Why Congress Should Cook Up a New MTB
Kitchens across America are missing a key ingredient: a new Miscellaneous Tariff Bill.
What鈥檚 going on: SCHOTT North America鈥攁 subsidiary of the German specialty glass, glass ceramics and high-tech material manufacturer鈥攑roduces CERAN glass-ceramic cooktops at its facility in Vincennes, Indiana, where it employs more than 140 workers.
- To manufacture the cooktops in Indiana, the company must first import 鈥済reen glass鈥濃攖he glass-ceramic material that is refined and finished for use in appliances鈥攚hich is not available in the U.S.
- However, heavy import tariffs on green glass make it much costlier for SCHOTT to manufacture these cooktops in the U.S., while fully processed cooktop panels that are finished abroad and then imported are not taxed.
That鈥檚 why the 17吃瓜在线 is calling on Congress to pass a new MTB as soon as possible. Trade policies should help companies in the United States become more competitive, not less.
What鈥檚 the MTB? The MTB temporarily eliminates or reduces tariffs on more than 1,500 different products not available in the U.S. Congress typically renews the MTB every few years with bipartisan support, but the last MTB expired in December 2020, increasing costs for manufacturers nationwide.
- For SCHOTT North America, the MTB鈥檚 expiration has led to significantly higher costs for the past three-and-a-half years.
Action needed: To help SCHOTT and other manufacturers in the same predicament, the 17吃瓜在线 has been urging lawmakers to pass the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Reform Act, which would renew the MTB through the end of 2025 and offer retroactive duty relief back to the beginning of 2021.
- Since the lapse of the last MTB, manufacturers have paid more than $1.5 billion to get materials they cannot source in the U.S., according to an .
- While SCHOTT North America has maintained its workforce at the Vincennes site, these growing costs have interfered with the company鈥檚 plans for expansion.
- 鈥淲e employ about 140 people at the site to process green glass, but the potential is there to hire more and do more鈥 if an MTB were in place, said Tim Kiger, general manager for SCHOTT North America in Indiana.
No other options: Melting the specialty glass in the U.S. isn鈥檛 an option at this time, according to Jim Purcell, SCHOTT North America鈥檚 international trade compliance manager.
- 鈥淧roducing green glass here in the United States would be incredibly expensive and technically difficult to do,鈥 he said. 鈥淭o build a melting operation in the U.S. would take a long time.鈥
A voice in Congress: Back in October, Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), whose district is home to the Vincennes facility, urged colleagues in the House Ways and Means Committee to advance a new MTB in the name of fairness.
- 鈥淭he MTB ensures that American producers like SCHOTT are not penalized for importing inputs that are not produced in the United States, and levels the playing field against similar finished products being imported from China,鈥 said Rep. Bucshon.
The last word: SCHOTT North America hopes that the MTB legislation, which is sitting in the House, will soon be enacted.
- The financial relief offered by a new MTB 鈥渨ould be almost immediate,鈥 Kiger said.
- Added Purcell, 鈥淭he MTB is a good mechanism to 鈥 conserve savings. In the global market right now, any cost savings helps you stay competitive.鈥
Corporate Tax Rate: A Q&A with Rep. Carol Miller
The 17吃瓜在线 recently talked to Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), the head of the House Ways and Means Committee鈥檚 Supply Chain Tax Team, about how raising the corporate tax rate would 鈥渄evastate鈥 manufacturers, and what she and her colleagues in Congress are doing to keep it where it is.
17吃瓜在线: Rep. Miller, Congress is facing a 鈥淭ax Armageddon鈥 next year, as crucial provisions from 2017鈥檚 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire. As the leader of the Ways and Means Supply Chain Tax Team, what is your focus moving into next year鈥檚 debate?
Miller: In all the meetings I have with Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and stakeholders, it鈥檚 clear that the corporate rate is top of mind for everyone. We are all concerned that if the corporate rate is raised from 21%, consumers will be hit the hardest by the rising prices of everyday goods and services. I know for capital-intensive industries like mining, having a consistent tax rate is essential. I鈥檓 also focused on how energy tax credits are implemented and making sure that the government isn鈥檛 picking winners and losers by their rulemaking. During the reauthorization, my Supply Chains Tax Team will be evaluating the various energy credits currently in law to see what works and what needs tweaking.
