Ocean carriers continue to raise prices in response to the current supply chain crisis. The increased shipping costs enable carriers to make record profits while importers in our industry and others are bearing some of the highest costs documented in exchange for inefficient shipping services.

Congress has introduced a bipartisan bill to address some of these issues, but legislators need to hear from the promotional products industry about why passing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is so critical.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 creates a shippers’ bill of rights and provides several updates to shipping laws that have not been addressed in over twenty years.

Click here to contact your House representative and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4996, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021.

The promotional products industry plays an important role in the U.S. economy, comprised primarily of small business owners. Sharing the importance of the promotional products industry helps ensure that our message about this useful and dynamic industry is protected.

The promotional products industry relies on global supply chains. Although most promotional products are manufactured overseas, once in the U.S., these products are decorated by U.S. workers. They are sold by U.S. workers. They are used to promote U.S. goods and services.

Global value chains operate more broadly than supply chains. Global value chains encompass the full range of activities that firms and workers are involved in to bring a product or service from its conception to its end use and beyond. The shift among many globally competitive companies to focus on core competencies and outsource other activities has led to the creation of global value chains that cross professional and national boundaries.

Indeed, the promotional products industry contributes significant economic benefit throughout the U.S. economy. In doing so, this industry also contributes to a vibrant and diverse eco-system of international coalitions that serve the United States well.

Write your member of Congress to educate them about the benefits of global value chains.

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act amends the National Labor Relations Act to establish a new definition of employees which expressly eliminates independent contractors in the U.S. The legislation also makes a broad presumption that all workers in the U.S. are employees unless each element of a newly established “ABC” test can be demonstrated. 

Please reach out to your House representative to educate them about why independent contractors in the promotional products industry do not want to be forced to reclassify as employees.

Listen to the Promo Talks podcast "Why The PRO Act Is Detrimental To the Promotional Products Industry".

Promotional Products: A Powerful, Cost-Effective Communication Tool
Global Value Chains
Advertising Expenditures
Independent Contractors and the Promotional Products Industry