A Letter to President Trump from Female Founders
Don't let tariffs crush America's entrepreneurs.
In this country, if you disagree with a policy decision you have the right—and the responsibility—to speak up.
That’s why I co-authored this letter alongside an incredible group of 38 women leaders in the consumer goods space who collectively represent nearly $1 billion in annual revenue.
Recent proposed tariffs pose a disproportionate threat to small businesses like ours. For many of us, this is the most significant obstacle we’ve faced as entrepreneurs. In this letter, we urge policymakers to come to the table to discuss trade policy solutions that work with small businesses, not against them.
What can you do?
1. Read the letter.
2. Share it with your network and local elected representatives.
3. Keep supporting small and emerging brands.
Let’s work together to make sure small businesses don’t become collateral damage in a global trade war. Full letter text below. ⬇️
April 10, 2025
Dear President Trump, Ambassador Greer, and Members of Congress,
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy. They account for 43.5% of U.S. economic activity and drive innovation and job creation across industries.
As a collective of women Founders, CEOs, and leaders in the U.S. consumer packaged goods (CPG) space, we’re proud to be part of this engine of growth—building businesses that bring consumers the products they want at accessible prices.
Together, the signatories of this letter represent $800M+ annually, employ thousands of workers, source from both domestic and international manufacturers, and contribute to the vibrancy of local economies across the country.
And right now, we’re sounding the alarm.
Recent and proposed tariffs on consumer goods and key components, such as packaging materials, pose a disproportionate threat to small businesses like ours. These trade measures will not only increase costs for our companies but ultimately lead to higher prices for American consumers.
Unlike large corporations, small businesses lack the leverage to renegotiate supply chain contracts, the margins to absorb steep costs increases, or the capital required to rapidly reconfigure global supply chains. In many cases, domestic manufacturing alternatives don't exist. And for those of us committed to scaling responsibly and sustainably, the barriers to creating those alternatives from scratch are insurmountable without support.
We are becoming unintended collateral damage in an escalating global trade war.
Consider these examples of real impact:
A woman-owned beverage brand that is mostly produced domestically is facing a significant cost increase to a key packaging component with no viable domestic supplier, which will reduce gross product margin by up to 15% and cost the company over $200,000 annually.
A woman-founded home cleaning brand, committed to sustainability, sources its refill pouches from overseas due to the lack of domestic suppliers with the right materials. New tariffs would increase packaging costs by 80%, forcing the brand to either raise prices—hurting accessibility for budget-conscious families—or cut back on marketing and hiring during a critical growth phase.
A specialty food company that sources glass jars from overseas has seen container costs double in under a year, compounded by proposed tariffs on custom closures. Margins are now unsustainable, and the founder is pausing R&D on new SKUs to stay afloat.
We urge the President, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and other relevant agencies to collaborate with the small business community to ensure that trade policies reflect the realities of the businesses it impacts. That includes:
Small Business Tariff Exemptions
Establish automatic exemptions or a permanent fast-track exclusion process for companies below a defined revenue or employee threshold, recognizing their limited capacity to absorb cost increases or navigate complex and sudden supply chain changes.
Small Business Impact Assessments
Require tariff impact assessments that specifically account for effects on small businesses prior to implementation, ensuring that trade actions are equitable to organizations of all sizes and will not cause any undue economic burden.
Support for Domestic Supply Chain Transition
Provide targeted grants, tax incentives, or technical assistance to help small businesses shift sourcing or production domestically—supporting both economic resilience and U.S. manufacturing without penalizing those who lack alternatives today.
Why does this matter? Because when small businesses suffer, the U.S. economy suffers. Fair, predictable trade policy is not just good practice – it’s essential for small businesses to survive, grow, and deliver affordable products to consumers.
We stand ready to work collaboratively with the USTR and other policymakers to ensure the government can pursue its trade objectives without sidelining the very businesses that are so vital to America's consumer economy.
Signed,
Allison Luvera & Lauren De Niro Pipher of Juliet Wine
on behalf of small CPG brands across America
Further Signatories:
Alison Wyatt, Female Founder Collective
Ariana Ferwerda, Halfdays
Aishwarya Iyer, Brightland
Charlotte Cruze & Lindsay Goodstein, Alice Mushrooms
Courtney Fasciano & Erin Ryder, Cesta Collective
Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, Chillhouse
Ellen Marie Bennett, Hedley & Bennett
Emily Doyle & Mei Kwok, Dune Suncare
Emily Mack & Sarah Mack, Vinat
Grace Na, Pistola
Hannah Cheng, Mimi Cheng’s
Irene Chen, Parker Thatch
Jacqueline Tatelman, STATE Bags
Jennifer Bett Meyer & Melissa Conner, JBC
Jilly Hendrix, Body Vodka
Karen Robinovitz, Sloomoo Institute
Kerry Docherty, Faherty
Kristyn Rose Berland, Crate Away
Lindsay Ladas, Couper
Lucy Dana, One Trick Pony
Lulu Ge, Elix
Maura Duggan, Fancypants Baking Co
Meenakshi Lala, Urbanstems
Melanie Goldey, Tally Health
Melanie Travis, Andie
Michelle Razavi & Nikki Elliott, Elavi
Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff and Female Founder Collective
Sarah Miyazawa, M.M. LaFleur
Virginia Frischkorn, Partytrick
Yanghee Paik, Rael
Thanks for starting this! I’ve documented the tariff impact on my business here: https://open.substack.com/pub/tomhegz/p/china-tariff-case-study-e-bike-market?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web