Small Businesses Against Tariffs’ five-state ad campaign highlighting who pays the true costs of tariffs—small businesses and consumers—was covered by Kristal Dixon in Axios Atlanta:
A new month-long ad campaign is hitting Atlanta and other cities Monday to try to bring attention to small businesses who have been affected by tariffs.
Why it matters: According to surveys by the Council on Foreign Relations, two-in-five Americans mistakenly believe a tariff is paid by a foreign country. Research from the New York Fed and Columbia University shows nearly 90% of the tariffs President Trump enacted in 2025 were paid by U.S. firms and consumers.
The nonpartisan business group behind the campaign, Small Businesses Against Tariffs, says it’s trying to clarify the record and spending six figures to do so.
Zoom in: The campaign is targeting Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and Newark because they are located in states hit hardest by tariffs.
Georgia paid $7.1 billion in tariffs, according to economic research firm Trade Partnership Worldwide, based on trade from February to December 2025.
The cities can expect to see posters and decals plastered around town through April.