ST. LOUIS — Wes Smith, President and CEO of the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), issued the following statement following President Trump’s plans to levy 25% tariffs on imports to the United States from Canada and Mexico, which have been temporarily suspended:
“The electrical distribution industry is a vital conduit between electrical equipment manufacturers and electrical contractors.
“Our network of more than 5,500 distributor locations and warehouses across every state and Congressional district employs more than 500,000 Americans with great careers that are essential to building and powering America’s homes, businesses, industrial facilities, and data centers.
“We recognize that the President has used tariffs as a tool to rebalance trade practices, encourage domestic manufacturing, and achieve other policy objectives.
Regardless of this, we stand ready to work with the Trump Administration and Congress to find the right balance on trade and tariff policies that expand domestic energy production, promotes a resilient supply chain, and helps ensure our grid is strong enough to reliably support our growing economy.”
WASHINGTON — NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips today issued the following statement in response to the Administration’s announcement of 25% tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% tariff on U.S. imports from China:
Tagged with Biggest News, economy, government relations, NAED, NEMA, tariffs“The U.S. electroindustry powers our economy with essential products that electrify and connect our nation’s grid, manufacturing facilities, homes, businesses and mobility systems.
“The U.S. electroindustry supports the goals of American energy independence, onshoring of critical manufacturing and energy supply chains, and a secure and resilient grid. Over the past seven years, the electroindustry has invested tens of billions of dollars in new and expanded U.S. manufacturing and created thousands of new jobs for American workers across the country.
“The U.S. electroindustry is the third largest U.S. exporter and second largest U.S. importer of manufactured goods and relies on one of the most complex global supply chains of any U.S. industry.
“The electroindustry has taken major steps to reduce reliance on Chinese imports since 2018, decreasing China’s share of U.S. imports of electroindustry goods from 28.2% to 17.9%, while significantly growing electroindustry trade across North America by 36% spurred by USMCA.
“We look forward to working with the Trump Administration to further strengthen USMCA, including its enforcement and ensuring it incentivizes new investments and jobs in the United States.
“Introduction of tariffs should carefully consider their unique impact on critical manufacturing sectors that support our shared goals of increasing American energy production, growing domestic manufacturing, and delivering a secure and reliable electric grid.
“Today’s action to impose 25% tariffs on most goods imported from Canada and Mexico will assess annual duties of approximately $2.7 billion on U.S. imports of electroindustry goods from Canada and $14.7 billion on U.S. imports of electroindustry goods from Mexico. The action to impose an additional 10% tariff on most goods imported from China will assess annual duties of approximately $4.4 billion on U.S. imports of electroindustry goods from China.
“NEMA looks forward to actively engaging with the Trump Administration and Congress on trade and tariff policies that support our shared objectives while promoting the electroindustry’s growth and competitiveness.”