WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today highlighted how President Trump’s constantly-changing tariff policies have made it harder for businesses in Vermont and across the country to succeed. 

“You know, I’ve had a lot of roundtables. Vermont is very close to Canada, both emotionally and in business. And we also do a fair amount of business with Mexico. But the roundtables I’ve had, our businesses are saying they just can’t deal with the uncertainty. The tariff itself, whichever it is, adds to expense. But when that changes—day to day, or week to week, or month to month— they just can’t plan,” said Senator Welch. “My plea here: these arbitrary tariffs, that an executive is imposing, are really causing havoc in Vermont, and what I understand from everybody here, is that makes it tough for businesses—no matter where you’re from.” 

The Senator has hosted roundtables in Williston, Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, Manchester, and virtually to hear concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian businesses impacted by the trade war. 

Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below: 

Read key excerpts from Senator Welch’s exchange with Former Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means: 

Senator Welch: So, we’re all in agreement that certainty is absolutely essential to commerce. If there are tariffs that are imposed on the basis of a person—the executive deciding to impose the tariff for whatever reason—and then those tariffs are changed without any forewarning, up or down, Mr. Brady does that make it harder to do business? 

Frm. Rep. Brady: Certainty drives investment, short- and long-term. It’s key to our growth and our competitiveness. So, in this review and in the final product, that certainty really matters. 

Senator Welch: It really does. You know, I’ve had a lot of roundtables. Vermont is very close to Canada, both emotionally and in business. And we also do a fair amount of business with Mexico. But the roundtables I’ve had, our businesses are saying they just can’t deal with the uncertainty. The tariff itself, whichever it is, adds to expense. But when that changes—day to day, or week to week, or month to month— they just can’t plan. I mean, are my businesses any different than businesses in Texas or Idaho, or any place that you can imagine, Mr. Brady? 

Frm. Rep. Brady: No, I don’t think so. I think the secret sauce in United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is that have low to zero tariffs, that we are exempted from these other tariff levies—integration has driven growth, no question. 

Senator Welch: We don’t have the tariffs, and we have certainty. My plea here is these arbitrary tariffs that an executive is imposing are really causing havoc in Vermont, and what I understand from everybody here, is that makes it tough for businesses— no matter where you’re from. So, another reason why we saw the House vote against the executive’s passing [of] tariffs, and we had a resolution here in the Senate where that is objected to as well.” 

… 

In November, Senator Welch joined Senate Democrats and small business owners in condemning the negative impact of President Trump’s chaotic tariff policies on small businesses. Senator Welch is the leading sponsor of the CANADA Act, bipartisan legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada from the April 2 global tariff Executive Order. The Senator also voted in favor of bipartisan legislation to restrict the executive branch’s authority to impose tariffs through the IEEPA, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support in October. 

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