Month: August 2019

Americans for Free Trade, a coalition of business organizations from every sector of the U.S. economy, issued the following statement today after President Trump blamed Americans companies hurt by his trade war. The tweet from the President came one day after Americans for Free Trade sent a letter signed by over 160 of America’s leading business associations calling on him to postpone upcoming tariff increases.

“Tariffs are taxes that cost American jobs and hurt consumers, creating a problem for the entire U.S. economy. The fact that companies find extra taxes as high as 30 percent challenging is not an excuse, it’s an economic reality. Unfortunately, small businesses on Main Street are the ones that are really suffering – many have slowed hiring or laid off employees and some will even be forced to close their doors. At the same time, farmers across the country are losing income every day as this trade war threatens their entire livelihoods.”

(WASHINGTON) – Americans for Free Trade, a coalition of over 160 business organizations from every sector of the U.S. economy, today sent a letter to President Trump calling on him to postpone tariff increases scheduled to take effect starting next week. In the letter, the associations note that the proposed tariff increases come in the middle of the holiday shipping season, threatening to raise costs for consumers in the coming months.

“These tariff rate increases — some starting as early as Sunday — come at the worst possible time, right in the middle of the busy holiday shipping period,” the letter states. “U.S. consumers are driving the growth of the U.S. economy. Let’s ensure consumer confidence remains high and economic prosperity continues for the American families we serve and the American workers we employ every day.”

Americans for Free Trade, which unites business associations opposed to tariffs, represents many of the sectors and products that will be hit hardest by the recent trade war escalation. Beginning September 1, roughly $112 billion in goods will be hit by 15 percent tariffs, including on products ranging from apparel and footwear to televisions and Christmas decorations. The majority of apparel products (92 percent), footwear (52.5 percent) and home textile products (68.4 percent) from “List 4” will be subject to tariffs on the September 1 round, along with televisions and Christmas decorations. Additional 15 percent tariffs targeting $160 billion in imports will take effect December 15.

The full text of the letter sent today: View all signers HERE