Trade

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons today continued manufacturers’ call to secure the best deal possible for manufacturing workers in America:

Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction. It is a positive signal that some form of NAFTA will survive. Manufacturers accept the administration’s position that the 25-year-old NAFTA agreement needs updates. Our hope—for the sake of our workers and a successful manufacturing industry here in America—is that the final agreement will include all three of the original signatories: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Because of the massive amount of movement of goods between the three countries and the integration of operations which make manufacturing in our country more competitive, it is imperative that a trilateral agreement be inked.

Regarding the negotiations with Mexico, we are pleased that, at the NAM’s urging, today’s framework seems to include content requirements that are more workable than previous suggestions, investment protections for some industries (we would prefer that it applies to all manufacturers), stronger intellectual property protections than negotiated in previous agreements and a modernized approach to how we operate in a digital age. It also does not include language incorporating the disruptive uncertainty of ending the agreement every five years (sunset provision) and instead establishes a rigorous review process.

Reaffirming our relationship with such a vital trading partner, neighbor and ally is crucial and sends a powerful message as America confronts China’s unfair trading practices.

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The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President for Labor, Legal and Regulatory Policy Patrick Hedren released the following statement on the White House memorandum issued Thursday instructing the administration to work to eliminate unfair rules that essentially subsidize shipments from China and other countries that operate in the global postal system:

Manufacturers have struggled in recent years with the rapid growth of counterfeit goods pouring in to the country through the U.S. postal system from countries like China. This problem is fueled by heavily subsidized shipping rates and it displaces American innovators from online marketplaces, said Hedren. The NAM has been working for months to address the terrible Universal Postal Union deal that results in these unfair rates, and to raise awareness of the growing threat from counterfeit goods—and even drugs—entering the country. Manufacturers are pleased to see that this issue has been elevated to the very highest levels in the Trump administration, and that the president himself has instructed key members of his Cabinet to take the initial tough steps to finally fix this broken system. Manufacturers look forward to working with the administration to finally end the subsidy China receives from the U.S. Postal Service and to create an environment with fair and nondiscriminatory shipping around the world.

In April, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons sent a letterto Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who leads the President’s Task Force on the United States Postal System (USPS), stressing the importance of ending the subsidy China receives from the USPS.

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The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the Senate Banking Committee’s unanimous vote to advance the nomination of Kimberly Reed to be president of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the United States.

Kimberly Reed is the qualified leader manufacturers need at the helm of the Ex-Im Bank, and the full Senate should confirm her without delay. In Kimberly Reed, President Trump has put forward a nominee who shares his belief in the mission of the Ex-Im Bank. Every senator who supports American manufacturing workers should support Kimberly Reed.

The Senate also needs to act on President Trump’s three nominees to the Ex-Im Board of Directors. Once Kimberly Reed is confirmed, she’ll need a quorum to implement reforms and get the Bank fully functioning again—empowering manufacturers of all sizes to compete in the global economy and win deals and jobs for American workers.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C.– With trade talks resuming between the United States and China today, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement and negotiating objectives for an agreement:

With the president’s demonstrated commitment to engage China on its well-established trade abuses and cheating, there is no better time to get the right deal done to curb these practices. We agree with the administration that Beijing has long reaped the rewards of unfair trade practices at the expense of American workers, which is exactly why manufacturers have been calling for the negotiation of a fair, bilateral, enforceable, rules-based trade agreement to stop those practices at their foundation. The administration has put itself in a position to address the deep-seated challenges that exist in our trading relationship with China, and manufacturers are encouraged that the United States has succeeded in getting China back to the table for negotiations.

In January of this year Timmons and the NAM, in a letter to the president, urged the administration to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with China. Now that talks are scheduled, Timmons urged that they need to start bearing fruit, because “the costs of a sustained trade war have the potential to be devastating for America’s manufacturers and workers.” Timmons pointed to a three-point framework released by the NAM ahead of this week’s talks that outline manufacturers’ priorities to be included in any trade agreement between the two countries:

• Ending Unfairness: End Chinese Anti-Competitive Activities and Market-Distorting Barriers
• Protecting U.S. Assets: Protect U.S. Intellectual Property, Products and Investments 
• Raising Standards: Raise and Modernize Regulations and Regulatory Practices to Ensure Transparency, Fairness and Accountability

Achieving these objectives will help to level the playing field for manufacturers in the United States, opening critical markets for exports that support good, high-paying manufacturing jobs here at home while eliminating Chinese practices that unfairly boost their companies at the expense of ours and distort global markets.