17吃瓜在线: Prior to 2017, the United States鈥 corporate tax rate was 35%, the highest in the OECD and third-highest in the world. Tax reform lowered the rate to 21%, aligning the U.S. with the average rate elsewhere in the OECD. What does it mean for Congress to protect this lower rate, and what would happen if it goes up?
Rep. Miller: If the corporate rate goes up, it would be devastating for every American, from the small business owner to the CEO who is trying to expand their business. The corporate rate rising means there will be higher prices while the U.S. struggles to compete on the global scale. The best thing we can do in Congress is cement the corporate rate at 21%鈥攐r better yet, lower it even more鈥攖hrough the TCJA reauthorization in 2025.
17吃瓜在线: In 2018, the year the 21% corporate rate took effect, manufacturers created more than 260,000 jobs (the best year for job creation in 21 years) and increased wages by 3% (the best year for wage growth in 15 years). What else is the Supply Chain Tax Team seeing on the impact of the corporate tax rate as they visit with businesses around the country?
Rep. Miller: We鈥檝e only seen positive impact from the corporate rate being lowered. When the pandemic hit and the markets were falling due to uncertainty and instability, the lower corporate rate gave companies more flexibility to help their employees and keep costs low instead of paying the government sky-high taxes. The lower corporate rate protected jobs, helped produce more economic growth and makes all the difference for American families who are struggling with inflation. Furthermore, the lower rate led to higher federal revenues since companies were able to expand and invest so heavily following the passage of the Trump Tax Cuts.
17吃瓜在线: Thank you for being a champion for manufacturers across the country. What can our members do to stay involved and be a resource for your tax team鈥檚 work?
Rep. Miller: Spread the word to those who might not know why the corporate rate is so important. The majority of Republicans are on the same page about this, but some think that in order to bring down inflation, you need to raise taxes on businesses. That is not true. Prices only go down if costs for companies go down, and the corporate rate is an effective way to do that while simultaneously boosting the American economy.
Rep. Miller: Keep Corporate Tax Rate Low
Unlike many other pro-growth tax reform provisions, the corporate tax rate isn鈥檛 set to expire at the end of 2025, but some policymakers and President Biden have proposed increasing it.
The 17吃瓜在线 recently talked to Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), the head of the House Ways and Means Committee鈥檚 Supply Chain Tax Team, about how raising the corporate tax rate would 鈥渄evastate鈥 manufacturers, and what she and her colleagues in Congress are doing to keep it where it is.
鈥淒evastating for every American鈥: Raising the corporate tax rate from its current, competitive 21% rate would be ruinous, Rep. Miller said. She鈥檚 focused on preventing that from happening.
- 鈥淚f the corporate rate goes up, it would be devastating for every American, from the small business owner to the CEO who is trying to expand their business,鈥 Rep. Miller told us. 鈥淭he corporate rate rising means there will be higher prices while the U.S. struggles to compete on the global scale. The best thing we can do in Congress is cement the corporate rate at 21%鈥攐r better yet, lower it even more鈥攖hrough the [2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act] reauthorization in 2025.鈥
- Prior to tax reform, the U.S. had the highest corporate tax rate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development at 35%, and the third-highest rate in the entire world, harming America鈥檚 ability to attract manufacturing investment.
The effect of 21%: Rep. Miller emphasized that the U.S. economy has 鈥渟een only positive impact from the corporate rate being lowered.鈥
- 鈥淲hen the pandemic hit and the markets were falling due to uncertainty and instability, the lower corporate rate gave companies more flexibility to help their employees and keep costs low instead of paying the government sky-high taxes,鈥 she went on. 鈥淭he lower corporate rate protected jobs, helped produce more economic growth and makes all the difference for American families who are struggling with inflation.鈥
- In 2018, the year the 21% rate took effect, manufacturers more than 260,000 jobs and were able to raise wages by 3%, the fastest pace in 15 years.
