U.S. Trade Policy Should Foster Fair, Strong Competition

By [ Blake Harden ]
Washington, DC
03/22/2023

Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Vice President of International Trade Blake Harden issued the following statement as the U.S. Senate Finance and House Ways & Means Committees hold hearings this week on President Biden’s 2023 trade policy agenda:

“Retailers are the nation’s largest importers and trade plays an extremely important role in fostering U.S. economic competitiveness. When policies are fair and give retailers the ability to compete on the global stage, customers, communities, and workers here in the U.S. all benefit. Unfortunately, over the past six years, harmful trade policies have cost American businesses and consumers more than $173 billion dollars.

“As Congress scrutinizes President Biden’s trade policies, we encourage members of Congress to focus on the need to reduce trade barriers and promote open markets, developed new sourcing opportunities, remove harmful section 301 tariffs, and work with key trading partners to address our shared concerns with unfair trade practices. We urge lawmakers to seek commitments from Ambassador Tai to pursue policies that would further these goals.

“In addition, renewing the Generalized System of Preferences and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill quickly and for a longer period of time is another key component of any trade agenda centered around U.S. competitiveness. American businesses and our trading partners both benefit from these programs, and we encourage Congress to enact these important pieces of bipartisan legislation.

“The administration and Congress have an to opportunity pursue trade policies that position American businesses for long-term success at home and give them a competitive edge abroad. It’s imperative that we set 21st century trade rules with that goal in mind.”

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RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $2.7 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and hundreds of thousands of stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.