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Washington, D.C. – 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) Vice President of International Economic Affairs Linda Dempsey testified at today’s U.S. Trade Representative on the proposed Section 301 tariffs. Dempsey’s testimony focused on the U.S.–China trading relationship and reiterated 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons’ call for the Trump administration to pursue a bilateral trade agreement with China.

The Section 301 investigation has certainly raised the level of focus, here and in China, that we hope it will provide just the opening to move forward aggressively on a strategic new approach, Dempsey said in her testimony. As 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons explained in a letter to the president on January 8, the most effective path forward is a comprehensive and strategic approach that has at its core a modern, innovative, bilateral trade agreement that restructures our economic relationship with China. While tariffs may provide short-term relief to some, we are hearing regularly and broadly from manufacturers across the country who are deeply concerned about the harmful, albeit unintended, impacts that the imposition of proposed tariffs would have on manufacturing and jobs.

�������������to read Dempsey’s prepared oral testimony.

Last month, Dempsey����before a����on market access challenges in China, where she also advocated an enforceable, rules-based bilateral trade agreement between the United States and China.

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The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

Washington, D.C. – 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the kickoff of the sixth annual Infrastructure Week:

It’s time to build. We cannot have a true 21st-century economy relying on 20th-century infrastructure. So, this week, manufacturers are helping lead the charge for bold investment in our nation’s infrastructure, allying with people from across the political spectrum and urging Congress to act, said Timmons. Infrastructure is one of the rare issues that enjoys widespread support, so there’s no reason for delay or inaction. And with our ’ agenda, manufacturers have charted the way forward. Like tax reform, a significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure has the power to supercharge manufacturing in America by improving our competitiveness while also making our families and communities safer. Manufacturing jobs are at risk—and our standing in the world is threatened—every day we delay. When we invest in our roads, bridges, ports, pipes, power grid, telecommunications and so much more, we’re investing in America’s manufacturing workers and in our nation’s future.

The Fertilizer Institute President Chris Jahn, who serves as chairman of the 51�Թ���’s Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA), will participate in a panel discussion on rural infrastructure investment as a part of the kickoff event being held at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station. The full program will be livestreamed here:��

The 51�Թ��� is a member of Infrastructure Week’s Steering Committee, which also includes the AFL-CIO, American Society of Civil Engineers, Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, Building America’s Future, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Value of Water Campaign. More information can be found at��

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��The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

Washington, D.C. –��51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the announcement that Mike Sommers will become the next President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API):

Mike Sommers is absolutely the perfect person to lead the oil and gas industry and the American Petroleum Institute to the next historic chapter. Mike is a highly respected public policy professional and successful association leader, and he has earned the respect of elected officials, business leaders and his colleagues because of his commitment to bipartisanship, solutions and integrity.

As the nation’s largest consumer of energy, manufacturers care deeply about secure, affordable and reliable energy supplies. And those who manufacture energy products are proud of the jobs they create. Mike’s years of experience, including service on Capitol Hill and in the White House, will provide him the vision for the next generation of innovation and job creation in this critical industry.

Having worked with Mike and seen him in action for many years, I appreciate his unwavering commitment to advancing not just the business agenda, but also the values that keep America exceptional—free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity. I look forward to his leadership at API, and manufacturers are thrilled to welcome him as the newest CEO member of the 51�Թ���’s Council of Manufacturing Associations.

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The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

Washington, D.C. –��BTE Technologies President, 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) Executive Committee member and Small and Medium Manufacturers (SMM) Group Vice Chair Chuck Wetherington testified on behalf of the 51�Թ��� at today’s��House Small Business Committee hearing��on the state of trade for the United States. Wetherington’s��testimony��called for negotiating and implementing market-opening, high-standard and enforceable trade agreements, restoring the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank to full functionality and improving U.S. market and export promotion assistance.

Any outcomes from the ongoing NAFTA modernization negotiations must sustain and grow higher-paying American jobs and fuel U.S. manufacturing production, exports and competitiveness, Wetherington said in his written testimony. To be successful, a renegotiated NAFTA must also be fully consistent with the substantive Trade Promotion Authority trade-negotiating objectives contained in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. At the same time, it is vital to ensure that any renegotiation does not set back U.S. manufacturing or manufacturing jobs. Changes to NAFTA that would increase red tape and complexity, substitute government decision-making for the free market or raise taxes, tariffs, merchandise processing fees and other cost barriers—including with respect to rules of origin or concerning restricted access to foreign procurement markets—will undermine, rather than incentivize, manufacturing in the United States and North America more broadly.

Click here to read Wetherington’s full written testimony.

Wetherington’s testimony at the Small Business Committee comes the same day as 51�Թ��� Chief Economist Chad Moutray testifies at a����on unleashing America’s economic potential and 51�Թ��� Vice President of International Economic Affairs Linda Dempsey testifies at a�� on market access challenges in China.

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The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.