What manufacturers can do: To help preserve the 21% corporate tax rate, manufacturers should be vocal about its importance to the U.S. economy.
- 鈥淪pread the word to those who might not know why the corporate rate is so important,鈥 Rep. Miller concluded. 鈥淪ome think that in order to bring down inflation, you need to raise taxes on businesses. That is not true. Prices only go down if costs for companies go down, and the corporate rate is an effective way to do that while simultaneously boosting the American economy.鈥
Get involved: The 17吃瓜在线鈥檚 鈥淢anufacturing Wins鈥 tax campaign gives manufacturers the opportunity to share their tax reform stories with policymakers. You can join the campaign at .
Learn more: Our full interview with Rep. Miller is available .
Timmons: Industry Resilient, but Action Needed
Despite mixed market signals in recent weeks, the U.S. economy is strong and manufacturing is resilient鈥攂ut Congress must take certain steps to maintain the industry’s competitiveness, 17吃瓜在线 President and CEO Jay Timmons Fox News host Neil Cavuto Monday.
What鈥檚 going on: When lawmakers return from their August recess next month, they should prioritize several tax provisions, Timmons said.
- 鈥淲hen 鈥 Congress goes back, we鈥檝e got to deal with interest deductibility, and we鈥檝e got to deal with the research-and-development ,鈥 he continued. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to deal with . Those are things that have expired.鈥 These measures and others are top priorities in the 17吃瓜在线鈥檚 tax campaign, .
- Other manufacturing-critical tax provisions are scheduled to expire or be reduced drastically at the end of next year, including the and estate-tax deductions. What鈥檚 more, 鈥渃andidates on both sides of the aisle 鈥 are talking about raising taxes on businesses,鈥 Timmons said. Individual tax rates and tax rates on manufacturers that operate globally are also at the end of 2025.
Regulatory onslaught: Manufacturers are also struggling with a 鈥渞egulatory burden that is driving up the cost of doing business,鈥 Timmons told Fox News.
- 鈥淲e have restrictions on our ability to develop energy sources here, and we have a ban on exports of natural gas. All of those things lead to potential downsides in the economy.鈥
- The vast majority of Americans exporting natural gas, a March 17吃瓜在线 poll found, but the Biden administration鈥檚 indefinite pause on permits to export liquefied natural gas, imposed in January, continues.
Hopeful outlook: 鈥淭here is a 鈥 very positive sense among manufacturers that if we do the right things on the policy front, we鈥檙e going to continue [the] expansion in the sector,鈥 Timmons added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to continue the record investments that we鈥檝e seen, the record job growth and the record wage growth in the sector.鈥
17吃瓜在线: Don鈥檛 Rush Proposed Reforms in Mexico
Mexican President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador proposed a sweeping package of amendments to Mexico鈥檚 constitution back in February. Now, with President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum set to take office in less than two months, manufacturers want to know whether and how the changes will happen.
What鈥檚 going on: 鈥淥ver the last 10 years, manufacturers in the U.S. have dramatically expanded facilities and operations in Mexico, totaling over $25 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department,鈥 said 17吃瓜在线 Director of International Policy Dylan Clement at the recent Wilson Center event 鈥.鈥
- 鈥淲hen manufacturers invest, they sink large amounts of capital鈥攍iterally鈥攊nto the ground, which is costly to relocate once built,鈥 he continued. 鈥淲e do not pretend to know how the judicial reform will play out 鈥 [but] manufacturers are fearful of the risk associated with enacting sweeping changes to the judicial system in Mexico on such a short timeline.鈥
- Sheinbaum, who will be Mexico鈥檚 first female president, and her Morena party won a landslide election in June.
What鈥檚 been proposed: The constitutional amendments set forth include eliminating government oversight and regulatory agencies, including Mexico鈥檚 freedom-of-information body, INAI, and its anti-trust agency, COFECE, and requiring all Mexican judges鈥攊ncluding Supreme Court judges鈥攖o be elected by popular vote, according to the 听补苍诲听.
- Several of the amendments appear to violate Mexico鈥檚 obligations under the U.S.鈥揗exico鈥揅anada Agreement.
