By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

President Trump announced that he will impose 10% tariffs on September 1 on the remaining $300 billion worth of Chinese goods not already subject to 25% tariffs. The so-called “List 4” products cover a wide range of finished consumer products such as electronics and clothes.

U.S. and Chinese officials are negotiating six separate trade documents covering agriculture, services, non-tariff barriers, currency, intellectual property rights and forced technology transfers, and cybersecurity. The most recent trade talks reportedly did not yield significant results. Additionally, President Trump maintains that China has not lived up to its commitment to increase its purchase of agricultural products from the U.S. in large quantities. The next round of U.S.-China negotiations are scheduled for September.

The U.S. has already imposed 25% tariffs on three separate groups of Chinese imports. The so-called “List 3” imports cover about $200 billion worth of goods, including most auto parts, from engines and metal fasteners to tires and brake pads. “List 1” and “List 2” goods are valued at $50 billion and include some miscellaneous metal and rubber parts for auto equipment, machinery, tools and measurement devices.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

President Trump announced that he will impose 10% tariffs on September 1 on the remaining $300 billion worth of Chinese goods not already subject to 25% tariffs. The so-called “List 4” products cover a wide range of finished consumer products such as electronics and clothes.

U.S. and Chinese officials are negotiating six separate trade documents covering agriculture, services, non-tariff barriers, currency, intellectual property rights and forced technology transfers, and cybersecurity. The most recent trade talks reportedly did not yield significant results. Additionally, President Trump maintains that China has not lived up to its commitment to increase its purchase of agricultural products from the U.S. in large quantities. The next round of U.S.-China negotiations are scheduled for September.

The U.S. has already imposed 25% tariffs on three separate groups of Chinese imports. The so-called “List 3” imports cover about $200 billion worth of goods, including most auto parts, from engines and metal fasteners to tires and brake pads. “List 1” and “List 2” goods are valued at $50 billion and include some miscellaneous metal and rubber parts for auto equipment, machinery, tools and measurement devices.

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

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

Booth space is still available for the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Booth space is still available for the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Registration for the 2019 SEMA Show is open.

SEMA News—August 2019

Congress Resorts to Old-School Lawmaking

An Inside Look at How a Massive Public Lands Bill Became Law

An Ultra4 racer competes in King of the Hammers at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreational Area, which was expanded by 11,000 acres under the new law.

Those who say Congress never gets anything done and politicians are all talk and no action are frequently proven correct. The greatest obstacle to passing legislation in the 21st century in Washington, D.C., is the unwillingness to compromise. Every now and again, however, Congress comes together and embraces the philosophy of “a good compromise is when neither side is happy.”

Earlier this year, Congress passed a comprehensive public lands bill—the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (S. 47), which contained more than 100 separate initiatives related to land use—and President Trump signed the bill into law in March. It reflected a delicate balance of providing recreational access to public lands, expanding wilderness protections, and authorizing federal lands to be transferred to state, local and private control to spur economic development in rural communities. The bill also designated six off-highway vehicle (OHV) areas in California while closing some trails to motorized recreation in Utah. It addressed priorities for a diverse group of public lands users.

Let’s take a deeper look at why compromise in Congress is so elusive and examine how this particular legislative sausage was made.

Our founding fathers intended for the legislative process to be deliberative and thoughtful, ensuring that public policies are well conceived. It’s hard to argue against that philosophy, although we now find ourselves in an era where Congress is unable to address even basic matters such as the country’s budget. The root cause of the stalemate is a fear that, by compromising, members of Congress will provide their political opponents with an opportunity to claim victory.

While most existing OHV routes within the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area in Emery County, Utah, were protected in the new law, several trails were lost.

Democrats and republicans alike have a strong desire to enact policies that are embraced by their supporters while making sure that the other side doesn’t chalk up too many victories. However, that philosophy wasn’t always pursued to the extent it is now, and compromise didn’t always have a negative connotation.

Considering the current dynamics, it was encouraging to see lawmakers return to a more old-school style of lawmaking, as members recognized that there was enough for their constituents to gain to make it worthwhile to accept provisions of the land-use bill that they didn’t fully support.

