ASA head to lobby US government against imposition of additional trade tariffs

The head of the body that represents the recreational fishing tackle trade in the US is set to lobby at government level against additional tariffs being imposed on the industry.

Glenn Hughes, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) will this morning (Tuesday) testify before the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in response to its Section 301 investigation into structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors. He will urge the USTR to exclude fishing tackle products from any additional tariff actions under the investigation

He will say that domestic manufacturing capacity is lacking for most fishing tackle with production concentrated overseas due to the scale and price points required by American anglers, pointing out that additional tariffs would raise costs, reduce participation and harm US businesses already paying the federal excise tax that supports the Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Programme.