International boating community urges trade officials to remove tariffs
NMMA, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), and the European Boating Industry (EBI) sent a letter to the United States (U.S.) and European Union (EU) trade officials applauding their recent progress on trade negotiations and urging them to reach an agreement that removes the EU’s 25% tariff on U.S. manufactured boats.
“Since 2018, the United States’ worldwide steel and aluminum tariffs have resulted in the EU’s 25% tariff on recreational boats, which has resulted in a 30% overall decline in U.S. boat exports to the EU, costing U.S. manufacturers more than $400 million since the retaliatory tariff went into effect. It has also impacted European consumers with higher prices and European companies, such as importers, dealers, after-sales and services, that sell these products.”
The letter continued, “To ensure free and fair trade, we strongly urge the U.S. and EU to simply build upon recent progress, recognize the harmful effects of the current trade dispute on our sector, and focus on achieving a swift and reasonable resolution to end the EU’s tariffs on boats and U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel.”
Click here to read the full letter.
