In recent days, the executive order introducing new reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners has led to significant concern within the U.S. business and professional events industry.
These tariffs will increase costs for business and professional event organizers, exhibitors, and attendees alike. Moreover, these tariffs will particularly harm small businesses, which account for 99% of industry companies and 80% of all exhibitors.
This year, the exhibitions and events industry is on track to employ 2.63 million Americans and drive $426.1 billion in spending nationwide. That is why IAEE and ECA oppose these new tariffs, which will negatively impact our collective ability to drive economic growth, support job creation, empower small businesses, and help to solve our most urgent societal challenges.
IAEE will continue to work with its members, partners, and other key stakeholders in Washington, DC to advocate for trade policies that will strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. business and professional events industry going forward and allow us to continue to serve as a growth engine for the U.S. economy.
IAEE also encourages industry leaders and advocates to share their concerns with their policymakers through the ECA Advocacy Network’s email action center. In addition, ECA has also established the ECA Tariff Resource Center on the ECA website with the latest news impacting the industry.
About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Convention News Television (CNTV), eShow, Freeman, GES | onPeak, Grit Productions and Expositions, IMEX, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Risk Strategies Company | Buttine Insurance, Snöball and Swapcard. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.
About the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading professional and industry associations comprising the unified advocacy voice of the business and professional events industry. To learn more about ECA and its work to advance the interests of the industry, please visit https://www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org/.
###
Media Inquiries:
Mary Tucker
IAEE Sr. Communications & Content Manager
+1 (972) 687-9226
mtucker@iaee.com
Tommy Goodwin
ECA Vice President
+1 (703) 672-0780
tommy.goodwin@exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org
