Business events industry leaders were celebrating after the US Supreme Court ruled against Donald Trump's sweeping international tariffs, which have formed a central plank in his economic strategy since his return to the White House.
In a 6-3 decision last Friday, justices on the highest US court found that the president had overstepped his powers when he introduced sweeping global tariffs last year using the IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act).
But since the ruling last week, Trump has retaliated by introducing a 10 per cent global tariff, leaving many countries who had been working on trade deals with the US, wondering where they stand.
The Exhibitions &
Conferences Alliance (ECA), which lobbies on behalf of US business and professional events industry, issued a statement hailing the court ruling that tariffs introduced under the
auspices of the IEEPA were
unconstitutional.
“The IEEPA tariffs have increased costs and uncertainty for event organisers,
suppliers, venues, exhibitors, and attendees alike," the statement said.
"Moreover, they have been
particularly harmful to small businesses, which account for 99 per cent of all industry
companies and 80 per cent of all event exhibitors."
ECA said it encouraged policymakers to pursue trade policies that increased affordability, reduce
uncertainty, and increase the competitiveness of both the industry and the US going forward.
"These include a commitment to free trade agreements and the
elimination of tariffs, subsidies, and non-tariff barriers with US trading
partners around the world.”
The ECA is a coalition of
leading associations comprising the unified public policy voice of the business
and professional events industry. ECA has eight member associations including, the International
Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE), the International
Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), PCMA, and UFI, The
Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
