Coalition of nearly 150 organizations representing U.S. manufacturers, farmers, retailers and consumers sends letter to welcome new members of congress and stress impact of tariffs in all 50 states
Letter includes new statistics on how tariffs are impacting imports and exports in each member’s own backyard
WASHINGTON, DC — Americans for Free Trade today sent a letter to Capitol Hill welcoming newly-elected and returning members to the 116th Congress. In the letter, the coalition urged congressional members to consider the costs of the trade war on their home districts and states and to exercise their oversight role in trade policy matters.
“The 116th Congress is beginning during a period of unprecedented economic growth and job creation, yet continued prosperity is not a foregone conclusion. We share the broadly-held concern about the impact to the U.S. economy of the Section 301 tariffs on imports from China, Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and corresponding retaliation against U.S. exports,” the coalition stated.
The letter encourages members of congress to listen to the stories of their constituents being hurt by tariffs and engage with them at events back home. Americans for Free Trade is holding townhall events across the country as part of the Tariffs Hurt the Heartland campaign. The town halls bring local businesses and farmers together to tell their stories of how tariffs are hurting them. The letter also includes a link to www.tariffshurt.com/state-impact-reports, where members can easily view the tremendous impact of tariffs on each of their states.
“We hope you will lend your support to AFT’s efforts across the country and participate in in-district events with affected stakeholders,” the coalition added. “We also strongly encourage Congress to exercise its oversight role on trade policy matters to prevent further harm to U.S. workers, consumers, and families that will result from both the existing and proposed tariffs.”
Americans for Free Trade and the Tariffs Hurt the Heartland campaign have also been releasing monthly data on the impact of tariffs on imports and the damage retaliatory tariffs have had on American exports.
Americans for Free Trade will continue to use its diverse coalition of employers in communities across the country to press for resolution of ongoing trade disputes with China. Americans for Free Trade is also working with Farmers for Free Trade on a grassroots nationwide campaign to illustrate the impacts of tariffs on American businesses, families, farmers and manufacturers.
Full text of the letter can be found below and downloaded here.
Dear [Senator][Representative]:
Congratulations on becoming a Member of the 116th Congress. We appreciate your
dedication to public service and your willingness to make the many sacrifices entailed by Federal
service.
Our companies and associations joined together to form Americans for Free Trade
(www.americansforfreetrade.com), a growing coalition comprised of manufacturers, farmers and
agribusinesses, retailers, technology companies, service providers, natural gas and oil companies,
importers and exporters, and other supply chain stakeholders who are united in their concern about
the negative impacts that indiscriminate tariffs will continue to have on U.S. businesses, workers
and consumers.
The 116th Congress is beginning during a period of unprecedented economic growth and
job creation, yet continued prosperity is not a foregone conclusion. We share the broadly-held
concern about the impact to the U.S. economy of the Section 301 tariffs on imports from China,
Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and corresponding retaliation against U.S.
exports. We agree that China must be held to account for its violations of our trade laws and the
international trade obligations all nations share. However, imposition of a tariff of up to 25 percent
on $250 billion worth of China products – and the threat to impose a similar duty on $267 billion
more of such products – will not remedy the situation. We continue to see stories on a daily basis
about companies, both large and small, who are being harmed by these tariffs. Similarly, the tariffs
on imported steel and aluminum, and the resulting retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports are further
harming U.S. companies of all sizes.
Over decades, Americans have built global supply chains that reflect the U.S. economy’s
strengths and those of its trading partners. These supply chains have made the U.S. economy even
more dependent upon relationships with key economic and strategic allies than ever before.
Supply chains are extremely complex and they cannot be shifted overnight. The disruption caused
by the use of tariffs seeks to harm these key relationships and damage the U.S. economy, which
still remains extremely strong.
AFT has joined with Farmers for Free Trade to support the “Tariffs Hurt the Heartland”
campaign (www.tariffshurt.com) to highlight and show the negative impacts of the tariffs to
businesses large and small, workers and families.
We hope you will lend your support to AFT’s efforts across the country and participate in
in-district events with affected stakeholders. We also strongly encourage Congress to exercise its
oversight role on trade policy matters to prevent further harm to U.S. workers, consumers, and
families that will result from both the existing and proposed tariffs.
We invite you to learn more about the negative impact of tariffs in your state by visiting
www.tariffshurt.com/state-impact-reports. If you have questions about the AFT coalition, please
visit www.americansforfreetrade.com or contact info@americansforfreetrade.com.
Sincerely,