U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to urge Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow and President Donald Trump against imposing new tariffs that could harm the auto industry. Sewell is a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.
“We are convinced that the products hard-working Americans in the auto sector design, build, sell and service are not a threat to our national security,” wrote Sewell and the group of lawmakers in a letter to Kudlow. “We strongly urge you to advise the president against imposing trade restrictions that could harm the auto sector and the American economy.”
The letter also said tariffs on autos will raise prices for American consumers and lower demand, ultimately leading to decreased domestic production, investment and employment.
“We urge you to do everything you can to avoid trade restrictions that would negatively impact the U.S. auto sector and undermine our economic security,” the letter concluded.
Sewell has been an outspoken opponent of the Trump administration’s proposal to raise tariffs on auto imports. She and others have filed bipartisan legislation to delay auto tariffs by requiring the International Trade Commission to conduct a comprehensive study on the economic importance of automotive manufacturing in America before tariffs on automobiles and auto parts could be applied.
