This week Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the U.S. OUTDOOR Act in the Senate. Introduction into the House by Representatives Dave Reichert (R-WA 8) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR 3) is reportedly imminent. This bi-partisan piece of legislation will lower costs for outdoor companies and their consumers, fuel innovation and encourage more Americans to enjoy the great outdoors, say its proponents, which include the Outdoor Industry Assocation.
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in the Senate.
“This common sense piece of legislation will add to the $646 billion in consumer spending and 6.1 million jobs generated by outdoor recreation every year. We look forward to seeing the OUTDOOR Act signed into law,” said Steve Barker, Interim Executive Director of Outdoor Industry Association.
According to OIA, the act creates new definitions and tariff classifications in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule for “recreational performance outerwear” and eliminates the import duties on these products. The Senate bill also establishes the Sustainable Textile and Apparel Research (STAR) fund to promote U.S. jobs and technologies by supporting the research and development of sustainable textile and apparel supply chains.
Recreational performance outerwear is unique, high-tech apparel – primarily jackets and pants – designed specifically to withstand the rigors of outdoor recreation. Despite the fact that the International Trade Commission has found that there is no commercially meaningful domestic production of these products, they face import tariffs as high as 30 percent.
Similar legislative initiatives have saved outdoor companies more than $30 million and have led to better products, more jobs and more outdoor enthusiasts, say the bills proponents.
“The U.S. OUTDOOR Act is a critical piece of legislation for the outdoor industry,” said Stewart Whitney, president of Timberland. “Lower tariffs on outdoor gear ultimately translate into greater innovation and consumer participation in outdoor recreation. That’s good for the consumer, and good for business.”
As a part of its balanced trade agenda, OIA worked closely with the U.S. textile and apparel industry to ensure that this current legislation does not cover any products that are manufactured in the U.S.
“If enacted, the U.S. OUTDOOR Act will make it easier to deliver innovative new products to our customers at lower costs,” said Jerry Stritzke, President and Chief Executive Officer of REI.
