45 trade groups warn Trump: Don’t do something commercially meaningless and penalize Americans

45 trade groups wrote an open letter to Trump trying to stop him from starting a trade war with China. In a joint open letter: –

The group urged Trump’s administration to take “measured, commercially meaningful actions consistent with international obligations” and warned Trump not to “penalize the American consumer and jeopardize recent gains in American competitiveness.” It’s clear to the group of businesses what Trump is trying to do regarding tariff on China is not commercially meaningful.

The group also warned of the “chain reaction of negative consequences” of trade war with China by “provoking” retaliation. And Trump should not respond to unfair Chinese practices and policies by measures that will “harm U.S. companies, workers, farmers, ranchers, consumers, and investors.”

In particular, it’s listed out in the letter that

• Tariffs on consumer goods would raise price for consumers and business and “negating gains for American workers from U.S. tax reform.” T
• Tariffs will also harm American companies that “sell component pieces of final products exported from China.”
• Also, tariffs would harm community services provides including “health care, education, and emergency responders.
• Tariffs on product components would “disrupting existing supply chains” and have “negative impact on American jobs”.
• Tariffs will also depress financial markets.

Additionally, the group warned that “imposition of unilateral tariffs by the Administration would only serve to split the United States from its allies”.

Here is a copy of the letter.

And below is the list of trade groups:

1. Agriculture Transportation Coalition
2. Airforwarders Association
3. Allied for Startups
4. American Apparel & Footwear Association
5. AutoCare Association
6. CAWA Auto Parts
7. Coalition of New England Companies for Trade
8. Columbia River Customs & Forwarders
9. CompTIA
10. Computer and Communications Industry Association
11. Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
12. Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of Northern California
13. Developers Alliance
14. Fashion Accessory Shippers (FASA)
15. Gemini Shippers Association
16. Grocery Manufacturers Association
17. Home Furnishings Association
18. Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
19. International Wood Products Association
20. Internet Association
21. Los Angeles Customs Brokers
22. National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America
23. National Foreign Trade Council
24. National Retail Federation
25. NY/NJ Forwarders and Brokers Association
26. North American Meat Institute
27. Outdoor Industry Association
28. Pacific Northwest Asia Shippers Association
29. Promotional Products Association International
30. Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)
31. Snowsports Industries America
32. Specialty Crop Trade Council
33. Sports and Fitness Industry
34. Tea Association of the U.S.A., Inc.
35. TechNet
36. Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
37. The APP Association (ACT)
38. The Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders
39. The Toy Association
40. Travel Goods Association (TGA)
41. U.S. Chamber of Commerce
42. U.S. Council for International Business
43. U.S. Fashion Industry Association
44. U.S. Hide, Skin, and Leather Association
45. Wine and Spirits Shippers Association