Campfire Conversation: Conservation & Recreation Advocacy From Home

Join us for a collaborative campfire conversation with Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, The Conservation Alliance and Outdoor Alliance while they discuss support efforts of policy initiatives through in-person and virtual advocacy amid the pandemic safer-at-home orders.

OIA Campfire Conversations, is our new special video and audio series that is part of our Audio Outdoorist podcast. You can find the podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud.

These episodes are your opportunity to be a fly on the wall, to listen in as thought leaders and subject-matter experts chat about issues that are important, relevant and timely. The conversations will be candid and casual, fluid and free-flowing. Our hope is that you’ll come away with deeper — and maybe even some new — insights as you consider the various perspectives of the participants. As the trade association of the outdoor industry, OIA’s aim is to convene the diverse thinkers and changemakers whose work and ideas will steer us toward continued growth. We’ll post these as videos on our website for you to watch on your computer, and we’ll publish them on our Audio Outdoorist podcast, so you can listen on your next hike, bike or paddle. Thanks for listening in and enjoy the conversation.

Trade Alert: New China Tariff Exclusions – Hydration Backpacks, Duffels, Bikes, Messenger Bags

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently announced that it approved another group of tariff exclusions for products hit by the List 3 China 301 tariffs, including several outdoor products. As a result, any company can gain tariff relief on items that match the product description approved by the USTR. We are writing to provide you with the details on these exclusions to ensure that OIA members are able to take advantage of this opportunity to reduce their tariff costs.

To learn more about this exclusion process and how to take advantage of it to reduce your tariff costs, join us for a webinar this Thursday, April 30, at 3 p.m. (ET).

The group of product exclusions is retroactive to Sept. 24, 2018, and will be valid through Aug. 7, 2020. Here are some examples of the products included:

  • Backpacks with hydration packs
  • Bikes
  • Duffel bags
  • Messenger bags

In order to claim this exclusion, your product must match the product description, and you should use Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code 9903.88.45 when importing your product.

Again, any importer can benefit from a granted exclusion if the product matches both the subheading and the exact specifications of the granted product description. If your product matches the written description but is not currently classified under that provided HTS, we recommend that you check with your customs broker or counsel to review its applicable classification.

To claim duty refunds using a product exclusion, importers can either submit a post-summary correction (PSC) or file a protest. For future imports, the Chapter 99 number assigned to that product exclusion must be used on entries and entry summaries. Guidance on this process issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can be found here.

We will keep you updated on any future developments on China 301 product exclusions.

COVID-19 Webinar: Protect Your Bottom Line – Relief from China 301 duties and a 90-day tariff deferral

Speakers: Rich Harper, Manager of International Trade, Outdoor Industry Association
Nicole Schude, Of Counsel, Sorini Samet & Associates
Megan Costello, Vice President, Trade & Customs Policy, Sorini Samet & Associates

As they deal with the COVID-19 crisis, outdoor companies may be able to utilize two programs to secure much-needed tariff relief.

If you are a U.S. importer of an impacted product, you could be eligible for retroactive duty refunds from the China 301 tariffs. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has granted many product-specific exclusions from these duties, and many requests are still pending. If your product is eligible, additional action needs to be taken to ensure your ability to obtain a full retroactive refund.

Additionally, the Trump administration announced last week that it would grant a 90-day deferral on all tariffs, taxes and fees on a select group of products imported into the U.S. in March and April of 2020 for companies impacted by COVID-19.

Learn how your company can utilize these programs to protect your bottom line.

COVID-19 Webinar: Insurance Coverage for Outdoor Retailers and Manufacturing Companies

Speaker: Perkins Coie LLP

Coronavirus loss estimates are already in the billions of dollars for retailers and tourism companies as state lockdowns are implemented and more retail chains are forced to shutter doors, send workers home and look for solutions to supply chain deficiencies. Are the losses covered? Unfortunately, it depends.

In this webinar, we will walk through business insurance policies that may provide coverage for coronavirus losses, including business interruption and contingent business interruption coverages, several standard property insurance coverage extensions, supply chain and trade disruption policies, cargo marine policies, event cancellation policies, liability policies and more. The speakers will identify what language your policy needs to contain (or not contain) for coverage to attach and will provide practical advice on what records companies should gather now to assist in any future insurance claims. In addition, the speakers will discuss when companies should provide notice or notice of circumstances under their current policies.

OIA CALLS FOR 90-DAY DEFERRAL ON TARIFF PAYMENTS: TAKE ACTION TODAY TO HELP

Last week, OIA continued its efforts to secure relief for small outdoor businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak, including an urgent call to the Trump administration to lift all punitive tariffs on outdoor apparel, footwear and equipment sourced from China. We greatly appreciate those who have joined us by sending letters to their congressional representatives in support of this effort.

Now, we are calling on the administration to support a deferral of duty payments on imports for at least 90 days to provide much-needed liquidity to outdoor companies and help them preserve jobs and stay in business. Such action is consistent with the three-month delay on filing of personal and corporate income tax returns which has already been instituted.
TAKE ACTION

Outdoor companies already face import tariffs of about 14 percent, on average, and as high as 37.5 percent. Many outdoor companies are paying punitive tariffs of 10 or 25 percent on top of those on affected products sourced from China. A deferral of tariff payments on imports would help outdoor companies, particularly small businesses, address serious cash-flow issues during this challenging time when retail outlets have closed and manufacturers have shut down due to COVID-19.

Once again, we need your help. Please reach out to your representatives and senators and urge them to Take Action to join OIA and support a deferral on tariff payments for at least 90 days. You action will help outdoor companies get back to what they do best: developing new, innovative outdoor gear to enhance the outdoor experience and get more Americans outdoors.

You can also still contact your congressional representatives and urge them to support lifting punitive tariffs on outdoor products sourced from China.

OIA has taken a series of actions to help outdoor companies manage the COVID-19 outbreak:

  • OIA signed letters organized by the Americans for Free Trade coalition to the president and the House Ways and Means Committee urging the administration to lift all punitive China 301 tariffs.
  • OIA submitted comments to the House Ways and Means Committee outlining the negative impact of the China 301 punitive tariffs on outdoor companies and calling for them to be removed.

We will continue to keep you updated on our advocacy work. In the meantime, join us, Thursday, April 2, at 11:00 a.m. (MT) for an informative webinar presented by Monument Advocacy on how the latest COVID-19 stimulus package will impact outdoor businesses.