SPI applauds passage of Miscellaneous Tariff Bill

The $427-billion U.S. plastics industry applauded the Senate after it approved H.R. 4923, the American Manufacturing Competitive Act of 2016, by unanimous consent. The bill establishes a new Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) process that America’s manufacturers can use to avoid having to pay tariffs on imported products for which there are no suitable U.S.-based suppliers.

“The last MTB passed by Congress expired on December 31, 2012. Since then, companies have faced an annual $748 million tax hike on manufacturing in the United States, resulting in a $1.857 billion loss to the U.S. economy. As the plastics industry is one that benefits the most from the MTB, SPI: the plastics industry trade association (Washington, DC) has been working hard within a larger coalition of more than 200 businesses and business organizations to educate members of Congress and encourage a legislative path forward.

“It is already 20% more expensive to manufacture in the United States than in the markets of our trading partners. Many countries have either done away with these kinds of tariffs or have MTB-type processes already in place. H.R. 4923 will cut costs to U.S. manufacturers, enabling them to retain and grow critical manufacturing jobs here, while significantly improving our competitive position abroad,” stated SPI in a press release.

“America’s plastics companies consistently produce the highest-quality, most technologically advanced plastic products and materials in the world. With the enactment of H.R. 4923, we no longer have to imagine the heights to which these innovative companies and individuals could rise if given the chance to compete on a level playing field globally. Now, after what we hope is a quick signature by President Obama, we need only wait and see.”

SPI member Milliken & Co. vocalized its support for the bill and its success in the Senate. “Milliken employs 6,000 men and women in the United States and manufactures polypropylene clarifiers and nucleators for use in the packaging, food storage and container markets. Because the raw materials needed are not produced in the United States, we have relied on the MTB process to reduce our overall costs and improve our global competitiveness,” said Allen Jacoby, Global Business Manager for Milliken & Co. in Spartanburg, SC. “Thanks to past MTBs, we’ve been able to add jobs in South Carolina and grow our chemical business.”