Equipment Manufacturers Alarmed by Tariffs on Aluminum and Steel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Association of Equipment Manufacturers Senior Vice President Kip Eideberg issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on aluminum and steel: 

“Equipment manufacturers are alarmed by the Trump administration’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum, which will further escalate trade tensions and add to global economic uncertainty. This round of tariffs, and the retaliatory tariffs that will follow, will raise the price of steel and aluminum domestically and drive up the cost of manufacturing equipment in America. 

We have been clear about the damage that tariffs on critical manufacturing inputs will inflict on equipment manufacturers and the 2.3 million men and women who build equipment in America. Tariffs have already contributed to higher input prices, disrupted supply chains, and created uncertainty for equipment manufacturers. The decision to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States will significantly drive up the cost of producing equipment in the United States by as much as 7 percent and put American jobs at risk..

While we strongly support the Trump administration’s goal of strengthening our trade relationships and creating fair and favorable terms for America, tariffs will disrupt supply chains, threaten market expansion, place unnecessary strain on customers, and undermine our global competitiveness. We stand ready to work with the Trump administration to bolster American strength, including extending the successful Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and unleashing American energy security, and restoring the dignity of manufacturing work.