Industrial equipment maker Illinois Tool Works Inc. spent $200,000 in the second quarter to lobby Congress on trade policy for manufacturing, intellectual property rights and other topics, according to a recent disclosure filing.
That's 41 percent less than the $340,000 that the company spent in the April-June period last year. It spent $213,000 in the first quarter of this year.
Illinois Tool said it met with House and Senate staffers to discuss trade policy supporting manufacturing competitiveness and possible trade retaliation by Brazil in a dispute over subsidies paid to U.S. cotton farmers.
Brazil was poised to impose tariffs on many U.S. goods, but the two countries signed a deal in April to temporarily stave off any Brazilian sanctions.
Illinois Tool also lobbied on patent legislation and tobacco tax stamp technology, according to the disclosure report filed on July 13.
