ACD Press Release

Arlington, VA – For the first time since 2019, members of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) are convening in person at our nation’s capital for NACD’s Washington Fly-In on July 20-21, 2022. These American companies, many of which are small businesses, will meet with congressional representatives to discuss the importance of renewing two critical trade programs – the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB).

Distributors will also urge Biden Administration officials to open a new tariff exclusion process for chemical products subject to the Section 301 tariffs, initiated during the Trump Administration. Moreover, these business leaders will discuss a variety of impacts that the reimplementation of the superfund tax will have on the supply chain, especially due to sparse guidance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on details for compliance.

Additionally, NACD members will thank their members of Congress for swift work on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) and urge speedy and robust implementation of the overwhelmingly bipartisan bill. Attendees will also reinforce the need for further action by lawmakers and regulators to crack down on bad ocean carrier practices and develop new plans for port infrastructure across the United States.

Chemical distributors deliver the vital formulations used in goods that support everyday life. They also have a significant impact on the U.S. economy. NACD members directly employ over 75,000 people and generate almost $24 billion in direct economic output each year. It’s important that members of Congress understand how policy decisions are impacting the chemical distribution industry and the millions of Americans that rely on it every day. 

“As America deals with increased inflation and supply chain shortages, additional costs imposed by tariffs become even harder to bear for distributors, their customers, and the consumers who eventually foot the bill,” said Eric R. Byer, President and CEO of NACD. “Immediate retroactive renewal of two trade programs that are proven to reduce needlessly high costs on imports and reopening the exclusion process for products subject to 301 tariffs that are not produced or sourced domestically would provide much-needed relief for chemical distributors.”

During the Fly-In, NACD members will also hear from Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL-3), an ardent supporter of American small businesses and their contributions to local economies.

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NACD and its over 400 member and Affiliate companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third party-verified management practice. For more information on NACD, visit www.acd-chem.com.