MEMA meets with White House staffers

Updated Mar 31, 2017

As part of its comprehensive efforts to advance tax reform, to promote balanced trade policies, and to support U.S. manufacturing jobs, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) met recently with White House senior staff members of the National Economic Council (NEC). 

MEMA says the meeting aimed to address issues of top importance to motor vehicle parts suppliers including trade, tax reform, and regulatory reform. The meeting also served to create greater awareness among the Trump administration of the motor vehicle parts supplier industry, which manufactures and remanufactures parts, components, and systems for use in passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles and represents the largest manufacturing sector in the U.S., directly employing more than 871,000 Americans.

 “Suppliers play a leading role in job creation and investment growth and are a major contributor to the national economy,” says Steve Handschuh, MEMA president and CEO. “For this reason, our participation in discussions like this regarding free trade agreements and tax reform is critical.”

“We felt that they were eager to learn about our industry and to have our input,” adds Bill Long, MEMA executive vice president of Government Affairs and president of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). “This was an important opportunity to establish a working relationship with the Trump administration and to articulate the significant the economic impact our industry has on the American economy.”

During the meeting, MEMA’s team sought a better understanding of the timing and process for changes the Trump administration may be considering regarding review of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). MEMA says the meeting also addressed: the need for corporate tax reform; support of manufacturing jobs in the U.S.; and how a proposed border adjustment tax could impact the motor vehicle supplier industry, including original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket parts manufacturers.

MEMA says this began the first of many expected conversations with Trump administration officials in the coming weeks on these issues. MEMA and its four specialized divisions recently announced they are aligned with the goals of the Trump administration and Congress to strengthen America’s global manufacturing competitiveness and to create more American jobs. To reach these goals, MEMA supports a simplified, more predictable tax code that would generate investment, economic growth, and job creation in the United States.

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