Tariffs are affecting the on-site event industry, and the on-site event alliance and its allies are increasing pressure on action against lawmakers.
AV and production equipment, raw materials, decoration, furniture, food and beverages and technology will Wendy Porter, vice chairman of the government lawsuit, saidIRS Live Event Alliance.
“This has brought AV partners, builders, catering providers, venues and planners across the board. Compounding effects are already forcing budget cuts, expanding guard plans and canceling events,” she said.
The center of the coalition’s advocacy is the Trade Review Act of 2025. This is a bipartisan bill that transfers tariff decision-making power to Congress. The bill has been introduced in the House and the Senate. But it still stagnates on the committee.
“To move forward, we need at least four Republican members,” Porter said. “The House only needs a simple majority, but the procedural deadlock is slowing down. Meanwhile, the Senate faces higher obstacles, 60 votes to overcome fillibuster. There are already seven Republican senators and four more senators are needed to improve the bill.”
The goal of the live event alliance is to force voting. “If we succeed, Congress can take back the voice and prevent future unilateral tariff decisions that will harm industries like ours,” Porter said.
The Live Event Alliance urges event professionals to take action by contacting representatives. Platforms like 5calls.org can help. It also creates call scripts to encourage coordinated outreach.
Expand the scope of advocacy
The Exhibition and Conference Alliance (ECA) is also intensifying its advocacy efforts. Its ECA Tariff Resource Center provides real-time updates on trade policy developments, and the ECA advocacy network enables industry professionals to send messages directly to elected officials with ease.
Additionally, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that the state would file a lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trump to use emergency powers to impose tariffs.
The lawsuit will be filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, claiming that Trump used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify tariffs on countries such as Mexico, Canada and China and bypassed Congressional powers.
Newsom’s office believes the tariffs have brought exaggerated costs to California businesses and consumers.
The lawsuit comes days after Newsom urged other countries to exempt California exports from retaliatory tariffs, although no agreement has been reached. In addition to demanding immediate ban on tariffs, the lawsuit has sparked concerns about the long-term impact of federal trade decisions on regional economies and sectors that rely heavily on international supply chains, including business travel and activities.
