Yesterday, the Trump Administration announced it will incrementally impose new 10% tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese imports, including recreational fishing equipment. The next round of tariffs will begin September 1, 2019 on a portion of these imports while the remaining products will be subject to additional tariffs starting December 15, 2019.

Since May, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), and many of its members, requested exclusions from additional tariffs on sportfishing equipment arguing that our industry already pays a unique excise tax that funds fisheries conservation and access projects. An additional tariff on top of this 10% excise tax would cause harm to the bottom lines of many ASA members, deter fishing participation and reduce conservation funding.

Below you will find a summary of some recreational fishing products that will be impacted by this 10% tariff.

Products impacted starting September 1, 2019

  • 9507.20.40 Fish hooks, snelled
  • 9507.20.80 Fish hooks, not snelled
  • 9507.30.60 Fishing reels, valued over $8.45 each
  • 9507.30.80 Parts and accessories for fishing reels
  • 9507.90.20 Fishing line, put up and packaged for retail sale
  • 9507.90.40 Fishing casts or leaders
  • 9507.90.70 Artificial baits and flies

Products impacted starting December 15, 2019

  • 9507.10.00 Fishing rods and parts and accessories
  • 9507.30.20 Fishing reels, valued not over $2.70 each
  • 9507.30.40 Fishing reels, valued over $2.70 but not over $8.45 each
  • 9507.90.60 Fish landing nets, butterfly nets and similar nets
  • 9507.90.80 Line fishing tackle nesoi, decoy “birds” and similar hunting or shooting equipment, and parts and accessories

A process to request product exclusions is expected to be announced in the coming days. We will continue to engage in this issue and will keep you up-to-date as the process continues.

For more detailed information on the products impacted, please visit the website of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Please contact Government Affairs VP Mike Leonard with questions or concerns.

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John Stillwagon