NMMA and NMMA Members Set to Testify at ITC Aluminum Sheet Hearing
NMMA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Legal Affairs, Nicole Vasilaros will join representatives from Correct Craft and Sea Ark Boats today to testify before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into common alloy aluminum sheet from China.
The U.S. Department of Commerce initiated the investigations in late 2017, which found that Chinese companies and the government were artificially reducing the product’s cost. As a result, aluminum sheet from China is currently facing a combined duty of nearly 130 percent.
During the hearing, Ms. Vasilaros will explain the importance of aluminum to the recreational boating industry and how the government’s actions are putting the industry at risk. NMMA estimates that 44 percent of all new boats sold in 2017, or 111,0000, were aluminum based, accounting for $3 billion in economic value. Domestic aluminum boat production and sales account for nearly 22,000 marine industry jobs.
Bill Yeargin, President and CEO of Correct Craft – which is the parent company of Sea Ark Boats – will also appear before the ITC. Sea Ark primarily manufactures aluminum boats, and Mr. Yeargin’s testimony will focus on their experience sourcing affordable aluminum sheet in the aftermath of these investigations.
In addition to testifying, NMMA and their industry partners are parking a pontoon boat, trailer, and recreational vehicle (RV) outside of the ITC to provide examples of products affected by these investigations and the entire trade war.
For more information, please contact Nicole Vasilaros at [email protected] or NMMA Director of Federal Affairs, Lance West at [email protected].