President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
President Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
Dear President von der Leyen and President Biden,
The undersigned 72 associations are united in our urgent call for the European Union (EU) and the U.S.
to remove, or at least suspend all additional and retaliatory tariffs affecting or threatening Trans-Atlantic
trade in sectors unrelated to the World Trade Organization large civil aircraft and steel and aluminum
disputes immediately. Suspending these tariffs is urgently needed to address the economic harms our
industries are currently facing and will also be a positive step to help re-establish a cooperative TransAtlantic trading relationship.
Since 2018, our industries, suppliers and supply chains have been negatively impacted by the imposition
or threat of tariffs in these disputes, which are wholly unrelated to our sectors. Without a doubt, 2020
has been a particularly difficult and tragic year. The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary closings of
non-essential businesses continue to affect the global economy, including our sectors which support
millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. The ongoing EU-U.S. trade disputes and additional tariffs
which continue to plague Trans-Atlantic trade have made a bad situation worse. With the damages we
have suffered last year and are still suffering, the current situation cannot be allowed to go on any
longer. We believe immediate suspension of these tariffs is a necessary and fundamental action, which
will provide an economic stimulus at a time when it is needed most.
Our industries support a constructive and flourishing trade and economic relationship between the U.S.
and EU. Removal of these tariffs will provide the positive momentum to reset the important bilateral
relationship and cooperative efforts to address global economic challenges. In addition, a shared
commitment to avoid new additional tariffs will create the necessary certainty and stability needed to
grow the Trans-Atlantic economy.
We sincerely appreciate your consideration of these important issues. Please do not hesitate to contact
us if we can provide any additional information.
Sincerely,
ACEM – European Association of Motorcycle
Manufacturers
FEC – Federation of European manufacturers
of Cookware and cutlery
AIJN – European Fruit Juices Association
FEMA – Flavor & Extract Manufacturers
Association of the United States
American Apparel & Footwear Association Florida Citrus Mutual
American Association of Port Authorities Florida Citrus Packers
American Bakers Association Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
American Beverage Licensees FMI – The Food Industry Association
American Chemistry Council Fragrance Creators Association
American Craft Spirits Association
FRUCOM – European Federation of the Trade
in Dried Fruit, Edible Nuts, Processed Fruit &
Vegetables and Processes Fishery Products
American Cranberry Growers Association
Household & Commercial Products
Association
American Distilled Spirits Alliance IFRA – International Fragance Association
American Frozen Food Institute IHA – International Housewares Association
American Soybean Association Indian River Citrus League
American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute Intergraf – European federation for print and
digital communication
Associated Equipment Distributors National Association of Beverage Importers
Association of Equipment Manufacturers National Association of Wheat Growers
CAOBISCO – Chocolate, Biscuits and
Confectionery of Europe National Association of Wine Retailers
Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association National Confectioners Association
CECE – Committee for European Construction
Equipment
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
CEEV – Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins
/ European Committee of Wine Companies National Fisheries Institute
CEFIC – European Chemical Industry Council National Retail Federation
CEMA – European Agricultural Machinery
Industry Association North American Shippers Association
CEO – Comité Européen de l’Outillage Personal Care Products Council
CIAA – Cheese Importers Association of
America
PROFEL – European Association of Fruit and
Vegetable Processing Industries
CLITRAVI – Liaison Centre for the Meat
Processing Industry in the European Union PTI – Power Tool Institute
COCERAL – European association of trade in
cereals, oilseeds, pulses, olive oil, oils and
fats, animal feed and agrosupply
spiritsEUROPE
Corn Refiners Association Sweetener Users Association
Council for Responsible Nutrition Travel Goods Association
Cranberry Institute U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States U.S. Wheat Associates
ECCIA – European Cultural and Creative
Industries Alliance United States Sweet Potato Council
ECF – European Coffee Federation USA Rice Federation
EDA – European Dairy Association Vinyl Institute
EFFA – European Flavour and Fragrance
Association
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
EPTA – European Power Tools Association Wine and Spirits Shippers Association
EUCOLAIT – European Association of Dairy
Trade Wine Institute
EURATEX – The European Apparel and Textile
Confederation WineAmerica
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