New smart trade coalition working to create space for reasonable, nonpartisan discussion about trade, tariff needs for Michigan industries
LANSING, Michigan — The Michigan Smart Trade Alliance (MISTA), a nonpartisan statewide public policy organization, released the following comments on today’s Wall Street Journal report that highlights the slowdown of the U.S. manufacturing industry in the absence of consistent, smart federal trade policies.
Some key points from the WSJ report:
- “Fewer Americans work in manufacturing than any point since the pandemic ended.”
- “… stop-and-start policymaking … has also led to what many executives view as a lost year for investment.”
“Unpredictable tariff policy is disruptive for manufacturers, farmers and other industries who are making long-term decisions about production, purchasing and employment,” said John Sellek, aspokesman for MISTA. “In Michigan, our employers and manufacturers depend on complex global supply chains, and they need smart, consistent trade and tariff policy to ensure they can continue to compete on a global stage. MISTA seeks to allow a non-political discussion about what works best for Michigan’s economy.”
“As the Wall Street Journal article details, business owners and manufacturers across the country and here in Michigan continue to scale back or hit pause while they grapple with an uncertain future caused by our constantly changing tariff policy, tensions and trade wars,” said Mark Fisk, a spokesman for MISTA.“Smart trade policy means consistent, reliable, stable policies that encourage investment and jobs rather than hampering them through chaotic, ever-changing rules that create a recipe for disruption and benefit our economic adversaries like China.”
MISTA is a nonpartisan effort to create space for a discussion by multiple Michigan industries about the full impacts of trade and tariff policies, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.
The coalition of supporters for the Michigan Smart Trade Alliance continues to grow. Information about joining the effort is online at www.smarttradealliance.com. The website also has a pledge to show support for efforts to promote smart, fair trade and tariff policies.
