APPA initiative discusses tariffs

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) has announced a joint initiative by seven pet industry organisations to share strategies and coordinate actions to mitigate the impact of tariffs on the pet industry. The coalition will host an informational webinar on 14 May entitled "Unpacking Tariffs: What Pet Businesses Need to Know" to provide practical insights into the current situation with US tariffs and their impact on manufacturers, distributors, retailers and suppliers across the pet industry.

The coalition includes the American Pet Products Association (APPA), IndiePet, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), the Pet Advocacy Network (PAN), the Pet Food Institute (PFI), the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) and the World Pet Association (WPA).

Since April, the coalition has been meeting weekly to discuss the latest trade policy developments and assess the impact of policy changes on US pet companies. "The coalition is currently working together to address tariffs across all sectors of the pet industry", said Julia Fidenzio-Alicea, APPA's chief legal officer. "We are closely monitoring the impact of tariffs on live animals, manufactured products, pet food and veterinary medicines, while working to ensure that our industry's voice is heard in ongoing discussions with regulators." The coalition welcomes other organisations to join on referral or request.

The coalition has issued a call to action to pet industry companies to share information, including the identification of specific countries of concern, a comprehensive list of relevant Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes, and anecdotal impact reports that can be used in discussions with officials. Concerned companies can complete an information form.