Equipment manufacturers support Phase One Deal with China, but call for further removal of tariffs

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers president Dennis Slater issued the following statement after the United States and China signed the Phase One Deal as part of ongoing trade negotiations:

"We applaud the U.S. and Chinese governments for agreeing to this first milestone in the trade negotiations," said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. "As the two sides continue these significant conversations, we encourage them to continue to work in good faith, reaching the second phase of negotiations and the removal of all tariffs. These levies hurt American equipment manufacturers, farmers, and families and make the cost of doing business more expensive. They also make it harder to create new jobs and add to the 1.3 million jobs our industry already supports. AEM hopes this agreement will pave the way for the elimination of the remaining tariffs and increase U.S. exports to the Chinese market. As American voters look toward the November election, the economy and health of the equipment manufacturing industry is weighing heavily on their minds. Creating lasting economic prosperity and a pro-growth trade environment is paramount."