USTR: Request for Comments on the Section 301 Investigations of Acts, Policies, and Practices of Certain Economies Relating to Structural Excess Capacity and Production in Manufacturing Sectors (April 15, 2026)

FMI - The Food Industry Association (“FMI”), appreciates the opportunity to respond to the United States Trade Representative’s (“USTR”) Request for Comments on the Section 301 Investigations of Acts, Policies, and Practices of Certain Economies Relating to Structural Excess Capacity and Production in Manufacturing Sectors (Docket No. USTR-2026-0067). This comment is timely submitted pursuant to the USTR March 17, 2026 Federal Register notice.

Because FMI’s members operate throughout the food supply chain, FMI is well-positioned to provide USTR with a practical perspective on how tariffs affect the food Americans buy every day. In the food sector, cost increases are not abstract. They directly affect whether families are able to afford groceries, whether products remain consistently available, and whether companies can continue making the investments needed to maintain safe and efficient food operations.

The outcome of this Section 301 investigation will directly affect the cost, availability, and reliability of goods, inputs, and services that support the U.S. food supply chain, with significant implications for businesses across the industry and for the consumers they serve. Any actions taken under this investigation therefore should be informed by a clear understanding of the operational realities of the food supply chain, including the interconnected roles of retailers, wholesalers, producers, processors, and service providers in delivering food safely, efficiently, and affordably to American households. FMI accordingly urges the Administration to ensure that any resulting trade measures support a stable, efficient, and affordable food supply chain so that the industry can continue to meet consumer needs, sustain jobs, and support communities nationwide.