Businesses Boost D.C. Lobbying Amid Trump's Trade Policies

Companies have significantly increased their lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., to navigate the trade policies implemented by President Donald Trump, especially his tariff agenda. A report from Advancing American Freedom (AAF), a group associated with former Vice President Mike Pence, highlights a 239% rise in mentions of tariffs in lobbying disclosures during the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2024. The total spending reported in these filings saw an even larger jump of 337%, though this figure might encompass lobbying on various issues beyond just tariffs.

Rachel Greszler, the author of the AAF report, noted that businesses are directing funds towards lobbyists to secure exemptions from tariffs. This spending, she suggested, could otherwise be used for business expansion, hiring new employees, or increasing wages. The report also found that fourteen organizations spent over $1 million on lobbying in the third quarter, a considerable increase from just two in the corresponding quarter of 2024. Additionally, 105 organizations spent more than $100,000, up from 26 two years prior.

While President Trump has defended tariffs as a strategy to bolster U.S. manufacturing and attract jobs, an AAF analysis estimated approximately 75,000 fewer manufacturing jobs in the first year of tariffs and up to 1 million fewer jobs nationwide than expected under previous trends. Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York also estimated that tariffs contributed 2.9 percentage points to the prices of consumer goods they examined. Small businesses, which may lack the resources to hire lobbyists for tariff exclusions, could face pressure to reduce operations or close entirely, according to Greszler.