Confusion Dominates K Street as Tariffs Are Scheduled to be Implemented
A week after Trump revealed his sweeping tariffs, lobbyists and industry organizations continue to navigate uncertainty as they seek ways to communicate their clients' concerns to the White House.
TroibNews 
Confusion surrounding President Donald Trump’s latest set of tariffs is unsettling the business community just hours before the “reciprocal” tariffs are scheduled to take effect.
Nearly a week after the White House unveiled its tariff plan, lobbyists in Washington are working to untangle the administration’s unclear communications and formulate a strategy to provide relief for their clients.
In some instances, lobbyists are still trying to determine whom to contact at the White House to ensure their concerns are conveyed or to understand how the new duties will be enforced. While some have pinpointed National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as potentially sympathetic contacts, many business leaders have reported difficulty even receiving a response.
“We're kind of at a loss in terms of how to engage with this administration,” said Ed Brzytwa, vice president of international trade at the Consumer Technology Association, which includes members like Apple, Adobe, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Conversations with over 10 lobbyists, many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted widespread uncertainty regarding the administration’s goals with the extensive new trade regime. This regime is set to impose a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imported goods, in addition to individualized tariffs for nearly 60 U.S. trading partners starting at midnight.
This uncertainty complicates matters for companies that consider the tariffs a serious threat.
“It’s not clear if there’s a strategy that even works, particularly for the near short term,” remarked one business lobbyist in Washington. “With respect to the administration, the business leaders we talked to, other associations, no one’s figured out a strategy that's successful yet.”
Last month, eight tech and trade organizations, including the CTA and the Information Technology Industry Council, urged U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a letter to reconsider the tariffs, warning that they would “harm the very U.S. businesses the President seeks to boost.”
“We have had no response at all to that letter. We asked for a meeting, no response. They’re not interested,” Brzytwa lamented.
The USTR’s office and the Commerce Department did not reply to requests for comment.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated that the “Trump administration maintains regular contact” with business leaders and industry groups, but emphasized that “the only special interest guiding President Trump’s decision-making, however, is the best interest of the American people – such as addressing the national emergency posed by our country running chronic trade deficits.”
Even lobbyists who have successfully arranged meetings with administration officials have left without much clarity.
“You’ve got the new tariffs going into effect tonight, and people are still asking questions about how it’s supposed to work,” voiced one trade group executive.
A significant challenge for K Street is determining who at the White House can address their inquiries.
Administration officials have delivered inconsistent messages regarding the trade war; while Bessent and Hassett have argued that Trump's substantial tariffs are intended to bring other nations to negotiate better trade agreements, populists like White House trade adviser Peter Navarro have suggested that the tariffs serve as a means of generating revenue to support Republicans' tax cuts. Trump himself has articulated both viewpoints over the past week. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded “boys will be boys” when asked about public disagreements between billionaire Elon Musk and Navarro over tariff policy.
“Navarro’s out here saying one thing, Bessent and Hassett seem to be teaming up … and then Lutnick’s out doing his other thing. And it’s like, who actually has Trump’s ear right now?” expressed one frustrated Republican on K Street.
Several lobbyists see Hassett as a potential ally and are seeking meetings with him to navigate past more pro-tariff figures in Trump’s inner circle, including Navarro and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“I think people see Hassett, because of his economic background, as being … potentially the most receptive audience inside the White House,” noted a second Republican lobbyist, who added that these meetings often communicate a message for the business community to “be patient.”
Others in the downtown area consider Bessent, who has urged Trump to clarify his tariff objectives, and Greer as sympathetic figures within the administration. However, it remains unclear whether any of them have the power to sway Trump; multiple lobbyists have reminded their clients recently that Trump has supported tariffs for decades.
“There's no coherence to it, right?” remarked the second GOP lobbyist regarding the ambiguity surrounding Trump’s trade strategy. “It’s not like people understand it because it is reasonably calculated to some understood end,” the lobbyist continued. “At this point, that's not true.”
As time progresses, there’s an increasing expectation that Republicans in Congress—faced with growing economic repercussions in their districts and potential reelection threats—will reconsider their support for Trump on this issue.
Two House Republicans have emerged as the tech industry's connection to the White House: House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie and Rep. Jay Obernolte.
Obernolte stated on Tuesday that he has directly communicated tech's tariff concerns to the White House, which is “doing a really good job listening.” He primarily interacts with tech companies that manufacture most of their products in countries facing steep tariffs, such as Vietnam.
“I’m sure [the White House] is taking it seriously,” Obernolte said. “They know the pain that they’re inflicting; they have a higher purpose for doing that, but I don’t think for a second that they aren’t listening.”
Other Republicans who appear to be open to lobbying include Sen. Ted Cruz, who leads the Senate Commerce Committee and has voiced his concerns regarding the tariffs. Lobbyists are also paying close attention to GOP members who recently supported a Democratic resolution related to Trump's earlier tariffs or have backed a bill from Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell aimed at restricting presidential tariff powers.
Lobbyists are equipping themselves with projections about how the tariffs will impact jobs and prices in specific congressional districts or industries, along with data regarding the potential for industries to bring jobs back to the U.S. as a result of the tariffs—a goal frequently expressed by the administration.
In private discussions, even some Republicans in secure red districts have communicated to lobbyists that they find no reason to undermine the president at this time and believe that Trump deserves the opportunity to implement his campaign policies, according to downtown lobbyists.
