Many Parents Could Be Without Live-Saving Products for Their Children in 2019
MT. LAUREL, N.J. (PRWEB) August 22, 2018 -- Accidents are the number one leading cause of death for infants and children in the U.S., yet so many of these deaths could be prevented.
This week the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) will be testifying to request that critical and often life-saving baby products like car seats and cribs be exempted from impending China 301 tariffs, which could make these products inaccessible to consumers.
“Baby products have historically been subject to low tariffs globally, simply because they are essential for parenting and can save lives. If this changes, we could see prices increase dramatically on car seats, which are required by law for every single baby and toddler in America, plus other childcare items such as cribs, hygiene products, feeding products, safe sleep products and strollers. This could mean parents and caregivers can no longer afford these essential devices, putting babies and children at risk,” said Kelly Mariotti, Executive Director, JPMA.
Assuming the proposed 25% tariff is enacted, JPMA conservatively anticipates the costs would be passed on directly to consumers. For many Americans, this difference means sacrificing safety.
In addition, juvenile products have complex supply chains that can take years to establish. Imposing tariffs on baby products is intended to discourage import of the products, as well as the parts and materials used to make them. However, a comparable U.S. manufacturing base for many baby products does not currently exist. It would take years for baby product manufacturers to establish trusted partners who could source safe and affordable parts and materials, leaving our most vulnerable population at risk in the meantime.
The impact could cost lives.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car seats and boosters provide the best protection for infants and children in automobile crashes, which are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the safest place for a child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system, not on a parent’s lap. This is why the FAA strongly urges parents and caregivers to secure children in a car seat for the duration of a flight.
“Every single baby and child in America deserves to have access to products that keep them safe,” said Mariotti. “We have a responsibility to make sure every parent can afford these products.”
ABOUT JPMA
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) exists as the voice of the industry on quality and safety for products intended for babies and children. We do this by:
- Advocating for safety through product certification programs and legislative and regulatory involvement;
- Supporting a broad and diverse membership through member-only programming and industry promotion;
- And by acting as a comprehensive source for baby product information and education.
JPMA members represent 95 percent of the prenatal to preschool products sold in North America. To find out more information about JPMA, our certification program and products certified, and for a complete listing of JPMA Members, please visit http://www.jpma.org. Follow JPMA on Twitter @JPMA and connect with us on Facebook to learn about additional safety tips and JPMA initiatives.
Kelly Voelker, JPMA, http://www.jpma.org, +1 (704) 769-5537, [email protected]
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