Plumbing Manufacturers International CEO Kerry Stackpole Testifies on Adverse Impacts Expected from Latest Section 301 Tariffs

Washington, D.C. – Aug. 23, 2018 – Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole testified today before the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the unfavorable and consequential impacts that Section 301 tariffs of up to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of products imported from China are expected to have on U.S. plumbing manufacturers, the economy, and consumers.

Dozens of plumbing-related products and components are included on this most recent list (known as List 3). The $200 billion list also targets furniture, cabinets, lighting products, chemicals, plastics, seafood, and variety of metal components and machinery. If the tariffs are implemented, PMI expects them to result in significant supply chain disruptions and increased costs that would have a detrimental impact on American plumbing manufacturers and their workers, on the construction sector, and on retailers and consumers, Stackpole testified.

While PMI supports Trump Administration actions to hold China accountable for their intellectual property violations, Stackpole said imposing tariffs on a broad range of products coming from China, most of which have no connection to the identified violations, will simply mean higher prices for consumers. PMI opposes the imposition of new tariffs at either 10 or 25 percent. Stackpole’s full testimony is available on the PMI website.

Furthermore, the number of objections to the proposed duties speaks volumes about the damage that additional tariffs will do. The hearing, which started on Aug. 20 and is scheduled to run through Aug. 27, includes more than 350 witnesses from a broad cross-section of U.S. businesses. More than 1,500 comments have already been submitted to the docket. Formal written comments on the third list of tariffs are due Sept. 5.

About Plumbing Manufacturers International

Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) is the voluntary, not-for-profit international industry association of manufacturers of plumbing products, serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member companies produce 90 percent of the United States’ plumbing products. As part of its mission, PMI advocates for plumbing product performance and innovation contributing to water efficiency and savings, sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer satisfaction. PMI’s members are industry leaders in producing safe, reliable and innovative water-efficient plumbing technologies. PMI members manufacture water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads and other products at more than 70 locations in 25 states and that are sold in home improvement stores, hardware stores and showrooms and online. For more information on PMI, contact the organization at 1750 Tysons Blvd., Ste. 1500, McLean, Va., 22102; tel.: 847-481-5500; fax: 847-481-5501. www.safeplumbing.org.

Media contact: Ray Valek, ray@valekco.com, 708-352-8695