WASHINGTON, D.C., (December 7, 2020) — Today, Americans for Free Trade and Farmers for Free Trade sent a joint letter to President-elect Biden and his transition team that encourages the review and removal of current trade policies that are negatively impacting the American economy, particularly as it works to sustain a recovery from COVID-19.
Over 150 trade associations and companies signed the letter, highlighting for President-elect Biden how tariffs have cost American businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and consumers over $68 billion.
“We all agree that our trading partners must live up to their commitments. However, the current Section 301 China tariffs and Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs have been a blunt instrument, imposing undue costs on U.S. employers and families,” wrote Americans for Free Trade and Farmers for Free Trade. “Tariffs have increased costs for U.S. manufacturers, who rely on imported inputs and components for production at home, and for importers, whose businesses rely on finished consumer goods. U.S. farmers and agribusiness have been the subject of retaliatory actions and have thus seen sales and exports evaporate. And U.S. consumers and working families have borne increased costs for household items they rely on every day.
The full text of the letter may be found here and below.
December 7, 2020
President-Elect Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 2023
Dear President Elect Biden,
On behalf of Americans for Free Trade and Farmers for Free Trade, we congratulate you on your election as the next President of the United States. As you have discussed, the first 100 days of your presidency will focus on battling COVID-19 and ensuring continued economic recovery from the ongoing pandemic. U.S. businesses stand ready to work with you on achieving these critical goals.
Our coalition represents every part of the U.S. economy including manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, retailers, technology companies, service suppliers, natural gas and oil companies, powersports manufacturers, importers, exporters, and other supply chain stakeholders. Collectively, we support tens of millions of American jobs through our vast supply chains.
As you and your team develop your plan, we strongly encourage the early review of how current U.S. trade policy and actions are adversely impacting our economy, particularly as it works to sustain a recovery from COVID-19. As a result of the current trade war against China and our other trading partners, U.S. businesses and consumers have paid over $68 billion in tariffs, which are taxes. Other countries do not pay these tariffs.
We all agree that our trading partners must live up to their commitments. However, the current Section 301 China tariffs and Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs have been a blunt instrument, imposing undue costs on U.S. employers and families. Similarly, the US-EU large civil aircraft dispute at the WTO is ripe for a negotiated settlement that eliminates tariffs on both sides. Tariffs have increased costs for U.S. manufacturers, who rely on imported inputs and components for production at home, and for importers, whose businesses rely on finished consumer goods. U.S. farmers and agribusiness have been the subject of retaliatory actions and have thus seen sales and exports evaporate. And U.S. consumers and working families have borne increased costs for household items they rely on every day.
As the United States grapples with a raging pandemic, it should not have to bear these increased costs and economic harm any further. The tariffs continue to hamper pandemic response and recovery efforts and limit the ability of U.S. companies to invest in their businesses and people.
The future of our trade policy must not be a go it alone approach. We must work with our allies to address the systemic issues with China, which was the stated reason why the trade war was launched. Our allies will only support our efforts to address China’s unfair trading practices if we resolve ongoing disputes and remove those tariffs. In the medium-term, developing new ways to ensure a level playing in our trade and economic relationship with China is critical. But, the China challenge will not be resolved in a short period of time and in the meantime U.S. businesses are bearing a multi-billion dollar burden paying over $68 billion to date in tariffs as a result of the trade war. Finding a way to remove the tariffs while creating an effective new, multilaterally-supported approach to China trade issues would provide an immediate economic boost to U.S. companies, especially small and medium sized companies
We look forward to working with you and your transition team as you develop your first 100 days strategy and a future trade strategy.
Sincerely,
Accessories Council
ACT | The App Association
Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC)
ALTI – Audio and Loudspeaker Technologies International
American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)
American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI)
American Association of Port Authorities
American Bakers Association
American Bridal & Prom Industry Association (ABPIA)
American Chemistry Council
American Down and Feather Council
American Fly Fishing Trade Association
American Home Furnishings Alliance
American Lighting Association
American Petroleum Institute
American Pyrotechnics Association
American Rental Association
American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
American Wind Energy Association
Arizona Technology Council
Arkansas Grocers and Retail Merchants Association
Association of American Publishers
Association For Creative Industries
Association for PRINT Technologies
Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Auto Care Association
Beer Institute
BSA | The Software Alliance
California Retailers Association
Can Manufacturers Institute
Carolina Loggers Association
Chemical Industry Council of Delaware (CICD)
Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT)
Coalition of Services Industries (CSI)
Colorado Retail Council
Columbia River Customs Brokers and Forwarders Assn.
Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
Consumer Technology Association
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
CropLife America
Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Assn. of Washington State
Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders of Northern California
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Electronic Transactions Association
Flexible Packaging Association
Florida Ports Council
Florida Retail Federation
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)
Fragrance Creators Association
Game Manufacturers Association
Georgia Retailers
Global Chamber®
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Greeting Card Association
Halloween Industry Association
Home Fashion Products Association
Home Furnishings Association
Household and Commercial Products Association
Idaho Retailers Association
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Independent Office Products & Furniture
Dealers Association (IOPFDA)
Indiana Retail Council
Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)
International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)
International Foodservice Distributors Association
International Housewares Association
International Warehouse and Logistics Association
International Wood Products Association
Internet Association
ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association
Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee
Juice Products Association (JPA)
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
Leather and Hide Council of America
Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association
Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Assn.
Louisiana Retailers Association
Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association
Maine Lobster Dealers’ Association
Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay
Maryland Retailers Association
Methanol Institute
Michigan Chemistry Council
Michigan Retailers Association
Minnesota Retailers Association
Missouri Retailers Association
Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
Motorcycle Industry Council
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)
National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD)
National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ)
National Association of Home Builders
National Association of Music Merchants
National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers
National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM)
National Confectioners Association
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Fisheries Institute
National Foreign Trade Council
National Grocers Association
National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Restaurant Association
National Retail Federation
National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association
National Sporting Goods Association
Natural Products Association
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association
North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD)
North American Meat Institute
North Carolina Retail Merchants Association
Ohio Council of Retail Merchants
Outdoor Industry Association
Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and
Freight Forwarders Assns. Inc.
Pennsylvania Retailers’ Association
PeopleforBikes
Personal Care Products Council
Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
Petroleum Equipment & Services Association
Plumbing Manufacturers International
Power Tool Institute (PTI)
Promotional Products Association International
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
Retail Association of Maine
Retail Council of New York State
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Retailers Association of Massachusetts
RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)
RV Industry Association
San Diego Customs Brokers and Forwarders Assn.
SEMI
Snowsports Industries America
Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates
Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America
Sports & Fitness Industry Association
TechNet
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
Texas Retailers Association
Texas Water Infrastructure Network
The Airforwarders Association
The Fertilizer Institute
The Hardwood Federation
The Toy Association
Travel Goods Association
Truck & Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA)
United States Council for International Business
United States Fashion Industry Association
US Global Value Chain Coalition
Virginia Retail Merchants Association
Virginia-DC District Export Council (VA-DC DEC)
Washington Retail Association
Window and Door Manufacturers Association
World Pet Association, Inc. (WPA)