In a statement, Rich Harper, manager of international trade at the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), warned that tariffs could “significantly” raise costs for products like trekking and ski poles, tent frames, carabineers, crampons, stoves and other products made in the U.S. by outdoor companies that source steel or aluminum from Canada,, Mexico and the European Union and lead to retaliatory measures against U.S. products.
The statement followed the Trump administration’s announcement on May 31 that tariff exemptions on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union will be allowed to expire, meaning those 30 countries will face additional tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum imports.
Wrote Harper, “Canada, Mexico and the European Union have already announced that they will impose retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars worth of U.S. imports. The Canadian list includes U.S. sleeping bags that will be subject to a 10 percent tariff and the preliminary European Union list includes certain footwear products.”
The action follows a year-long investigation by the Department of Commerce which found that certain imports of steel and aluminum posed a threat to U.S. national security.
OIA is concerned about the potential impact to outdoor companies that source steel and aluminum from Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Wrote Harper, “OIA urges the administration to continue negotiations with these key allies to resolve outstanding issues so that the tariffs may be removed.”
