[U.S.] Retailers, trade groups form coalition to push back against import tax proposals

A group of more than 100 U.S. retailers and retail trade associations ... created a new organization dedicated to highlighting the increase in prices consumers would face if Congress and the Trump administration follow through on policies to add taxes or tariffs to U.S. imports.

The initiative, called the Americans for Affordable Products, is primarily aimed at pushing back against proposals to impose a tax on imports sourced abroad. One proposal being pushed by Congressional Republicans as part of a wider tax reform bill, called the Border Adjustment Tax (BAT)...

Members of the coalition include some of the country’s biggest importers, like Walmart, Target, DICK’s Sporting Goods and Macy’s. It also includes manufacturers that operate retail outlets in the United States...

The coalition’s goal is to “focus on educating lawmakers on the harmful impact of the new tax, specifically the resulting higher costs consumers will face on family essentials, such as food, gas and clothing.”...

This was excerpted from 2 February 2017 edition of the American Shipper.