Melanie Hellwig White, President of Visalia, California based suspension manufacturer Hellwig Products, discusses the impact of steel tariffs on small and mid-size American manufacturing companies – even those dedicated to buying domestically produced raw materials.
WHAT: The recent tariffs put in place by Washington on imported steel and aluminum have caused an immediate spike in prices for domestically-produced steel, due to both an increase in demand and speculation in the metal markets. Because of skyrocketing raw material costs, American manufacturers using domestic raw materials are being forced to either slash margins (which can affect jobs) or raise prices – while companies that manufacture overseas are unaffected, as there are no new tariffs on imported finished goods.
WHERE: Hellwig Suspension Products has been forging suspension parts in California since its inception in 1946, and has been at its current plant in Visalia, California since 1960.
WHEN: Steel and aluminum tariffs were announced in early March and prices began skyrockets on American steel immediately, even before the tariffs were signed. On June 1, 2018, the White House expanded the tariffs to include Canada, Mexico, and the European Union.
WHY: Hellwig is dedicated to transparency in both the industry and its local community, and this video is meant to show the real-life effects a trade war has on small business, even if said business has been doing the right thing and buying American-made materials for generations.
HOW: We encourage members of the media and the community to watch and share this video. Melanie Hellwig White is available for interview or comment. To reach her, please contact Luke Walsh at the number listed below.
ABOUT HELLWIG PRODUCTS
A family owned business for 72 years, Hellwig Products specializes in American made, precision engineered products. This 4th generation California family run company started in 1946 selling helper springs to customers door to door. In the 72 years since, Hellwig Products continues to help enthusiasts with all their suspension needs. Hellwig is constantly improving their products to develop the best performance suspension parts in the industry. For more information please visit www.HellwigProducts.com.
