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AFS-supported workforce legislation signed by President Trump
Commerce Department Outlines Process for Seeking Exclusions from Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
The U.S. Department of Commerce formally announced its procedures for companies seeking exemptions from the Trump administration’s recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum product imports. The department will start accepting exclusion requests on Monday, March 19, 2018 from U.S. businesses that use the metal in manufacturing cars, trucks, construction, food packaging, beverage packaging, or other commercial activities.
President Trump Imposes Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Metalcasters Concerned with Potential Rise in Metals Prices, Impact on Their Customers & Loss of Orders
On Thursday, March 8, President Trump officially signed two proclamations enacting tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum. The tariffs are set to take effect on March 23, 2018, and contain an initial exemption for Canada and Mexico, as the administration seeks broader trade concessions from both countries as it renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
AFS offers Members resources to attain compliance with OSHA’s Silica Rule before the June 23rd deadline
American Foundry Society members have full access to a wide array of resources designed to guide them toward compliance with OSHA’s new, more restrictive, crystalline silica rule:
OSHA electronic injury and illness data now due by Dec. 31
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced on Dec. 18 that they will continue accepting the 2016 OSHA Form 300A data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) until midnight on Dec. 31, 2017.
EPA to end "Sue and Settle" Practice
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced on October 16, 2017 that EPA would end the practice of regulation through litigation to resolve legal challenges to Agency actions and inactions known as “Sue and Settle.” Administrator Pruitt indicated that the “Sue and Settle” process “undermines the fundamental principles of government,” including: “(1) the importance of process, (2) adherence to the rule of law, and (3) the applicability of cooperative federalism.”
AFS Supports EPA's Action to Repeal the Clean Power Plan
On October 10, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to repeal the Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants. EPA presented the rule to the public as designed to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing utilities. AFS has argued that the rule would hurt U.S. metalcasters with dramatically increased energy costs.
AFS Testifies on Burdensome Regulations in Washington, D.C.
Testifying at the 2017 National Regulatory Fairness Hearing at the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of the National Ombudsman on Aug. 28, Brad Muller, AFS’ Government Affairs Chairman and Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co., urged action on OSHA’s silica rule, and other onerous rulemakings and policies.
Rep. Cheri Bustos Tours Galesburg Castings
Bustos serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the Agriculture Committee.