Craig Kirby, president and CEO of the RV Industry Association (RVIA), issued a letter to members on April 3 addressing ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
The letter outlines the Association’s coordinated advocacy as the administration enacts reciprocal tariffs on a range of foreign goods, including Canadian RVs.
The tariffs, announced earlier this year, include 25% levies on goods from Canada and Mexico, with the stated goal of curbing illegal immigration and drug imports. Additional tariffs target aluminum, steel, automobiles, and Chinese imports.
Kirby emphasized the association’s continued collaboration with industry partners, lobbyists, and lawmakers to ensure the RV sector’s concerns are conveyed to the administration.
To provide accurate, timely information, the association has partnered with trade lobbying firm Sorini, Samet & Associates. Together, they track impacted goods, implementation timelines, and regulatory changes, offering updates to members.
Kirby said the association also helps manufacturers determine whether specific tariffs apply to their products using Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes.
Since the reciprocal Canadian tariffs were announced, the association has worked closely with the RVDA of Canada and the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association.
Their joint outreach to U.S. legislators has included discussions with Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks and several members of the House of Representatives about the potential harm to cross-border trade.
According to Kirby, the United States had a positive trade balance with Canada in 2024, exporting nearly 30,000 RVs valued between $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion.
On March 20, Rep. Rudy Yakym participated in a roundtable at the RV Technical Institute to discuss the tariff situation with industry leaders.
“Rep. Yakym assured those industry representatives in attendance that he had and would continue to carry the message to the White House. We’ve heard similar assurances from Senator Banks’ team and other members,” Kirby said in a statement, as reported by RVIA’s News and Insights.
The association also raised the issue with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith at an event hosted by Sorini, Samet & Associates.
Kirby also said that the association submitted comments to the administration’s Section 232 National Security Investigation, urging the exclusion of essential materials like lauan and Canadian softwood lumber from tariffs. These materials are widely used in RV manufacturing, and their availability is vital to production.
Efforts also include collaboration with industry coalitions such as the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and the National Association of Manufacturers. Kirby said joint messaging has helped amplify the RV sector’s concerns across multiple channels.
For more information about the update, visit rvia.org.