MEMA Testifies Before House Ways And Means On Negative Impacts Of Tariffs

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) continued its efforts to educate legislators and the Trump administration on the negative impacts of tariffs on the motor vehicle supplier industry during testimony today before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means.

The hearing was focused on the effects of tariff increases on the U.S. economy and jobs and included testimony from several organizations affected by tariffs.

“MEMA supports the administration’s agenda to assure free, fair, and reciprocal trade and a level playing field for all Americans. Our industry counts on a strong domestic steel and aluminum industry and has long supported aggressive policies to protect intellectual property rights (IPR) and enforce IPR laws here in the U.S. and around the globe,­ including in China. However, MEMA is very concerned about the adverse impact on manufacturing jobs resulting from the sections 232 and 301 tariffs,” said Ann Wilson, MEMA senior vice president of government affairs, during the testimony.

“I wanted to take the opportunity today to connect the dots. I know all of you have heard repeatedly that the vehicle industry counts on a global marketplace,” continued Wilson. “But our industry also counts on regulatory and market certainty. Our industry buys the vast majority of its steel and aluminum domestically but imports specialty materials as well as finished parts. Often, these imports are manufactured further and made into other parts, subcomponents or systems by U.S. workers at facilities all over the country. This allows the U.S. supply chain, as part of the global economy, to be competitive and prosperous, creating hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs.”

In written testimony submitted to the committee, MEMA again asserted that tariffs could negatively impact motor vehicle parts suppliers.

“MEMA supports the administration’s efforts to strengthen our nation’s economy. However, MEMA is very concerned about the adverse impact on manufacturing jobs resulting from the Sections 232 and 301 tariffs. The combined impact of these tariffs has thrown many of our member companies close to a financial crisis and has made some of them question their future investments in the U.S. Tariffs will have a negative impact on these manufacturers, the jobs they create and ultimately the American consumer. MEMA urges this committee to work with the administration to reset our discussions with our trading partners to pursue our joint goal of free and fair trade.”

The formal testimony is just one piece of an extended effort in Washington to limit the impacts of tariffs on MEMA members. For more information on the impact on suppliers and MEMA’s efforts on trade, click here.