Kirby: RVIA is Closely Monitoring Fluid Tariff Impacts – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following report was written by RV Industry Association (RVIA) President & CEO Craig Kirby and sent to the association’s members.
With President Trump announcing a series of new tariffs, I wanted to update you all on the RV Industry Association’s activities on tariff engagement. As you are aware, starting on Inauguration Day, the President has prioritized resetting and rebalancing worldwide trade by imposing tariffs on a variety of goods imported from countries around the world. This includes 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico to stem illegal immigration and the importation of fentanyl, tariffs on aluminum and steel and their derivatives, tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, reciprocal tariffs, and tariffs on Chinese goods.
Throughout the process, the RV Industry Association has been engaged with our members, lobbyists, partners, Congressional champions, and the administration to share the potential impact of these various tariffs on our industry.
Tracking and Information Sharing
First and foremost, we have been and continue to work with our trade-focused lobbying firm, Sorini, Samet & Associates, to track the tariffs, goods impacted, implementation dates (and pauses), and other details, and provide our members with the most up-to-date information. Additionally, we’ve worked with members to navigate this uncertainty by researching whether the various tariffs cover certain products (via HTS codes).
Working with Partners and Making the Industry’s Voice Heard
Since the President announced the tariffs on Canadian goods and a Canadian response to include a 25% tariff on American RVs being imported into Canada, we’ve been working hand in hand with our partners at RVDA of Canada and the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA) to educate Congressional champions including Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Jim Banks (R-IN) and Congressmen Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), Adrian Smith (R-NE), and Dina Titus (D-NV) about the impact that this could have on the RV industries on both sides of the border. The President has repeatedly said that he wants to eliminate trade imbalances where the United States is on the wrong side of the ledger, but in this case, the U.S. has a positive trade balance with Canada. In 2024, American manufacturers shipped nearly 30,000 units to Canada valued between approximately $1.3 billion (wholesale) and $1.7 billion (retail) while Canada shipped fewer than 2,000 Canadian RVs to the United States.
As part of this effort, the RV Industry Association and the RV Technical Institute hosted Rep. Yakym for an industry roundtable at RVTI offices on March 20th. Tariffs, especially the American tariffs on Canadian goods and Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on American RVs, were the primary topic of conversation. Rep. Yakym assured those industry representatives in attendance that he had and would continue to carry the message to the White House. We’ve heard similar assurances from Senator Banks’ team and other members. Senator Young has been a leader in asking the Administration for clear benchmarks on what would cause the Administration to increase, decrease, or remove the Canadian tariffs.
These tariffs were also a topic of conversation with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) at an event organized by Sorini, Samet & Associates, which provided us an opportunity to share our message with the Chairman. The Committee has jurisdiction over both tax and trade and Chairman Smith talks frequently about different priorities with the President and the White House. Another topic of discussion at that event was the de minimis loophole, which has now been closed for covered goods coming from China and Hong Kong by the President via Executive Order. The RV Industry Association continues to advocate for a legislative solution, which will be more permanent than an Executive Order, and Chairman Smith agrees. He is talking with his colleagues in both the House and Senate to find the best path forward.
As the Administration has been conducting investigations into certain countries and goods that could be subject to tariffs, we’ve filed comments on the 232 National Security Investigation on Imports of Timber and Lumber, urging the Administration to exclude lauan and Canadian softwood lumber, both of which are vital to the industry, from tariffs. We will continue to submit comments where appropriate to ensure that our industry’s voice is on the record and heard.
We’ve also been working with coalition partners like the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers, and other Sorini, Samet & Associates clients to amplify our messaging.
Soliciting Information from Members
On February 26th we sent out part one of a two-part trade survey to gauge members’ perspectives and concerns, identify products of concern and efforts to re-shore production, determine countries where members source products, and other vital information. We’re utilizing the results of that survey to craft a comprehensive advocacy strategy identifying areas where we can push the Administration for wins including pursuing exemptions for products unavailable domestically, positioning the industry as an American success story and protecting it from Chinese manufactured units, and exploring the potential of establishing a manufacturing grant program that will help bring manufacturing on shore. Part two of the survey will be sent shortly.
In 2021, the RV Industry Association created the RV Trade Advisory Panel to more directly engage our members on key international trade issues. To help RV Industry Association staff gather information, help inform our advocacy approach, and share information with members, we will be reopening applications to RVTAP and beginning in-person meetings of the Panel.
Monitoring, providing information on, responding to, and sharing the impact on our industry with Congressional champions and the Administration will continue to be a top priority for the RV Industry Association. Please continue to monitor News & Insights for updates and please reach out to us if we can provide further information or answer questions.
Sincerely,
Craig Kirby
RVIA President & CEO
