NMMA - National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc.

10/06/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/05/2025 23:35

Oct. 7: Boating Industry Leaders Discuss “Managing Tariffs, Trade, and Supply Chain” at IBEX

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At this year's International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), industry leaders will take the stage to address one of the most critical challenges facing marine manufacturers today: navigating tariffs, trade, and supply chain pressures.

The session, "Managing Tariffs, Trade, and Supply Chain", will feature:
  • Peter Barrett, Senior EVP, Smoker Craft - a fourth-generation family business owner whose company has firsthand experience managing through trade policy shifts.
  • Robyn Boerstling, NMMA Chief Advocacy Officer / SVP Government Relations - who will open the session, frame the USMCA review period, and guide the discussion.
  • Nathaniel Bolin, Partner, K&L Gates - NMMA's outside legal counsel on trade, offering expert insight into the administration's tariff and trade strategy, and how Congress and federal agencies are shaping negotiations.
  • Marie-France MacKinnon, Executive Director, NMMA Canada - bringing a Canadian perspective on bilateral relations, the federal luxury tax on boats, and how U.S. policy impacts the future of the "Made in America" brand in Canada.
Together, these voices will break down the complex trade dynamics between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico at a moment when the recreational boating industry-where 95 percent of boats sold in the U.S. are made domestically-faces heightened uncertainty.
Why This Session Matters
With the United States, Canada, and Mexico all undergoing consultations for the 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the stakes are high for North America's recreational boating sector. Canada and Mexico are the industry's largest trading partners, and their policy decisions-from tariffs to luxury taxes-directly affect small businesses, supply chains, and access to international markets.
Panelists will explore:
  • How the Trump administration's renegotiation-first approach to USMCA could alter the landscape for manufacturers, workers, and boaters.
  • What Canada's evolving political climate means for U.S.-Canada trade relations, and why the boat luxury tax remains a sticking point for businesses and consumers.
  • How Mexico factors into the equation, including rule-of-law challenges, concerns over supply chains, and what a savvy Mexican negotiating posture could mean for North American manufacturers.
  • Why tariffs remain such a burden for small businesses in the boating sector-and what companies can do to manage shifting HTS codes, avoid stacking tariffs, and prepare for potential new trade actions.
The discussion will also spotlight real-world experiences from manufacturers like Smoker Craft, provide legal and policy context from Washington and Ottawa, and highlight how NMMA is engaging to protect and strengthen U.S. marine manufacturing competitiveness.
Key Takeaways You'll Hear
  • How shifting U.S. tariff policy could affect marine manufacturing supply chains.
  • Why a stable trade environment is essential to maintaining America's global leadership in boatbuilding.
  • What USMCA renegotiations mean for manufacturers, workers, and boaters.
  • How Canada's luxury tax undermines both boater access and industry competitiveness-and why policymakers must revisit it.
Managing Tariffs, Trade, and Supply Chain
Location: IBEX 2025, Tampa, Florida
Date and Time: Tuesday, October 7 | 4:00-5:30 pm ET
Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from policy and industry experts about the future of tariffs and trade-and what it all means for your business, your workforce, and the recreational boating community.
NMMA - National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc. published this content on October 06, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 06, 2025 at 05:35 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]