Rachel Zoch

liberal, Lutheran, Longhorn, Texan, word nerd, font snob, occasional gardener, 3x Jeopardy! champ, particular eater, enthusiast for things & places Celtic

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Articles

Reach Out Now To Meet With Members Of Congress During Their August Recess

5 days ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

Each year, PPAI hosts its Legislative Education and Action Day event in Washington. This is an important chance for members to take the promotional products industry's concerns to the halls of Congress and build relationships with legislators and key staffers on Capitol Hill. But advocacy is not a once-a-year effort. It's critical that we stay in touch and continue those conversations.
Download 'Tariffs & Trade 101' To Learn More About The Hottest Issue In Promo

2 weeks ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

Tariffs and trade issues have been front and center in promo lately. In basic terms, a tariff is a tax imposed by a national government on imported goods. These can be used to raise federal revenue, protect domestic industries from foreign competition or address unfair trade practices. After a tariff is imposed, the added costs for imported goods are often passed on from businesses to customers, increasing prices overall.
Trump Says He Is Willing To Lower Tariffs On China 'At Some Point'

1 month ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker that aired this past Sunday, President Donald Trump said he is willing to lower tariffs on China "at some point."The escalating duties have roiled markets and have already driven up prices in the promotional products industry - and threaten to drive up prices for affordable clothing and toys popular with American consumers.
A Summary Of Recent Actions

1 month ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

There have been several notable changes and developments regarding President Donald Trump's tariff and trade policies since his April 2 "Liberation Day" announcement. Here are some key updates over the past few weeks, as well as what to look out for moving forward as the Trump administration undertakes sweeping trade negotiations.
LEADing The Way

2 months ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

Every year, the Association recruits volunteers to travel to Washington to advocate for the promotional products industry, educating members of Congress and their staffers on the industry's economic impact and asking for consideration on issues that matter most to promo pros. More than 70 members, along with key PPAI staff, are traveling to the nation's capital this month for the annual Legislative Education and Action Day, better known as LEAD.
Proposed China Shipbuilding Remedies Face Strong Opposition

2 months ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

The office of the United States Trade Representative's proposal to implement fees of up to $1.5 million on Chinese-made ships entering U.S. ports is proving to be unpopular, to say the least. Most testimonies during the public hearing on March 24 opposed USTR's proposed remedies, which also include penalties on operators ordering from China and U.S.-flagged shipping mandates.
New Rule Effectively Ends BOI Reporting Enforcement For US Businesses

2 months ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

On March 21, , the U.S. Treasury Department's financial crimes unit issued an interim final rule that effectively ends the requirement for U.S.-based businesses to report beneficial ownership information. Beneficial ownership information refers to the individual people who directly or indirectly own at least 25% of a company or exercise "substantial control" over the company. The vast majority of PPAI's roughly 15,000 member companies would have been subject to the reporting requirement.
Communication, Collaboration Emerge As Themes From Annual Product Safety Conference

Feb 26, 2025 | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

Compliance doesn't always equal safety. That's one key takeaway from the 2025 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium hosted by the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization in Florida earlier this month. ICPHSO ("ick-fa-so"), as it's better known, is an international, neutral forum for product safety stakeholders to learn, network and share information to promote the development of safer consumer products around the world.
Oregon Packaging EPR Deadline Fast Approaching

Feb 25, 2025 | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

The trend of extended producer responsibility laws aimed at reducing packaging waste - single-use-plastics in particular - continues apace. These laws, enacted so far in six states, place the responsibility for the end-of-life processing of their products on the companies that produce, import or sell those products, rather than relying on consumers and local jurisdictions to do the recycling. The next packaging EPR deadline, in Oregon, is fast approaching.
Feds File Briefs In Defense Of The Corporate Transparency Act

Feb 10, 2025 | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

Despite the change in administration, the federal government continues to seek restoration of the Corporate Transparency Act, urging circuit courts to lift a nationwide injunction blocking enforcement of the law. On Feb. 5, the Treasury Department filed a notice of appeal and motion for stay against the Eastern District of Texas injunction currently pausing enforcement. On Feb.