Pappas bill would see Trump tariffs to NH small businesses refunded

“Put money back in their pockets”: Pappas pitches immediate tariff relief for NH’s Main Street.

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas is backing new legislation he says would put money back in the pockets of New Hampshire small businesses that have already paid tariffs under President Donald Trump’s disastrous trade policy.

In an announcement ahead of Small Business Saturday, Pappas said his Small Business RELIEF Act would exempt goods imported by small businesses from tariffs and refund tariffs small businesses have already paid, arguing that state small businesses “can’t wait” for court action or a change in administration.

Tariffs are essentially taxes on imported goods that raise costs for small businesses and, ultimately, consumers. Pappas is pitching his bill as immediate relief to help businesses keep hiring and expansion plans on track.

RELATED: Tariffs are blasting NH small businesses

Pappas pointed to his broader push against tariffs affecting Canada — New Hampshire’s top trading partner — including efforts aimed at forcing House action to roll back tariffs and restore Congress’s authority over tariff policy. 

Business groups, including Small Business Majority and Main Street Alliance, endorsed the approach, arguing small firms are less able than large corporations to absorb higher import costs without raising prices or cutting back.

The owner of Lucas Roasting company of Wolfeboro, a coffee roaster said tariffs have hit the coffee industry like a freight train, destroying profit margins and upending entire business models.

“To take our single largest input cost and increase its price by FIFTY PERCENT has dealt our industry a death blow. We can’t simply replace Brazil with another country’s coffee in all of our blends because it just doesn’t work like that … retail prices have had to skyrocket upwards to maintain enough profitability.” said Troy Lucas, co-owner of Lucas Roasting Company.