Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association joins coalition to support Kigali Amendment

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The Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association announced Tuesday that it joined the Let America Lead coalition, an organization that is urging President Donald Trump to send the Kigali Amendment to the U.S. Senate for ratification.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol establishes a gradual, market-driven phasedown of current-generation hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and a transition to next-generation technologies, which have significantly less environmental impact. The Montreal Protocol was established in 1987 and is the first multi-national agreement to limit ozone-depleting substances.

Founding members of the coalition include the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Chemistry Council and the American Council for Capital Formation.

“Manufacturers support the Kigali Amendment ‎and would like to see it ratified by the Senate,” said Ross Eisenberg, vice president of energy and resources policy at the National Association of Manufacturers. “It is a smart, effective agreement that improves air quality and combats climate change in a way that protects manufacturing competitiveness and creates jobs.”

The coalition is working to demonstrate to President Trump why ratification of the Kigali Amendment would have a positive effect on American jobs and the economy.

In May, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy released an economic study conducted by Inforum and JBS Consulting that highlighted the impact that ratification would have on technology and manufacturing leadership in these industry sectors. According to the report, ratification would create 3,000 manufacturing jobs and 117,000 indirect jobs by 2027 as well as increase manufacturing exports by $5 billion and reduce imports by approximately $7 billion to improve the balance of trade.

Ratification of the Kigali Amendment is expected to grow the U.S. share of the world heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment market by 25 percent over its current share. Without ratification, the U.S. share is expected to decrease by approximately 14 percent.

“President Trump’s record demonstrates his commitment to making leadership decisions based on their ability to deliver for American workers and American families,” said George David Banks, President Trump’s former adviser on international energy and environment policy and a senior advisor to Let America Lead. “Our nation’s manufacturers – large and small – serve as the foundation of our nation’s strength and will see positive benefits from the Kigali Amendment.”