33 U.S. trade associations representing a wide range of sectors released a letter calling for termination of Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs that have been in place since 2018.
The associations’ letter builds on a separate letter from 300-plus U.S. manufacturing companies who last month requested that the Biden administration put an end to these tariffs, which are damaging a wide range of U.S. businesses.
Since their inception, the 232 steel tariffs have caused a steadily increasing array of supply disruptions and price fluctuations for some of the most critical inputs used by U.S. manufacturers, effectively handing a competitive advantage to overseas producers of steel-based products able to source their inputs at standard global market prices.
"Dear President Biden:
"On behalf of the undersigned associations representing multiple sectors, hundreds of thousands of businesses and millions of American workers across the country, we are writing to urge you to terminate the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs and quotas on our national security and trade allies.
"These tariffs and quotas continue to hurt small, family-owned businesses and the communities in which they built their companies, while fracturing relations with overseas trading partners and spurring a frenzy of retaliatory trade measures against both related and unrelated industries.
"The tariffs intended to help the steel and aluminum producing industries imposed substantial costs on a much broader segment of the U.S. economy. The restriction on the supply of goods and raw materials resulting from the tariffs has sent a ripple throughout downstream industries, disrupting supply chains and threatening the economic security of American workers.
"Our members rely on the movement of their goods and inputs without constant government intervention that causes delivery delays and arbitrary price spikes.
"We encourage you to work with our national security and trade allies during your meetings in Europe in the coming weeks to lift the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs.
"We are encouraged by your Administration’s recent announcement that it will commence negotiations with the European Union to address global steel and aluminum excess capacity and an end to the Section 232 tariffs. We strongly encourage you to expedite these discussions in order to reach agreement as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the U.S. economy and harm to the vital relationships between America and our national security and trade allies.
"Our businesses sustain communities and create jobs across the country that far outweigh any intended benefit of the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs on those two industries. To grow U.S. jobs, we urge you to lift the steel and aluminum tariffs, negotiate the removal of retaliatory tariffs on American exports, and support innovative policies to make our businesses more globally competitive.
"Sincerely,
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)
"American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)
"American Petroleum Institute (API)
"Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
"Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)
"Associated General Contractors of America (AGC
Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
"Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
"Auto Care Association
"Beer Institute
"Border Trade Alliance (BTA)
"Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users (CAMMU)
"Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA)
"Flexible Packaging Association (FPA)
"Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA)
"Hands-On Science Partnership (HOSP)
"Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI)
"Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA)
"National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC)
"National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC)
"National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
"National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA)
"North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)
"Pet Food Institute (PFI)
"Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA)
"Precision Metalforming Association (PMA)
"Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)
"Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
"Truck & Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA)
"U.S. Apple Association
"U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)." ■