The following excerpts are from RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) updates on tariffs. For the full article on their updates, click here.
Pharmaceuticals & More
In a series of Truth Social posts last week, President Trump imposed broad new tariffs starting October 1, 2025 on pharmaceuticals (100%), furniture (50%), and heavy trucks (25%).
Tariffs are generating more than $30 billion a month in revenue for the government, and are now a critical piece of Trump’s fiscal policy. With Trump’s tariff authority at risk of being struck down by the Supreme Court, these new measures take advantage of more established law to impose sweeping duties on critical sectors.
Commerce & USTR Detail EU Trade Deal
In a joint Federal Register pre-publication notice, the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced implementation guidance for the U.S.–EU Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade that includes the Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes of tariff exempted products. U.S. Customs also published its guidance in CSMS# 66336270.
Importantly, neither publication mentions any progress towards an agreement on a trade rate quota for EU exports of steel and aluminum, as pledged in July when the deal was announced.
Section 301 China tariffs
On Thursday, Sept. 25, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an opinion in the HMTX Industries case upholding the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) imposition of Section 301 China tariffs on products covered by Lists 3 and 4A. Such tariffs are still in place today, levied at a rate of 25% for products under List 3 and 7.5% for List 4A products.
These lists, especially List 3, includes $200 billion worth of products (though some have been exempted) from China and likely includes products the RV industry uses, including tires, wheels, propane tanks, fabrics, carpet, plywood, refrigerators, appliances and parts, plumbing goods and accessories, and various raw metals.
Robotics & Industrial Machinery
The Department of Commerce has announced the launch of a Section 232 national security investigation into imports of robotic and industrial machinery, along with other categories including personal protective equipment, medical consumables, medical equipment,and medical devices. Public comments are requested for a series of questions detailed in each notice and the estimated deadline is Friday, Oct. 17.
While the medical categories are unlikely to impact RV companies, the Robotics and Industrial Machinery category could. This category includes, among other items, robots and programmable, computer-controlled mechanical systems, spanning CNC machining centers, turning and milling machines, grinding and deburring equipment, and industrial stamping and pressing machines. It also includes automatic tool changers, jigs and fixtures, and machine tools for cutting, welding, and handling work pieces.
For more on this subject, click here.
US Trade Probe Advances
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), an independent federal agency, has voted to continue its investigation into imported corrosion-resistant steel products, a decision that sets the stage for imposing anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports from 10 trading partners.
On Sept. 25, all three commissioners unanimously determined that the roughly $2.9 billion in imports are “materially injuring” domestic U.S. companies. The USITC’s official report detailing its findings from the investigation is slated for release on Nov. 5.
Corrosion-resistant steel, engineered to prevent rust and deterioration, is a fundamental material used across various sectors, including automotive manufacturing and construction. The steel’s widespread utility means the looming duties could have broad economic repercussions.
The countries and the self-governing island potentially facing these new trade barriers include:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Mexico
- The Netherlands
- South Africa
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
These new duties would be applied in addition to the 50% tariff already placed on steel imports by the Trump administration. This action is the latest step in the administration’s broader strategy to expand tariffs and other trade defenses to protect U.S. steel and manufacturing sectors from what it sees as unfair foreign competition.
For more on this subject, click here.
