U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), executives from Mount Laurel, N.J.-based PMC Group and Mount Laurel Township Councilman Irwin Edelson on Oct. 23 reveled in a recent federal trade decision that stands to benefit them all.
A chemical utilized to manufacture many of the products offered by PMC Group, a diversified, global chemicals and plastics company that employs more than 50 South Jersey residents and hundreds of other Americans around the nation, was removed from a Chinese tariffs list following efforts by Rep. MacArthur, according to an Oct. 24 statement from the congressman’s office.
“This is an important day for the Mount Laurel community and the men and women of PMC Group,” Rep. MacArthur said. “When the company brought this issue to my attention, I immediately intervened and urged the Trump administration to change their flawed decision to push a tariff on a product that is not available in the United States.”
PMC Group executives contacted the congressman when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on certain Chinese products. The list of items being imported from China that would be taxed at higher rates included a chemical that’s unavailable in the United States but that PMC Group depends on to manufacture many of its products, according to Rep. MacArthur’s statement.
“A tariff, in this case, would hinder this local company’s ability to compete on the world stage and put American jobs at risk,” Rep. MacArthur said this week.
The lawmaker contacted U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to have the chemical removed from the tariffs list to ensure PMC Group and its employees would have more certainty about company operations.
“I work with the president when I can and I stand up to him when his policies are not in the best interest of South Jersey,” Rep. MacArthur said. “I’m in Congress to achieve real results for Burlington and Ocean counties and will continue to do what’s right for our community.”