Mississippi Business Owner Proposes 'Employee Profit Share Tax Credit' to Offset Tariff Burden

A small business owner calls for a new tax credit to help companies that import goods share profits with workers and offset tariff costs.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:41pm

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A close-up painting of a handcrafted ceramic vase or other artisanal item, lit by warm, directional sunlight and surrounded by deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the challenges facing small businesses.A small business owner's proposal aims to help companies that import goods share profits with workers and offset the burden of rising tariffs.Green Bay Today

Susan Williams, the owner of a Mississippi-based company that employs 100 people and supplies over 10,000 retail stores nationwide, is proposing a new 'Employee Profit Share Tax Credit' to help small and medium-sized businesses offset the burden of rising tariffs. Under her plan, companies that import goods would share 10% of their profits with employees, and in return receive 90% of their tariff payments back from the government, with the remaining 10% kept by the government. Williams argues this would be a 'win-win' solution, allowing tariffs to remain a geopolitical tool while also rewarding companies for sharing success with American workers and fueling local economies.

Why it matters

The tariff war has had a disproportionate impact on small and medium-sized businesses like Williams' that rely on imported goods, with her company paying $1 million in tariffs in 2025 alone. This proposal aims to provide relief for these 'unintended casualties' of the trade dispute, while also potentially boosting economic growth by putting more money in the hands of American workers.

The details

Williams' company, which she founded in a garage 40 years ago, sources unique, handcrafted items from villages and towns in eight countries that have no U.S.-made equivalent. The tariffs, which doubled in 2025, have come at the expense of employee profit-sharing checks, representing jobs, salaries, and health coverage for 100 Mississippi families. Under Williams' plan, companies would share 10% of profits with workers, and receive 90% of their tariff payments back from the government, with the remaining 10% kept by the government.

  • In 2024, Williams' company paid substantial tariffs.
  • In 2025, the tariff burden doubled, costing the company $1 million.

The players

Susan Williams

The owner of a Mississippi-based company that employs 100 people and supplies over 10,000 retail stores nationwide.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't a bailout. It's a blueprint for runaway economic growth, one that rewards companies for sharing their success with their American workforce.”

— Susan Williams, Business Owner

What’s next

The proposal would need to be taken up by policymakers in Washington to be considered for implementation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the disproportionate impact of the tariff war on small and medium-sized businesses that rely on imported goods, and presents a potential solution that could benefit both companies and their workers.