Washington: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has formally requested the administration of President Donald Trump to grant tariff exclusions to small business importers for products that are either not produced domestically or are not readily available in the United States, as revealed in a letter sent on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Suzanne Clark, the president of the business lobby, addressed the letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday. She urged the government to take decisive action to protect America's small businesses and prevent a recession. The letter outlined a need for an automatic exclusion process from new tariffs for small business importers and for products that are not produced or are difficult to obtain in the U.S.
Additionally, the chamber proposed creating a mechanism to quickly grant exclusions in cases where tariffs pose significant risks to U.S. employment. Clark emphasized the chamber's support for many of the president's policy objectives, such as eliminating unfair trade practices and boosting American investment. However, she highlighted the urgent need for tariff relief, citing feedback from numerous small businesses facing increased costs and disrupted supply chains.
Clark acknowledged the administration's efforts to negotiate new trade agreements aimed at expanding market access and benefiting American workers. Nevertheless, she stressed that these negotiations take time and many businesses cannot afford to wait for their conclusion.