AHRI Update

April 17, 2025

Top Stories

Register and Book Your Stay for the AHRI Policy Symposium!

We are one month away from the AHRI Policy Symposium, to be held May 19-21 at the Mariott Marquis in Washington, D.C. This year’s event includes general sessions with a special focus on the perspectives of some of the biggest decision makers in Washington.

In the featured session, View from the Hill: Congressional Perspective, attendees will hear directly from a panel of current and former congressional staffers about how the "legislative sausage" is made, and the best ways to make your voice heard on the Hill. Congressional staff are arguably the real policymakers in Washington, wielding significant influence over who and what goes before representatives and senators.

Our experienced panel will offer insight into strategies for securing and executing productive meetings on the Hill, with a heavy emphasis on how to navigate energy and environmental policy in the 119th Congress amid a Republican trifecta.

Hotel Reservation Deadline

As a reminder, this Friday, April 25, is the final day to reserve rooms at the Marriott Marquis through AHRI's room block. The group rate for a standard room is $379.00 per night, plus tax. While hotel rooms are still available on Sunday, May 18 and Monday, May 19, the AHRI group block on Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21 is sold out. If you wish to extend your stay beyond these dates, please visit the event webpage for additional information. AHRI has negotiated a preferred rate at two hotels near our headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, which is located approximately 5 miles from the Marriott Marquis. Contact: Lauren Little.

AHRI/ Industry News

Don't Miss Your Chance to Register for the AHRI State Summit

The final day to register for the two-day AHRI State Summit, to be held at the Renaissance Albany, April 29-30, is quickly approaching! Those interested must register online by Tuesday, April 22.

This event is an important platform for our members to communicate directly with key lawmakers about our industry’s position on the critical policy decisions affecting your businesses, employees, and customers.

AHRI's experienced Government Affairs team has carefully planned this year's State Summit agenda to cover specific industry issues being addressed in the New York State legislature. The schedule includes focused general sessions to allow you to engage with experts and policymakers on topics such as:

• Extended Producer Responsibility legislation and regulation
• New York City Local Law 97 (greenhouse gas emissions from large buildings)
• Decarbonization and energy efficiency policies across the Northeast
• HFC regulation, reclaim, and recovery

The full agenda also includes opportunities to hear from policy experts on the latest activity on issues of concern for the HVACR and water heating industry, as well as multiple chances to network with colleagues and conference participants. Contact: Lauren Little.

Legislative and Regulatory

CalRecycle Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) Advisory Board Meeting

On April 18, CalRecycle will host an Advisory Board meeting for the implementation of the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (the Act; Senate Bill 54, Allen, Chapter 75, Statutes of 2022).

During this meeting, the Advisory Board will discuss:

• Updates to the Regulations, Needs Assessment Studies, And Other Elements of Implementation
• Economic Impact of the Regulations – Costs and Benefits
• Regulatory Issues Identified by the Producer Responsibility Organization
• Draft Content for the Advisory Board “Barriers & Solutions” Recommendations Report
• Needs Assessment Consumer Education and Access Study Surveys

Agenda items are subject to change, and the most up-to-date version can be found in the Advisory Board Repository. Information on how to participate in this meeting can be found here. Contact: Nicole Colantonio.

Join Us for Two Legislative Webinars in May

AHRI’s government affairs team will host two important webinars next month. On May 2, join us for Welcome to Lobbying! How to Make the Most of Your Capitol Hill Visits at the AHRI Policy Symposium. The ability and willingness of our member companies to establish relationships and work with their elected representatives at the federal level are key to the ultimate success of AHRI's – and our industry's – lobbying efforts. There is simply no substitute for face-to-face interaction and relationship building to disseminate information and influence outcomes. This educational webinar will help members develop effective federal advocacy programs in advance of AHRI-coordinated visits to Capitol Hill on May 20, during the 2025 Policy Symposium.

