20
MiMfg Magazine
February 2020
MFG
@ Work
What’s Happening
in Michigan
Manufacturing
Victory for Manufacturing
with USMCA Passage
America achieved a major
trade milestone last month as
President Trump signed the
historic United States–Mexico–
Canada Agreement (USMCA)
following its overwhelming
approval by the U.S. Senate.
“The USMCA is the largest,
fairest, most balanced and
modern trade agreement ever
achieved...estimated to add
another 1.2 percent to our
GDP and create countless
new American jobs,” said
President Trump during a
speech in Macomb on 1/30/20,
one day after the signing.
The USMCA succeeds in
protecting Michigan’s biggest
trading relationships as Canada
and Mexico purchase more goods
from Michigan than the rest of
the world combined, totaling $34
billion in exported manufactured
goods annually.
“The ability to participate
in a rules-based, tariff-free global
trade is essential to the long-term
success of Michigan manufacturing,”
said John J. Walsh, MMA president
& CEO. “The USMCA will
jump-start economic prosperity,
provide greater access to markets
in Canada and Mexico and finally
create an even playing field for
manufacturers in Michigan and
across the country.”
Learn more about what the
USMCA’s passage means for
Michigan by contacting MMA’s
Mike Johnston at 517-487-8554
or [email protected].
President Trump visited manufacturers in Macomb on 1/30/20 to celebrate
the signing of the historic United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement.
Line 5 Project Continues
as Court of Appeals
Denies Attorney General
A state Court of Appeals last
month denied an effort by Attorney
General Dana Nessel to stay an
October Court of Claims ruling
validating the effort by Enbridge
Energy to move forward on plans
to construct a tunnel to house the
existing Line 5 pipeline beneath
the Straits of Mackinac.
The tunnel is expected to set a
new mark in state-of-the-art pipeline
safety and is the culmination of
nearly a decade of work incorpo-
rating task force, advisory board,
environmental group and business
group recommendations on issues
ranging from energy and
environment risk and protection
to engineering, weather and geology.
“It is clear from the court’s
decision in October, its decision
to reject the Attorney General’s
stay request, and now this decision,
that Enbridge’s 2018 agreements
with the state are valid and
constitutional,” said Enbridge
spokesman Michael Barnes. “It is
now time for Enbridge and the
state to move forward together with
the Great Lakes tunnel project.”
Enbridge will be required to
pay for the tunnel and their
pipeline replacement and no
taxpayer dollars will be used.
Legislation is expected to move
forward soon to affirm and clarify
the role of the Authority, provide
protection against litigation and
ensure accountability by Enbridge.
“Manufacturing and the future
stability of the Michigan economy
relies on energy, fuel and petroleum-
based products to get where it
needs to go,” said John J. Walsh,
MMA president & CEO. “These
vital building blocks are the first
step toward ensuring manufacturers
can do what they do best — create
one-of-a-kind products and lead
the world in innovation.”
Contact MMA’s Mike Johnston,
at [email protected] or 517-
487-8554, for more information.