Section 232 tariff lobbying signals growing corporate concern

Japanese tea giant Ito En’s engagement in Section 232 tariff lobbying marks the company’s first formal lobbying effort, signaling intensifying concern over trade policy impacts on the beverage industry. The company invested $70,000 to secure experienced trade advocates from Mayer Brown LLP as Congress debates presidential tariff authority and its implications for imported goods.

Lobbying team and investment details

Ito En hired three seasoned lobbyists from Mayer Brown LLP for $70,000 in 2025:

  • Warren S. Payne III: Former House Ways and Means Committee Policy Director
  • Jessica Sue Woolley: Former Democratic House staffer with beverage industry experience
  • Daniel M. Harder: Former House Ways and Means Committee Assistant Clerk

This represents Ito En’s entry into formal lobbying disclosure after having no previous registered lobbying history.

Congressional divisions over tariff policy

Congress remains divided over tariff policy amid ongoing trade tensions. Tea imports face particular scrutiny as products that cannot be grown domestically at scale. Small businesses in the tea industry have testified about existential threats from tariff costs, drawing attention from key lawmakers including Senator Patty Murray, who has specifically criticized tariffs on green tea imports.

Targeted legislative focus

Ito En is lobbying specifically on “General issues related to Section 232 investigations.” The company imports tea products and is directly impacted by trade policy decisions. Their advocacy remains narrowly focused on Section 232 tariff authority rather than broader trade issues, allowing the firm to concentrate resources on this specific policy domain.

Crowded competitive landscape

Ito En joins major corporations already lobbying on Section 232 tariffs including Home Depot Inc., Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Inc., and Aptiv plc. Mayer Brown also represents U.S. Steel Corp. on identical Section 232 issues, demonstrating the firm’s deep expertise in tariff advocacy and the widespread corporate interest in this policy area.

Congressional battle lines on tariff authority

Key legislative proposals reveal fundamental disagreements on executive trade power. The United States Reciprocal Trade Act (H.R.735) would expand presidential tariff powers, while the STABLE Trade Policy Act (S.348) and Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act (H.R.2888) would require congressional approval before new tariffs take effect.

Representatives Eric Sorensen, Kathy Castor, and Frank Pallone have highlighted rising tea costs from tariffs. A tea shop owner testified before the Senate Small Business Committee about tariff threats to her business, illustrating how trade policy directly impacts Main Street businesses.

Strategic implications

Ito En’s targeted lobbying effort reflects calculated concern over Section 232 investigations rather than broader trade anxiety. The company secured experienced advocates but enters a crowded field of corporate interests seeking tariff relief and legislative solutions to trade policy uncertainty.

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