Whether goods are imported or manufactured domestically, the outdoor industry faces a number of legal challenges and opportunities in bringing products to market. At the Outdoor Retailer (OR) Winter Market, held last week in Salt Lake City, Utah, a number of seminars and forums provided attendees opportunities to learn about and discuss pending legislation with experts in the field.
A labyrinth of duties, tariffs and standards impedes the flow of imported goods–and while protecting domestic manufacturing, the end result stifles exports as well as imports, and raises prices to the consumer. On the other hand, while Made in America is a growing movement in the outdoor space, a conflict between Federal Trade Commission (FTC) standards and the state of California’s labeling laws is creating confusion and in some cases generating lawsuits against domestic manufacturers.
Read more at Sourcing Journal.