MANCHESTER, N.H. — As the United States and China announced a de-escalation of a trade war, the New Hampshire congressional delegation on Monday was in the Manchester Millyard to celebrate local small businesses.

The delegation said New Hampshire businesses need certainty.

“It’s good news this morning that the president was talking about lowering the tariffs with China. The bad news is they still exist,” said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire. “They’re still going to be significant, and the uncertainty is also really creating anxiety for small businesses.”

The delegation said small business owners have weathered too many storms in recent years, from the COVID-19 pandemic to inflation and now, higher taxes on trade.

“It’s really important that the White House hears from the business community,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire. “They need to be dialing back on these tariffs in a way that can create some predictability.”

The top regional official for the Small Business Administration was also in Manchester. While acknowledging the big changes in the federal bureaucracy, SBA Regional Administrator Peter Steele projected confidence for the future.

“These first 100 days have been pretty fast and furious,” Steele said. “You’ve probably seen a lot of headlines, a lot of stuff on social media talking about staffing reductions and lease terminations and moving offices, and New Hampshire has not been immune to some of these changes.”

While President Donald Trump has attempted to shut down several federal agencies, Steele said the SBA would still exist.

“I’m here to assure you that the SBA is not going anywhere,” he said. “The SBA is vital to President Trump’s agenda to improve the economy, support small businesses and especially the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative.”

The delegation contends that in order to avoid a downturn, the economic uncertainty needs to end.

“These tectonic shifts, the imposition of tariffs without any warning, the exemptions that are being granted without warning – it just is fueling a business environment that is bad for small businesses,” said U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-New Hampshire.