Ryan Stuart, explore's gear editor
Ryan Stuart's tell all blog spot on his gear addiction and life and times as explore magazine's gear editor
Cheaper gear on its way?
I just received the following news release, which originated from the SnowSports Industries America, a group representing ski and snowboard apparel and equipment makers and distributors. Sounds like outdoor performance apparel, the stuff you and I use all the time, will face lower duties in the U.S. I'm not sure what it will mean to us in Canada, but since most of the companies that produce apparel for the outdoor industry are based in the U.S. we can only hope that the savings will be passed on to us. Fingers crossed. Here's what it said:
"The Recreational Performance Outerwear Apparel Act of 2008 (RPOAA) (H.R. 6483), which would eliminate import duties on many items of recreational performance outerwear, was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on Tuesday by U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). SnowSports Industries America (SIA), a not-for-profit group representing most ski and snowboard equipment and apparel manufacturers and distributors in the U.S., worked with a coalition of outdoor performance apparel manufacturers, including the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), to develop the legislation. Separate legislation is being drafted to suspend import duties on ski poles.
Under the bill, recreational performance outwear is distinguished from other apparel for purposes of duty-free treatment as high-tech apparel, particularly jackets and pants, specifically designed for outdoor recreation activities in challenging conditions, including not only skiing and snowboarding but also mountain climbing, water sports and cycling. These items are unique in design, components, construction, and end-use from other apparel items currently imported under the same U.S. Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) lines.
U.S. tariffs on recreational performance outwear are some of the highest the United States imposes on imports. A knit performance outwear jacket, for example, is subject to a 28% duty."
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