Earlier this month, Consumer Brands Association President & CEO Melissa Hockstad penned a letter that was sent to President Trump, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The letter encouraged the administration to continue fine-tuning its approach to tariffs to best support a true America First agenda that ensures manufacturers — like the consumer packaged goods industry that accounts for 22.3 million American jobs — can continue to deliver for consumers every day.

The letter was sent in anticipation of recommendations and anticipated tariffs expected at the top of next month:

• On April 1, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and other agencies will issue a set of recommendations to President Trump in response to his America First Trade Policy Executive Order; and
• On April 2, on what President Trump has termed “liberation day,” there is anticipated to be reciprocal and possible agriculture-specific tariffs, possibly including EU-specific tariffs.

The letter was picked up by multiple media outlets, including international media. Coverage, as seen below, included:

The Associated Press:

The Consumer Brands Association, which represents packaged food makers, said it’s urging the Trump administration to exempt aluminum and steel products that aren’t available in adequate quantities in the U.S. Otherwise, consumers will likely see higher grocery prices.

“We encourage the Trump administration to recognize the different needs of different U.S. manufacturing sectors,” said Tom Madrecki, vice president of supply chain resiliency at the Consumer Brands Association.

Reuters:

PepsiCo (PEP.O), Conagra (CAG.N), and J M Smucker(SJM.N),, are requesting that Trump exempt ingredients not available from U.S. sources to protect manufacturers who otherwise buy from domestic farmers and suppliers, according to the letter, sent on Monday by a consumer products trade group representing the companies, the Consumer Brands Association.

Food Dive:

The Consumer Brands Association, which represents companies including PepsiCo, Conagra Brands and Mondelēz International, wrote in a letter dated March 10 that the White House should ensure tariffs “deliver maximal impact without undue consequences” on U.S. manufacturers and consumers. Reuters was first to report the existence of the letter.

Time:

The Consumer Brands Association, which represents packaged food makers, said it’s urging the Trump administration to exempt aluminum and steel products that aren’t available in adequate quantities in the U.S. Otherwise, consumers will likely see higher grocery prices. 

“We encourage the Trump administration to recognize the different needs of different U.S. manufacturing sectors,” said Tom Madrecki, vice president of supply chain resiliency at the Consumer Brands Association. 

Checkout: 

The companies made this request in a bid to protect manufacturers who otherwise buy from domestic farmers and suppliers, according to the letter, which was sent on Monday by a consumer products trade group representing the companies, the Consumer Brands Association.

It said, “We believe (the) targeted and carefully calibrated removal of these ingredients and inputs from tariffs is appropriate to best protect US manufacturers and support (Trump’s) efforts to lower consumer inflation.”