More Than 60 U.S. Mold Manufacturers Rally to Keep China Tariffs

Earlier this summer, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requested comments on the continuation of Section 301 tariffs on China, prompting an immediate call-to-action from the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA). In response, over 60 comments were filed from mold and die makers who support keeping the 25% tariffs in place on tooling, dies and plastic injection molds.

This request was prompted by a noticed published on May 5, 2022, informing supporters of continuing the tariffs to file comments in their first step in the statutory four-year review process of the Section 301 tariffs on China. In response to the received comments, the USTR confirmed on Sept. 2, 2022, that it will issue a notice in the near future about proceeding with a full review of the Section 301 trade actions.

“This overwhelming show of support from the U.S. mold, tool and die industry for continuing the tariffs on Chinese imports sends a clear message to officials in Washington, D.C. that the tariffs are helping these American companies,” Kym Conis, managing director of the AMBA, says. “The plastic injection mold manufacturers especially have demonstrated that they have the ability to meet current and future demand and are calling on the Biden administration to keep the Section 301 tariffs on molds, dies and tooling in place.”

The industry-wide support was demonstrated on Sept. 16, 2022, when the USTR released the names and comments filed by individuals in support of the 25% and 7.5% tariffs on over 10,000 imports from China. In total, 358 comments were submitted, just under 20% of which were mold and die makers.

“In 2019, AMBA members and other manufacturers filed more than 150 comments and succeeded in calling on the USTR to reinstate the tariffs on plastic injection molds from China,” Conis adds. “This industry is organized and mobilized to stand up to China’s trade practices and will urge the Biden administration to keep in place this important trade tool.”

The Sept. 2, 2022, notice stated that the U.S. government will keep the 25% and 7.5% tariffs in place while it conducts the review. The AMBA says it will again work with mold builders and other tool and die manufacturers to demonstrate the capacity and capability of U.S. industry to meet demand.