Leadership

Ohio Manufacturers See Progress on Unfair Dumping

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) this week determined “that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of large residential washers from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the U.S.at less than fair value.”

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order on imports of these products from China.

Whirlpool commended the decision: “Today the U.S. International Trade Commission unanimously ruled that Samsung and LG caused injury to the U.S. appliance industry by selling their China-produced washing machines in the U.S. for less than they cost to make.”

U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), staunch advocates for fair trade, applauded the USITC ruling.

Also this week, U.S. Senators Brown and Portman recognized action by the U.S. Trade Representative to launch a World Trade Organization case to crack down on China’s aluminum trade violations.  1/12/2017

132nd General Assembly Sworn In

The members of the 132^nd General Assembly were sworn in Tuesday at the Statehouse.  New Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) and returning Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) will be leading record-setting majority Republican caucuses over the next two years.

In speeches accepting their leadership posts, the lawmakers outlined their priorities.  Senate President Obhof expressed a desire to reduce the number of regulations burdening Ohioans as well as an interest in cutting Ohio income taxes and reducing the number of Ohio income tax brackets.  Speaker Rosenberger said his priorities include House Bill 1 which extends protection orders to victims of dating violence, improving Ohio’s education system, creating a standing committee on long term care, continuing the battle against addiction, and ensuring energy policies are market-based.

The General Assembly will go to work on the governor’s budget proposal in early February.  1/5/2017

OMA Policy Committees Ready to Take on 2017

The community of manufacturers working together is the strength of the OMA.

OMA policy committees provide opportunities for members to work with colleagues, subject matter experts, policymakers and government agency staff to gain critical updates and to set policy priorities for Ohio manufacturing.

Read more about policy committees and see all 2017 in-person/call-in meeting dates.

Manage your committee involvement at My OMA (click on My Communities tab).

Register for committee meetings at My OMA (click on Events in top navigation).

Thank you for your involvement in the OMA!  1/3/2017

Asbestos Injury Standard at Stake in Turner v. Union Carbide Corp.

The OMA led an amicus appearance before the Supreme Court of Ohio to defend an important component of Ohio’s asbestos injury law.  At issue in the dispute against Union Carbide Corp. is whether a written health assessment by a competent medical authority is required in asbestos injury cases.

In a jurisdictional brief authored by OMA counsel Anne Marie Sferra of Bricker & Eckler, the OMA asks the court to consider an appeal of the 8th District Court of Appeals (Cleveland) citing House Bill 292, a comprehensive asbestos litigation bill, enacted in 2004 “that allowed claimants who have shown actual injury from asbestos exposure to pursue their claims while deferring the claims of those who have not, thereby preserving available resources for those who are actually sick from exposure to asbestos.”

“The OMA worked hard to require written medical proof to establish injury from actual asbestos exposure, and we now ask Ohio’s high court to preserve this important standard,” commented OMA’s Ryan Augsburger.  1/5/2017

Manufacturers’ Post-Market Duty Clarified in Linert v. Ford Motor

On December 29, the Supreme Court of Ohio released its decision in the case, Linert v. Ford Motor Company, ruling in favor of Ford and reversing the Ohio 12^th District Court of Appeals (Middletown).  The OMA together with other state and national groups filed an amicus brief in support of Ford.  In the lengthy decision authored by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, the court held that the trial court properly refused to instruct the jury on the manufacturer’s post-market duty to warn the consumer.

Justices O’Donnell, Lanzinger, Kennedy and French concurred; Justices Pfeifer and O’Neill dissented.

“The case addressed a manufacturer’s post-market duty to warn consumers of product defects that come to the manufacturer’s attention post-sale.  The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the duty did not apply in the factual setting of the Linert case and that the trial court was correct in not instructing the jury on the issue.  The decision is welcome news for Ford, and also creates a helpful law on the issue in Ohio,” commented attorney Chad Readler, Partner, Jones Day, who co-authored OMA’s amicus brief.  1/5/2017

Southeast/Eastern Ohio Manufacturers Invited to Discuss Engineering Skill Needs

The Ohio Manufacturing Institute (OMI) invites area manufacturers to participate in a focus group about skills needed for engineering technologists at all levels.  Findings and recommendations will be presented to policymakers to support Ohio manufacturers.

OMI has conducted several focus groups throughout the state and is scheduling its next one on Thursday, January 19, 9:30-11:00 a.m., at Zane State – Cambridge.

Please contact Kathryn Kelley, OMI managing director at (614) 688-4116 if you’re interested in participating or learning more.  1/5/2017