Contact: Libby Newman
NewmanL@aiada.org
(703) 519-7800
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2018
AIADA Statement on Senator Portman’s Trade Security Act
Dealers Support Efforts to Reform Section 232 Authority
Alexandria, VA (August 2, 2018) – The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today offered its support for the Trade Security Act introduced yesterday by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). The legislation would reform Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to better align the statute with its original intent as a powerful trade remedy tool for the president and Congress to respond to genuine threats to national security.
“AIADA appreciates this thoughtful and vital legislation from Senators Portman, Jones, and Ernst,” said AIADA President and CEO Cody Lusk. “Preventing the misuse of Section 232 tariffs as a blunt negotiating tactic is crucial to both our national and economic security. Small businesses, like dealerships, are not national security threats – treating them as such threatens hundreds of thousands of American jobs, billions of dollars in auto sales and repairs, and auto investment here in the U.S.”
America’s 9,600 international nameplate auto franchises, many of which are family-owned businesses, employ more than 577,000 Americans, resulting in a payroll of $32 billion and an additional 527,000 indirect jobs. Dealers represent the retail side of an international auto industry that has invested $75 billion in U.S. operations and more than doubled its production in the U.S. over the past 15 years. In 2016, 5.5 million vehicles were built by Americans at these factories. While most of these vehicles were sold to American consumers, 925,000 of them were exported to over 140 countries. For more on the impact of America’s international nameplate dealers on our economy visit AIADA.org/our-impact.
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About AIADA
Established in 1970, AIADA is and continues to be the only association whose sole purpose is to represent America’s international nameplate automobile franchises that sell and service the following brands in the United States: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Scion, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. These retailers have a positive economic impact both nationally and in the local communities they serve, providing over 577,000 American jobs. Visit AIADA online at www.aiada.org.
