As part of its review of Section 301 China tariffs, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is soliciting feedback on the impact of these tariffs. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) encourages anyone in the sportfishing industry that has been impacted to participate in this process.
In 2019, additional tariffs were placed on several sportfishing products imported from China, including hooks, reels valued over $8.45, fishing line, leaders and artificial baits. ASA continues to argue that these tariffs are particularly punitive to the sportfishing industry, given that the industry already pays an excise tax that helps fund the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
USTR is seeking public comments to consider the effectiveness of the tariffs in achieving the objectives of the investigation, other actions that could be taken, and the effects of the actions on the United States economy, including consumers.
Click here to access the electronic portal, which opened today and runs until Jan. 17, 2023. The portal includes detailed questions on these issues, including questions about the impact of the actions on U.S. workers, U.S. small businesses, U.S. manufacturing, critical supply chains, U.S. technological leadership, and possible tariff inversions (i.e., where additional tariffs on goods are lower than additional tariffs on inputs used to produce those goods).
While there are no guarantees about the outcome of this public comment period, it is the first step in a potential rebalancing of Section 301 China tariffs. Ultimately, the process could result in increases, decreases or eliminations of the tariffs. Your comments could help impact future actions taken by USTR.
Separate from USTR’s review, ASA is urging Congress to pass legislation to reinstate all previously granted exclusions to Section 301 China tariffs and to establish a new process for additional exclusions.
About
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 55 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate nearly $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for 800,000 people.