Manufacturers Urge Senate Action On Duty-Suspension Measure

ByJohn S. McClenahen A coalition of 60 U.S. manufacturing companies and associations is urging the Senate to act now on a bill (S. 671) that would selectively eliminate tariffs on components that aren't made in the U.S. "On Jan. 1, 2004, all duty suspensions that had been in place expired," notes Scott Otteman, director of trade policy at the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Manufacturers, a coalition member. "What this means, quite simply, is that the cost of doing business for U.S. manufacturing operations all across the United States just went up. [And] this makes it that much harder for these companies to stay competitive." The House of Representatives has already passed similar legislation.