[CTC] Press statements on today's tariffs announcement

[Arthur Stamoulis]

A few press statements on today’s tariff announcement…


https://m.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2024/usw-applauds-bidens-strategic-redesign-of-china-tariffs <https://m.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2024/usw-applauds-bidens-strategic-redesign-of-china-tariffs>

MAY 14, 2024
USW Applauds Biden’s Strategic Redesign of China Tariffs
Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, jkamm at usw.org <mailto:jkamm at usw.org>, 412-562-2444

PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers union (USW) today welcomed President Joe Biden’s announcement strengthening and strategically redesigning tariffs on Chinese goods as a result of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) Section 301 tariff review.

“The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, and flawed Chinese trade policies have had an outsized negative impact on our members,” said USW International President David McCall. “Now, the Biden administration’s work to strengthen relief measures shows we’re not backing down. Instead, we’re backing up our domestic producers and workers.”

The president will be highlighting the newly redesigned tariffs today at the White House, at an event in which USW members will proudly participate.

“The key to President Biden’s success in building a worker-centered trade policy is his multi-pronged approach,” said USW International Vice President Roxanne Brown. “His administration has been diligently confronting foreign unfair trade using established trade tools to stand up to the unfair and anticompetitive policies of trading partners like China. But just as importantly, President Biden has been strategically using investments here at home to reignite and renew America’s manufacturing capacity.”  

McCall stressed that strengthening America’s manufacturing base requires a comprehensive approach, with no one-size-fits-all solution.

“From the CHIPS and Science Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, from new approaches on outbound investment to today’s tariff announcements and more, President Biden is addressing trade through an integrated set of solutions,” McCall said. “And moving forward, we know this administration will continue to show this same grit and ingenuity in standing up for workers, including the investigation it initiated last month into China’s transportation, logistics and maritime policies.

“President Biden’s comprehensive approach is achieving real results for real workers, promoting economic recovery and fostering a brighter future.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

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https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-international-president-brian-bryant-joins-president-biden-to-announce-increased-u-s-tariffs-on-chinese-goods-in-bold-move-to-protect-u-s-jobs/ <https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-international-president-brian-bryant-joins-president-biden-to-announce-increased-u-s-tariffs-on-chinese-goods-in-bold-move-to-protect-u-s-jobs/>

IAM International President Brian Bryant Joins President Biden to Announce Increased U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Goods in Bold Move to Protect U.S. Jobs

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2024 – Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), joined President Biden for a press conference at the White House to unveil a significant trade policy shift aimed at safeguarding American manufacturing jobs and ensuring national economic security. The United States will quadruple tariffs on Electric Vehicles (EVs) imported from China and increase tariffs on other strategic sectors, including solar manufacturing equipment, due to their importance in our national security and economic stability.

This groundbreaking policy initiative comes as a response to long-standing concerns over unfair trade practices. It is designed to bolster U.S. manufacturing, protect domestic industries, and ensure that the backbone of America’s defense capabilities remains strong and entirely reliant on American labor.

Bryant highlighted the crucial role of American labor and IAM members in maintaining national security and economic vitality. 

“As International President of one of the largest manufacturing unions in North America, I’ve seen first-hand the negative impacts of the Chinese government’s anti-competitive trade practices, such as dumping heavily subsidized imports,” said Bryant. “The IAM has been a leader over the years in sounding the alarm on unfair trade practices that cost North American jobs. Tariffs aren’t an end goal but a very important tool to end trade practices that kill good American jobs and drive down American pay. President Biden’s policies continue to build and grow an economy that benefits working families nationwide.”

Today’s announcement has resulted from years of advocacy against unfair trade practices to level the playing field for American workers and industries.

“The Biden Administration has been willing to challenge the disastrous effects of Chinese economic policies on American manufacturing and trade and enact policies to make a difference,” continued Bryant.

The move is expected to have wide-ranging implications for the U.S. economy, driving growth in domestic manufacturing and reinforcing the United States’ position in strategic industries critical to national security and environmental sustainability.

