US Outdoor Industry Association: new tariffs have cost $1bn
20/06/2019
The data shows outdoor companies and consumers paid an extra $1.1 billion from September 2018, when tariffs went into effect, to April 2019, when the most recent government data is available.
In addition to the tariffs already in place, the administration has also threatened tariffs on an additional $300 billion or “List 4” products at a rate of 25%, including footwear and clothing. In total, the data found these tariffs could result in $1.5 billion in extra tariffs per month on outdoor products from China.
Sara Bowersox, manager for compliance at Keen Footwear, said: “Companies across the outdoor industry are living in a state of uncertainty and holding their breath as new and higher tariffs go into effect or are threatened. This unpredictability is bad for not only the outdoor industry and the American economy, but also for its consumers.”
The US Trade Representative is meeting with representatives of companies including Timberland owner VF and Wolverine this week to hear the impacts of the threatened List 4 tariffs.
The tariffs have already been placed on outdoor equipment such as backpacks, camp stoves, camp chairs, hats and bikes.
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