their doors permanently due to Trump’s tariff policies. 

I am so grateful to all the business owners I had the pleasure of meeting last week. I will never stop working for a country that helps small businesses thrive – and I will keep fighting to protect them from these chaotic and harmful tariff policies.