PPAI revamped and intensified its advocacy efforts on behalf of the promotional products industry in 2025, with a new lobbying partner in Washington, new guidance for advocacy at the regional association level and much more.
From stopping the SWAG Act to securing a year’s reprieve of onerous port fees to sending nearly a dozen letters to congressional and federal agency leadership, here’s a look at the Association’s advocacy achievements this year:
Expanded Member Resources Online
Providing more tools and information was a priority for 2025, and we delivered new resources and revamped existing assets to better inform members:
PPAI Media has published more than 175 articles this year covering tariffs, regulatory updates and other public affairs issues. We also launched a member-facing Public Affairs homepage and created the Promo By The Numbers page featuring a clickable list of state-level industry statistics and legislative links, as well as three case studies detailing successful promo projects for government agencies. That URL was shared on Capitol Hill during LEAD via PPAI-branded NFC pens, which drew an enthusiastic response from congressional staffers.
PPAI also posted a Tariffs & Trade 101 glossary to help make sense of ongoing federal policy updates and hosted a packaging EPR webinar to provide information and guidance on state-level laws mandating extended producer responsibility for boxes, polybags and more.
ICYMI: WATCH: PPAI Hosts EPR Compliance Webinar
The Association also partnered with regional associations across the country to launch a pair of new advocacy playbooks providing templates, talking points and local outreach models that have already been adopted in over a dozen states for both federal and state-level efforts.
Enhanced Outreach: LEAD & LEAD ECHO
PPAI made a major investment in advocacy in late 2024, launching a partnership with prominent Washington lobbying firm Thorn Run Partners. PPAI’s advocacy team, Alok Bhat and Rachel Zoch, worked with founding partner Chris Lamond and staff regularly to acquaint the team with PPAI’s mission and priorities and seek their advice and insights.
Our 2025 Legislative Education and Action Day was productive, well-attended and highly reviewed, with 71 members from 28 states, plus PPAI and Thorn Run staff, representing the industry on Capitol Hill in more than 100 meetings.
Trade and tariffs were key issues for LEAD conversations. Members emphasized how blanket tariff policies hurt small U.S. businesses and urged the administration to support diversified sourcing under historically successful trade programs. Working closely with member companies such as SanMar, PPAI and LEAD attendees helped highlight how the African Growth and Opportunity Act and Generalized System of Preferences trade programs (both now expired) supported American jobs and enabled thousands of small U.S. business to stay competitive.
“We showed up with a clear, unified message on behalf of our industry – and this is just the beginning,” said Alok Bhat, PPAI’s senior manager, research & advocacy. “We’ll keep the momentum going and continue engaging on the issues that matter most.”
In fact, LEAD 2025 was so successful that PPAI scheduled its first-ever LEAD ECHO – Executive Capitol Hill Outreach. A dozen principals and executives from some of promo’s largest employers were set to meet with federal offices, such as the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative, in November to share the industry’s stance on important issues, from tariffs and trade to independent contractors’ status. However, this event was rescheduled for early February 2026 due to the record-long federal government shutdown this fall.
Alok Bhat
PPAI Senior Manager, Research & Advocacy
Amplified Voice: Letters & More
Further amplifying the industry’s voice, PPAI sent almost a dozen letters to members of Congress and federal agency leaders throughout the year. These included:
- Support for renewal of the African Growth & Opportunity Act and passage of the Modern Worker Empowerment Act (a rule to protect independent contractor status).
- Opposition to the Stop Wasteful Advertising in Government Act – or SWAG Act – to prohibit federal spending on advertising, especially promotional products.
- Concern about the impact of tariffs and trade policy on PPAI member businesses and the effects of shipbuilding/maritime fees imposed on Chinese vessels and port equipment.
PPAI shared the text of several of these letters for members to use as the basis for their own letters, and the Association provided members with a one-click opportunity to express support for the Modern Worker Empowerment Act with their House members.
On behalf of PPAI, President & CEO Drew Holmgreen also signed several coalition letters throughout the year in partnership with other associations. These letters to various members of Congress and federal agency leaders addressed tariff reform, shipbuilding and workforce modernization.
Stopped The SWAG Act, Secured Reprieve From Shipping Fees
The PPAI advocacy team is pleased to report two major victories from the Association’s efforts this year:
1. The SWAG Act is all but dead, as its author, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, announced in September that she will step down when her current term ends in 2027.
PPAI’s efforts to fight this bill included a letter signed by members in Iowa conveying the estimated scope and economic impact of the promo industry in the state. The letter was delivered to the senator’s office by our partners in Washington as part of their ongoing conversations on the Association’s behalf. Ernst expressed willingness to consider exceptions to the ban proposed in her bill, such as promo for military recruiting, and a PPAI group met personally with the senator during LEAD to express the industry’s concerns.
ICYMI: SWAG Act Author Won’t Seek Reelection
2. In November, the U.S. Trade Representative announced a one-year pause on proposed maritime trade actions against China, including vessel fees on transport services and tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment. This reprieve prevents new cost pressures across shipping and logistics channels that affect many of our member firms and supply-chain predictability for 2026 production and imports.
Importantly, the USTR’s formal notice pausing the actions acknowledged that stakeholder comments, including those submitted by PPAI, were reviewed and considered. This success reinforces the value of our participation and the growing visibility of our industry’s voice in federal trade policy.
ICYMI: USTR Suspends Maritime Trade Actions Against China
The Association also saw progress with the Modern Worker Empowerment Act, as this bill to protect independent contractors moved forward toward a House vote. PPAI has long advocated for some version of this bill, and members again spoke up for it during LEAD 2025 and via the one-click message to their House representatives via PPAI Media.
Looking Ahead: 2026
Uncertainty caused by frequent changes in tariff and trade policy have rocked the industry this year. The Association continues to advocate for reduced trade barriers and policy that is specific and provides a reasonable schedule of changes with predictable timelines and rates that are easy to follow.
We expect to see more trade and tariff changes in 2026, as well as potential progress on the Modern Worker Empowerment Act. PPAI will continue to monitor these issues, as well as regulatory challenges like state PFAS and EPR laws and other relevant rules and legislation.
RELATED: Catch Up On Current State Laws Regulating PFAS Chemicals
The Association will also explore the possibilities for tariff carveouts for specific product categories critical to the industry, such as manufacturing equipment, drinkware and apparel.
We’ll continue to publish updates, resources and advocacy opportunities via PPAI Media and the Newslink email newsletters, as well as LinkedIn and other social media posts.
“PPAI will continue to be the trusted voice for our members in 2026, building stronger partnerships with other associations, deeper regional connections and a more powerful presence in Washington,” says Bhat.
Please contact Rachel Zoch, PPAI’s public affairs manager, at rachelz@ppai.org if you have any questions about regulatory issues or government affairs.
