Raskin Seeks Records on $5 Million Donations Behind Tariff Cuts

The average U.S. household will pay $820 in new tariff costs this year, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wants to know why specific industries got out of that bill. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Raskin accused the administration of using trade rules to reward donors.

Raskin is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. He previously led Democrats on the House oversight committee. He wrote that the administration cut "sweetheart deals" with companies that won carve-outs from new import taxes. He called this practice the "Trump Tariff Discount."

The new tariffs were imposed in July under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The government says the duties target foreign forced-labor practices. The taxes apply to more than 80 countries and cover nearly all U.S. imports. Critics argue the move was a way to replace the broad "liberation day" duties that the Supreme Court struck down in February.

Raskin pointed to three specific exemptions. First, Brazilian meat. U.S. cattle producers opposed the exemption because of forced labor in Brazil and a surge in imported beef. Trump met with Brazilian billionaire Joesley Batista in late August. The next day, the U.S. agreed to allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports. JBS's U.S. subsidiary, Pilgrim's Pride, gave $5 million to Trump's 2024 inaugural fund. That was the largest corporate donation of the year.

Second, diamonds. Raskin called this exemption "laughably indefensible" because the Labor Department lists diamonds as goods produced with forced or child labor. The Antwerp World Diamond Center gave Trump a gold ring with 321 natural diamonds in June. The gift honored the 250th birthday of the United States.

Third, smartphones. Chinese-made devices are exempt even though the industry is known for abusive working conditions. Apple executive chairman Tim Cook reportedly gave $1 million to the inaugural fund in 2025. Apple also gave $25 million to the White House ballroom project. That ties for the largest contribution to that fund.

The letter also covers Dominican sugar. Trump lifted forced-labor restrictions on Central Romana last year despite ongoing abuse allegations. Owner Pepe Fanjul hosted a $50 million fundraiser for Trump in 2024. His family corporation gave $1 million to a pro-Trump PAC.

Raskin asked the White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for communications regarding these exemptions. He set a deadline of Nov. 11. A White House official said the administration only considers the best interest of the American people. The USTR did not respond to a request for comment.