RV Industry Association Receives Market Development Cooperator Program Award To Address Trade Barriers To RV Exports

Today, the Department of Commerce announced the RV Industry Association has received its third Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award for the period 2021 through 2023. Sponsored by the Department of Commerce in a competitive process, the RV Industry Association’s MDCP award includes financial ($300,000) and technical assistance from the International Trade Administration (ITA) to support the association’s efforts in international markets.

“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with ITA to work together to prevent standards and other trade barriers from locking U.S. RV products out of foreign markets,” said Craig Kirby, RV Industry Association President. “During this third MDCP award, we will continue to build on our significant progress towards a more open and reasonable regulatory environment for U.S. RV exports.”

The MDCP award establishes a partnership between ITA and the RV Industry Association. The association received two earlier MDCP awards for the period 2012 through 2018 and is currently under an extension of its last award through year-end 2020. Under the MDCP, the association has been working to overcome regulatory obstacles to U.S. exports to China, South Korea, and Japan. The association’s goal is to make sure that U.S. RV products are not locked out of the markets due to compliance and unfair trade practices.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Commerce is working to further American prosperity by producing free, fair, and reciprocal trade and empowering U.S. companies to compete in international markets,” said Under Secretary for International Trade Joseph Semsar in his announcement of the award. “Through these partnerships with non-profit industry trade groups, the MDCP awardees are able to address trade barriers, enhance industry competitiveness, and generate exports that create and sustain American jobs.”

The association is also active at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in an effort to prevent motor vehicle standards promoted by the UN body from effectively locking U.S. RV products out of the many countries around the globe that adopt UNECE standards.

With the new MDCP award, the RV Industry Association will continue its efforts in addressing standards and other barriers to entry within the target countries as well as representing the RV industry’s interests concerning regulatory initiatives being developed at the UNECE that impact the RV industry. The association works closely with ITA, U.S. Commercial Service, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, and other agencies on both these fronts.

“This Market Development Cooperator Program grant is an investment that can deliver major results for our local manufacturers and create jobs for Hoosiers,” Congresswoman Jackie Walorski said. “It will allow the RV Industry Association to continue its work to ensure American RV manufacturers are not locked out of foreign markets due to regulatory restrictions or unfair trade practices. About 85 percent of the nation’s RVs are built in northern Indiana and boosting exports of these made-in-America products will further drive economic growth in our communities. I’m grateful for the Trump administration’s commitment to strengthening this all-American industry, and I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity to take northern Indiana’s leadership in RV manufacturing to the next level.”

Over the years, the RV Industry Association has witnessed tremendous growth in the Asia markets. Working with our ITA partner, local governments, standards developing organizations, and industry constituencies, the association has been able to make significant progress towards a more open and reasonable regulatory environment for U.S. RV exports. This latest MDCP award will allow the RV Industry Association to continue its momentum and build on the successes achieved during the earlier awards.

For more information, please contact Edward Han, RV Industry Association Director of International Affairs, at ehan@rvia.org.