The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will publish on Dec. 23 a formal notice that it will not extend the exclusion from 25 percent tariffs for Chinese plastic injection molds granted on December 28, 2018. The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) strongly supported this reinstatement of the tariffs and applauds the Trump administration for heeding the calls of the more than 150 American mold builders who filed comments supporting the tariffs.

“This is an important victory for AMBA, its members and all small downstream manufacturers who have felt the pressure from China for years,” said Kym Conis, managing director of the AMBA. “The Trump administration is doing what others have not – standing up to China. It heard our members loud and clear – the U.S. mold building industry has the capacity and expertise to fill any orders placed,” she continued.

The AMBA filed comments in November urging the administration to reinstate the 25 percent tariffs that it first imposed on Chinese plastic injection molds in July 2018, then suspended for twelve months on December 28, 2018. The USTR issued its decision not to extend  the plastic injection molds exclusion for another twelve months today ahead of the December 28, 2019, deadline. , It followed an overwhelming response from American mold builders, which stated they have the capacity, technical expertise and ability to deliver any molds ordered.

“Today’s action by the Trump administration shows that manufacturers can make a difference when they stand up and are heard by policymakers in Washington,” stated Conis. “With over 1,400 mold builders in this country and nearly $500 million in open capacity, America’s mold builders, with the tariffs back in place, now can compete on more equal footing,” she added.

The Office of the USTR received 152 formal comments from mold builders and other stakeholders in support of reinstating the tariffs out of over 180 filed specific to “Carveout 3,” plastic injection molds (Harmonized Tariff Schedule Code 8480.71.8045).

The AMBA looks forward to working with the Trump administration and continuing to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S., making sure American mold builders continue to provide thousands of jobs across this country and supply plastic injection molds for decades to come.