John Sununu’s Involvement in Lobbying for Tariff Relief
John Sununu, a former Senator from New Hampshire, found himself tied to a lobbying firm that actively pursued tariff relief for large corporations. After leaving the Senate in 2009, Sununu joined the Akin Group, which received $760,000 between 2010 and 2016 to lobby on behalf of the Tariff Action Coalition.
The Tariff Action Coalition, a collective of companies including Bayer, Honeywell International, and Syngenta, aimed to secure more than $20 million in relief from tariffs. While it remains unclear if Sununu directly engaged with the coalition, he shared with Fox News that his private sector experience provided him insights into managing tariff issues.
Understanding Tariffs and Their Impacts
Tariffs serve as a tax on imported goods, with the financial burden typically falling on the American importer. This additional cost often translates into higher prices for consumers. The federal government holds significant authority to impose tariffs on specific imports or countries, and businesses can seek relief through exemptions, reduced rates, or refunds. However, these savings rarely trickle down to consumers, who continue to pay tariff-inflated prices.
Policy and Legal Challenges
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, sweeping tariffs led to a notable rise in retail prices. Sununu commented on this approach, suggesting that more Congressional consultation was necessary, yet he also described Trump’s strategy as “very fair.” The U.S. Supreme Court later invalidated some of the tariffs, mandating the return of $166 billion in duties. The majority of these refunds went to large corporations, leaving small businesses and consumers with minimal to no relief.
When questioned by WMUR in March regarding who should receive tariff refunds, Sununu did not offer a definitive answer. “I don’t have a legal answer to that question,” he stated. “It should go to whoever paid it. It should be done in a simple, clear, effective way. It is a bit of a mess. There’s no question about that. But I think given today’s computerized systems, the way it was paid, there ought to be a pretty straightforward way to pay it back.”
Political Aspirations
Sununu is now eyeing a return to the Senate, with his Democratic opponent being Rep. Chris Pappas.
The post Sununu’s lobbying firm sought tariff relief for big corporations appeared first on American Journal News.
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