“We thank President Biden for creating policies that build and grow an economy that works in the best interest of working families,” added Bryant. “We will continue to work with the Biden Administration and Ambassador Tai on rewriting trade rules to benefit working people.”

 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries. 




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https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2024/05/biden-administration-announces-tariffs-chinese-clean-energy-products-boost <https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2024/05/biden-administration-announces-tariffs-chinese-clean-energy-products-boost>

Biden Administration Announces Tariffs on Chinese Clean Energy Products in Boost to American Workers, Industrial Base

May 14, 2024
Contact
Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu at sierraclub.org

Washington, DC – Today, the Biden administration announced <https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/14/fact-sheet-president-biden-takes-action-to-protect-american-workers-and-businesses-from-chinas-unfair-trade-practices/> an increase in tariffs on imported goods from China to protect American workers and grow the domestic clean energy economy. The tariffs are targeted on a range of products that are essential to cleaner vehicles and clean energy, including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, critical minerals, and solar cells.

The tariff increase will help to prevent cheap, high-emissions imports, which are often made with forced labor, from flooding into the United States and squeezing out high-road, domestic clean manufacturers.

In December 2023, the Sierra Club released a report <https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2023/12/new-sierra-club-report-examines-us-eu-trade-policies-industrial> detailing actions the U.S. could take to leverage trade policies, such as tariffs, to fight climate change, create jobs, manufacture more domestically, ensure protections to vulnerable communities, and limit the influence of bad foreign actors polluting for profit. 

In response to today’s announcement, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement: 

“We cannot trade a dependency on foreign oil for a clean energy future reliant upon China. We must continue to invest and build our clean energy future in America. The Sierra Club welcomes the Biden administration’s increase in tariffs on imports from China, which pushes back on its monopolization of clean energy goods, benefitting American workers.

“Eroded by Donald Trump, the U.S.’s global leadership is again centerstage because President Biden is investing in a clean energy economy built by American workers. These climate-forward tariffs make clear to China and allies that countries that make critical products and enforce environmental and labor standards will have a competitive advantage. We look forward to continuing our work with President Biden and Congress to use the full range of trade tools available to repair the damage created by Trump’s actions and unlock the full potential of the Inflation Reduction Act. The swift transition to clean energy will be manufactured in the U.S.” 

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org <http://www.sierraclub.org/>.



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For Immediate Release
Contact: Arthur Stamoulis, (202) 494-8826 or arthur at citizenstrade.org <mailto:arthur at citizenstrade.org> 

Biden Tariffs Another Positive Step for Jobs and the Environment
Statement from Citizens Trade Campaign’s Executive Director Arthur Stamoulis

Washington, D.C. — In response to the Biden administration’s announcement that it is raising tariffs on a variety of Chinese products, including electric vehicles (EVs), advanced batteries and solar cells, Citizens Trade Campaign’s Executive Director Arthur Stamoulis released the following statement:

"These tariff increases will help prevent cheap imports — which are all too often made with forced labor, sweatshop labor or under other unfair conditions — from undercutting quality jobs and sustainable development at home and around the world.  

"Diverse supply chains are crucial to a rapid clean energy transition. As such, the Biden administration’s latest efforts to fight the monopolization of clean energy technologies is the right move for working people and the planet.

"Allowing any single country or region to dominate the production of clean energy technologies like EVs, batteries and solar will eventually lead to higher prices, increased supply chain disruptions, stifled innovation and a fracturing of the coalitions needed for ambitious climate action.

"Like the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act before it, today’s action is another important step towards creating the strong, resilient supply chains required to tackle the climate crisis head on and create jobs in the clean energy economy. Moving forward, further action should be taken to prioritize the production, use and trade of clean energy products and materials made by union workers in facilities and worksites that exemplify the best environmental standards."

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Citizens Trade Campaign is a national coalition of labor, environmental, family farm, faith and consumer organizations working together to improve U.S. trade policy.



Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826


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