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Last week, the Biden administration and European Union (EU) agreed to a four month pause on tariffs related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Aircraft disputes. The suspension will cover all tariffs both on aircraft as well as on non-aircraft products; however, it does not address the U.S. Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum or the 25 percent retaliatory tariff on American boat exports to the EU.

While NMMA applauds the progress the administration and EU have made to normalize trade relations, the association is disappointed the U.S. has yet to reach an agreement with the EU to end the retaliatory tariff on American made boats, which is set to increase to 50 percent on June 1, 2021. Since the 25 percent retaliatory tariff went into effect in 2018, American boat exports to the EU — the industry’s second largest international market — have decreased by 42 percent.

NMMA continues working with members of Congress and the administration to end these harmful tariffs and is coordinating with other stakeholders to ensure the new administration is aware of the impact these tariffs continue to have on American small businesses and manufacturers.

For more information, please contact NMMA senior vice president of government and legal affairs, Nicole Vasilaros at [email protected], or NMMA director of federal government relations, Clay Crabtree at [email protected].