The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) said that while apparel, footwear and travel goods were not included on the United States Trade Representative’s initial list of products from China subject to higher tariffs, the organization will continue to make the case that outdoor products should not be included on the final list.

The full statement from Rich Harper, manager of international trade, follows:

Trump Releases List of Products Subject to Additional Tariffs

Good Morning from Washington, D.C.,

Following up on the president’s announcement last week that the United States would impose $50 billion in retaliatory tariffs on products from China, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released a preliminary list of products today that will be subject to an additional 25 percent tariff. In a positive sign for the $887 billion outdoor recreation economy, apparel, footwear and travel goods were not included on that initial list.

While this is welcome news, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and its members will continue to make the case that outdoor products should not be included on the final list. Following today’s release, USTR will institute a public comment period and a hearing in which companies and trade associations can petition to add or remove products from the final list.

Once that final list is released, the 25 percent tariff will be added to those products immediately and will remain in place until the president determines that China has met U.S. demands to improve its protection of intellectual property rights and prohibit illegal technology transfers.

“While we are pleased that outdoor products were left off the initial list of products that will be subject to a 25 percent tariff, we will continue to make the case that imposing these retaliatory tariffs on goods like apparel, footwear and travel goods that are already overtaxed is the wrong way to address China’s IP practices,” said Alex Boian, OIA’s vice president of government affairs. “We again call on the administration to pursue a more narrow, targeted approach, one that addresses legitimate concerns about protecting U.S. intellectual property without raising costs for American consumers.”

OIA will vigorously pursue legislative and administrative options to keep outdoor products off this list.

Please contact me to share your story and find out how you can get involved.

Rich

Rich Harper | Manager of International Trade
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (OIA)