SOCMA Signs on to Joint Letter Supporting Quick Action on Miscellaneous Tariff Bill

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Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

Apr 23, 2015, 10:25 ET

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates has joined the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and other trade associations in support of quick action on the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2015, legislation introduced last week in the Senate that would establish a new process by which Congress would consider a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB).

In its ongoing efforts to move forward with a predictable and timely MTB process, NAM drafted a joint sign-on letter to the Senate and House of Representatives, expressing support and asking that they move quickly on the new legislation introduced April 16 by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC). SOCMA, which has long advocated for an improved MTB process, gladly joined NAM and other trade associations in signing the letter.

"We commend Senators Portman, McCaskill, Toomey and Burr for recognizing the importance of the MTB to U.S. manufacturers, as well as their efforts in writing a bill that will improve competitiveness and provide a clear, transparent process for passage of the MTB in the future," said Bill Allmond, SOCMA's Vice President of Government and Public Relations.

"Since the MTB expired on December 31, 2012, SOCMA members and all manufacturers have paid higher costs on raw materials not available in the U.S. that are essential to their businesses," Allmond said. "Without these duty suspensions, the ability for our members to compete in the global market is greatly hindered, and they don't have the additional funds that allow them to invest in new facilities, create jobs, and in the case of specialty chemical makers, invent new chemistries."

This new legislation is a big step toward advancing the MTB process, and we urge Congress to move it forward with other trade bills being considered by congressional committees this week. Now is the time to improve all of our trade processes, where U.S. companies can compete on a level playing field with manufacturers across the globe.

About SOCMA
SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated solely to the specialty chemical industry. For more information: www.socma.com.

Contact:
Jenny Gaines
Senior Manager, PR & Communications
(202) 721-4123

SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates