OIA Calls on Outdoor Industry to Voice Support for Tariff Suspension Bills
Obama Administration’s Position Would Increase Industry Costs by 38 Percent
Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) issued an alert to the outdoor industry that urgent action is needed to prevent devastating tariffs that would result in cost increases as high as 38 percent starting Jan. 1, 2013.
The Obama Administration announced late Friday that it is formally opposing all outdoor industry duty suspension bills. This has potentially devastating consequences for outdoor manufacturers, suppliers and retailers. Many of these duty suspension bills have been in place since 2006 and ensure competitive retail prices for the outdoor specialty industry's best selling and most innovative new footwear products.
One of the most critical and successful trade tools supporting the outdoor industry, the miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) has allowed the industry to redirect more than $30 million in cost savings towards new American jobs, investments in innovation and lower prices for American families — while contributing to the health of the outdoor recreation economy. Outdoor recreation is a large and growing economic driver in the United States, representing $646 billion in direct spending each year and more than 6.1 million American jobs.
If the Obama Administration's position is allowed to prevail, prices on many popular footwear styles would go up by as much as 38 percent on Jan. 1, 2013. This would compromise the availability of best selling hiking, fishing, and trail running footwear and would have a detrimental impact on the 2013 retail season.
The footwear category represents more than 30 percent of all outdoor specialty retail sales, so the consequences of increased tariffs would reverberate throughout the industry. It is vital that Congress overturn the Administration's decision to ensure specialty retailer and manufacturer profits are not harmed.
OIA urges all outdoor companies to quickly contact key members of Congress to fight off this financially devastating decision. Please go to outdoorindustry.org/IndustryAtRisk to access materials (e.g., background, talking points, sample letters, etc.) you need to lend your voice to this effort. Congress will decide over the next two days, so it's urgent that you act immediately.
If you have any questions, please contact Alex Boian, OIA's director of trade policy at aboian@outdoorindustry.org or 303.327.3509.
About Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment and services. For more information, go to outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.
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