In a victory for small businesses, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration overstepped its authority in imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Following this decision, Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) has called for the immediate refund of over $70 billion in tariffs that small businesses paid from March to December 2025.

“Today, the verdict is clear: this was Small Businesses v. Trump, and small businesses emerged victorious,” Markey stated. He highlighted that Massachusetts small businesses alone contributed an estimated $734 million to these tariffs, which he describes as an extraordinary burden resulting from the previous administration’s economic policies.

Markey has been a vocal advocate for small businesses, emphasizing their struggle against Trump’s controversial tariffs. “While larger corporations managed to find loopholes and secure exemptions through privileged connections, small businesses faced the brunt of these punitive taxes,” he remarked. “It is now a moral obligation for the Biden administration to return every last cent taken from these businesses due to this illegal tax.”

As part of his efforts, Markey has conducted extensive research, releasing reports and state-by-state data on tariffs that specifically impacted small businesses. In December 2025, he detailed the economic strain caused by the Trump administration’s tariffs and their broader effects on American families.

Earlier this year, he renewed his call for a fair tariff-refund process in a letter to various federal officials and held a press conference to highlight the plight of small business owners. Notably, Markey introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act to exempt small businesses from what he termed “Liberation Day” tariffs and facilitate refunds for those affected.

Despite his persistent efforts, including attempts to pass the Small Business Liberation Act in 2025, Markey faced opposition from Republican lawmakers, which stalled progress on legislative relief for small businesses.

With the Supreme Court’s ruling now in play, Markey is urging the federal government to move swiftly to address the financial impact on small businesses stemming from the Trump administration’s tariff policies.

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. Known as a progressive leader, he focuses on energy, environmental protection, and telecommunications, co-authoring the Green New Deal.