This past week ASA’s President, Glenn Hughes, as well as several other ASA members met with the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to present their case that sportfishing equipment should be excluded from the proposed tariffs on Chinese goods. ASA members at this meeting included representatives from O. Mustad & Sons, Pure Fishing, Zebco Brands, and Big Rock Sports among others.
“[We] are deeply concerned about the impacts of these proposed tariffs on all the manufacturers who are already paying a unique excise tax of up to 10% to support sportfish restoration.” Said Mr. Hughes.
The sportfishing industry already pays an excise tax, from which funds are directed to the “Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBTF) that supports fisheries conservation and management practices as well as boating access and education.”
Mr. Hughes went on: “Our members contribute almost $150 million each year to conservation and they know this funding goes to good use as it can help increase fishing opportunities for anglers. However, for an industry that already has slim profit margins an additional tariff on top of this excise tax could have a significant negative impact on their business, fishing participation and funding for the next generation of anglers.”
Please see the full press release here.