(Washington, DC) -- The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and
Refrigeration Institute raised alarm bells in a letter to Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo over its members' inability to manufacture products in their
Mexican factories because of the pandemic.
According to the letter, there is currently no federal
directive designating essential status for HVACR and water heating in Mexico —
where some of AHRI's member companies have a large manufacturing presence.
Because of that, "the situation for equipment and supply chain
manufacturers there is dire," writes Stephen Yurek, the trade
association's president and CEO.
The group calls on Pompeo to persuade Mexico's federal,
state and local jurisdictions to allow continued manufacturing operations.
"The continued inability of some of our member companies to manufacture
products in their Mexican factories will very soon severely impact our ability
to supply these essential products to the American market, putting American
lives and health at risk," the letter states.
