Davids Hosts Tariff Discussion with Wyandotte County Small Business Owners
KANSAS CITY, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a discussion with Wyandotte County small business owners and economic development leaders to talk about the successes and challenges facing local businesses, including the impact of reckless tariffs.
Davids recently announced her support for new legislation that would provide automatic refunds to small businesses and families forced to pay President Trump’s tariffs. While large corporations can fight in court to reclaim their losses, most small businesses lack the resources to recover these payments — leaving them and their customers to bear the cost.
“During our conversation today, I heard directly from small business owners here in Wyandotte County who are dealing with higher costs and tighter margins because of these reckless tariffs,” said Davids. “They shouldn’t have to spend time and money fighting to get back what was taken from them. I’m pushing for bipartisan solutions that make that process simpler and more accessible, so local businesses aren’t left carrying the burden of policies they had no control over.”
Trump’s tariff policies have hit Kansas hard, driving up costs for families and threatening small businesses and farmers. According to estimates, average American households will pay roughly $2,500 more this year because of these policies. Local industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and retail, have faced higher costs for imported goods, forcing some businesses to raise consumer prices, cut jobs, or close entirely.
The Supreme Court struck down these tariffs, but the administration is still moving forward with others. Refunds are being discussed, but under the current system, small businesses often lack the resources to reclaim funds, while large corporations can pursue lengthy litigation to recover tariff payments.
The Restoring Economic Lifelines for Independent Enterprises and Family Businesses (RELIEF) Act would:
- Require automatic refunds for certain tariffs collected since January 1, 2025 – so small businesses and families don’t have to wait years or hire lawyers to get back the money they were forced to pay.
- Ensure refunds are processed within 90 days of enactment – giving immediate relief to businesses struggling with higher costs and helping keep prices lower for everyday consumers.
- Eliminate the need for individual applications or formal protests – removing bureaucratic hurdles so small businesses and families can actually access the refunds without extra cost, confusion, or delay.
WATCH: Davids speaks on her support for the RELIEF Act
Davids has consistently pushed back on the President’s blanket tariffs and supported bipartisan approaches to trade that balance competitiveness with consumer protection. She spoke during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing on the trade disruptions Kansas agricultural producers will face due to these tariffs — a concern echoed by Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland. She also visited a local toy store and manufacturer who are being hit hard by these unstable policies and hosted a press conference on her efforts to push back on tariffs. Most recently, she voted to end President Trump’s reckless tariffs on Canada, which are raising costs for Americans.
Participants in the roundtable included representatives from:
- Bonner Springs Chamber of Commerce
- CST Sweets
- Dewey’s Pizza
- Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce
- Fancy Your Fanny
- Fran Sutton Homes
- Grill 32
- Harvest & Hearts Juicing
- Johnson County Community College (JCCC) Small Business Development Center
- Kansas City, Kansas Chamber of Commerce
- Kansas Small Business Development Center
- Range 23 Brewing
- Wyandotte County Economic Development Center
During her time in Congress, Davids has also worked across the aisle to support small businesses. As a former member of the House Small Business Committee, she pushed back against reckless tariffs that raise costs for small business owners, called for strong oversight of pandemic relief programs to prevent fraud, and focused on strengthening domestic supply chains to support small- and medium-sized manufacturers. She has also prioritized efforts to reduce excessive paperwork for small businesses and support individual workers, including veterans, women, and people in recovery.