U.S. Chamber of Commerce Asks White House to Lift Tariffs to Help Small Businesses

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has written a formal letter to the White House, asking for immediate action to reduce or remove tariffs on small business imports. The letter was addressed to top government officials including the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the U.S. Trade Representative.

Small Businesses Are Struggling

The Chamber warned that high tariffs are hurting small businesses across America. Many of these businesses do not have enough money or resources to deal with the increased costs caused by tariffs. They also cannot easily change their supply chains to buy from other countries or producers.

> “Even if trade agreements are reached in weeks or months, many small businesses will suffer damage they cannot recover from,” the letter says.

What the Chamber Is Asking For

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants the administration to quickly use its tariff powers to help small businesses. It proposed three key solutions:

1. Automatic Exclusions for Small Importers
Small businesses should not be forced to pay new tariffs. Most of them don’t have enough profit or savings to handle the higher costs.

2. Tariff Relief for Products Not Made in the U.S.
Items like coffee, bananas, cocoa, and certain minerals are not made in America. Putting tariffs on them just raises prices for businesses and consumers.

3. A Fast and Clear Exclusion Process Businesses should be able to request tariff exemptions quickly if they can show that the tariffs would lead to job losses or economic harm.

> “More than 40 million American jobs depend on trade. Protecting these jobs is important for economic growth,” the Chamber added.

Working with the Government

The Chamber supports President Trump’s goals to grow the economy and create jobs. It also wants to work with the government on tax cuts, deregulation, and energy expansion.

White House Responds, But No Clear Commitment Yet

In response to the Chamber’s concerns, White House Adviser Miller stated that relief for small businesses will come in the form of tax cuts. However, he did not commit specifically to offering tariff relief or a clear timeline for support, leaving many small business owners uncertain about immediate help.

Conclusion

The Chamber ended its letter by urging the administration to act quickly. It said it would be happy to discuss the proposal in more detail.

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