News Blip:
RVIA Says Tariffs Are Bad News for RVers
RV Industry Association Expressed Its Concerns That Recently Issued Tariffs On Steel & Aluminum Will Have A Negative Impact On The RV Industry As A Whole And For Supplier Companies That Continually Use The Material.
With the announcement of new tariffs on steel and aluminum, the White House unleashed an avalanche of concern in both the stock market and industries across the nation. The RV industry, i.e. RV manufacturers - which utilizes both metals in production - was no exception. Reaction was swift from RVIA, which said in a release that the new tax bill will negatively affect the RV industry and its many supplier companies that use steel and aluminum, even those who source their steel and aluminum from manufacturers within the U.S. The tariffs would cause the cost of imports to rise significantly, but are also expected to increase the price of domestic steel and aluminum, a price increase likely to be passed along to consumers.
RVIA explains that tariffs are a result of a “232 investigation,” which focuses on whether certain imports compromise the U.S. national security by degrading the indus-trial base. In February, the United States Department of Commerce completed its investigation and released a report that concluded foreign imports of steel and aluminum were a national security threat. The conclusion allows the President to impose tariffs, quotas and other potential barriers to trade. Members of the RVIA staff have been meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill and with officials at the Department of Commerce to advocate on behalf of the RV industry. Stay tuned for further developments.
For more on the RVIA advocacy efforts, click here.