Click here to read the full negotiating objectives framework.

Timmons first raised the need for such an agreement in a January letter to President Donald Trump and he reiterated this call in a May op-ed on CNBC.com. The NAM has also testified before Congress this year on the need for the administration to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement rather than pursue an escalating cycle of tariffs and retaliation.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the implementation of an additional $16 billion in U.S. tariffs on China:

This announcement underscores that the administration needs to get Beijing back to the negotiating table, as manufacturers have been urging for months.

Two things are abundantly clear to manufacturers: China cheats, and another round of tariffs on China will not fix the problem. As the administration rightly notes, China attempts to force U.S. companies to hand over valuable technology, restricts foreign investment, distorts the free market to give their own companies an advantage, undercuts us in the global economy and steals manufacturers’ intellectual property. While these additional tariffs may be an attempt to create more leverage, they also increase the risks for manufacturing in America and add to mounting uncertainty. We are already seeing price increases that will be felt by consumers and working families, and additional retaliatory tariffs could close major markets off to U.S. exports. Manufacturing workers are feeling the pain of tariffs, as are American consumers. If the point is to put pressure on China to change its actions, tariffs paid by American businesses and consumers are simply not effective.

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The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the unanimous passage of H.R. 4318, the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) Act of 2018, by the U.S. Senate:

This is a significant step forward for manufacturers, who, along with other businesses, are losing nearly $1 million every day until this bill becomes law, said Timmons. Right now, manufacturers are hit with costly, senseless taxes any time they buy products or supplies that aren’t available in the United States. It makes no sense because it is a direct and punishing tax on making things in America and for creating jobs in America. This bill ends that unfairness and helps manufacturers in the United States better compete for business with companies in China, Europe and elsewhere. Manufacturers need Congress to get this done—to level the playing field and secure the jobs of American manufacturing workers. We urge the House to act quickly, pass the Senate version of the bill and get it to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

In November, the NAM welcomed the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the MTB legislation, and in January, the NAM praised House passage of an earlier version of the bill as a “big deal for manufacturers.” In March, the NAM released a blog on the benefits of the MTB for manufacturers and led a letter of 216 business organizations urging Congress to boost manufacturing by passing the MTB. Click here for testimonials from manufacturers in America on the importance of passing the MTB.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the Senate Banking Committee’s hearing regarding Kimberly Reed’s nomination for president of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the United States:

There can be no doubt that Kimberly Reed will make an outstanding leader of the Ex-Im Bank. Like President Trump, she believes in the agency’s mission and recognizes its critical importance to manufacturing’s success in America. With her experience and expertise at the helm of the Ex-Im Bank, our industry and our country will undoubtedly be more competitive in the global economy. Manufacturers need Reed and the other nominees confirmed so we can regain a competitive advantage in the fight for jobs and business.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the release of a list of an additional $200 billion in Chinese products to be hit with tariffs:

The last thing America’s manufacturing workers need is an escalating trade war. America has China’s attention, so instead of more tariffs, the U.S. and China should immediately begin working toward a fair, bilateral, enforceable, rules-based trade agreement to end China’s market-distorting activities. We can’t afford to wait any longer.

China cheats, and manufacturers want to see China held accountable. But more tariffs like these will punish America’s manufacturing workers—and could undermine our hard-won gains thanks to tax and regulatory reform, which have increased our global competitiveness over the last 18 months and led to higher investment and more American jobs.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Click Here to Watch the Interview

Timmons on China’s Unfair Trade Practices

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The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. –National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement after the announcement of new U.S. tariffs on China and Chinese retaliatory tariffs on the United States:

For too long, China has reaped the rewards of unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft, exploiting loopholes in decades-old agreements. In the absence of a modern, enforceable agreement, China cheats. Manufacturers want to see the administration get China back to the negotiating table as soon as possible in order to pursue a trade agreement that will redefine the U.S–China economic relationship for the better. We now have an unparalleled opportunity to stop these practices at their root, through a strategic approach that includes the negotiation of a fair, bilateral, enforceable, rules-based trade agreement by an administration that champions manufacturing.

Tariffs, though, have not and will not solve the existing problems in China. Tariffs will bring retaliation and possibly more tariffs. No one wins in a trade war, and it is America’s manufacturing workers and working families who will bear the brunt of continued tariffs. Manufacturers in the United States succeed when the rules are clear and fair and markets are open. The United States has China’s attention, and we must seize the moment and soon.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.