While S. 47 became law in early 2019—just two months into the new session of Congress—the bill was actually a combination of more than 120 different bills that had received scores of committee hearings and thousands of hours of debate in recent years. Lawmakers frantically tried to package and pass the bill at the end of the 2017–2018 session of Congress, but the government shutdown and subsequent battle over funding the federal government overshadowed and ultimately doomed the effort.

The momentum from the previous Congress to enact the lands package continued in early 2019. It was an extraordinary moment of rare agreement in time of equally astonishing partisan rancor, with lawmakers from each party determined to secure passage of the bill.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced S. 47 in January 2019. The bill was comprised of legislation sponsored by more than half of the members of the U.S. Senate during the previous session of Congress.

S. 47 passed the U.S. Senate by a 92 to 8 vote on February 12. Two weeks later, the House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 363 to 62. President Trump signed it into law on March 12.

This legislative sausage had all the ingredients needed to ensure passage with enough to make lawmakers happy or at least willing to look past portions they found objectionable.

There is an important lesson to be learned: It sometimes takes years to enact legislation, and a bill covering a single issue may lack enough support to ever get passed. Nevertheless, lawmakers periodically combine multiple bills into a single measure in order to create a winning package. It has happened many times in the past with land-use bills, and it will happen again in the future.

By Zane Clark

SEMA Show Education offers Showgoers a unique chance to learn from industry peers and personalities who fuel the collective passion and drive meaningful business change.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). SEMA Show Education offers Showgoers a unique chance to learn from industry peers and personalities who fuel the collective passion and drive meaningful business change. This diverse collection of highly successful, entrepreneurial people offers the ultimate opportunity for each participant to learn and be challenged. Find a few peer-led seminars below:

On Monday, November 4, Linda Spencer, SEMA’s senior director, international and government affairs, will lead three International seminars that will provide invaluable information on exporting to the Middle East, Australia/New Zealand and Latin American markets. Register for all three international seminars.

Dan Kahn, president and CEO of Kahn Media Inc., will host “EQ vs IQ: The Rise of Emotional Marketing & Branding,” Monday, November 4, from 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Myles Kovacs, DUB president and cofounder, will host “Life and Business,” Monday, November 4, from 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m., in LVCC room N258.

Megan Neal, vice president of content monetization for MotorTrend Group, will lead the panel “Platform-Specific Tips to Engage Your Social Audience,” Monday, November 4, from 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Sean Holman, content director, Truck & Off-Road Group at MotorTrend Group and co-creator/co-host of “The Truck Show Podcast” will host “Podcasting Do’s & Don’ts,” Tuesday, November 5, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., in LVCC room N252.

Christina Kwan, owner, Kwan International Marketing & Media, will host “Business Is Poker—How to Gain the Mental Edge and Bet on Yourself,” Tuesday, November 5, from 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Max Grundy, artist at Fear is the New Beauty, will join the panel “Art, Design and Cars,” Wednesday, November 5, from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., in LVCC room N258.

Ellen McKoy, owner EMK Marketing, will lead the panel discussion “Up Your Game: Harness Your Marketing and Sales Skills, Powered by PRO,” Wednesday, November 6, from 2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m., in LVCC room N254.

Zan Martin, president/CEO, Martin & Company Advertising, will lead a panel discussion on “Data-Driven Digital Marketing,” Wednesday, November 6, from 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., in LVCC room N252.

Ed Iskenderian of Isky Racing Cams will host “The Camfather—Ed Iskenderian,” Thursday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., in LVCC room N258.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview and register for the 2019 seminars.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By Zane Clark

SEMA Show Education offers Showgoers a unique chance to learn from industry peers and personalities who fuel the collective passion and drive meaningful business change.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). SEMA Show Education offers Showgoers a unique chance to learn from industry peers and personalities who fuel the collective passion and drive meaningful business change. This diverse collection of highly successful, entrepreneurial people offers the ultimate opportunity for each participant to learn and be challenged. Find a few peer-led seminars below:

On Monday, November 4, Linda Spencer, SEMA’s senior director, international and government affairs, will lead three International seminars that will provide invaluable information on exporting to the Middle East, Australia/New Zealand and Latin American markets. Register for all three international seminars.

