The phenomenon of tariffs as the prevailing trade policy started under the first Trump administration with steel and aluminum, grew to sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports, and kept expanding.
During President Donald Trump’s first term, a process was laid out to file for exemptions or exclusions. Today, there is none. But what many don’t realize is that you can absolutely petition the government for those concessions. Just don’t use those words!
Lobbying the Trump administration on tariff relief (a much more sophisticated term) is an art—not a science. You can’t just show up with a congressional letter of support in hand talking about job losses and severe economic harm. Those traditional arguments worked well in the past, but today, they’re not enough to strike a chord with the US Trade Representative, the Commerce Department, or the White House.
To effectively petition the government on tariff relief, you must go deeper. Here are five ways to effectively lobby the Trump administration on tariffs.
Have an off-ramp. Explain that the tariff relief is temporary in nature and show a timeline on how they phase out. Sometimes companies need immediate relief to pay down debt, vendors, or shipping costs. Focus on how tariff relief can free up capital, refocus core business objectives, and triage acute profit-and-loss trauma. Nobody likes giving freebies in perpetuity, least of all the Treasury Department that enjoys collecting revenue.
Create an “America First” endgame. If granting tariff relief provides you the opportunity to rebuild a lost industry, it serves a greater purpose for the administration. Speak to the manufacturing gutting of the last century (steel, semiconductors, auto parts) and lay out a vision for American dominance. Even if you’re not a manufacturer, think about how your imports provide support and resources for that industrial renaissance.
Forecast the doomsday. The consumer goods industry was highly effective in petitioning government last year on tariff relief with China. Big box retailers and household electronics brands made a compelling case on how the holiday season would be a disaster if tariff rates stayed at 150%. There would be nothing on the shelves. You could have even called it a “Christmas Tax.” And I’m sure they did. (No, I didn’t lobby for them.)
Match it with investment. Always pay attention to what the president says. On more than one occasion, Trump has said that if companies commit to manufacturing in the US or were in the process of doing so, they would be considered for relief. In April 2025, Apple won major concessions on tariffs, which many argue was a result of its $100 billion pledge to invest in the US.
Pick an enemy. You can’t just speak to how good your product or service is; you must explain why the alternative is bad. There are many countries (allied and non-allied) that manufacture products cheaply because of their lower costs for raw materials, labor, electricity, logistics, taxation, and compliance. Call that out and explain why that tariff only exacerbates inequity. Don’t be shy—they want you to name names. This government keeps a list of bad actors and routinely calls them out.
Some of these strategies are obvious. But the reality is that many of them are forgotten when sitting across the table with the administration.
From small businesses to the Fortune 500, the biggest error companies make in tariff lobbying is solely focusing on their own problems. It’s not enough. To be truly effective, you must look through the lens of the White House. Ask for temporary relief. Speak to an American industrial rebirth. Forecast a potential crisis or shortage. Put skin in the game with investment. Put a target on someone else. It’s simple.
This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Tax, and Bloomberg Government, or its owners.
Author Information
Samir N. Kapadia is managing principal and head of trade at the Vogel Group, a Washington DC-based lobbying firm.
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