AAFA, NRF concerned over continued tax-tariff burden on Americans

“At a time when industry is struggling with an unprecedented supply chain crisis due to our crumbling infrastructure, economic fallout from a damaging pandemic, and unprecedented freight costs, it is distressing that the administration has chosen to continue to subject US companies to these damaging taxes. Although restarting an exclusion process is an important step forward, the far better course would have been to discontinue use of these tariffs entirely, AAFA president and chief executive officer Steve Lamar said in a statement.

"The tariffs currently being imposed on clothing, footwear, and travel goods were part of a failed trade war strategy. As we have learned during the past couple years, trade wars are not ‘good and easy to win’ and, in fact, such tariffs are hurtful to American consumers, American workers, and American business," he added.

“The continuation of these harmful tariffs worsens the challenges thousands of retailers must navigate, especially at a time when many are only beginning to emerge from the serious economic damage they have suffered as a result of the global pandemic. Because these tariffs touch products in nearly every sector of the US economy, they also ultimately force consumers to pay higher prices,” said NRF senior vice president of government relations David French.

“It is critical the administration initiate immediate discussions with China so we can level the international playing field and bring an end to the global supply chain disruption,” French added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)