The US outdoor industry has been hit hard by a tax ‘avalanche’ as Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) data indicates outdoor businesses have paid an additional $2.6 billion in punitive tariffs over last year, as the trade war with China rages on. The value of the products affected by punitive Section 301 tariffs more than tripled from August to September.

Additionally, the total tariffs paid by US outdoor businesses in a single month on imports from China exceeded $1 billion for the first time ever in September, according to a press release from the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).

On September 1 of this year, the US government began imposing a 15 per cent tariff on a large number of consumer goods used by Americans to get outdoors, such as hiking boots, ski jackets and tents.

The increase in tariffs on outdoor apparel has been over $100 million from previous year’s September to this September. The corresponding figures are over $100 million for outdoor equipment and nearly $60 million for outdoor footwear.

OIA said this ‘avalanche’ will keep building as US outdoor businesses brace again for yet another 15 per cent increase in tariffs on a new set of outdoor products expected to go into effect December 15. Sleeping bags and more outdoor footwear and apparel are on the list of products that would be hit with new tariffs mid next month.

OIA member Vista Outdoor requested the Donald Trump administration not to impose China 301 tariffs on safety helmets.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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