Why it鈥檚 important: Mexico is America鈥檚 largest trading partner, and 鈥淸a]t the end of the day, manufacturers want to partner with Mexico to help it prosper economically, grow its industrial capacity and enhance its self-sufficiency,鈥 Clement said鈥攂ut the broad revisions set forth by L贸pez Obrador and other worrying developments in Mexico have the potential to damage the critical relationship and undo important recent gains.
- The proposed changes to Mexico鈥檚 judicial system could erode the checks and balances within Mexico鈥檚 government, politicize judicial outcomes, undermine the rule of law and result in higher levels of corruption throughout Mexico.
- For investors, these challenges would be compounded by the USMCA鈥檚 weakened investor state dispute-settlement mechanism, which requires foreign investors to聽go through Mexico鈥檚 domestic court system before seeking a neutral arbitration panel via the USMCA.
In sum, the constitutional amendments carry the risk of greatly complicating the upcoming review of the USMCA, which the U.S., Canada and Mexico will conduct in 2026.
- Ultimately, any erosion of the business climate in Mexico will harm the attractiveness of Mexico as a destination for manufacturers seeking to 鈥渘ear-shore鈥 their supply chains closer to the U.S.
What should be done: 鈥淔or these reasons, the 17吃瓜在线 would caution against rushing the judicial reform through in September, given that it will have an impact on Mexico鈥檚 investment climate for decades to come and many questions about it remain unanswered,鈥 Clement concluded. 鈥淚t is better to get this right than done quickly.鈥
17吃瓜在线 to Congress: Allow Manufacturers to Keep Innovating
The 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 and its 2021 follow-on, Cures 2.0, are providing a pathway toward potentially groundbreaking cures and treatments鈥攂ut there鈥檚 room for even more improvement in the federal government鈥檚 handling of pharmaceutical innovation, the 17吃瓜在线 this week.
Now, Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) are looking to build on the legacy of these two bills.
The background: The 21st Century Cures Act, introduced in 2015 by Rep. DeGette and former Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and signed into law the following year, aimed to speed up the development and delivery of medical innovation.
- The 2016 measure 鈥渆nsured that federal agencies like the [Food and Drug Administration], the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Institutes of Health had the tools they needed to keep pace with and adapt to the tremendous advances being made by biopharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers,鈥 said 17吃瓜在线 Vice President of Domestic Policy Charles Crain.
- Cures 2.0, passed after the global pandemic, created the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, 鈥渁 home within the federal government for high-risk, high-reward medical research.鈥
New medical advances: The face of medical innovation 鈥渉as changed dramatically鈥 in the past eight years, Crain pointed out, as we鈥檝e seen the first-ever federal approval of gene therapy and the development of vaccines using mRNA technology.
What鈥檚 needed: The new landscape necessitates more congressional action, Crain went on, including:
- Continuing to embrace the new technologies that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic like mRNA and other innovations;
- Modernizing federal agencies such as the FDA to keep up with these innovations; and
- 鈥淸E]nsuring the government鈥檚 processes for reviewing and approving new treatments are as innovative as the treatments themselves.鈥
Why it鈥檚 important: Biopharmaceutical manufacturers are . In 2021, they:
- Accounted for $355 billion in value-added output to the U.S. economy;
- Contributed a total of nearly 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs; and
- Contributed $147 billion in labor income.
The Corporate Tax Rate, Explained
The 17吃瓜在线鈥檚 2025 tax campaign, 鈥,鈥 is focused on preserving tax provisions critical to manufacturing in the U.S. One of those is the corporate tax rate, which the 2017 tax reform lowered from 35% to a globally competitive 21%.
The 17吃瓜在线 recently released a on the current corporate rate, emphasizing why it鈥檚 crucial to U.S. manufacturing鈥檚 competitiveness on the world stage.
The background: Prior to 2017, the U.S. corporate tax rate was 35%, the highest among our peers in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the third-highest rate in the entire world鈥攎aking the U.S. an outlier and harming its ability to attract manufacturing investment.
