U.S. Companies, Associations Sign Letter Urging Stop to Tariff Escalation

A letter signed by 661 American companies and associations has been sent to the administration urging it to avoid additional tariffs and reach a resolution with China.

Tariffs Hurt the Heartland

Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, the national campaign against tariffs supported by more than 150 trade associations representing retail, tech, manufacturing and agriculture, has sent a letter signed by 661 American companies and associations urging the administration to avoid additional tariffs and reach a resolution with China. The letter comes as the Office of the United States Trade Representative is set to begin hearings considering 25% tariffs on $300 billion in goods, 60% of which are consumer products. A total of 520 companies signed the letter, including some of the nation’s most recognizable brands, and 141 trade associations at the national and state level.   

“We remain concerned about the escalation of tit-for-tat tariffs," the letter states. “We know firsthand that the additional tariffs will have a significant, negative and long-term impact on American businesses, farmers, families and the U.S. economy. Broadly applied tariffs are not an effective tool to change China’s unfair trade practices. Tariffs are taxes paid directly by U.S. companies - not China.”

"We urge your administration to get back to the negotiating table while working with our allies to develop global, enforceable solutions. An escalated trade war is not in the country’s best interest, and both sides will lose,” the companies and associations added.

Tariffs Hurt the Heartland recently released estimates prepared by Trade Partnership Worldwide that showed that imposing new tariffs on an additional $300 billion in goods (combined with the impacted of previously implemented tariffs and retaliation) would result in the loss of more than 2 million U.S. jobs, add more than $2,000 in costs for the average American family of four and reduce the value of U.S. GDP by 1.0%.

Read a copy of the letter and see the list of signers.  

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