1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The decision to impose a 15% tariff on goods imported from the European Union is essentially a new 15% sales tax levied directly on American consumers. This tariff deal masquerading as a trade agreement will drive up costs for everyday products, disproportionately burdening working families already struggling with rising prices. Rather than proclaiming a "preliminary agreement", we should call this what it is - an additional financial burden placed squarely on the backs of American households. This tax hike will reverberate through our economy, impacting businesses and workers across various sectors that depend on imports of European goods and materials. Higher costs get passed onto consumers in the form of increased prices for clothing, vehicles, food products and countless other essential items. American families have endured enough economic pain from years of inflation, supply chain disruptions and stagnant wages. They cannot afford another regressive tax that sacrifices their financial security for the illusion of protectionism. Previous tariffs imposed during this administration have already led major retailers like Walmart to raise prices on a wide range of consumer products. Extending this failed policy to our largest trading partner will only compound the harm. We implore you to publicly denounce and reverse the course of these misguided tariffs that act as de facto sales taxes punishing American consumers and companies rather than purported trade offenders. Our constituents deserve economic policies that improve their lives, not rob their paychecks under the guise of tough negotiating.