The American Casualties of Trump’s Tariffs
The Dispatch • • business
Key Points:
- Beth Benike, a Minnesota entrepreneur and former U.S. Army member, created the Busy Baby Mat to help keep babies occupied during meals, launching her business in 2017 and gaining national exposure after appearing on Shark Tank in 2021.
- Benike's business suffered significant financial losses due to President Trump's 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs on imports from China, facing an additional $230,000 tariff on a $160,000 shipment, leading to staff reductions and half a million dollars in lost revenue.
- The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when imposing these tariffs, with potential refunds for affected businesses like Benike's,
