Coronavirus Government Response Update— New Tariffs Possible for China

Welcome to the Coronavirus Government Response Update. This information is intended to keep ISSA members up to date on fast-moving government affairs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other public policy issues important to the cleaning industry. Today’s update touches on President Trump threatening new tariffs on China, ISSA joining the National Safety Council’s SAFER Task Force, an increase in weekly jobless claims, and more.

Trump Threatens New Tariffs on China
U.S. President Donald Trump said his trade deal with China was now of secondary importance to the coronavirus pandemic and he threatened new tariffs on Beijing, as his administration crafted retaliatory measures over the outbreak. Trump’s rhetoric against China reflected his growing frustration with Beijing over the pandemic, which has cost tens of thousands of lives in the United States alone, sparked an economic contraction, and threatened his chances of re-election in November. Two U.S. officials said a range of options against China were under discussion but cautioned that efforts were in the early stages.

ISSA Joins National Safety Council SAFER Task Force 
ISSA joined 55 other trade groups, businesses, and government entities as part of the National Safety Council’s SAFER: Safe Actions for Employee Returns Task Force, a comprehensive, multifaceted effort to guide employers through the process of safely resuming traditional work and operations now and in a post-pandemic environment. The SAFER Task Force was created to ensure worker safety during the current public health crisis and to deliver on two critical needs facing the United States.

Weekly Jobless Claims Hit 3.84 Million
U.S. weekly jobless claims hit 3.84 million last week, higher than economist expectations of 3.5 million. The total brings the rolling six-week figure to 30.3 million.

House Won’t Return to D.C. Next Week
A day after announcing that the U.S. House of Representatives would reconvene in Washington, D.C. next week, House Democrats reversed course and said lawmakers won’t return to the Capitol after all because of the coronavirus threat. “We made a judgment that we will not come back next week,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in a phone call with reporters.

Other links of interest

• Take Action Now–Urge Your Elected Officials to Support the Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit
• Become an ISSA Advocate for Clean
• ISSA Recording: How U.S. Governments Are Responding to COVID-19 – Update (April 15, 2020; members only)
• SBA Disaster Loan Assistance
• The Fed: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)