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NSBA urges the USTR to focus on solutions for unfair, harmful trade agreement practices through work MARCH 10 | This week, NSBA submitted comments on the Office of the United States Trade Representative's All Necessary Actions to Investigate Harm From Non-Reciprocal Trade Arrangements.” Trade Representative in its work pursuant to the America First Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum   and the Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs Presidential Memorandum . 

The bargaining surrounding these trade initiatives affect much more than political positioning. During a House Ways and Means hearing last week on current trade policy, U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai promoted the benefits of free trade agreements. At the same time, Tai pointed out concerns surrounding digital trade, describing current trade agreements , absent legislation in the U.S. to formalize terms of establishing digital security frameworks for trade

and SBEA are working to keep American small business and opportunities for exporters at the center of trade with split majorities in the Senate and House, it remains to be seen how prominent an issue global trade The effects of these commitments and expansions are still taking shape, but, trade watchers believe there will be consensus and common ground for Congress to coalesce around on certain trade policies. As trade, foreign relations and intellectual property protections are considered this Congress, follow

Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), but, in a pervious announcement, Trump separately announced 25 In a post on X, EU Trade Chief Marcos Sefcovic said that he will speak with his U.S. counterparts, adding

Affairs released its Annual Report to Congress, “Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading The report went on to say that, “On net, the dollar finished stronger against nearly all major trading NSBA’s international trade arm, the  the Small Business Exporters Association (SBEA), is continuously engaged with policymakers to ensure small- and mid-sized exporters are a priority in any global trade SBEA and NSBA are proud to work with these regulatory officials and trade policy experts, and we look

On the subject of tariffs,"...business sustainability and growth, the ability to access financing and a whole host of other factors that stand to disproportionately harm Small Business when there is economic churning or unrest." FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2025   Contact: Molly Day 202-552-2904 mday@NSBAadvocate.org   NSBA Data Sheds Light on Tariffs’ Impact on Small Business   Washington, D.C.  – As the administration’s tariffs are being imposed, small businesses are feeling various impacts that run the gamut from positive to negative. NSBA will continue to monitor the situation and seek input from our 65,000 members on how these tariffs and the resulting economic environment are impacting their businesses.   Below is a statement from NSBA VP of Public Affairs Molly Day.   “NSBA’s members are extremely diverse, and, as such, have varying opinions on the tariffs. According to NSBA’s Taxation Survey , which was fielded in December 2024 and January 2025, it’s about an equal split among small-business owners who say they’re directly or indirectly impacted and those who say they are not impacted. One-third of respondents to that survey said they use goods in their business that they directly source from outside the U.S., and among those, the vast majority identified China as a country they purchase from. More than half of respondents said they were concerned about increased tariffs, with one-in-three saying they are very concerned.   “Furthermore, beyond those directly or even indirectly impacted, there are growing concerns about overall economic stability and what that means for business sustainability and growth, the ability to access financing and a whole host of other factors that stand to disproportionately harm small business when there is economic churning or unrest.   “All that said, I suspect the outlook might be a little different today now that so many additional tariffs have been imposed much more broadly. NSBA is in the process of fielding our broad economic survey which asks questions about economic outlook, business confidence, tariffs and more. Initial indicators should be available over the next week or so.”   Please follow NSBA at @NSBAadvocate for details and reach out to our media affairs department  for additional information.   Celebrating more than 85 years in operation, NSBA is a staunchly nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs. NSBA's 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S. Please visit www.nsba.biz  or follow us at @NSBAAdvocate.   ###

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week proposed rules, which would ban noncompete agreements across are subject to strict noncompete agreements, as well as how noncompete agreements impose restraint on trade

International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding aluminum lithographic printing plate imports.

NSBA applauds Congress for prioritizing Small Business with their commodities legislation. Friday, Jan. 24, 2025   Contact: Molly Day 202-552-2904 mday@NSBAadvocate.org     Washington, D.C.  – Earlier this week, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan legislation calling on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to create a new program to help small-business owners lock-in the cost of commodities like gasoline or lumber. The bill, Helping Small Businesses to Hedge Risk and Insure against Volatile Expenses (Helping Small Businesses THRIVE) Act will help small businesses protect against potential cost increases for key expenses.   NSBA worked with the Senators’ offices to provide first-hand data from our members and was instrumental throughout the process of drafting the legislation.   “I applaud Senators Shaheen and Cassidy for their leadership on this issue,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “Not only will the Helping Small Businesses THRIVE Act  give small businesses greater certainty when it comes to costs, it puts them on a level playing field with large corporations when it comes to commodity cost hedging.”   This new SBA program will offer small businesses options for how to lock in their prices going forward – with a focus on inputs that already have liquid markets, and it offers small-business owners the kind of technical assistance they’ll need to take full advantage of the program.   Small businesses are the first—and hardest—hit by volatile cost increases, and the Helping Small Businesses THRIVE Act will help them first lock in costs for gasoline, diesel and up to three additional commodities, with special attention given to standard utilities like natural gas or electricity. The legislation makes way for additional commodities and utilities to be added to the program, and the bill also makes very clear this program is to focus specifically on small businesses only.   “This kind of bipartisan lawmaking to find solutions for America’s small businesses should be a thumbprint for lawmakers as we move forward in the 119th Session, and I’m pleased that NSBA was able to engage our membership and provide assistance in crafting this bill,” stated McCracken.   Celebrating more than 85 years in operation, NSBA is a staunchly nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs. NSBA's 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S. Please visit www.nsba.biz  or follow us at @NSBAAdvocate.   ###

also sounded the importance of the Small Business Exporters Association (SBEA) – NSBA’s international trade supporting American exporters in our membership, SBEA represents a significant body of influence in U.S. trade

Tool, Commerce officials also announced expansion of its partnerships with industry groups and key trade

Transforming SBA’s Office of International Trade into the Office of Manufacturing and Trade to “focus on promoting economic independence, job creation, and fair trade practices.”