Also, learn more about the energy and environment policy priorities of the Trump-Vance Administration on May 7 during The First 100 Days of the Second Trump Administration. Bracewell Partner Scott Segal and others will review the administration's actions over the first 100 days and discuss their impact on the HVACR and water heating industry. Contact: Makenzie Horrigan.

Regulatory Information is Always Available!

AHRI members have ready access to information on all current state and federal regulatory activity through a number of vehicles, including the Government Relations Group virtual meeting on the third Monday of each month and the weekly Policy Brief, which outlines all the latest state and federal regulatory activities in which AHRI is involved. To be added to the list for our monthly Government Relations Group calls, please email Morgan Anderson. To be added to the list for the weekly Policy Brief, please send an email to [email protected]. The latest regulatory information also is provided at AHRI’s main meetings – the Policy Symposium, held in May of each year in Washington, DC (registration information provided above), and the Leadership Forum, held each year in November. Contact Francis Dietz.

Certification

AHRI Welcomes New Certification Participant

AHRI is pleased to welcome AIIR Products, Inc. to the Unitary Heat Pump Equipment (USHP) Certification Program.

AHRI is also pleased to welcome XNRGy Climate Systems ULC to the Forced Circulation Air-Cooling and Air-Heating Coils (ACHC) Certification Program. Contact: Bill Tritsis

Standards

AHRI Publishes Revised American National Standard 

AHRI has published the revised ANSI/AHRI Standard 370-2025 (SI/I-P), Sound Performance Rating of Large Air-Cooled Outdoor Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Equipment. The standard was approved by the Sound Standards Technical Committee, the Standards Committee, and the Sound and Vibration Consensus Body and accepted by ANSI as an American National Standard. Contact: Jacob (Cobi) Waxman.

Weekly Update from ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC

This week’s summary of standards activities at ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC that are relevant to AHRI’s work is available here. Current and previous standards activities for ASHRAE can be found here. Current and previous standards activities for ANSI can be found here. 

International

Trump Administration Issues 90-Day Pause on Reciprocal Tariffs, China Rate Increased

On April 10, the Trump Administration released an Executive Order (dated April 9) to further modify the previously announced (and subsequently amended in an Executive Order released on April 8) reciprocal tariffs on all Annex I countries, except for China, which had reciprocal tariff rates increase.

As of 12:01 a.m. on April 9, the reciprocal tariffs imposed under Executive Order 14257 (released April 2) are suspended until 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 9. All goods from Annex I countries (except China) will still be subject to the 10 percent baseline tariff, effective from 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 10 until 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 9.

The executive order does not make any changes to the existing exclusions from reciprocal tariffs, including for originating goods from Canada or Mexico. Drawback is available for reciprocal tariffs.

The April 9 executive order also increased the rates of de minimis tariffs, and more details can be found in “Sec. 4. De Minimis Tariff Increase.” This increase was in addition to an amendment released on April 8 to increase de minimis tariffs, which can be found in “Sec. 3. De Minimis Tariff Increase.” Contact: Makenzie Horrigan.

United States, China Escalate Reciprocal Tariff Actions

On April 9, the Trump Administration announced an amendment to the reciprocal tariff on China to a total of 125 percent, effective immediately. On April 11, China’s State Council Tariff Commission announced it would raise its retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods to 125 percent, effective April 12.

This amendment followed back-and-forth escalation between the U.S. and China, which began on April 2 when President Trump announced a 34 percent retaliatory tariff on goods imported from China. China responded on April 4 with a 34 percent retaliatory tariff on goods imported from the U.S. In response to China’s retaliation, the Trump Administration released an Executive Order on April 8 to amend and increase the reciprocal tariff on China to 84 percent, and China responded in kind with an 84 percent retaliatory tariff on goods imported from the U.S.

Following the most recent escalation, U.S. Customs and Border Control released updated guidance on the 125 percent reciprocal tariff on China, which is in addition to any other existing tariffs on goods from China. Contact: Makenzie Horrigan.