Tire Manufacturer Employees Bring Industry Insights and Perspectives to Policymakers

WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 26, 2018 –Twelve “Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors” today met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as a part of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association’s (USTMA) second annual advocacy initiative. The program brings employees from USTMA member companies to Washington, D.C. to discuss key issues affecting the tire manufacturing industry and to highlight the industry’s economic contributions. 

Each USTMA member company selected a representative who embodies the industry’s commitment to safety and demonstrates superior leadership, passion and service.

“We are proud to partner with our Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors to represent our industry’s issues in Congress,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA President and CEO. “Our Ambassadors and the facilities in which they work are impacted by the decisions of our nation’s policymakers and maintain a unique perspective that needs to be heard by members of Congress.”

The Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors and USTMA staff met with a dozen congressional offices from states with a strong tire manufacturing presence. The Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors discussed the contributions tire manufacturing facilities bring to the national and local economy including more than 737,000 jobs in the U.S. and another 284,000 jobs through manufacturing, distribution and retailing, and 450,000 additional U.S. jobs in supplier and induced activities. In addition, they also discussed the recent 232 tariffs imposed on steel imports citing potential negative implications on the tire manufacturing industry and the U.S. economy.

The U.S. tire manufacturing industry contributes nearly $150 billion in economic output and pays $21 billion in state, federal and local taxes.

The 2018 USTMA Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors are:

# # #

About U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association:

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association is the national trade association for tire manufacturers that produce tires in the U.S. Our 12 member companies operate 56 tire-related manufacturing facilities in 17 states and generate over $27 billion in annual sales. We directly support more than a quarter million tire manufacturing U.S. jobs – totaling almost $20 billion in wages. In 2017, USTMA members accounted for 82 percent of the 316 million passenger, light truck and truck tire shipments in the U.S.