Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Dennis Slater issued the following statement in response to the United States Trade Representative's announcement to impose tariffs on goods from China:

Equipment manufacturers are very concerned about the continued deterioration of the U.S.-China trade relationship. The 1.3 million jobs supported by our industry depend on unfettered access to global markets - including China - for success.

While we support any effort to restore equity and fairness in our trade relationship with China, imposing taxes on equipment used by construction workers and farmers across the country is not the way to achieve those ends.

Our industry has been consistent and clear about the negative impact tariffs will have for equipment manufacturers and America's agriculture sector. Tariffs will also wipe out the economic benefits of the tax cut package the President signed late last year.

We will raise our concerns with the administration in the coming days, and look forward to working with them to make sure that the equipment manufacturing industry's voice is heard on the U.S.-China trade relationship.

Note: AEM released a TV ad earlier last month discouraging steel tariffs.