Canada Announces New 50% Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Products
Canada has announced a new round of retaliatory tariffs that are scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 8, 2026. Of particular relevance to the sportfishing industry, Canada will impose a 50% tariff on U.S.-origin fishing rods. The tariff will apply only to goods originating in the United States, not products that are merely shipped from the United States. Origin will be determined under Canada’s country-of-origin marking rules.
The new sportfishing equipment tariff appears limited to finished fishing rods. Rod parts, fishing hooks, reels and other tackle classifications are not included.
Click below to read the full list of products subject to this announcement.
South Atlantic Congressional Delegation Sends Letter to Commerce Secretary Supporting New Red Snapper EFPs
Last week, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, led by Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL), sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in support of the new recreational red snapper Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) submitted by Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
The revised EFPs preserve the goal of giving states a greater role in managing recreational red snapper fisheries while adding additional safeguards, including establishing harvest caps which ensure each state stays within its allowable share of the overall catch.
Click below to read the full letter of support.
ASA’s VP of Government Affairs Discusses California’s Newly Proposed MPA’s
In the latest Government Affairs Update, ASA Vice President of Government Affairs Mike Leonard explores the ongoing review of California’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network and what proposed changes could mean for recreational fishing access.
Despite recommendations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to deny proposed changes, the California Ocean Protection Council has recommended moving forward with several petitions that could establish new MPAs, expand existing MPAs or impose additional fishing restrictions.
The California Fish and Game Commission is expected to consider these proposals at its October meeting. Click the image below to watch the full video.
Juvenile Invasive Carp Found Closer to Lake Michigan than Ever Before
Juvenile invasive silver carp were recently discovered further up the Illinois River than ever before. Sampling crews removed hundreds of small silver carp from the Marseilles Pool on a stretch of the river just 80 miles from Lake Michigan. While adult invasive carp have previously been found that far north, the presence of young carp indicates a spawning event occurred, possibly even further upriver.
This finding emphasizes the need to resume and complete construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project to protect the ecological health of the Great Lakes and the region’s $5.1 billion recreational fishery.
Click the link below to read the full story from WTTW in Chicago.
About The American Sportfishing Association
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 57 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 more than $50 billion in retail sales with a $230.5 billion impact on the nation’s economy, creating employment for 1.1 million people.
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