ATR sent a letter on tariff reduction (full text) to the U.S. House today. Below is an excerpt:
It should be emphasized that tariffs are taxes, pure and simple. Cutting tariffs is a good way to give much need tax relief to the American people and an American economy struggling with some of the worst long-term unemployment since the Great Depression.
The Conservative consensus has happily rendered earmarks beyond the pale. But MTB tariff-tax cuts are the opposite of earmaks: No federal money is spent on them. They’re completely transparent and widely publicized on the Congressional website. Every single one is thoroughly vetted by the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Department of Commerce and other U.S. government agencies. And while earmarks benefit only a tiny few, MTB tariff-tax cuts provide tax relief to a wide swath of U.S. industry and help keep U.S. jobs right here in America.