Multi-Industry Letter to President Biden on East Coast-Gulf Coast Port Labor Strikes

In July 2026, the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) submitted comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) regarding proposed tariff actions, tariff scope, and product exclusions under the Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s acts, policies, and practices. ASTA encouraged USTR to preserve existing tariff exemptions for spices and to expand the list of exempted products if additional unavailable spices are identified.

ASTA signed onto a coalition letter from multiple industries to the press, the White House, President-elect Trump's transition team, key Hill stakeholders, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) urging the ILA and USMX to resume negotiations and reach an agreement.