SIA Joins with NRF and Others to Voice Concerns over Tariff Proposals

In a letter (linked below) on April 11 to Chairman Kevin Brady and Ranking Member Richard Neal of the House Ways & Means Committee, the Security Industry Association joined a long list of other organizations representing U.S. manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, retailers, technology companies, importers, exporters, and supply chain stakeholders, expressed “deep concern with potential impact of the Administration’s decision to use tariffs to address China’s unfair trade practices and its trade and investment relationship with the United States.”

The group’s position was covered extensively by the Wall Street Journal in April 11, 2018, story titled “More Than 100 Trade Groups Oppose China Tariff Plans” (subscription required to view article).

While the group agreed “that China’s ongoing intellectual property rights violations, forced technology transfers and state interventions harm U.S. companies, workers, consumers and our competitiveness,” the group said it was concerned that the proposed tariff list, and escalating tariff threats made by the Administration, would not effectively advance our shared goal of changing these harmful Chinese practices.

The group wrote: “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.”

The group included the following organizations: Agriculture Transportation Coalition; Airforwarders Association; American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA); American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI); American Chemistry Council; American Import Shippers Association; American Soybean Association; Americans for Farmers and Families; Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM); Auto Care Association; California Association of Winegrape Growers; California Retailers Association; CAWA – representing the automotive parts industry; Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT); Coalition of Service Industries (CSI); Colorado Retail Council; Columbia River Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association; Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA); Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA); Consumer Technology Association (CTA); Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of Northern California; Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders Association of Washington State Distilled Spirits Council; Electronic Transactions Association; Farmers for Free Trade; Fashion Accessories Shippers Association (FASA); Florida Retail Federation; Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association; Foreign Trade Association; Furniture Shippers Association; Gemini Shippers Association; Georgia Retailers; Global Cold Chain Alliance; Halloween Industry Association; Harbor Trucking Association; Hardwood Federation; Home Furnishings Association; Idaho Retailers Association; Indiana Retail Council; Information Technology Industry Council (ITI); International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses; International Refrigerated Transportation Association; International Wood Products Association; Internet Association; Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association; Kentucky Distillers’ Association; Kentucky Retail Federation; Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association; Maryland Retailers Association; Meat Import Council of America; Michigan Retailers Association; Midwest Shippers Association; Minnesota Retailers Association; Missouri Retailers Association; Montana Retail Association; National Association of Chemical Distributors; National Council of Chain Restaurants; National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America National Foreign Trade Council; National Marine Manufacturers Association; National Retail Federation; Nebraska Retail Federation; New Jersey Retail Merchants Association; North American Meat Institute; North Carolina Retail Merchants Association; NY/NJ Forwarders and Brokers Association; Ohio Council of Retail Merchants; Oklahoma Retail Merchants Association; Oregon Dairy Farmers Association; Oregon Wheat Growers League; Outdoor Power Equipment Institute; Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders; Pennsylvania Retailers’ Association; Promotional Products Association International (PPAI); Retail Council of New York State; Retail Industry Leaders Association; Retailers Association of Massachusetts; San Diego Customs Brokers Association; Security Industry Association (SIA); SEMI; SNAC International; Snowsports Industries America; Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates; Software & Information Industry Association; South Dakota Retailers Association; Specialty Equipment Market Association; Sports & Fitness Industry Association; Tea Association of the U.S.A., Inc.; Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA); Texas Retailers Association; The Fertilizer Institute; The Household & Commercial Products Association; The Toy Association; Travel Goods Association (TGA); Truck & Engine Manufacturers Association; U.S. Direct Selling Association; U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association; US Council for International Business; United Egg Producers; United States Fashion Industry Association; Utah Retail Merchants Association; Virginia Retail Federation; Washington Retail Association; Washington Trucking Associations; WineAmerica; Wyoming Retail Association; and the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce.