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Message From The Editor
TRUMP, TARIFFS, NAFTA AND MISINFORMATION
I hope you had a chance to read our June 28th Boating Industry Canada Special Report on the 10% retaliatory tariffs being levied on July 1 by the Canadian government on U.S. built boats coming into Canada.
While researching the story, I had the opportunity to speak to people in our industry from coast-to-coast and although the situation is being viewed differently by different people, and will likely have a different impact on different businesses, one thing seemed clear; we are all very concerned about the potential damage this could do to our industry.
The vast majority of people I spoke to would end their conversation by expressing their hope that "saner heads will prevail" and that hopefully, the tariffs won't go through or will at least be short-lived.
Because of the Canada Day weekend and the length of time it takes to assemble and publish an edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week, I am writing this column before the July 1 date. So, I don't know if the proposed tariffs will actually hit.
Right now I'm guessing.
On Thursday June 28, the lead story on the Toronto Star website was a report by Daniel Dale, Washington Bureau Chief.
Dale wrote that, "Speaking at a rally in Fargo, North Dakota on Wednesday night, President Trump took a break from his usual improvisation to read out a note card he said he had been given. It was a complaint about Canada's wheat practices."
The story went on to describe that some wheat growers in the United States are complaining about how American wheat is graded - an old issue that was being looked at while former Prime Minister Stephen Harper was still in office.
After reading it, Trump said to the audience that he didn't know what it meant. I often wonder if Trump is misinformed by his advisors or does he just present his opinions as fact?
Apparently, Trump spent a significant portion of the rally defending the new U.S. tariffs, which have come under criticism from many Republicans, Republican-friendly businesspeople and farmers who voted for Trump.
Certainly, the American marine industry is up in arms at the retaliatory tariffs and the resulting cancellation of Canadian and European boat and engine orders. Will that have an effect on the President?
The American icon, Harley-Davidson was blunt and very public that some 40% of their sales were coming from Europe and they announced that some motorcycle production would be moved to Europe to defend that business.
Trump was publicly critical of Harley-Davidson and showed no signs of backing down.
In the Toronto Star article describing the rally in Fargo, Trump apparently said the trade battle is like a poker game "we can't lose." He urged people to give him more time with the negotiations: "Just play the game for a little while."
By the time you read this, July 1st will have come and my guess is that the tariffs will come into force on boats (new and used) and related marine products coming here from the U.S.
If that's true, we need to push hard for clear rules about the application of these tariffs, how the money is handled and what will happen if the trade wars get settled.
Andy Adams, Editor
aadams@kerrwil.com
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Feature
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SAFER BOATING ON LAKE SIMCOE WITH YRP MARINE UNIT RELOCATION
York Regional Police held a public meeting at the Ramada Jackson's Point Resort on June 25, 2018 discussing the construction of their new marine facility. The police Marine Unit will be moving from Krate's Marina where they have been located for several years...
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Changing Scene
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ICOMIA ASKS FOR DE-ESCALATION OF TRADE WAR
Since March, the US has imposed a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminium. Rebalancing measures adopted by the European Commission on 22 June have escalated the trade war between Europe and the USA…
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BRP AQUIRES ALUMACRAFT BOATS
Evinrude announced that it is now a part of the newly established BRP Marine Group. Tracy Crocker, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Evinrude since 2017, has been appointed President of the Group, effective immediately.
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SAILTIME ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC MARKETING PARTNERSHIP WITH JEANNEAU
SailTime, the world's leading boat membership program, with bases around the United States and Australia, today announced a new strategic marketing partnership with Jeanneau…
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SPORTSMAN BOATS SELECTS GARMIN AS ITS EXCLUSIVE MARINE ELECTRONICS SUPPLIER
Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. has announced that Sportsman Boats has selected Garmin to be the exclusive electronics supplier to outfit its full line of center console and bay boats ranging from 20 to 31-feet…
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VOLVO PENTA UNVEILS HYBRID MARINE PROPULSION CONCEPT
Designed to enable zero emission running for marine vessels, Volvo Penta has unveiled a hybrid concept for its IPS propulsion system. The electric-only mode allows entry into environmentally sensitive zones…
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BRUNSWICK TO ACQUIRE POWER PRODUCTS' GLOBAL MARINE & MOBILE BUSINESSES
On June 29th Mercury Marine's parent company, Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Power Products - Global Marine & Mobile…
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Education
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AMI OFFERS MARINA 101 AND MARINA & BOATYARD STUDY TOUR AT IBEX
Marina 101 is a 4-hour marina industry introduction course geared towards those individuals, with little or no marina experience, looking to get into the industry by way of an advancement opportunity, career shift, or an interest in purchasing or developing a marina.
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THE FLAGSHIP NIAGRA LEAGUE'S LETTIE G. HOWARD AND INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The Flagship Niagara League, which operates the historic 1893-fishing schooner Lettie G. Howard as a programmatic collaboration with South Street Seaport Museum invites proposals for live-aboard sail training programs to take place fall of 2018.
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Launchings
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INNOVATION REDEFINES YACHT DESIGN WITH PRINCESS'S REVOLUTIONARY R35
The R35 is the first Princess R Class performance sports yacht. Designed and hand-built in Plymouth, England, it combines revolutionary performance capabilities, stunning design, quality, and race-bred technology to deliver a unique on-water experience at all speeds.
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FOUNTAINE PAJOT'S ASTRÉA 42 - A STAR IS BORN
Our new 2018 boat will be shown at the Sydney boat show in August, at the Cannes Yachting Festival, at the Grand Pavois La Rochelle, in Genoa, Annapolis, Barcelona, then Paris, Dusseldorf, and will then continue her route all over the world.
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Boating Stock Market
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Calendar
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Muskoka Boat and Cottage Show
July 27 - 29, 2018
Graventhurst, ON
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Port Credit In-Water Boat Show
August 24 - 26, 2018
Port Credit, ON
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Victoria Classic Boat Festival
August 31 - September 2, 2018
Victoria, BC
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... View All Events
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Daily Updates
For daily updates and more interesting news follow
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