Dan Kahn, president and CEO of Kahn Media Inc., will host “EQ vs IQ: The Rise of Emotional Marketing & Branding,” Monday, November 4, from 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Myles Kovacs, DUB president and cofounder, will host “Life and Business,” Monday, November 4, from 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m., in LVCC room N258.

Megan Neal, vice president of content monetization for MotorTrend Group, will lead the panel “Platform-Specific Tips to Engage Your Social Audience,” Monday, November 4, from 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Sean Holman, content director, Truck & Off-Road Group at MotorTrend Group and co-creator/co-host of “The Truck Show Podcast” will host “Podcasting Do’s & Don’ts,” Tuesday, November 5, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., in LVCC room N252.

Christina Kwan, owner, Kwan International Marketing & Media, will host “Business Is Poker—How to Gain the Mental Edge and Bet on Yourself,” Tuesday, November 5, from 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Max Grundy, artist at Fear is the New Beauty, will join the panel “Art, Design and Cars,” Wednesday, November 5, from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., in LVCC room N258.

Ellen McKoy, owner EMK Marketing, will lead the panel discussion “Up Your Game: Harness Your Marketing and Sales Skills, Powered by PRO,” Wednesday, November 6, from 2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m., in LVCC room N254.

Zan Martin, president/CEO, Martin & Company Advertising, will lead a panel discussion on “Data-Driven Digital Marketing,” Wednesday, November 6, from 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., in LVCC room N252.

Ed Iskenderian of Isky Racing Cams will host “The Camfather—Ed Iskenderian,” Thursday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., in LVCC room N258.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview and register for the 2019 seminars.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By Zane Clark

SEMA Show Education offers Showgoers a unique chance to learn from industry peers and personalities who fuel the collective passion and drive meaningful business change.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). SEMA Show Education offers Showgoers a unique chance to learn from industry peers and personalities who fuel the collective passion and drive meaningful business change. This diverse collection of highly successful, entrepreneurial people offers the ultimate opportunity for each participant to learn and be challenged. Find a few peer-led seminars below:

On Monday, November 4, Linda Spencer, SEMA’s senior director, international and government affairs, will lead three International seminars that will provide invaluable information on exporting to the Middle East, Australia/New Zealand and Latin American markets. Register for all three international seminars.

Dan Kahn, president and CEO of Kahn Media Inc., will host “EQ vs IQ: The Rise of Emotional Marketing & Branding,” Monday, November 4, from 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Myles Kovacs, DUB president and cofounder, will host “Life and Business,” Monday, November 4, from 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m., in LVCC room N258.

Megan Neal, vice president of content monetization for MotorTrend Group, will lead the panel “Platform-Specific Tips to Engage Your Social Audience,” Monday, November 4, from 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Sean Holman, content director, Truck & Off-Road Group at MotorTrend Group and co-creator/co-host of “The Truck Show Podcast” will host “Podcasting Do’s & Don’ts,” Tuesday, November 5, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., in LVCC room N252.

Christina Kwan, owner, Kwan International Marketing & Media, will host “Business Is Poker—How to Gain the Mental Edge and Bet on Yourself,” Tuesday, November 5, from 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., in LVCC room N256.

Max Grundy, artist at Fear is the New Beauty, will join the panel “Art, Design and Cars,” Wednesday, November 5, from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., in LVCC room N258.

Ellen McKoy, owner EMK Marketing, will lead the panel discussion “Up Your Game: Harness Your Marketing and Sales Skills, Powered by PRO,” Wednesday, November 6, from 2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m., in LVCC room N254.

Zan Martin, president/CEO, Martin & Company Advertising, will lead a panel discussion on “Data-Driven Digital Marketing,” Wednesday, November 6, from 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., in LVCC room N252.

Ed Iskenderian of Isky Racing Cams will host “The Camfather—Ed Iskenderian,” Thursday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., in LVCC room N258.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview and register for the 2019 seminars.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.