INDUSTRY MOSTLY OPPOSED: A broad cross-section of industry groups said they would be hurt by the tariffs and urged the Trump administration to quickly strike a deal with the three countries — or at least with Canada and Mexico — so they could be removed. “President Trump is correct to focus on major problems like our broken border and the poisonous drugs flowing into our country,” Kip Eideberg, senior vice president at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, said in a typical statement. “But levying tariffs on goods that U.S. equipment manufacturers depend on not only jeopardizes the President’s agenda … but drives up costs for U.S. equipment manufacturers, disrupts our supply chains, and exposes our customers to retaliatory tariffs.” Sobering message: A coalition representing alcoholic beverage companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico had a similar warning. “We are deeply concerned that U.S. tariffs on imported spirits from Canada and Mexico will significantly harm all three countries and lead to a cycle of retaliatory tariffs that negatively impacts our shared industry,” the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the Chamber of the Tequila Industry, and Spirits Canada said in a joint statement. Farmers speak up: The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to Trump, warning of the potential negative fallout from his action. “Any effort to impose additional tariffs on these nations’ imports runs the risk of significant retaliatory measures against U.S. agricultural exports,” the group wrote. “We ask that you carefully consider the impact on American farmers and ranchers, associated businesses and rural communities when determining potential trade actions.” That message was echoed by the Farmers for Free Trade agricultural coalition, which noted farmers are “already struggling” to remain profitable because of record-high input costs, declining crop prices, and global supply. “Adding tariffs to the mix will only exacerbate the situation across much of rural America,” the group said. Retailers alarmed: “We urge the Trump administration and the Canadian, Mexican and Chinese governments to come to the negotiating table and resolve our outstanding border security issues as quickly as possible,” David French, executive vice president of government relations for the National Retail Federation, said in a statement. “As long as these universal tariffs are in place, Americans will be forced to pay higher prices on everyday consumer goods,” French added. Steve Lamar, president of American Apparel & Footwear Association, which represents clothing importers, warned the tariffs “will inject massive costs into our inflation-weary economy while exposing us to a damaging tit-for-tat tariff war that will harm key export markets that U.S. farmers and manufacturers need.” PUSH FOR DEAL-MAKING: Dave McCall, president of the United Steelworkers union, also issued a statement calling on “Trump to reverse course on Canadian tariffs,” but notably did not make a similar plea for the new tariffs on China and Mexico. “Approximately $1.3 trillion worth of goods cross the Canada-U.S. border annually, supporting 1.4 million American jobs and 2.3 million Canadian jobs,” McCall said. “These tariffs don’t just hurt Canada. They threaten the stability of industries on both sides of the border.” Autoworkers call for USMCA renegotiation: Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, said the union generally supported aggressive tariff action as “a good first step to undoing decades of anti-worker trade policy.” But “we do not support using factory workers as pawns in a fight over immigration or drug policy,” Fain added. “If Trump is serious about bringing back good blue collar jobs destroyed by NAFTA, the USMCA, and the WTO, he should go a step further and immediately seek to renegotiate our broken trade deals.” Generic drug makers warn of shortages: “From the base ingredients to the finished products, U.S. medicines rely on a global supply chain that is already stressed and in need of strengthening.” said John Murphy III, president and CEO of the Association for Accessible Medicines. “Tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico, and China could increase already problematic drug shortages.” Energy companies concerned: Chet Thompson, president and CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, also called for a quick deal with Canada and Mexico “so that crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals are removed from the tariff schedule before consumers feel the impact.” Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, said they would push the Trump administration to provide “full exclusions” from the tariffs for energy products to ensure they remain affordable and support American jobs.
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