New U.S. Trade Action Seeks Fair And Reciprocal Tariffs

On February 13, President Trump announced a major new trade initiative aimed at creating a fairer and more balanced trading environment for American businesses. The "Fair and Reciprocal Plan" seeks to address long-standing trade imbalances by ensuring that foreign nations impose the same level of tariffs and trade restrictions on U.S. goods as the United States does on their imports. The White House fact sheet is available here.

Under the plan, the Trump Administration will impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that currently limit U.S. exports or subsidize their own industries unfairly. The plan will target:

• Tariffs and taxes (such as value-added taxes) imposed on U.S. goods.
• Non-tariff barriers (e.g., excessive regulations, subsidies, intellectual property restrictions).
• Currency manipulation and wage suppression that disadvantage U.S. workers.

Next Steps

The U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce will conduct investigations into unfair foreign trade practices and propose necessary corrective measures. Within 180 days, a report on the fiscal impact of these actions will be submitted to the administration.

Impact on RV Industry Association Members

As the Trump Administration takes steps to rebalance global trade, the RV Industry Association will actively monitor these developments and advocate for policies that protect the American RV industry. We encourage our members to stay engaged and provide feedback on how foreign trade policies impact their businesses—specifically by participating in our upcoming trade survey.

We will provide ongoing updates as this initiative unfolds. In the meantime, if you have any concerns or insights regarding trade barriers affecting your business, please contact Samantha Rocci, Director of Federal Affairs, at srocci@rvia.org.