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PMMI Town Hall: Managing Uncertainty as Tariffs Impact OEMs

With tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada affecting machinery costs and business strategies, PMMI’s Town Hall determined that flexible sourcing, open communication, and patience could mitigate the impacts.

PMMI’s Town Hall: Navigating Tariff Changes Speakers
Shawn Marie Jarosz, founder and chief Trade Strategist of TradeMoves LLC, and two PMMI members, Alan Major, Chief Sales Officer of Urschel, and Claudia Silvie van den Pol, CEO and owner of Royal Apollo Group, spoke openly and honestly about the impact of the current trade war.

PMMI’s Town Hall: Navigating Tariff Changes stressed patience, communication, and flexibility as packaging and processing machinery companies face uncertainty about President Trump’s tariff strategy. The tariffs, which as of March 5 include a 25% levy on goods from Mexico and Canada and 20% tariffs on Chinese imports, are expected to raise costs for imported parts and materials. This situation is prompting companies to reassess their supply chains and explore strategies to mitigate the financial impact.

The webinar, hosted by PMMI Vice President of Market Development Jorge Izquierdo, brought together trade expert and consultant Shawn Marie Jarosz, Founder and chief Trade Strategist of TradeMoves LLC, and two PMMI members: Alan Major, Chief Sales Officer of Urschel, and Claudia Silvie van den Pol, CEO and owner of Royal Apollo Group.

Jarosz detailed the constantly developing situation—so much so that she received updates on Canada’s retaliatory tariffs during the webinar. She outlined President Trump's America First Trade policy, which has led to increased tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada. She noted the potential for further tariffs on European imports and the retaliatory measures being considered by all affected countries.

Major and Van den Pol were willing to share their experiences with tariffs and offer opinions on how the current situation might play out. They repeatedly emphasized that open communication with customers and suppliers is crucial in this uncertain environment. They also discussed various strategies for mitigating tariff impacts with Jarosz, such as exploring multiple sourcing options, reviewing purchase agreements, and considering bonded warehouses to delay tariff payments.

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