Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Tariffs have their place, an Illinois business leader told a House committee.
“Tariffs can be an effective tool, especially when countries are cheating or gaming the system by dumping products on the market, stealing intellectual property, or failing to follow trade agreements,” said Illinois Manufacturers’ Association president and CEO Mark Denzler.
“There is also general agreement that manufacturers need stability and predictability,” Denzler continues. “Trade and tariff policies that are changing consistently make it very difficult to operate today or plan for the future.”
U.S. trade and tariff policies also have an impact on tourism.
“According to the United States Travel Association, international travel into the United States is expected to decrease by 6.3 percent from 2024 to 2025,” said J.D. Dalfonso, president and CEO of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Total inbound travel spending is forecast to fall 3.2 percent to $173 billion for the year.
“Simply put, fewer travelers translates into less spending and revenue.”
