I'm a small-business owner who paid thousands in tariff fees. I've given up on the idea of getting any of it refunded.
A small-business owner expresses frustration over the inability to recoup thousands of dollars in tariff fees paid on imported goods. He explains that current refund processes favor large importers, leaving small retailers without a clear path to reimbursement.
Why it matters
It highlights the disproportionate financial burden of trade policies on small businesses compared to large corporations.
Marc Bowker said he's paid thousands of dollars in tariff fees but does not expect to receive any refunds. Marc Bowker A small-business owner says he doesn't expect to get refunds for the tariff fees he's paid. Marc Bowker, owner of a comic book shop and online business, said he's paid thousands in tariff fees. Importers can apply for tariff refunds, but they won't necessarily be passed on to retailers. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Marc Bowker, owner of Alter Ego Comics, a comic book shop in Lima, Ohio, and an accompanying e-commerce business. After the Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump's tariffs in February, refunds are being issued to some importers. This story has been edited for length and clarity. I keep a spreadsheet of what we've paid in tariff fees, and it's around $16,000 since April 2025.
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