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WASHINGTON—The Retail Industry Leaders Association urged the U.S. Trade Representative to exercise caution when imposing reciprocal tariffs. RILA warns that new duties could strain household budgets and harm U.S. businesses. In comments to the USTR reviewing unfair trade practices, RILA stressed the need for tailored trade policies that avoid increasing inflation or harming American consumers.
RILA, representing over 200 major retailers and suppliers with annual sales of $2.7 trillion, warns that stacked tariffs might unintentionally raise the costs of everyday household goods.
Thorvardur de Shong
“The American people are counting on President Trump to tame inflation and get the U.S. economy moving,” wrote Blake Harden, RILA’s vice president of international trade. “With this mandate in mind, any actions the administration takes to address unfair trade practices should be carefully tailored not to impact household goods and family budgets, especially with the impact of the compounding nature of the proposed and enacted tariffs.”
“RILA supports efforts to hold our trading partners accountable and using targeted trade tools to address unfair or discriminatory behavior that negatively impacts American workers and businesses. Should USTR’s investigation conclude that reciprocal tariffs are the appropriate remedy to address other countries’ unfair trade practices, we urge USTR to ensure that any remedial measures do not harm U.S. companies or family budgets,” the submission states.
Impact of stacked tariffs on household products
RILA outlined the significant tariff increases on essential consumer products, citing examples of items that have seen steep duty hikes since 2018. Among them:
- Pushpins: Duty-free in 2018; now 52.5% (7.5% Section 301 + 25% Section 232 + 20% IEEPA)
- Steel wool: Duty-free in 2018; now 70% (25% Section 301 + 25% Section 232 + 20% IEEPA)
- Ladders: 2.5% in 2018; now 72.5% (25% Section 301 + 20% IEEPA + 25% steel and aluminum finished goods)
- Outdoor griddles: 5.7% in 2018; now 75.7% (25% Section 301 + 20% IEEPA + 25% Section 232 + 5.7% Column 1)
- Gas and electric smokers and pellet grills: Duty-free in 2018; now 45% (20% IEEPA + 25% Section 232)
Call for alternative trade strategies
Rather than implementing broad-based tariffs, RILA encouraged USTR to prioritize trade negotiations that expand market access for U.S. businesses while minimizing economic harm. The association pointed to successful trade agreements, such as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as a model for fostering fair competition without imposing heavy tariffs.
“Comprehensive trade agreements are an excellent way to secure commitments from trading partners to reduce trade barriers while expanding market access for U.S. exporters—without the collateral damage of harmful tariffs,” RILA stated in its submission.
Thorvardur de Shong
RILA called for clarity on reciprocal tariffs, noting concerns over the complexity of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule with nearly 13,000 codes across 200 trading partners. The association urged USTR to implement systems before enacting tariff changes to prevent commerce disruptions.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the administration on trade policies that enhance American competitiveness while controlling consumer costs. The association urged USTR to negotiate agreements that lower barriers for U.S. goods and services instead of implementing broad tariffs that could harm American businesses and families.
“We strongly believe the administration can accomplish those goals and minimize disruption to the U.S. economy while protecting household goods by utilizing smart and targeted tariffs – accomplishing the President’s mandate to bring down prices for American families and spur U.S. growth,” RILA stated.
