Washington, D.C. — Today, Ed Gresser, Vice President and Director for Trade and Global Markets at the Progressive Policy Institute, released the following statement applauding Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) and Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) for introducing the Pink Tariffs Study Act. This legislation directs the Treasury Secretary to review the American tariff system —for the first time in at least 70 years — with a focus on gender bias, regressivity, and its impact on Americans at different income levels and in different types of households.
“Tariffs are one of the seven major federal taxes, collecting over $80 billion in tariff money during the last fiscal year. Yet, Congress and executive branch agencies know far less than they should about who is paying the money. No systematic review of the tariff system has been done in 70 years, despite notable policy anomalies, ranging from higher tariffs on women’s clothing than on men’s, to higher rates on cheap steel spoons than on sterling silver.
“PPI applauds Representatives Fletcher and Pettersen and the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force for introducing the Pink Tariffs Study Act, requiring the Treasury Secretary to take a thorough review of America’s current tariff system in hopes to identify and correct gender biases, regressivity, and other impacts on U.S. taxpayers. It’s far past time for policymakers to correct unequal tariff taxation on American women.”
Gresser’s pathbreaking research has repeatedly analyzed U.S. tariff data to explain an opaque system and illuminate inequity in the country’s tariff taxation system, especially on women’s clothes. Gresser has worked closely with the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force to create a strong and proactive trade agenda.
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org.
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Media Contact: Amelia Fox – afox@ppionline.org
