Tariffs are ‘sapping the strength’ of US outdoor industry
27/06/2019
It has said this data covers the period from September 2018, when tariffs went into effect, to April 2019, when the most recent government data is available.
These tariffs have so far affected items of outdoor equipment such as backpacks, camp stoves, camp chairs, hats and bikes.
OIA explained that it calculated the figure of $1.1 billion by taking into account the 10% tariffs that have been placed on outdoor products, which were part of a wider group of Chinese goods believed to be worth $200 billion. Tariffs on these products increased to 25% on May 10, which the organisation said will put even more strain on the outdoor sector.
US President Donald Trump has also suggested he may impose this tariff rate on a further $300 billion-worth of products from China. OIA said this, in addition to the tariffs already applied, could cost the US outdoor industry an additional $1.5 billion per month.
“Tariffs on products vital to America’s outdoor recreation economy, which supports 7.6 million American jobs, are sapping the strength of one of our nation’s most important industries,” said Patricia Rojas-Ungar, vice president of government affairs for the Outdoor Industry Association.
“These are significant taxes on an industry that fuels economic growth and healthy communities across America. To date, these tariffs have caused so much unpredictability for outdoor companies that many have had to slow or cancel job-creating investments and have resulted in higher costs for businesses in every corner of the country.”
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