RVIA answered a comment request from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Interagency Committee on Trade in Automotive Goods. The request solicited responses on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (UMSCA).
RVIA wrote that UMSCA and its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) benefitted the RV industry. RVIA said the industry has strong trade relations with Canada and potential for growth in Mexico.
“Maintaining these export relationships is vital to ensuring that the uniquely American RV industry continues to thrive during a challenging time for manufacturers,” RVIA told the administration.
Among potential barriers to export relationships, RVIA said, are supply-chain disruptions and rising international trade costs.
“RVIA members continue to report ongoing delays both at ports and with domestic rail,” RVIA said, “and costs that are consistently five times higher than pre-pandemic levels.”
RVIA said although the industry sources domestically whenever possible, the manufacturing sector is dependent on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for sourcing required materials.
“We would urge the administration to continue to focus on solving the ongoing port and rail crisis,” RVIA said, “and to work with Congress on a long-term GSP renewal as quickly as possible.”
RVIA said the GSP program’s expiration is costing the RV industry over $1 million a month.
RVIA also said one significant technical trade barrier with Canada was resolved, thanks to an update on Canada’s regulation on RV wiring.
“CSA Z240 RV Series-14, approved in January of 2020, solved a persistent concern for our industry regarding low-voltage wiring and no-metallic sheathed cable (NM type),” RVIA said. “The updated Canadian regulation now allows either the use of Canadian NMD wiring or U.S. NM-B wiring. RVIA had specifically cited the lack of reciprocity and harmonization between the Canadian Electrical Code and United States’ UL standards during the negotiation of the USMCA.”
