Nathan Frampton, CEO of Fanimation, has urged the lighting industry to take action against a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, which he believes will negatively impact both businesses and consumers. While tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada have been paused, the tariff on goods from China remains in place, creating significant challenges for lighting manufacturers who rely heavily on Chinese-made components.
Nathan Frampton, CEO of Fanimation. Photo: LinkedIn.
Frampton highlighted that the lighting industry had already absorbed a 25% tariff in 2017, and he fears this new tariff will lead to increased costs for U.S. businesses. In a LinkedIn post, he called on lighting professionals to contact their congressional representatives to express their concerns. He also praised the advocacy work of the American Lighting Association (ALA), which is actively addressing the issue with the Trump Administration.
The CEO also discussed the closure of the "$800 de minimis loophole," which previously allowed some lighting products to be imported duty-free. However, President Trump recently lifted the ban on the de minimis trade restriction, which had caused a backlog of inbound Chinese packages.
Frampton urged industry members to share their experiences with the ALA to strengthen collective advocacy efforts. Laurie Gross, interim president of the ALA, has sent a letter to the administration and to ALA members outlining the industry's concerns, encouraging them to contact elected officials to advocate for the elimination of the tariff.
Source: www.designerstoday.com