INDUSTRY NEWS UPDATE


We hope everyone had very happy holidays and a happy New Year.  We’re back with an industry update – read on to see what’s been happening in the cabinet industry.

Chinese Factories Cut Prices, Lay Off Workers in Trade War

According to a recent piece in Industry Week, 86% of companies affected by US Tariffs reported a decline in orders. While President Trump and President Xi have agreed on a 90-day truce, it is not known when a final agreement will be reached. A report from UBS Group AG predicts that Chinese export growth will slow to 4% in 2019 from 11% this year - good news for American manufacturers.

Click here to read more.

Proposed Narrower CWA Jurisdiction

On December 11, EPA unveiled its proposal to rollback the Obama-era Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdiction to limit the laws reach of tributaries and wetlands. The new rule, developed jointly with the Army Corps of Engineers, will be much more limited and much simpler in practice than the 2015 jurisdiction rule crafted by the Obama administration, which Republicans and industry have long claimed is illegally over-broad.

Click here to read the full proposed rule.


White House Announces Five-Year STEM Strategic Plan

Last month the White House announced a five-year STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) strategic plan. The plan's goals include building a strong STEM foundation for all Americans, creating equal access across the country with a focus on diverse populations and preparing the workforce of the future to be STEM ready.

The White House's STEM strategy complements industry efforts to address the skills gap in manufacturing such as Manufacturing Day and other programs. The hope is that the new plan will continue to show students the opportunities that await them in a career in manufacturing.

Click here to read more about the plan.

Photo courtesy of ALEX BRANDO/AP
2019 Predictions - Cabinet Color Trends
Check out our latest blog on kitchen cabinet color trends for 2019. We talk about whether or not white cabinets are finally a thing of the past; if colored cabinets will be in; and much more. Read it now to check out what we found out about what colors will be hot in cabinets next year.

Also don't miss our other 2019 predictions blog posts - kitchen design trends and manufacturing technology trends.

Photo courtesy of 2020.
KCMA is always on the lookout to bring you the latest news and advocate for you in the industry. If you would like to learn more about being a member of KCMA and getting access to exclusive member news, insights, research and webinars visit our website.

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