Senator Coons, colleagues call for ratification of Kigali Amendment to support U.S. manufacturers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) yesterday led a bipartisan letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to encourage ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The letter was also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Col.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Angus King (I -Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) – all members of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus co-chaired by Senator Coons.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol would phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – a greenhouse gas with significant global warming potential. American companies and workers have demonstrated leadership in the transition to HFC substitutes and will have a competitive advantage if the United States ratifies the amendment. It is estimated that implementation of the Kigali Amendment will add 33,000 new jobs and $1.2 billion in direct output to the U.S. economy and generate a 25 percent increase in exports of American-made refrigerators, air conditioners, and other products.

“Ratification of this amendment would help secure America’s place as a global leader in several manufacturing industries, and in turn give American products an advantage in the international marketplace,” the senators wrote. “Failure to ratify this amendment could allow our competitors to reap these benefits and may lead other countries to place import restrictions on American products.”

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member Risch:

As members of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus who supported the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, we are encouraged by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s consideration of the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Ratification of this amendment would help secure America’s place as a global leader in several manufacturing industries, and in turn give American products an advantage in the international marketplace. 

Under the framework of the Montreal Protocol, U.S. industry has for years positioned itself as a leader in the effort to develop alternatives to hydroflourocarbons (HFCs), including for use in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR). The Montreal Protocol enjoys bipartisan support due to the active cooperation of U.S. industry with the government over the 30-year history of the treaty.

Ratification of the Kigali Amendment will sustain and expand the employment, investment, and trade benefits of the AIM Act, enacted in 2020 and led by Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Tom Carper (D-DE). American companies and workers are poised to significantly benefit from the transition to HFC substitutes. The University of Maryland’s Inter- Industry Forecasting Project (INFORUM) estimates that implementation of the Kigali Amendment will add 33,000 new jobs and $12.5 billion in direct output to the U.S. economy, and generate a 25 percent increase in exports of American-made HVACR products. Failure to ratify this amendment could allow our competitors to reap these benefits and may lead other countries to place import restrictions on American products. We look forward to working with you to provide advice and consent on this important treaty.

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