The Motor and Equipment Manufacturing Association (MEMA) recently joined more than 55 trade associations in protesting the Trump Administration’s new trade policies.
MEMA sent a letter to Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), leaders of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Richard Neal (D-MA), leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee.
“We see the growing willingness of the current administration to use tariffs (and the related use of absolute import quotas) as a major policy tool in an increasing number of trade disputes with our allies as a trend that needs to be addressed by Congress,” MEMA said. “There are valid reasons for Congress to have delegated significant authority to the president in order to address unfair trade practices and liberalize world trade. However, this extensive unilateral use of tariffs by the executive branch is upsetting the historic balance between congressional and executive powers, which has worked effectively for many decades to strengthen our economy and grow export opportunities for American manufacturers, service providers, ranchers and farmers, and needs to be reassessed.”
U.S. companies that manufacture parts, such as motor vehicle parts, might be forced to pay double tariffs on some materials due to the new trade policies, which MEMA said will almost certainly put U.S. investments and jobs at risk.
“The longstanding balance between Congress and the Executive Branch in managing U.S. trade policy is crucial to our economic well-being,” MEMA said. “When this balance is upset, as has happened only occasionally throughout our long and successful history as a trading nation, our broader national economic interests inevitably suffer.”