Tariffs Aren’t Paying Off. This Election Season, We Need Policies That Center People [Op-Ed]

Since President Trump first announced his tariff plans, we’ve been clear that they won’t help consumers. They transfer increased costs to U.S. businesses and consumers — disproportionately impacting women of color and hurting working people everywhere. Their global impacts are questionable at best and, at worst, damaging to our country and others.

The government has claimed it’s trying to repair the damage by offering tariff refunds to affected companies. Yet these refunds still leave consumers behind, and new tariffs still drive up prices. With the general election approaching, working people are paying close attention to tariff policies — and we’re not seeing it pay off. 

It’s time to try a different strategy.

As the administration faces the consequences of its tariff policy (despite creating more tariff problems for itself every day), retail companies reported receiving over $5 billion in refunds. 

Most of this money isn’t going to mom-and-pop shops; it’s going to some of the largest corporations in the country. Amazon, Target, Walmart (which alone reported almost $3 million in refunds), and even larger corporations are the ones benefiting.

Some companies are making efforts to pass this on to their customers. Many are not.

With the refunds going solely to the importers or businesses, it is up to those corporations whether we see any of the refunds. Working people are, by and large, not going to feel the impact of this money. But they feel the costs.

Despite the president’s claims to the contrary, working people in the U.S. are shouldering the cost of tariffs.

An estimated 96% of tariff costs are passed on to U.S. consumers; throughout 2025 and 2026, as retailers raise prices to adjust for the cost, working families have ultimately shouldered the bulk of these changes. Tariffs in 2025 were estimated to cause a $1,000 rise in taxes for the average U.S. family, and in 2026, an $840 increase.

With companies getting their money back after the Supreme Court ruled such tariffs illegal, the money isn’t trickling down; it’s flowing back up. Marginalized communities and working-class families bore the brunt of the policies and have not felt any recovery attempts. It is as if we are paying twice for what we should never have had to pay.

Costs are still rising across the board, with tariffs as a significant contributing factor. Our grocery bills keep rising, and gas prices are hitting highs not seen in years. Some families are even turning to loans to cover their utility bills. The cost of living is already unaffordable for so many working people, and tariffs are only making it worse.

It is a tale we know all too well — the administration continues to line the pockets of the biggest corporations while working people suffer.

As leaders of 9to5, an organization committed to economic justice, we know that tariffs are not the solution. They reflect the administration’s misplaced priorities —putting resources and attention toward lining the pockets of the wealthiest people while pushing away everyday people. 

No matter how much a leader proclaims a policy will benefit American workers, it cannot be true so long as prices are rising and workers can’t afford essentials. Instead, we need to focus on policies that will bring real, all-encompassing change.

It’s time to move away from tariffs and focus on policies that will truly support our values this election season.

To support working people in this country, elected officials can advance legislation that will have a felt impact in the workplace and at home.

Congress can turn its attention to paid family, medical, and sick leave policies, which are too often not available to workers.

Lawmakers can prioritize protecting the rights of pregnant workers and jobs supporting families.

Our leaders can raise their voice in support of pay equity and equal pay, which is still noticeably lacking for Black women and many other marginalized groups.

They could advocate for awareness and prevention of workplace harassment, which remains underaddressed and often goes unnoticed.

These policies would make a world of difference for workers across the U.S. They would allow them not just to survive, but to thrive at work and at home.

Tariffs are only creating further harm, and we need a shift towards a sustainable, people-centered strategy. If leaders want to protect American workers, it’s time for them to listen to working families.

 Ashley Panelli and Mica Whitfield are co-presidents and CEOs of 9to5. 9to5 is a grassroots organization fighting for economic justice for those most harmed by centuries of racism and sexism: women and nonbinary people of color.

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