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The Center for Individual Freedom ("CFIF") today joined a coalition of 26 organizations, led by Taxpayers Protection Alliance, on a letter urging President Trump to reconsider the tariffs on aluminum and steel announced on March 1, 2018. “We appreciate your work cutting taxes and promoting America, but tariffs on aluminum and steel will be a tax on the Middle Class with everything from cars to baseball bats to even beer being more expensive,” reads the letter. “Free trade is an integral foundation for any economy seeking growth, innovation, and expanded opportunity. Not only is free trade good for the U.S. economy, it is also good for the American taxpayer,” the letter continues. Read the full letter below or view it here (PDF). March 6, 2018 The Honorable Donald J. Trump Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the undersigned groups representing millions of taxpayers and consumers across the country, we urge you to reconsider the tariffs on aluminum and steel announced on March 1, 2018. We appreciate your work cutting taxes and promoting America, but tariffs on aluminum and steel will be a tax on the Middle Class with everything from cars to baseball bats to even beer being more expensive. Free trade is an integral foundation for any economy seeking growth, innovation, and expanded opportunity. Not only is free trade good for the U.S. economy, it is also good for the American taxpayer. As President, you pledged to put America and American jobs first. But imposing tariffs would be bad for the economy and bad for American workers. U.S. manufacturers that consume steel employ an estimated 40 to 60 times more U.S. workers than do steel producing facilities. This tax hike would put these jobs at risk. In fact, when George W Bush increased tariffs on steel, 200,000 jobs were lost as a direct result. If the U.S. government develops a fortress mentality in a global marketplace, it will spur trading partners to treat U.S. products in the same manner. If foreign governments imitate the U.S. government’s use of tariffs, U.S. exports of manufactured goods could decline. Nothing is more important to long-term U.S. prosperity than being able to sell America’s exceptional products in markets that 95 percent of the world’s population call home. In December, you signed into law the most significant tax reform in more than 30 years. These tax cuts will revolutionize the US economy, create new jobs and increase living standards throughout the country. This new tariff proposal puts all of that at risk. A new tax on steel and aluminum will cost jobs, increase costs to consumers, and force businesses to go overseas. We strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal. Sincerely, David Williams Phil Kerpen Steve Pociask Lisa B. Nelson Robert Alt Norm Singleton Andrew F. Quinlan Jeffrey Mazzella Iain Murray Matthew Kandrach Frederik Roeder David McIntosh Robert Roper Jason Pye George Landrith Mario Lopez John Tillman Carrie L. Lukas Heather R. Higgins Tom Giovanetti Kory Swanson Lindsay Boyd Killen Brent Mead Pete Sepp Paul Gessing Richard M. Esenberg
CC: Mr. Wilbur Ross CC: Mr. Gary Cohn CC: Peter Navarro
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