If you’re in the market for a new tent or fleece jacket, you could see prices for those products go up. The Trump Administration is proposing new tariffs on items like these that are produced in China.
Recreation industry leaders are gathering in Denver this week for the annual summer outdoor industry trade show. They kicked off the gathering by releasing an analysis on how the trade war with China is hurting their bottomline.
The new analysis shows that existing and proposed tariffs could cost the recreation industry up to $1.5 billion per month. Patricia Rojas-Ungar iswith the Outdoor Industry Association. She says that could trickle down to hikers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
"People are going to have to make hard decisions around whether or not they’re going to take, you know, that ski trip in the winter," says Rojas-Ungar.
Ungar also says the tariffs are stifling the industry. Instead of focusing on job growth or product innovation, outdoor companies are having to figure out how to absorb cost increases.
Ungar’s group says the outdoor industry was hit with a 10% tariff on products like camp chairs and backpacking stoves last year. The Trump Administration is now considering increasing that to 25% and expanding the tariff to include more products like outdoor apparel, hiking boots and tents.
Find reporter Amanda Peacher on Twitter @amandapeacher .
Copyright 2019 Boise State Public Radio
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUER in Salt Lake City and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.
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