Senators called on Trump to reverse course hours before he paused certain tariffs 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 11 of their Senate colleagues in demanding that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and President Trump immediately reverse course on the sweeping tariffs that are devastating small businesses in Vermont and across the nation. In Vermont, over 99% of businesses that operate in the state are small businesses and employ over 60% of the state’s workforce. 

In their letter, 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.  

“At a time when our nation is experiencing an unprecedented affordability crisis, President Trump’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on goods from virtually every country in the world will send a chill through small businesses across the country,” wrote the Senators. “Given this, we urge you to work with the President to immediately reverse course on these broad-based tariffs to end the needless suffering this administration has imposed on small businesses across the country.” 

“With small businesses already being crushed under the weight of high costs and interest rates, we must do all we can to cut red tape and help them thrive – not create additional affordability challenges and uncertainty,” the Senators continued. “To that end, we respectfully ask that you work with the President to reverse course on the 10% tariffs on all countries, as well as the exorbitantly high reciprocal tariffs placed on others. Failure to do so will raise costs, rob our small businesses of the certainty they rely on and undermine the economic security of small businesses across the country.” 

In addition to Senators Welch and Rosen, the letter was signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). 

Senator Welch has been outspoken in opposing President Trump’s destructive trade war. Last month, Senator Welch convened Vermont and Canadian business leaders for a roundtable near the U.S.-Canada border to discuss President Trump’s Trade War and how the Trump Administration’s reckless tariffs are hurting workers, families, and farmers. In January and February, Senator Welch convened Vermont businesses for roundtables to hear from Vermont businesses and state and local leaders about how the President’s actions reigniting a trade war have impacted their lives and livelihoods. 

On Tuesday, Senator Welch joined bipartisan colleagues in releasing a resolution to repeal Donald Trump’s chaotic global tariffs. The Senators’ resolution would terminate the emergency that Trump declared in order to slap tariffs of up to 49% on products Americans buy from other countries. Senator Welch has also supported legislation pushing back against Trump’s tariffs, including: 

• The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act, which would shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States.  

• The Trade Review Act, bipartisan legislation 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 without the approval of Congress. 

• The Tariff Transparency Act of 2025, legislation to require the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation and submit a report on the impact on businesses in the United States of duties, and the threat of duties, on imports from Mexico and Canada. 

• A Joint Resolution of Disapproval terminating national emergency related to Canadian energy tariffs, passed by the Senate last week on a bipartisan basis. 

Read the full text of the letter. 

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