Gemini Shippers Group ( Fashion Accessories Shippers Association (FASA), Gemini Shippers Association (GSA) and the Fashion Jewelry & Accessories Trade Association (FJATA), as a member of the Americans for Free Trade Coalition joined in sending the following letter to the President today advocating for continues progress in sensible tariff reform.
February 27, 2019
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
On behalf of the Americans for Free Trade coalition, we are writing to commend your
commitment to achieving a fair trade deal with China and for recent progress that has been made
during negotiations. We are encouraged by your decision to avoid a tariff increase on March 2
and allow negotiations to continue ahead of a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
We urge you to publish a Federal Register notice immediately confirming and detailing your
decision in order to provide certainty to the business community, making clear to all stakeholders
that tariffs do not automatically increase on March 2. Further, it is our hope that this momentum
will build in the weeks ahead and lead to a final deal that addresses structural issues in China,
removes tariffs on both sides, and eliminates trade uncertainty facing American businesses and
farmers.
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, importers, exporters, and other supply chain stakeholders. Collectively, we
support tens of millions of American jobs through our vast supply chains. We agree that China
and other trading partners must be held accountable for trade violations. However, broadly
applied tariffs do more harm than good and force American companies to foot the bill for
China’s misbehavior.
According to data released by our coalition, American businesses paid an additional $2.7
billion in tariffs in November 2018 alone, the most recent month data is available from the U.S.
Census Bureau. This represents a $2.7 billion tax increase and a massive year-over-year increase
from $375 million in tariffs on the same products in November 2017. The data also shows that
U.S. export growth hit its lowest level of 2018, thanks in part to a 37 percent decline in exports
of products facing China’s retaliatory tariffs. This data highlights that tariffs as a negotiating
tactic will always be a losing proposition because Americans — not foreign countries — are the
ones paying the price.
Due to these costs, American employers are eager to see trade negotiations conclude as
soon as possible and for all tariffs to be lifted. Although we are encouraged by the latest signs of
progress, it is important to note that existing tariffs and shifting deadlines are hanging over
American businesses and farmers and undermining their ability to grow, invest, and plan for the
future.
Mr. President, we applaud the hard work of your administration to achieve better trade
deals for the American people, and we are encouraged by the progress that has been made. As
negotiations continue, we urge you to continue to listen to the concerns of American businesses
faced with significant uncertainty. We are eager to see a trade deal with China that addresses
structural issues such as intellectual property theft and technology transfer while removing
existing tariffs and the threat of tariffs in the future. Millions of American farmers, businesses,
workers, and families are counting on you to achieve a positive resolution that keeps America
competitive on the global stage while growing our economy and protecting the millions of U.S.
jobs supported by trade.
Sincerely,
Accessories Council
Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC)
ALMA, International (Association of Loudspeaker
Manufacturing and Acoustics)
American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)
American Association of Exporters and Importers
(AAEI)
American Association of Port Authorities
American Bakers Association
American Chemistry Council
American Coatings Association, Inc. (ACA)
American Down and Feather Council
American Home Furnishings Alliance
American Lighting Association
American Petroleum Institute
American Pyrotechnics Association
American Rental Association
American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
Arizona Technology Council
Arkansas Grocers and Retail Merchants
Association
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
Business & Institutional Furniture Manufacturers
Association (BIFMA)
California Retailers Association
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
Fashion Accessories Shippers Association (FASA)
Fashion Jewelry & Accessories Trade Association
Flexible Packaging Association
Florida Ports Council
Florida Retail Federation
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)
Fragrance Creators Association
Game Manufacturers Association
Gemini Shippers Association
Georgia Retailers
Global Chamber®
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Grocery Manufacturers 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 Bottled Water Association (IBWA)
International Foodservice Distributors Association
International Housewares Association
International Warehouse and Logistics Association
International Wood Products Association
Internet Association
Juice Products Association (JPA)
Juvenile Products Manufacturers 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
Minnesota Retailers Association
Missouri Retailers Association
Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
Motorcycle Industry Council
NAPIM (National Association of Printing Ink
Manufacturers)
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 Trailer Manufacturers
(NATM)
National Confectioners Association
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders
Association of America
National Electrical Equipment Manufacturers
Association (NEMA)
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 Sporting Goods Association
Natural Products Association
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association
North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers
and Distributors (NAUMD)
North Carolina Retail Merchants Association
Ohio Council of Retail Merchants
Organization for International Investment
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)
Precious Metals Association of North America (PMANA)
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)
South Dakota Retailers Association
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America
Sports & Fitness Industry Association
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
Texas Retailers Association
Texas Water Infrastructure Network
The Airforwarders Association
The Fertilizer Institute
The Hardwood Federation
The Toy Association
The Vinyl Institute
Travel Goods Association
Truck & Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA)
U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association
United States Council for International Business
United States Fashion Industry Association
US Global Value Chain Coalition
US-China Business Council
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)
CC Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative
Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Department of the Treasury
Secretary Wilbur Ross, Department of Commerce
Secretary Sonny Perdue, Department of Agriculture
