This month marks 90 years since the US signed into law the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (SHTA). It was formally called “An Act to provide revenue, to regulate commerce with foreign countries, to encourage the industries of the United States, to protect American labor, and for other purposes”. Read the article.

The Chamber of Commerce and the other trade groups associated with it gussied up their plea to stop the “Buy America” mandates as being in the American interest. It’s all for the American good, they argued. But the fact is that the Chamber of Commerce does not represent America. It’s the front group for the … Read More

With all we are facing today, with all the fear and outright transformation of our entire society, it might seem odd that a group of medical organizations would sign a letter opposing American independence in the production of medicines and medical equipment. You would think that in the crisis these groups would want to see … Read More

A Nielsen Company study found “shoppers are exhibiting signs that they may steer away from products that traveled long distances with multiple human touchpoints…” and that “consumers have generally displayed strong preferences for local dairy and fresh produce brands and products versus those coming from further afield.” The U.S. has some of the healthiest and … Read More

Bill Bullard, R-CALF USA CEO says meatpackers and importers from as many as 20 foreign counties are feeding the American market with cheaper beef and passing it off to unsuspecting consumers as a domestic product with “Made in the USA” labels. Congress bowed in 2015 to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which ruled COOL as … Read More

The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) is congratulating one of its members, Wellborn Cabinet, for winning one of the largest trade cases in U.S. history. The Alabama-based maker of wooden kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities led a coalition of manufacturers charging that Chinese firms have illegally subsidized and dumped product in the U.S. market. … Read More

There was plenty of trade during the Colonial period. But none of it was free. England, like all colonial powers at the time, maintained exclusive control over valuable goods like sugar, cotton and tobacco that the Colonies produced. On July 4, 1789, the United States passed its first significant piece of legislation: a tariff. More … Read More

The U.S. will expand its tariffs to cover products made of steel and aluminum — like nails, tacks, staples, cables, certain types of wire, and bumpers and other parts for cars and tractors — as of Feb. 8. For American companies making such products, it came as a relief. Southwire, a company in Carrollton, Ga., … Read More

The Trump administration expanded its trademark steel and aluminum tariffs to cover certain imported nails, staples, electrical wires and some downstream parts that go into automobiles and tractors, among other products. While imports of aluminum and steel have declined since the Trump administration imposed levies, some derivative products “have significantly increased since the imposition of … Read More