Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt publicly defended President Donald Trump’s tariffs as a way to protect American manufacturing, while her office privately sought tariff exclusions for several Alabama companies that said the policies were creating financial and supply-chain problems.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board reported this week that emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show Britt’s legislative director, Stephen Newton, contacted the U.S. Trade Representative’s office in April 2025 seeking relief for four companies: TNT Fireworks, aluminum recycler Novelis, wood-panel manufacturer Kronospan and Airbus.

The requests cited potential effects on Alabama jobs and investment. Britt’s office said Airbus was struggling to move forward with a planned third final assembly line in Mobile because of the impact of trade policy. The requests for the other companies similarly cited difficulties involving imported materials, specialized equipment and supply chains.

The issue is notable because Britt later publicly defended Trump’s tariff strategy. Following the Supreme Court’s February 2026 ruling against certain Trump tariff actions, Britt wrote that the tariffs “work” and argued that American jobs and manufacturing should not be displaced by cheaper foreign goods.

Britt’s office has defended the requests as part of the senator’s responsibility to advocate for Alabama businesses. In a statement, the office said Britt has consistently supported the administration’s broader effort to rebalance trade while also providing feedback on how tariff policies affect individual companies and projects.

The senator has continued to publicly focus on Alabama manufacturing. In June 2026, Britt and Sen. Tim Scott introduced legislation aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of American manufacturers operating in foreign-trade zones, saying the measure would help Alabama’s automotive and aerospace industries compete internationally.

The USTR office indicated that it did not have an active exemption process when Britt’s staff made the April 2025 request, and it remains unclear whether any of the companies ultimately received tariff relief.