Rep. Salinas Tours McMinnville Small Businesses, Highlights Toll of Trump's Tariffs
McMinnville, OR — Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) visited three small businesses in downtown McMinnville to hear from the owners about how President Trump’s tariffs are driving up costs, disrupting inventory, and squeezing already-thin margins. The visit was the fourth stop on Rep. Salinas’ Affordability Tour of Oregon’s Sixth Congressional District.
Alongside John Olson, President and CEO of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce, Rep. Salinas toured Velvet Monkey Tea, Entwined Yarns, and Hopscotch Toys & Games along 3rd Street. At each stop, owners described the same issues: rising import costs, unpredictable pricing, and tough decisions about whether to absorb the hit or pass it on to customers.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and a part of what make our communities hum. They create jobs, build community, and keep Main Street alive,” said Rep. Salinas. “The owners I met today are struggling to keep their doors open because of Trump’s tariffs. They’re paying the price for a policy they had no say in. Oregon businesses have paid $744 million in illegal tariffs. That’s money that could have gone to hiring workers, expanding operations, and keeping prices down for families. I’m going to keep fighting until Congress ends these tariffs for good and gets relief to the businesses and consumers who bore the cost.”
Click here for a full recording of the press conference.
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the President lacked the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Rep. Salinas has cosponsored the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act (H.R. 2888) and the Restoring Economic Lifelines for Independent Enterprises and Family Businesses (RELIEF) Act (H.R. 7736) to end the tariffs and return refunds to the businesses that paid them.
This week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began accepting applications from businesses seeking refunds for more than $160 billion in tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court. Refunds are being processed only at the importer level. That means small businesses that paid importers, and consumers who paid higher shelf prices, may not see any relief.
To address that gap, Rep. Salinas joined Rep. Steven Horsford this week in sending a letter to the country’s ten largest tariff-paying companies, asking them how they plan to ensure refunds reach the customers and small businesses who actually bore the cost, rather than corporate balance sheets and shareholders.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Trump Administration moved to impose a new 10 percent global tariff under Section 122. Oregon has joined 23 other states in challenging that action in court.
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