By Kyle Cheng

According to the latest “SEMA Industry Indicators Report,” in April, unemployment reached a record high of 14.7%, but about 18 million of the 23 million newly unemployed expect to be only temporarily out of work.

While the last few months have been challenging for the U.S. economy, there is some positive news. The economy reached what economists believe was the depth of the recession around mid-April, and expect gradual economic improvement over the coming months. Consumers will ultimately decide when and how the economy reopens, but things are starting to look up.

Unemployment has widely been discussed over the last few months. In April, unemployment reached a record high of 14.7%, but about 18 million of the 23 million newly unemployed expect to be only temporarily out of work. Getting those individuals back to work will be paramount in the coming months.

Want more information on the trends affecting the specialty-equipment industry? Check out the SEMA Industry Indicators Report each month to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy. In this report, published monthly, you’ll get a snapshot of the overall economy and our industry, including:

• Overall Economic Outlook
• New Vehicle Sales and Statistics on Auto Parts Production
• Consumer Sentiment and Spending
• Economic Growth and Unemployment
• Other Important Industry Insights

To learn more, download the May “SEMA Industry Indicators Report,” now available for free at www.sema.org/research.

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The United Steelworkers union has filed antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions on certain passenger vehicles and light truck tires from southeast Asia. The petitions cite dumping margins as high as 195% for Korea, 147% for Taiwan, 217% for Thailand and 33% for Vietnam. The petitions also allege certain government subsidies benefitting Vietnamese tire producers. The petitions have been filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce to determine whether dumping and illegal subsidies are occurring and the U.S. International Trade Commission to confirm whether there is harm or threatened harm to U.S. industry.

In a separate action, the Commerce Department has self-initiated a circumvention inquiry involving stainless steel products from China that are completed in Vietnam and then exported to the United States. The Commerce Department alleges that shipments of stainless sheet and strip from Vietnam to the United States increased 180% over a previous 40-month time period for calculations. If the agency preliminarily finds that circumvention is occurring, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be directed to collect cash deposits on imports of stainless sheet and strip completed in Vietnam with Chinese-origin inputs.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The United Steelworkers union has filed antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions on certain passenger vehicles and light truck tires from southeast Asia. The petitions cite dumping margins as high as 195% for Korea, 147% for Taiwan, 217% for Thailand and 33% for Vietnam. The petitions also allege certain government subsidies benefitting Vietnamese tire producers. The petitions have been filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce to determine whether dumping and illegal subsidies are occurring and the U.S. International Trade Commission to confirm whether there is harm or threatened harm to U.S. industry.

In a separate action, the Commerce Department has self-initiated a circumvention inquiry involving stainless steel products from China that are completed in Vietnam and then exported to the United States. The Commerce Department alleges that shipments of stainless sheet and strip from Vietnam to the United States increased 180% over a previous 40-month time period for calculations. If the agency preliminarily finds that circumvention is occurring, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be directed to collect cash deposits on imports of stainless sheet and strip completed in Vietnam with Chinese-origin inputs.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The United Steelworkers union has filed antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions on certain passenger vehicles and light truck tires from southeast Asia. The petitions cite dumping margins as high as 195% for Korea, 147% for Taiwan, 217% for Thailand and 33% for Vietnam. The petitions also allege certain government subsidies benefitting Vietnamese tire producers. The petitions have been filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce to determine whether dumping and illegal subsidies are occurring and the U.S. International Trade Commission to confirm whether there is harm or threatened harm to U.S. industry.

In a separate action, the Commerce Department has self-initiated a circumvention inquiry involving stainless steel products from China that are completed in Vietnam and then exported to the United States. The Commerce Department alleges that shipments of stainless sheet and strip from Vietnam to the United States increased 180% over a previous 40-month time period for calculations. If the agency preliminarily finds that circumvention is occurring, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be directed to collect cash deposits on imports of stainless sheet and strip completed in Vietnam with Chinese-origin inputs.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions.

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 2489) that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions. The bill now awaits consideration by the entire House of Representatives.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s emergency Business Closure Order does not allow any recreational activity businesses, such as spectator sports, to operate. The bill requires such activities to adhere to the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

For more information and to contact legislators in support of this proposal, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions.

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 2489) that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions. The bill now awaits consideration by the entire House of Representatives.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s emergency Business Closure Order does not allow any recreational activity businesses, such as spectator sports, to operate. The bill requires such activities to adhere to the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

For more information and to contact legislators in support of this proposal, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions.

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 2489) that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions. The bill now awaits consideration by the entire House of Representatives.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s emergency Business Closure Order does not allow any recreational activity businesses, such as spectator sports, to operate. The bill requires such activities to adhere to the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

For more information and to contact legislators in support of this proposal, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions.

The Pennsylvania House Committee on State Government passed SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 2489) that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions. The bill now awaits consideration by the entire House of Representatives.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s emergency Business Closure Order does not allow any recreational activity businesses, such as spectator sports, to operate. The bill requires such activities to adhere to the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

For more information and to contact legislators in support of this proposal, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.