Former lawmakers and Washington business owners urge pause, clarity on tariffs

Steve Bunin, the host of AWB’s "Washington Today," opened the May 14 panel in Vancouver by asking two former members of Congress and Washington business owners how recent U.S. tariff moves are affecting employers.

Rodney Davis, head of government affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber sent a formal letter to the White House asking that relief be provided for small importers to "stave off a recession," and that the organization supports exemptions and targeted relief where broad tariffs would hurt small businesses. "We grew up in small business families," Davis said, "and some of these mom‑and‑pop shops simply cannot absorb the chaos of sudden tariff changes."

Jamie Herrera Butler, former congresswoman and principal at Columbia Strategies, told the audience that broad, sweeping tariffs act as a "blunt force instrument" that can reduce productivity and raise costs. Citing academic analysis, she said a broad approach can be counterproductive and urged Congress and the administration to focus on targeted measures and workforce development so Washington can realistically recapture higher‑value manufacturing jobs.

The program moved from policy to firsthand accounts from local employers. Alex McGregor, chairman of McGregor Company, described agriculture's exposure to trade swings: he cited USDA estimates that U.S. farmers lost about $27 billion in earlier trade disruptions and recounted a four‑day episode when a 25 percent tariff on Canadian inputs produced an estimated $500,000 in nonrefundable charges for a manufacturer of crop nutrients. "We need Canada for more than friendships," McGregor said, urging leaders to avoid using food as a bargaining chip.

Amelia Cook, co‑founder of Good Winds Composites, said her 10‑employee Mount Vernon firm paid roughly 55 percent in combined charges on a Chinese machine that landed during extreme tariff volatility and warned that the tariff rate could have jumped to 104 percent or even above 200 percent within days during that episode. "I can manage risk, but I cannot manage uncertainty," Cook said, describing how the unpredictability has stalled hiring and kept a newly renovated facility idle while she waits for a machine to arrive.

Nate ****, owner and vice president at Tigerstop, said tariffs on steel and aluminum have pushed up his raw material costs and that small manufacturers lack the multinational supply‑chain options larger firms use to absorb shocks. "We have to place blanket purchase orders to get competitive pricing," Nate said, "so whatever tariff is in place when materials arrive gets tacked on."

Across the panel, speakers had consistent requests for policymakers: provide stability and clarity, consult with affected industries before designating categories or rates, and favor targeted tools over broad tariffs. Panelists suggested concrete measures such as deliberate exemption processes for small importers, industry consultation on tariff categories, workforce and R&D incentives, and a new farm bill to shore up agricultural markets. "Pause everything indefinitely and reevaluate," Cook said, urging methodical review rather than rapid daily changes.

The event closed after a short audience Q&A, including a question about removing presidential emergency powers; panelists said such changes face high congressional hurdles and would be difficult to enact quickly given current margins in the House and Senate.

The meeting adjourned to a reception at Hotel Indigo; panelists said the next practical steps are clearer rules from the administration and continued engagement between Washington firms and their congressional representatives.