April 27, 2022

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today urged Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative, and the Biden Administration to fully and comprehensively restart and reform the Section 301 exclusions process in a way that has clear eligibility standards for applicants, is transparent, and is fair to all who apply. NEMA companies play a crucial role across all sectors of the economy including transportation systems, building systems, utilities, and medical-imaging technologies. NEMA remains staunchly committed to fostering American innovation and creating high-paying domestic jobs.

However, electroindustry companies continue to experience the twin pressures of supply chain disruptions and increased costs, even as they work to play a critical and positive role in the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Ongoing supply chain difficulties continue to disrupt domestic production, increase costs for consumers and delay deliveries of critical products. A restart and reform of the Section 301 tariff exclusions process would help eliminate key bottlenecks at a crucial time for U.S. manufacturing.

You can read the full letter here.

The following quote can be attributed to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) President and CEO Debra Phillips:

“The Biden Administration and Congress have taken historic action to bolster American manufacturing through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, inflationary costs continue to permeate through our supply chains. That’s why we’re calling on the Administration to restart and reform the Section 301 tariff exclusions process and ensure clear eligibility standards and fair practices. Section 301 tariffs currently represent millions of dollars in annual impacts on NEMA companies. Introducing a robust and transparent exclusion process that continues to safeguard domestic supply chains can help ease inflationary pressures for consumers and businesses at a critical time.”