General

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons issued the following statement on the latest trade deals. 

“Today, President Trump, Secretary Bessent and Ambassador Greer delivered a major win for the American people with trade deals that keep the products that power daily life—like coffee, bananas and cocoa—affordable for working families and manufacturers. That’s something to celebrate. Today’s announcement will empower companies in the food and beverage supply chain to bring certain critical ingredients and inputs to the United States in order to enable and expand production at home. 

“The U.S. is the strongest manufacturing power in the world, and thanks to this administration, manufacturers have made bold investments to enhance our ability to produce the essential inputs on our own shores. But just as coffee primarily must be produced elsewhere, the same is true for a range of critical manufacturing inputs and machinery that keep our factories humming and determine whether the next manufacturing dollar is spent in America. Americans run on coffee—and America’s manufacturers run on indispensable materials, machinery and equipment. 

“We’ve had productive conversations with the administration about applying this principle, using the NAM’s U.S. Manufacturing Investment Accelerator Program, to essential manufacturing inputs—such as the critical minerals, industrial machinery and materials that drive our economy and strengthen our long-term ability to make more things in America.  

“Even at full industrial capacity, the U.S. can only produce about 84% of the inputs manufacturers need—meaning at least 16% must be imported for us to build more here at home. That’s why we’ve offered practical, pro-growth solutions that allow manufacturers to bring in non-domestically produced inputs without adding new cost burdens—while rewarding companies that invest, expand and create jobs in America. 

“Manufacturers are expanding capacity in America, and increasing domestic production will strengthen our industrial base and our national security. But tariffs on essential manufacturing inputs raise costs on factory floors, slow investment in new equipment and risk undercutting the president’s efforts to boost U.S. manufacturing output and jobs. 

“The president’s tax, regulatory and energy dominance agendas are designed to stimulate manufacturing investment and job creation here in America. Empowering manufacturers to bring needed inputs, equipment and machinery to America’s shores would supercharge that investment, ensure the success of the president’s agenda and bring new prosperity and opportunity to communities from coast to coast.” 

-NAM- 

The National Association of Manufacturers 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 nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.90 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% 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 NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.