UPDATE – Friday, November 30

Thanks to the swift and vocal response from the outdoor industry, The Obama Administration announced today that it has lifted its opposition to eight miscellaneous tariff bills (MTBs) that reduce import duties on certain specialty outdoor footwear products that have no viable manufacturing options in the United States. This decision prevents an unexpected and immediate increase of upwards of 38 percent on certain categories of performance outdoor footwear. However, 10 additional tariff bills remain in play, and OIA will continue to press the administration and Congressional leaders to lift their opposition to these bills. Stay tuned on how the industry can take action.

Attention all Outdoor Manufacturers, Suppliers and Retailers

The Obama Administration announced Nov.16 that it is formally opposing all outdoor industry duty suspension bills. These Miscellaneous Tariff Bills (MTBs) suspend high tariffs associated with many of the best selling products in outdoor specialty retail.

Failure to enact these bills will result in immediate and direct cost increases as high as 38 percent starting Jan. 1, 2013 and the administration has made it clear they are willing to sacrifice the substantial savings these bills have provided to your business and your customers

We need your immediate help to contact administration officials to protect bills that are essential to the health of the entire outdoor industry.

If your company is in any way involved in the manufacturing, distribution or retailing of waterproof, breathable footwear, these cost increases will directly affect you.

Failure to defeat this action would result in higher retail prices, lost profits and product shortages across the outdoor industry. There would be an immediate and detrimental impact on the 2013 retail season. The availability of best-selling outdoor hiking, fishing, and trail running footwear would be threatened.

The footwear category represents more than 30 percent of all outdoor specialty retail sales, so the consequences of increased tariffs would reverberate throughout our industry. It is vital that we all urge Congress to overturn the Administration’s decision to ensure specialty retailer and manufacturer profits are not harmed.

Here is what we need you to do:

Today, tomorrow and Wednesday (11.26 – 11.28.12)
Download this sample letter, insert your customization, and email it to the administration officials (contact information is included in the letter). Copy oiatrade@outdoorindustry.org so we can make sure it also gets to your senators and Congressional representatives.  Please ask everyone in your company to also send an email.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Alex Boian, OIA’s director of trade policy at aboian@outdoorindustry.org or 303.327.3509.