A coalition of 42 industry groups and businesses signed a letter urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to work to suspend, reduce, or eliminate all remaining Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs in return for commitments from other countries to suspend commensurate retaliatory tariffs. A copy of the letter is included below for reference.

Please contact Brian Kuehl, Executive Director, Farmers for Free Trade if you have any questions.


Food & Agriculture Industry Letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai Requesting Tariff Relief

May x, 2022

The Honorable Katherine Tai
United States Trade Representative
Executive Office of the President
600 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20508

Dear Ambassador Tai:

On behalf of America’s farmers, ranchers, and food producers, we write to express our strong support for engagement with our key agriculture-export markets. It is long past time to suspend, reduce, or eliminate the tariffs which currently hinder our food and agriculture exports. We are encouraged by President Biden’s recent comments that he will consider 301 tariff reduction in the context of his efforts to curb inflation. We urge you to work to suspend, reduce, or eliminate all remaining Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs in return for commitments from other countries to suspend commensurate retaliatory tariffs that have adversely affected our industry and America’s farm families.

As you know, U.S. agriculture has been caught in the crossfire of the trade wars beginning in 2018. Since that time, American food and agriculture has witnessed the loss of critical export markets as our competitors have replaced American producers in markets that took us decades to build. Retaliatory tariffs and non-tariff barriers impede U.S. food and agricultural exports to many countries. These countries include but are not limited to, major global markets such as China, India, Japan, Indonesia, and Turkey. Tariffs constrain American productivity and compound the disadvantage many of our exports face as our competitors negotiate new trade agreements with key markets around the world.

Tariff relief could not come at a more important time. Rural America and small businesses are facing significant challenges due to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, logistical and supply chain disruptions, record levels of inflation, and the increasing impacts of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Our businesses are faced with surging fuel prices, skyrocketing fertilizer and other input costs, and continued uncertainty in the global market. With so many challenges threatening our livelihood, removal of tariffs on food and agriculture inputs and removal of burdensome retaliatory tariffs would provide immediate relief to America’s food producers.

U.S. food and agriculture appreciates your efforts and the work of Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Raimondo, to negotiate the lifting of the Section 232 and retaliatory tariffs with Europe, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Those endeavors have provided real assistance to portions of the U.S. food and agriculture economy. Nonetheless, there is much work left to do to fully restore America’s agricultural competitiveness and reestablish our access to critical export markets.  

By rolling back 301 and 232 tariffs and eliminating retaliatory tariffs, you can increase market access for U.S. food and agriculture exports and reduce costs for critical machinery, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals and other food and agriculture inputs. These efforts would have an immediate effect and would ease the uncertainty felt by all rural America.

We appreciate your consideration of these important issues. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Almond Alliance

American Association of Port Authorities

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Feed Industry Association

American Fruit & Vegetable Processors & Growers Coalition

American Seed Trade Association

American Soybean Association

Animal Health Institute

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Corn Refiners Association

CropLife America

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative

Farmers for Free Trade

FMI – the Food Industry Association

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas

Global Cold Chain Alliance

International Fresh Produce Association

KCoe Isom, LLP

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

National Association of Wheat Growers

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Grain and Feed Association

National Milk Producers Federation

National Oilseed Processors Association

National Pork Producers Council

National Restaurant Association

North American Meat Institute

Northwest Horticultural Council

Novozymes

Pet Food Institute

The Port of Virginia

Sweetener Users Association

Syngenta

U.S. Apple Association

U.S. Dairy Export Council

U.S. Grains Council

USA Poultry & Egg Export Council

USA Rice

William Westman & Associates LLC

cc: Secretary Raimondo; Secretary Vilsack