NEWS RELEASES
Avalanche Of Tariffs Buries Outdoor Industry
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through the Outdoor Industry Association's website.
BOULDER, Colo. - The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) reports on what it describes as a tax “avalanche” that hit American outdoor businesses in September due to the trade war with China. New data indicates that American outdoor apparel and equipment businesses paid an additional $2.6 billion in punitive tariffs over last year, reaching $1 billion in September alone, for the first time in a single month. The largest increase in tariff rates in September impacted outdoor apparel, equipment, and footwear.
On September 1, 2019, the Trump administration’s 15 percent tariff on many consumer goods used by Americans for outdoor recreation, such as hiking boots, ski jackets and tents, went into effect. The punitive Section 301 tariffs more than tripled the value of products affected from $1.3 billion in August to $4.1 billion in September. The OIA provides the example of a pair of hiking boots made in China, previously charged a 37.5 percent tariff, now facing a tariff rate of 52.5 percent. Another 15 percent increase in tariffs on outdoor products including sleeping bags and more outdoor footwear and apparel, is expected to go into effect December 15.
For additional information and updates, visit the OIA website.