July 30 (Reuters) - The National Restaurant Association

said it was "extremely concerned" about the possibility of new

tariffs in a letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson

Greer on Tuesday.

Trump earlier in July threatened to impose 30% tariffs on

imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1.

The letter said that a 30% tariff on food and beverage

products from Mexico and Canada would cost U.S. restaurants

$15.16 billion after one year. It urged existing exemptions to

continue for USMCA-compliant goods, and said disruptions to

restaurants' "razor-thin margins" would ultimately lead to

consumers facing higher menu prices.

The letter also said tariffs on Brazil or the European Union

would pose "significant challenges" to the restaurant supply

chain for goods like coffee, beef, and European food, wine and

spirits.

Executives at several large U.S. restaurant chains have said in

earnings calls that they do not expect significant impacts from

tariffs. Yum Brands ( YUM ), the parent company of KFC ( YUM ) and Taco

Bell, has "minimal" risk from tariffs, its Chief Financial

Officer Christopher Turner said in an earnings call at the end

of April. Restaurant Brands International, the parent

company of Burger King, sources the "vast majority" of its goods

within local countries, according to Chief Financial Officer

Sami Sidiqqui.

The National Restaurant Association, which represents more

than 500,000 U.S. restaurants, earlier this year lobbied on

trade policies to U.S. congressional representatives, senators,

the U.S. Trade Representative, and the U.S. Department of

Commerce, according to lobbying reports filed last week.

The letter sent Tuesday echoed one the organization sent in

February to U.S. President Donald Trump that called for an

exemption from tariffs on food and beverage products.