- Tax reform lowered the corporate rate to 21%, aligning the U.S. with the average rate elsewhere in the OECD.
The benefits: Reducing the tax burden on manufacturers led to increased investment throughout the U.S., job creation, wage growth and overall economic expansion.
- In 2018, the year the lower rate took effect, manufacturers had their best year for job creation in more than two decades, creating more than 260,000 positions and increasing wages by 3%鈥攖he fastest pace in 15 years.
- 17吃瓜在线 surveys conducted prior to tax reform found that nearly 80% of manufacturers were struggling with unfavorable business conditions like high taxes鈥攁 figure that dropped to just 12% following the reduction in the corporate rate.
What鈥檚 at stake: Although the corporate tax rate is not set to expire at the end of 2025, as other pro-growth provisions are, President Biden鈥檚 fiscal year 2025 budget called for an increase to 28%.
- This proposal would return the U.S. to one of the highest corporate tax rates in the developed world, resulting in fewer jobs, lower wages, less innovation and reduced investment in our communities.
What should be done: 鈥淢anufacturers are calling on Congress to preserve tax reform in its entirety鈥攊ncluding the 21% corporate tax rate,鈥 the 17吃瓜在线 said.
- 鈥淐ongress should maintain a globally competitive corporate rate鈥攅nabling manufacturers to continue leading on the world stage while driving innovation and job creation here at home.鈥
Tax Bill Scheduled for Thursday Vote
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has scheduled a procedural vote on a bipartisan tax package, though the bill鈥檚 fate remains uncertain.
What鈥檚 going on: The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act would restore expired tax policies that reduce the cost of manufacturers鈥 investments in R&D, equipment and machinery. Ahead of Thursday鈥檚 vote, the 17吃瓜在线 these policies 鈥渧ital to manufacturing workers and America鈥檚 economic future.鈥
- Immediate R&D expensing: Prior to 2022, manufacturers in the U.S. could fully deduct their R&D expenses in the year those expenses were incurred. But in 2022, first-year R&D expensing expired, making R&D investments significantly more costly, particularly for small and medium-sized manufacturers.
- Enhanced interest deductibility: Also in 2022, a new standard took effect limiting the amount of interest manufacturers can deduct on business loans, making it more expensive for them to invest in growth and expansion.
- Accelerated depreciation: In 2023, 100% accelerated depreciation鈥攚hich allows manufacturers to immediately expense the full value of their capital equipment purchases鈥攂egan phasing down, meaning these vital investments are now more costly for manufacturers.
What to expect: Thursday鈥檚 procedural vote requires 60 votes in the Senate, a difficult hurdle.
What鈥檚 next: Immediate R&D expensing, enhanced interest deductibility and 100% accelerated depreciation are top priorities in the 17吃瓜在线鈥檚 . As Congress prepares to address scheduled expirations of other policies from the 2017 tax reform next year, the 17吃瓜在线 will continue to call for restoration of these important pro-growth incentives.
The last word: 鈥淐ompetitive tax policy is critical to manufacturers鈥 ability to compete on the world stage and create jobs here at home,鈥 said 17吃瓜在线 Vice President of Domestic Policy Charles Crain. 鈥淐ongress should restore expired pro-growth tax policies and act to prevent even more devastating tax increases scheduled for 2025.鈥
Small Manufacturers: Save the Pass-Through Deduction
A critical tax deduction for small businesses is set to expire at the end of 2025, and manufacturers are as part of the 17吃瓜在线鈥檚 鈥淢anufacturing Wins鈥 tax campaign.
Increasing the tax burden: Courtney Silver, president and owner of Concord, North Carolina鈥揵ased Ketchie, recently emphasized the importance of the pass-through deduction. As an S corporation, Ketchie is one of the many small manufacturers that are eligible for this 20% deduction created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
- Silver, who chairs the 17吃瓜在线鈥檚 Small and Medium Manufacturers Group, warned that the expiration of this provision, along with the planned increase in individual tax rates, will 鈥渄ramatically increase the tax burden on small manufacturers like Ketchie.鈥
Decreasing competitiveness: The disappearance of the pass-through deduction would make American companies less competitive on the world stage, predicted Austin Ramirez, president and CEO of Husco, a Waukesha, Wisconsin鈥揵ased maker of hydraulic and electromechanical components for on- and off-highway vehicles.
