This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Megan Tanel, president and CEO of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
The group represents more than 1,100 members in North America across construction, agriculture, forestry, mining and utilities. That includes Caterpillar in South Milwaukee, Komatsu in Milwaukee’s Harbor District, C&H in Racine, Oshkosh Corporation and many more in Wisconsin.
Tanel says the state has about 135,000 jobs related to equipment manufacturing, including 25,800 direct manufacturing jobs.
Along with highlighting the role equipment production plays in Wisconsin and nationwide, she discusses how AEM members are navigating the latest tariff twists.
“Fair trade is something that we are 100% supportive of,” Tanel said. “You know, it’s not just that our members are manufacturing equipment to be here in Wisconsin or here in the United States, but a lot of this can get exported and that’s a really healthy balance in any company.”
Still, Tanel says AEM supports the goal of wanting to secure “better and fairer trade deals” with other countries, pointing to other governments propping up domestic industries.
“That’s not necessarily on-par, fair practice across the world,” she said.
But she said tariffs are also driving up costs, emphasizing impacts on specific components such as steel.
During last week’s G20 Trade Ministerial, AEM hosted the Canadian minister of trade in its Milwaukee office, bringing together officials with industry representatives to discuss tariff impacts and the trade relationship with Canada.
Tanel also addressed members of the Canadian government earlier this week, touting the importance of these ties.
“I don’t care what side of the border you’re on, USMCA — or as they say in Canada, CUSMA — is extremely important and we still support a lot of the initiatives that were in that last negotiated deal,” she said. “And can only hope that both Canada and U.S. can come back together and push the global tariff conversation to the side, and just focus on how we can continue to work with who’ve been our best trading partners.”
Listen to the podcast below, sponsored by UW-Madison:
