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

2 Easy Ways To Speak Up For Your Small Business

1 week ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

Small businesses make up 98% of the promotional products industry. Many of these distributors, suppliers and service providers are being squeezed by federal policies that increase costs, reduce flexibility and threaten their ability to operate. Finding time to speak out about these policies can feel like an impossible task on top of all the day-to-day demands of running a business, but there are tools to help make it quick and easy.
US-China Deal Announced, Circuit Court OKs Tariffs

2 weeks ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

The tariffs can stay, for now, a federal circuit court has ruled - and the U.S. and China have reached a deal that would settle the tariff rate going forward. Following two days of trade talks in London by U.S. and Chinese officials, President Donald Trump announced the agreement in a social media post on June 11. The deal, which must be formally approved by Trump and Xi Jinping, will settle reciprocal tariff rates.
Pair Of Bills Seek To Close De Minimis Loophole

2 weeks ago | ppai.org | Rachel Zoch

The de minimis loophole has been under a microscope during the past few months. The practice, which allows duty-free imports of goods valued at less than $800 per day per person, has been in place (with variations) more or less since 1930. On average, U.S. Customs and Border Protection processes over 4 million de minimis shipments into the U.S. each day.
Reach Out Now To Meet With Members Of Congress During Their August Recess

3 weeks 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

1 month 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

2 months 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

Mar 31, 2025 | 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

Mar 31, 2025 | 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

Mar 25, 2025 | 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.