- 鈥淭he loss of the TCJA鈥檚 small business provisions would severely hamper our growth trajectory,鈥 he said.
- 鈥淭he combination of an increased tax rate and the loss of the pass-through deduction would be especially damaging, tilting the playing field against Husco and other pass-through manufacturers.鈥
Damaging supply chains: 鈥淢any small manufacturers are organized as pass-throughs, including most of [our] key suppliers,鈥 said Chuck Wetherington, president of BTE Technologies in Hanover, Maryland.
- 鈥淎 tax increase on pass-throughs would have a damaging, disproportionate impact on the manufacturing industry.鈥
Discouraging entrepreneurs: Competitive tax policy is personal for small manufacturers like Hannah Kain, who founded ALOM Technologies out of Fremont, California. 鈥淟ike many immigrants before me, I came to the U.S. for opportunity,鈥 Kain said.
- 鈥淪ince I started the company in 1997, we have reinvested every dollar we made into growing the company. 鈥 I personally see how hard it is for entrepreneurs鈥攁nd especially minorities鈥攖o start the type of company that must make big investments in equipment, space, inventories and so much more.鈥
Reducing growth: 鈥淸The 2025 tax hikes] will affect manufacturing businesses like ours and make it more difficult for us to hire more employees, raise wages and drive growth for our business,鈥 said Lee Dougherty, a mechanical engineer at Madsen Steel.
- 鈥淲e need our representatives in Congress to do their part by stopping these tax hikes so that we can continue to invest in our community and the future of our business.鈥
What you can do: Manufacturers willing to share their own stories about the need to preserve key tax reform measures can visit or email the 17吃瓜在线鈥檚 tax team to get involved.
17吃瓜在线 Calls for Oversight on the CPSC
Manufacturers have long been partners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission鈥攚orking with the agency to keep the public informed and protected鈥攂ut a lack of transparency at the CPSC in the past few years has stymied businesses鈥 attempts 鈥渢o understand how [they] will be regulated,鈥 the 17吃瓜在线 the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce ahead of a hearing Tuesday.
What鈥檚 going on: The 17吃瓜在线 has regularly called for congressional oversight of the CPSC in recent years. Ahead of the 鈥淔iscal Year 2025 Consumer Product Safety Commission Budget鈥 subcommittee hearing, the 17吃瓜在线 highlighted several areas of concern for legislators to address:
- Section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act: 鈥淢anufacturers strongly support maintaining the crucial, balanced and effective information disclosure procedures currently mandated in the Consumer Product Safety Act,鈥 said 17吃瓜在线 Vice President of Domestic Policy Charles Crain. 鈥淯nfortunately, in recent years, the CPSC has attempted to circumvent these standards, releasing statements that lack any scientific data or research or by taking actions without official agency rulemaking.鈥
- Effective communication of rulemaking and research with regulated businesses: Despite a CPSA requirement that the agency defer to voluntary standards in certain safety-measure compliance cases, 鈥渢here are recent examples of the agency commencing a proposed rulemaking in an apparent rush to regulate.鈥 The agency has also begun unnecessarily withholding from manufacturers the test reports and analysis they need to create voluntary standards, while giving manufacturers 鈥渞educed time 鈥 to implement proposed and final rules.鈥
- Public engagement by CPSC commissioners and staff: 鈥淥ne of the benefits of a small federal agency with multiple commissioners is the availability of聽commissioners and senior staff to meet with interested parties on relevant topics,鈥 Crain continued. 鈥淯nfortunately, in recent years, the CPSC has been less willing to engage in productive conversations with regulated entities.鈥
The last word: 鈥淚t is critical that the CPSC effectively communicate and work with manufacturers to ensure that our shared goal of consumer safety is maintained,鈥 said Crain. 鈥淭he 17吃瓜在线 will continue engaging with both the CPSC and Congress to see that the agency is effectively engaging with the manufacturing community.鈥