House lawmakers ask Trump not to tariff Mexican beer
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers urged the trump governance not to impose tariffs on Mexican beer amid USMCA renegotiations. In a February 27 letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer,13 Republicans and one Democrat argued that Mexican beer accounts for a large share of imports and that tariffs would harm U.S. agriculture and rural economies.
Key points:
– The signees spoke on behalf of thousands of farmers, beer distributors, and licensed retailers.
– Thay noted that Mexican beer represents over 82% of beer imports into the United States, and that most beer sold in the U.S. uses American-grown hops, barley, and corn. More than 80% of U.S. barley exports go to Mexico.
– Tariffs would have a multiplier effect through the three-tier distribution system, likely harming distributors and retailers, many of whom are family-owned.
– The letter stresses that tariffs could undermine American agriculture and jobs in rural communities.
– Signatories include Reps. Darin LaHood, Claudia Tenney, Nick Langworthy, Rudy yakym, Mike Thompson, Nicole Malliotakis, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Russ Fulcher, Dan Newhouse, Mike Simpson, Troy Downing, Ryan Zinke, August Pfluger, and Julie Fedorchak.
Context mentioned in the piece:
– President Trump had announced a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico in early 2025, wiht the Mexico portion briefly paused before being implemented for some imports.
– A 2025 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study suggested tariff gains would largely accrue to multinational firms rather than local entrepreneurs.
– The Supreme Court had struck down the president’s earlier “Liberation Day” tariffs, and there were reports of Trump weighing changes to USMCA, including quitting the pact, which Mexican President claudia Sheinbaum denied.
House lawmakers to Trump: Don’t tariff Mexican beer
EXCLUSIVE —More than two dozen bipartisan House lawmakers implored the Trump administration to reconsider imposing tariffs on Mexican beer, according to a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner.
The letter, which was previously unreported, was sent to U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer on
Feb. 27, and signed by 13 Republicans and one Democrat on behalf of the thousands of farmers, beer distributors, and licensed retail establishments.
The signees implored the administration not to impose tariffs on Mexican beer as the U.S. renegotiates the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
“Mexican beer represents over 82% of beer imports into the United States, and almost every bottle, can, and keg of Mexican beer sold in the U.S. is brewed with some combination of American-grown hops, barley, and corn,” the signees wrote.
The letter also notes that more than 80% of U.S. barley exports go to Mexico, where it is used to brew beer and eventually sold to American consumers, thereby infusing capital into rural communities.
“Tariffs on Mexican beer have a multiplier effect because of the three-tier system of alcohol distribution, impacting distributors and retailers in addition to American-based suppliers,” the letter also states. “Beer distributors would be uniquely impacted; many are family-owned, and their business model is built on agreements allowing them to carry specific beers – such as Mexican brands – in a specific geographical region.”
President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1, 2025. The tariffs on Mexico were paused for a month before he ultimately allowed them to be implemented, affecting major Mexican imports like Corona and Modelo.
A 2025 study from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign agricultural economist Aaron Staples and Michael McCullough of California Polytechnic State University found that gains from tariffs would primarily go to multinational firms rather than local entrepreneurs.
The Supreme Court ultimately struck down the president’s “Liberation Day” tariffs last month, but Trump quickly announced a 15% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, even though only a 10% global tariff is currently being imposed.
Trump is reportedly musing on quitting the USMCA, which was signed during his second term.
“We don’t believe it, and it has never been said in the calls,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told Bloomberg News last month about Trump leaving the USMCA.
House GOP lawmakers pointed to the negative economic effect that tariffs on Mexican beer could have on hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide, particularly during a midterm year.
LEGAL WAR OVER TRUMP TARIFFS STILL RAGING DESPITE SUPREME COURT RULING
“As the Administration weighs changes to USMCA, we hope you consider how tariffs on Mexican beer – which relies on U.S.-grown ingredients – could undermine American agriculture and threaten local jobs that help fuel our rural economies,” the letter to Greer states.
The signees include: Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Nick Langworthy (R-NY), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Troy Downing (R-MT), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Julie Fedorchak (R-ND).
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