Members,
Today Gemini Shippers Group joined the other members of the Americans for Free Trade coalition in calling on President Trump To Suspend Tariffs In Response to Coronavirus Outbreak, Providing Relief to Millions of American Farmers, Manufacturers, and Consumers. A press release and a copy of the letter can be found below.
March 18, 2020
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Dear Mr. President:
As you consider emergency measures to mitigate the economic harm from the spread of the
coronavirus, Americans for Free Trade urges you to consider taking swift action on a policy that
would provide tax relief to millions of American farmers, manufacturers, families, and
consumers without having to wait on action from Congress: suspending the additional tariffs
placed on certain imports under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the
Trade Expansion Act. These tariffs are taxes that Americans pay.
According to research by Trade Partnership Worldwide LLC, suspending the Section 301 and
232 tariffs currently imposed on imports from China, and China’s associated retaliation, would
provide a boost to the U.S. economy of over $75 billion, or 0.4 percent of U.S. GDP, returning
discretionary income to families, encouraging capital expenditures by private companies, and
instilling market confidence in decisive action to address the current economic situation.
Moreover, as a set of policies that were implemented using executive authority, suspending these
tariffs can be taken quickly and decisively by your Administration without further authorization
steps from Congress.
Americans for Free Trade represents every part of the U.S. economy including manufacturers,
farmers and agribusinesses, forest products, retailers, technology companies, service suppliers,
natural gas and oil companies, importers, exporters, and other supply chain stakeholders, among
them many small and family-owned businesses from across the nation.
Together, we urge you to provide tariff relief as one of the measures to help those hurting
financially from the economic effects resulting from the current public health crisis.
Sincerely,
Accessories Council
ACT | The App Association
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 Bridal & Prom Industry Association
(ABPIA)
American Chemistry Council
American Coatings Association, Inc. (ACA)
American Down and Feather Council
American Fly Fishing Trade Association
American Home Furnishings Alliance
American Lighting Association
American Pyrotechnics Association
American Rental Association
American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
American Wind Energy Association
Arizona Technology Council
Arkansas Grocers and Retail Merchants
Association
Association For Creative Industries
Association for PRINT Technologies
Association of American Publishers
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
(AEM)
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Auto Care Association
Beer Institute
Business & Institutional Furniture
Manufacturers Association (BIFMA)
California Retailers Association
Chemical Industry Council of Delaware
(CICD)
Coalition of New England Companies for
Trade (CONECT)
Colorado Retail Council
Columbia River Customs Brokers and
Forwarders Assn.
Computer & Communications Industry
Association (CCIA)
Computing Technology Industry Association
(CompTIA)
Consumer Brands Association
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
Greeting Card Association
Halloween Industry Association
Hide Council of America
Hobby Manufacturers 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 Foodservice Distributors Association
International Housewares Association
International Warehouse and Logistics Association
International Wood Products Association
Internet Association
ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association
Juice Products Association (JPA)
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ 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
Michigan Retailers Association
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 Printing Ink
Manufacturers
National Association of Trailer Manufacturers
(NATM)
National Confectioners Association
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Customs Brokers and Freight
Forwarders Association of America
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 Ski & Snowboard Retailers
Association
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
Outdoor Industry Association
Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and
Freight Forarders 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)
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
TechNet
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)
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
Administrator Jovita Carranza, Small Business Administration
Director Larry Kudlow, National Economic Council
