(Bloomberg) -- The Trump administration is debating whether to defer payments of duties on imported goods from around the world for three months, people familiar with the talks said.
Discussions in recent days involving the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies about suspending tariffs for a three-month period sparked push back from domestic industry associations.
In a letter to acting CBP commissioner Mark Morgan, the Coalition for a Prosperous America expressed concern that the move was under consideration.
“At a time of financial hardship and unrest as a result of the coronavirus – CBP should not reintroduce unfairly traded goods to cause American workers further economic pain because of lobbying efforts of stateless companies,” the group wrote Tuesday. “This effort by CBP will only exacerbate the financial situation of countless Americans.”
A spokesperson for CBP didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment after hours.
President Donald Trump has resisted calls for tariff cuts that have become increasingly loud as the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. caused widespread economic harm. Last week, he made clear that “there’s no reason” for tariff relief even as a wide range of industries buckle from the shutdown of businesses.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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