“Businesses are so used to going to Republicans when there's a concern about something, and Republicans being ready, willing, and able to listen,” observed the GOP lobbyist. “I don't think that's the same with this administration at this time.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
Nearly a week after the White House unveiled its tariff plan, lobbyists in Washington are working to untangle the administration’s unclear communications and formulate a strategy to provide relief for their clients.
In some instances, lobbyists are still trying to determine whom to contact at the White House to ensure their concerns are conveyed or to understand how the new duties will be enforced. While some have pinpointed National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as potentially sympathetic contacts, many business leaders have reported difficulty even receiving a response.
“We're kind of at a loss in terms of how to engage with this administration,” said Ed Brzytwa, vice president of international trade at the Consumer Technology Association, which includes members like Apple, Adobe, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Conversations with over 10 lobbyists, many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted widespread uncertainty regarding the administration’s goals with the extensive new trade regime. This regime is set to impose a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imported goods, in addition to individualized tariffs for nearly 60 U.S. trading partners starting at midnight.
This uncertainty complicates matters for companies that consider the tariffs a serious threat.
“It’s not clear if there’s a strategy that even works, particularly for the near short term,” remarked one business lobbyist in Washington. “With respect to the administration, the business leaders we talked to, other associations, no one’s figured out a strategy that's successful yet.”
Last month, eight tech and trade organizations, including the CTA and the Information Technology Industry Council, urged U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a letter to reconsider the tariffs, warning that they would “harm the very U.S. businesses the President seeks to boost.”
“We have had no response at all to that letter. We asked for a meeting, no response. They’re not interested,” Brzytwa lamented.
The USTR’s office and the Commerce Department did not reply to requests for comment.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated that the “Trump administration maintains regular contact” with business leaders and industry groups, but emphasized that “the only special interest guiding President Trump’s decision-making, however, is the best interest of the American people – such as addressing the national emergency posed by our country running chronic trade deficits.”
Even lobbyists who have successfully arranged meetings with administration officials have left without much clarity.
“You’ve got the new tariffs going into effect tonight, and people are still asking questions about how it’s supposed to work,” voiced one trade group executive.
A significant challenge for K Street is determining who at the White House can address their inquiries.
Administration officials have delivered inconsistent messages regarding the trade war; while Bessent and Hassett have argued that Trump's substantial tariffs are intended to bring other nations to negotiate better trade agreements, populists like White House trade adviser Peter Navarro have suggested that the tariffs serve as a means of generating revenue to support Republicans' tax cuts. Trump himself has articulated both viewpoints over the past week. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded “boys will be boys” when asked about public disagreements between billionaire Elon Musk and Navarro over tariff policy.
“Navarro’s out here saying one thing, Bessent and Hassett seem to be teaming up … and then Lutnick’s out doing his other thing. And it’s like, who actually has Trump’s ear right now?” expressed one frustrated Republican on K Street.
Several lobbyists see Hassett as a potential ally and are seeking meetings with him to navigate past more pro-tariff figures in Trump’s inner circle, including Navarro and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“I think people see Hassett, because of his economic background, as being … potentially the most receptive audience inside the White House,” noted a second Republican lobbyist, who added that these meetings often communicate a message for the business community to “be patient.”
Others in the downtown area consider Bessent, who has urged Trump to clarify his tariff objectives, and Greer as sympathetic figures within the administration. However, it remains unclear whether any of them have the power to sway Trump; multiple lobbyists have reminded their clients recently that Trump has supported tariffs for decades.
“There's no coherence to it, right?” remarked the second GOP lobbyist regarding the ambiguity surrounding Trump’s trade strategy. “It’s not like people understand it because it is reasonably calculated to some understood end,” the lobbyist continued. “At this point, that's not true.”
As time progresses, there’s an increasing expectation that Republicans in Congress—faced with growing economic repercussions in their districts and potential reelection threats—will reconsider their support for Trump on this issue.
Two House Republicans have emerged as the tech industry's connection to the White House: House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie and Rep. Jay Obernolte.
Obernolte stated on Tuesday that he has directly communicated tech's tariff concerns to the White House, which is “doing a really good job listening.” He primarily interacts with tech companies that manufacture most of their products in countries facing steep tariffs, such as Vietnam.
“I’m sure [the White House] is taking it seriously,” Obernolte said. “They know the pain that they’re inflicting; they have a higher purpose for doing that, but I don’t think for a second that they aren’t listening.”
Other Republicans who appear to be open to lobbying include Sen. Ted Cruz, who leads the Senate Commerce Committee and has voiced his concerns regarding the tariffs. Lobbyists are also paying close attention to GOP members who recently supported a Democratic resolution related to Trump's earlier tariffs or have backed a bill from Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell aimed at restricting presidential tariff powers.
Lobbyists are equipping themselves with projections about how the tariffs will impact jobs and prices in specific congressional districts or industries, along with data regarding the potential for industries to bring jobs back to the U.S. as a result of the tariffs—a goal frequently expressed by the administration.
In private discussions, even some Republicans in secure red districts have communicated to lobbyists that they find no reason to undermine the president at this time and believe that Trump deserves the opportunity to implement his campaign policies, according to downtown lobbyists.
“Businesses are so used to going to Republicans when there's a concern about something, and Republicans being ready, willing, and able to listen,” observed the GOP lobbyist. “I don't think that's the same with this administration at this time.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
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