Alabama Senator Katie Britt privately asked Trump for tariff relief for local firms

While championing President Donald Trump’s tariff policy in public statements, Senator Katie Britt’s office quietly sought relief for specific Alabama manufacturers. An email sent in April 2025 by Stephen Newton, the senator’s legislative director, asked the U.S. trade representative to carve out exemptions for TNT Fireworks, Novelis, Kronospan and Airbus’s Mobile assembly line. The USTR indicated that it does not currently operate an exemption mechanism, so it is unknown whether any relief was granted.

Months later, following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the tariffs, Britt posted on X that the tariffs “work” and were kept in place by the Biden administration. The contrast between her public endorsement and private lobbying raises questions about the practical impact of the tariff regime on local industry. The episode highlights the tension between political rhetoric and the economic realities faced by manufacturers in the state.