{"id":100615,"date":"2025-04-23T13:07:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T20:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=100615"},"modified":"2025-04-23T13:07:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T20:07:48","slug":"sema-pens-conciliatory-plea-to-trump-administration-over-tariffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/sema-pens-conciliatory-plea-to-trump-administration-over-tariffs\/","title":{"rendered":"SEMA Pens Conciliatory Plea to Trump Administration Over Tariffs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"100479\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/true-and-false-semas-guide-to-emissions-restrictions-under-the-trump-administration\/sema-logo-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo.png\" data-orig-size=\"2482,2482\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SEMA Announces 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees: Luanne Brown, George Lathouris, John McLeod, and Larry Pacey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;a class=&quot;click__begin&quot;&gt;Click Here to Begin Slideshow&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p class=&quot;&quot; data-start=&quot;112&quot; data-end=&quot;325&quot;&gt;\n&lt;p class=&quot;&quot; data-start=&quot;327&quot; data-end=&quot;594&quot;&gt;The &lt;strong data-start=&quot;331&quot; data-end=&quot;380&quot;&gt;Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)&lt;\/strong&gt; has revealed the 2024 inductees for its prestigious &lt;strong data-start=&quot;433&quot; data-end=&quot;454&quot;&gt;SEMA Hall of Fame&lt;\/strong&gt;\u2014a recognition reserved for individuals whose innovation and dedication have left a lasting mark on the &lt;strong data-start=&quot;558&quot; data-end=&quot;593&quot;&gt;automotive aftermarket industry&lt;\/strong&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p class=&quot;&quot; data-start=&quot;596&quot; data-end=&quot;841&quot;&gt;This year\u2019s honorees are &lt;strong data-start=&quot;621&quot; data-end=&quot;637&quot;&gt;Luanne Brown&lt;\/strong&gt;, &lt;strong data-start=&quot;639&quot; data-end=&quot;659&quot;&gt;George Lathouris&lt;\/strong&gt;, &lt;strong data-start=&quot;661&quot; data-end=&quot;676&quot;&gt;John McLeod&lt;\/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong data-start=&quot;682&quot; data-end=&quot;697&quot;&gt;Larry Pacey&lt;\/strong&gt;\u2014four standout leaders whose contributions have shaped everything from product development and marketing to motorsports and performance culture.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p class=&quot;&quot; data-start=&quot;843&quot; data-end=&quot;994&quot;&gt;The industry is invited to celebrate their achievements at the &lt;strong data-start=&quot;906&quot; data-end=&quot;937&quot;&gt;SEMA Leaders &amp;amp; Legends Gala&lt;\/strong&gt;, taking place &lt;strong data-start=&quot;952&quot; data-end=&quot;993&quot;&gt;July 25 in Universal City, California&lt;\/strong&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;blockquote data-start=&quot;996&quot; data-end=&quot;1338&quot;&gt;\n&lt;p class=&quot;&quot; data-start=&quot;998&quot; data-end=&quot;1338&quot;&gt;\u201cThe automotive aftermarket industry has grown in remarkable ways thanks to the contributions of this year\u2019s Hall of Fame inductees,\u201d said SEMA President and CEO &lt;strong data-start=&quot;1160&quot; data-end=&quot;1177&quot;&gt;Mike Spagnola&lt;\/strong&gt;. \u201cThrough their leadership and innovation, they not only changed the course of the industry\u2019s history but inspired and shaped the success of those around them.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;\n&lt;p class=&quot;&quot; data-start=&quot;1340&quot; data-end=&quot;1578&quot;&gt;The SEMA Hall of Fame is one of the industry\u2019s highest honors, recognizing individuals who have significantly enhanced the growth, integrity, and future of the aftermarket world. This year\u2019s class continues that tradition with excellence.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p class=&quot;&quot; data-start=&quot;1580&quot; data-end=&quot;1786&quot;&gt;Stay tuned to &lt;strong data-start=&quot;1594&quot; data-end=&quot;1612&quot;&gt;RacingJunk.com&lt;\/strong&gt; for more updates from &lt;strong data-start=&quot;1635&quot; data-end=&quot;1643&quot;&gt;SEMA&lt;\/strong&gt;, plus exclusive coverage of the upcoming &lt;strong data-start=&quot;1685&quot; data-end=&quot;1698&quot;&gt;SEMA Gala&lt;\/strong&gt; and everything happening across the world of performance, restoration, and motorsports.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;a class=&quot;click__begin&quot;&gt;Click Here to Begin Slideshow&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-300x300.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-1024x1024.png\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-100479 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEMA-logo-2048x2048.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is hoping to wield its weight as a lobbying organization and representative of the automotive aftermarket with a plea to the White House concerning the impact of tariffs on the the nation\u2019s automotive aftermarket industry&#8211;which according to SEMA, has a &#8220;nearly $337 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/img.g003.enterprise.ipost.com\/static\/pref\/img\/client\/s\/semaenews\/Assets\/PDFs\/2025-04-21-letter-WH-tariffs.pdf?utm_id=726316&amp;utm_content&amp;utm_campaign=042125_TariffLetterTrump_Release&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=iPost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">With a letter to President Trump,<\/a> cc&#8217;ing U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer,\u00a0and White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro, SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola praises the administration&#8217;s efforts to return manufacturing to America, reduce regulatory restrictions on internal combustion engines and related products, and more but hopes to elucidate points that the administration may not be aware of concerning the industry.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;While you have rightfully used tariffs to incentivize companies around the world to manufacture their products in America, they are resulting in unintended consequences for U.S. manufacturers in our industry. In fact, many domestic businesses that manufacture their products in the U.S. are being directly and indirectly impacted by the tariffs, which make it a challenge for these companies to remain profitable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, SEMA recognizes the challenges that the tariffs will represent for small and medium sized manufacturers, many of whom source molds and materials overseas and particularly from China. For some, they literally cannot get the components in the United States because they need them in smaller quantities than many domestic manufacturers offer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For many specialty automotive businesses that manufacture their products in America, they are forced to source components used in their products from international suppliers, because there are no domestic manufacturers or none that will produce components in smaller volumes that meet their needs. For businesses in this position, they have no choice but to source components from abroad. We are hopeful that your efforts to expand American manufacturing will help to address this challenge, but our members are concerned about the tariffs they will face during the transition period, which many expect to take at least 18 months.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur primary request is that American automotive parts manufacturers, including our members, be provided a transition period to re-shore their manufacturing, as well as some form of economic relief to assist in that transition,\u201d writes Spagnola. \u201cThat relief could include tariff exemptions for things like molds, tooling, and machinery brought back to the U.S., as well as tax incentives to offset the associated costs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whether the missive will make any impact on the Trump administration&#8217;s actions remains to be seen. To read the full letter, go here: <a href=\"https:\/\/img.g003.enterprise.ipost.com\/static\/pref\/img\/client\/s\/semaenews\/Assets\/PDFs\/2025-04-21-letter-WH-tariffs.pdfm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=iPost\">Letter to President Trump<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>SEMA asks the White House to consider the impact of tariffs on small businesses within the automotive aftermarket.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":83734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3470],"tags":[156,11794],"class_list":["post-100615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-sema","tag-tariffs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/SEMA-logo-e1643768798750.gif","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p42YSK-qaP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100615"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100619,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100615\/revisions\/100619"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}