US Businesses Campaign Against Tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 80 of the nation’s leading trade associations representing thousands of businesses and workers today announced the formation of Americans for Free Trade, a multi-industry coalition aimed at opposing tariffs and highlighting the benefits of international trade to the U.S. economy. This new coalition will immediately join Farmers for Free Trade, the coalition backed by the nation’s largest ag commodity groups, in a multi-million dollar national campaign called Tariffs Hurt the Heartland. The campaign will focus on telling the stories of the American businesses, farmers, workers, and families harmed by tariffs through town-hall-style events, grassroots outreach to Congress and the administration, social media, rapid response, and digital advertising.

The campaign includes a geographically searchable map (TariffsHurt.com) that allows users to find stories of job losses, deferred investments, higher prices and other negative consequences for farmers and businesses in communities across the country impacted by tariffs.

To read a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on this new combined effort that includes a list of many of the trade organizations joining Americans for Free Trade, visit here.

“The continuous use of tariffs erodes market access for U.S. manufacturers and threatens millions of good-paying jobs – including the 1.3 million equipment manufacturing jobs our industry supports,” Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Dennis Slater said. “This broad coalition represents a significant cross-section of our nation’s economy and speaks volumes to the sort of negative impact these misguided tariffs are making. By joining together we hope to send a message to Washington that we need trade not taxes.”

The campaign will highlight the heartland’s opposition to current and new tariffs through:

• Events in congressional districts across the country that bring together farmers, business owners and factory workers to discuss how tariffs are directly hurting them;
• Paid TV, radio and online advertisements highlighting how tariffs are affecting families, farmers, factory workers and businesses of all sizes;
• A rapid response “war room” that will fact check and respond to tariff announcements;
• Op-eds, blogs, and statements from Americans bearing the brunt of tariffs;
• A digital media campaign explaining the economic harm of tariffs to a wide online audience; and
• Direct outreach to key members of Congress on behalf of grassroots voices from across the nation.

The campaign will kick-off with events in Chicago, Nashville, Pennsylvania and Ohio during the month of September. Additional events will take place in September and October in key communities throughout the heartland.

Tariffs Hurt the Heartland is the largest bipartisan campaign solely focused on amplifying the diverse and powerful voices of the families, farmers, factory workers, manufacturers, retailers, energy and technology companies, importers, exporters, and other supply-chain stakeholders hurt by tariffs.