Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of the holidays, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), alongside Representatives Hillary Scholten (MI-03) and Haley Stevens (MI-11), introduced the Trump Tariff Transparency Act, which will highlight the devastating impact Trump’s illegal trade war is having on Colorado small businesses and families. Specifically, the bill would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with the U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis, to produce a quarterly report on how much Trump’s tariffs are costing America’s consumers and small businesses. 

As families begin to shop in preparation for the holiday season, many consumers say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts, with overall spending going down from previous years. Many popular holiday items have been especially impacted by tariffs, including toys, personal care products, small appliances, clothing accessories, jewelry, and household tools. Research also shows that tariffs have driven up prices for domestically manufactured and everyday goods, including groceries and other household essentials.

“As a mom, I know how expensive the holiday season can be – and it’s even worse with Trump’s disastrous trade war. While Trump builds ballrooms, hands massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy, and profits off selling out our country’s interests, he’s telling families struggling to afford groceries and heating bills that affordability is a hoax,” said Pettersen. “Trump might’ve been able to lie his way into office, but he’s not going to be able to lie his way out of the pain and suffering that his immoral and unlawful priorities have caused. I’ve heard firsthand from small business owners across my district – from Salida to Golden and everywhere in between – who aren’t going to be able to weather the storm of his failed policies. We need accountability and transparency, and this bill is going to do just that.”

“Michigan families and small businesses shouldn’t have to pay the price for President Trump’s chaotic, reckless tariffs - especially around the holiday season,” said Scholten. “Tariffs are a tax on working families and a burden on our small businesses. As prices continue to skyrocket on everything from beef to coffee to appliances to stocking stuffers, we deserve to know exactly how big that tax is. As a working mom and a member of the House Small Business Committee, I am proud to be introducing this commonsense legislation to study the true toll of this administration’s catastrophic economic policies and work towards finding real solutions for Michigan families and small businesses."

“The one thing I hear over and over again from families and small manufacturers in Michigan is that Donald Trump's tariffs are making everything more expensive. Our Trump Tariff Transparency Act takes on these erratic tariffs to help bring an end to the pain being felt by Michigan families,” said Stevens. “Michigan has had enough of Donald Trump’s price hikes.”

In August, Rep. Pettersen demanded accountability from the Trump Administration for the rising costs of back-to-school items due to tariffs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that tariff rates have increased the price of back-to-school items by an average of 18%. 

Bill text can be found HERE. 

Since coming to Congress, Pettersen has been a champion for working families and children in Colorado. As a mom of two, she has pushed back against Trump’s policies that would increase costs for child care, health care, and other basic necessities for families.