Join Us: No New Tariffs on Food & Alcohol
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The Trump Administration is conducting a review of action in regards to what is often called “the Airbus dispute” and
proposing tariffs of up to 100% on food and alcohol products from the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK)
including seafood, cheese and other dairy products, ham, certain fruits and fruit products, pasta, coffee, olives and olive oil, chocolate, potatoes, baked products, wine, sparkling wine, whiskey, beer, gin, brandy, and vodka, among other food products. If enacted, the tariffs would have a significant impact on restaurants and the products we import, profoundly affecting our supply chains and operations.
These tariffs are in response to disputes with the EU over large civil aircraft and that are completely unrelated to the food and beverage industries.
If the tariffs go into effect, thousands of restaurants and every part of our supply chain associated with these products will be severely impacted.
Tell the Administration through the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to eliminate tariffs and not impose any new tariffs on these essential products and resolve this issue without harming our nation’s restaurants and the millions of customers they serve.
The deadline for comments from our industry is this
Sunday, July 26
.
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Tomorrow Morning - Webinar on Practical Solutions for Payments, Menus, and More
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Join the IRA and panelists from SpotMenus by BrandMuscle, Modjoul, and Heartland on
Thursday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m.
for a webinar providing practical ways for operators to meet these challenges regarding offering menus to guests, providing contactless payment, screening employees, and more. Get tips, ideas, and new solutions to reopen safely and successfully.
This webinar is provided in partnership with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative.
**Este seminario web se transmitirá en inglés y español.**
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Consent/Agreement Required by Third Party Delivery Services Ordinance Introduced
Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd) has introduced an ordinance in the Chicago City Council that would prohibit third party delivery services from soliciting orders for prepared food from a food dispensing establishment without first entering into a valid and fully executed agreement with the food dispensing establishment.
Furthermore, the ordinance prohibits third party delivery services from distributing any menu, company name, logo, or any trademark for a food dispensing establishment without first entering into a valid and fully executed agreement with the food dispensing establishment.
Fines for noncompliance would be not less than $10,000 and not more than $30,000 for a first offense. Each day, and each improper listing, would constitute a separate offense.
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Chicago City Council Passes Ordinance to Extend Business Licenses Until October 30, 2020
Earlier today, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance introduced by former IRA Chairman Alderman Tom
Tunney
(44th) that creates a three month extension for Chicago business licenses. Under the ordinance, businesses licensed under Title 4 and Title 9 or emerging business license permit under the Chicago Municipal Code will have until October 30, 2020 to renew their permit or license.
The IRA is fully supportive of this ordinance, and we thank Alderman
Tunney
for his efforts to support Chicago's business community.
Click here
to read the ordinance. The ordinance is now in effect.
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Chicago Bars Must Close for Indoor Service, Restaurants Limited to Six Per Table, Effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 24
Earlier this week, Mayor Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced a re-tightening of COVID-19 restrictions for bars, restaurants, gyms and personal services as a precautionary move in response to a recent increase in community cases of the virus.
The reinstatement of certain restrictions will go into effect
Friday, July 24 at 12:01 a.m.
, in order to allow businesses time to prepare. Restrictions related to restaurants and bars include:
- Restaurants that serve alcohol will be allowed to continue to operate for indoor service as long as they abide by ongoing COVID-19 guidance and existing regulations.
- Current capacity restrictions remain in place for all restaurants - 25% occupancy per room - or 50 people per room (whichever is fewer).
- Maximum party size and table occupancy at restaurants, bars, taverns and breweries will be reduced to six people.
- All table seatings for indoor service, outdoor service, and private venues are limited to six people per table.
- Bars, taverns, breweries and other establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption without a Retail Food license will no longer be able to serve customers indoors.
- Establishments without food may still provide outdoor service as they did under Phase III.
Click here
to review the current Phase IV guidelines for restaurants in the city of Chicago.
Read more:
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Make Your Voice Heard by Sending a Message to Congress - Pass the Blueprint for Revival
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Later this month, Congress will consider their final coronavirus response bill for 2020. From the beginning of this pandemic, the IRA and National Restaurant Association have
led the charge
for a comprehensive solution for our industry. We have made steady progress, but Congress needs to do much more for the nation’s second-largest private-sector employer.
By the thousands, you responded to our survey identifying the priorities you need for this industry. By a 50/50 tie vote, you identified a $120 billion recovery fund and a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding as the top goal we should pursue in our advocacy agenda. We are strongly supporting the RESTAURANTS Act - a $120 billion restaurant recovery fund - proposed by
Senators Wicker and Sinema
in the Senate.
We heard you – and we are proud to release our new
Blueprint for Revival
for the industry.
It represents a strong, far-reaching plan for how Congress can advance restaurants in every city and town in this country.
Tell Illinois' Congressional leaders to support restaurants and employees by passing the Blueprint for Restaurant Revival.
Please
take one minute
to share your story and lend your voice to this campaign. Every voice counts.
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IDES Notice Regarding Quarterly Statements
Due to the volume of unemployment insurance claims resulting from the pandemic, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will be unable to mail employers the quarterly Statements of Benefit Charges (for taxable employers) and Statements of Amount Due for Benefit Charges (for reimbursable employers).
Therefore, all employers will be able to view the Statements for the Second Quarter 2020, along with instructions and a protest form, on their
MyTax.Illinois.gov
account when they are posted on August 14.
All employers will be mailed a notice on July 22 asking that they sign up for a MyTax account. This notice will state that the Statements will "only" be delivered on MyTax.
This is incorrect.
A second notice will be mailed on August 10 with instructions on how to receive a duplicate paper copy of the Statement through the mail, though due to the lengthy nature of the Statements, IDES is asking that employers do not request a duplicate paper copy unless necessary.
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IRA Email Frequency Update
The IRA is committed to A+ communications, especially during this time of crisis and constant change. We have been providing a daily update most days since mid-March.
We listen carefully to our members, and want to make sure we are offering content you need. We put together a survey asking members “How often do you want IRA updates?”.
The highest number of votes from members requested updates
three times per week.
Effective this week, we plan to provide a detailed report each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
We will increase the frequency if needed and continue to provide updates as needed, including on our social media channels and on our website.
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Please
visit our website
for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business. Updated as of 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22.
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THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS
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