US Chamber of Commerce warns of tariffs' 'irreparable harm' to small businesses

WASHINGTON - In a letter sent to the White House, the US Chamber of Commerce warned against "irreparable harm" to small businesses and a potential economic recession, calling for immediate tariff relief.

In a statement released on Thursday, the chamber said it had sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday.

"The Chamber requests the administration take immediate action to save America's small businesses and stave off a recession," the letter read.

The chamber asked the administration to address the impacts of tariffs by granting automatic exclusions for any small business importer, establishing a process for companies to apply for an exclusion if the company can demonstrate that tariffs pose a risk to employment for American workers, and providing exclusions for all products that cannot be produced in the United States or are not readily available.

"As each day goes by, small businesses are increasingly endangered by higher costs and interrupted supply chains that will cause irreparable harm," said Suzanne P. Clark, president and CEO of the chamber, in the statement.

"Whether it is coffee, bananas, cocoa, minerals or numerous other products, the reality is certain things just can't be produced in the United States," she said. "Raising prices on those products will only hurt families struggling to pay their bills."