10% US tariff: TUC urges government to support businesses with stimulus package

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government to allocate a stimulus package for local businesses to help mitigate the effects of the 10 percent tax imposed by the Trump administration.

According to the TUC, without targeted investment, the country could face additional job losses, exacerbating the already pressing unemployment situation.

The Secretary-General of the TUC, Joshua Ansah spoke exclusively with 3news’ Labour Affairs Correspondent, Daniel Opoku, in Accra on April 8.

The Trump administration is moving forward with a wide-ranging implementation of tariffs across the globe. China is facing a 35 percent tax, while the European Union has been slapped with a 20 percent tariff.

In Ghana, a 10 percent tax has been imposed on exported goods, sparking discontent among the public.

The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump has been met with resistance both globally and locally. Business-oriented Ghanaians are now concerned about how they will generate revenue from exports in the wake of these new tariffs.

In response, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has appealed to the government to engage with organised labour on the issue. Mr Joshua Ansah urged the government to consider supporting businesses as a strategic response to the situation.

“I think that this is the time government should support our local industry to produce more, this is the time government should give skills training to workers so that they can stand the test of time”

“This is the time our market must be opened around our own borders so that we can trade among ourselves. When Africans begin trading among ourselves, Americans will become jealous they may relief all the taxes and those things that have been imposed on other countries” he noted.

Mr Ansah emphasized the need for the government to provide support to local businesses to help offset potential job losses.

“If we do, we will create jobs for ourselves, we will be self-sufficient, the cedi to the dollar rate will stabilize,” he noted.

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