RV Industry Association Shows Impact Of Aluminum Duties

The RV Industry Association, along with other associations and businesses, testified yesterday at the International Trade Commission (ITC) final injury hearing in opposition to the Department of Commerce’s self-initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigation on common aluminum alloy sheet from China. The opponents made the case that the draconian preliminary antidumping duties (167 percent) and countervailing duties (up to 113 percent) unfairly penalize downstream businesses that utilize aluminum sheet and add to the problems being caused by the Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs.

Businesses, including those relying primarily on domestic sourcing, have been hit with skyrocketing aluminum prices. Testimony from the RV Industry Association and others showed that these American businesses have been hit with increased aluminum costs of between 25 and 45 percent.

To give clear examples of the situations faced by the RV and marine industries, the RV Industry Association and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) arranged to have an Airstream Sport travel trailer and a 20-foot Bennington pontoon boat on an aluminum boat trailer parked in front of the ITC building throughout the hearing. Four of the five commissioners came out during the day and walked through the travel trailer. This travel trailer display was made possible by Airstream and the Airstream of Virginia dealership.

Final post-hearing briefs are due in late November and a final vote by the ITC is expected in early December. A final announcement will be made about two weeks following the vote.