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WASHINGTON—The Retail Industry Leaders Association has urged the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to exercise extreme caution in imposing reciprocal tariffs. RILA warns that additional duties could further squeeze household budgets and disrupt U.S. businesses. In comments submitted to the USTR as part of its review of unfair trade practices, RILA emphasized the need for carefully tailored trade policies that do not exacerbate inflation or harm American consumers.
RILA, representing over 200 major retailers and suppliers with combined annual sales of $2.7 trillion, supports efforts to hold trading partners accountable for unfair trade practices. However, the association expressed concern that stacked tariffs could have unintended consequences, increasing the costs of everyday household goods.
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“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.
“In short, we urge extreme caution in the use of tariffs to address unfair trade barriers to ensure that household budgets are not further squeezed by cost increases. Instead, we urge USTR to focus on negotiating with our trading partners to reduce trade barriers to U.S. goods and services.”
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.
Additionally, RILA cited a recent Yale Budget Lab study that modeled the effects of reciprocal tariffs. The study estimated that price levels could rise by 1.7-2.1%, translating into an average household loss of $2,700-$3,400. Lower-income households would be disproportionately affected, with losses ranging from $1,000 to $1,300. Essential goods, including clothing, electronics, motor vehicles, and pharmaceuticals, would experience above-average price increases.
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RILA also called for greater clarity on how reciprocal tariffs would be implemented, highlighting concerns over the complexity of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which includes nearly 13,000 individual codes across more than 200 trading partners. The association urged USTR to ensure proper systems and processes are in place before enacting tariff changes to avoid disruptions in commerce.
Further, RILA requested a transparent and fair tariff exclusion process to protect U.S. manufacturers and consumers from undue harm and public hearings following the announcement of any new tariff actions.
RILA reaffirmed its commitment to working with the administration to advance trade policies that protect American competitiveness while keeping consumer costs in check. The association urged USTR to focus on negotiating trade agreements that reduce barriers for U.S. goods and services rather than resorting to broad-based tariffs that could negatively impact 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.
