ICYMI: Coalition of manufacturers, farmers and businesses urge Congress, White House to back off trade war

(BISMARCK, ND) – Last week, more than 100 trade associations – representing manufacturers, workers, farmers and businesses – warned Congress of the potentially calamitous impact a trade war could have as a result of the president’s tariff policy. The large coalition underscored that while we must level the global playing-field for American businesses, tariffs are often passed onto Americans – effectively as a new tax on consumers.

But instead of speaking out for North Dakota farmers, businesses and manufacturers, Kevin Cramer has been busy being a rubber stamp for the White House – and panicking to pass the buck. He even went so far as to call concern from the tariffs as “hysteria.”

Key points from the letter below:

• We are concerned that the proposed tariff list, and escalating tariff threats made by the Administration, however, will not effectively advance our shared goal of changing these harmful Chinese practices.
• As Committee Members are aware, tariffs are hidden, regressive taxes that will be paid by U.S. businesses and consumers in the form of higher product prices.
• While the Administration has signaled that the proposed tariffs are intended to inflict maximum pain on China and minimal pain on the U.S. consumer, unfortunately that is not the case.
• Even more troubling the proposed list includes machinery, parts, chemicals and components that U.S. manufacturers and their workers need to make American products. This will impact downstream industries who rely on these materials and will ultimately result in higher prices for consumers for essential everyday products. Higher costs for manufacturing will result in less production here in the U.S. If imposed, these tariffs will result in higher prices for American consumers and fewer jobs for American workers.
• China’s threat of retaliation further exacerbates uncertainty as farmers and manufacturers rely on the ability to export their crops and products to China for their livelihood, yet they are targeted for potential retaliation.
• The escalation of trade tensions with China could result in harm to all our member companies, member farms, their workers, and their consumers. The impact of a trade war and tariffs would be felt by businesses, workers, farmers and consumers throughout the U.S. and across industry sectors. This would hurt the economy as a whole, as well as jobs and consumers in every state. Everyone loses in a trade war.