Our main areas of work include:
The European boating industry is a highly internationalised sector that exports the majority of its products, both inside and outside the EU. Traditionally, the boating industry has exported within the EU and to North America but it has also been increasingly exporting to emerging markets in Asia, South America, Middle East and Russia. This is a challenging task, however, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises that account for the majority of companies in the boating sector. EBI is working with European companies and the EU institutions with the aim to ease access to emerging markets. EBI welcomed the trade deal with Canada (CETA) obtained last year and the recently concluded talks with Japan.
The deteriorating trade relations between the EU and the US put an end to the negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) which started in 2013 and of which EBI has been very supportive of, together with its US counterpart the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). At the time, EBI and NMMA submitted a joint working paper to the negotiation parties in which the objectives to achieve in the negotiations were outlined. Both organisations believe that TTIP could have provided a significant milestone for improving and simplifying trade conditions between the US and EU for thousands of small and medium-sized companies in the boating industry.
The escalation of the trade dispute between the US and EU as a result of the steel and aluminium tarrifs is of substantial concern to the recreational boating sector. EBI, together with its international counterpart, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) expressed their strong support to continue trade discussion between the US and EU and resolve the trade disputes. Further information can be found in EBI's joint statement with its international partner organisations.
Following the Brexit referendum and negotiations on the withdrawal agreement, the UK left the EU at the end of January 2020. The UK and the EU are now in a transition period that will last until end of December 2020. This is in palce to enable both sides to agree on a new partnership agreement that is currently being negotiated. EBI is in touch with the EU's negotiation team to provide input from the recreational boating industry.
Companies and individuals are advised to prepare for the changes resulting from the UK leaving the EU. For this the European Commission has issued readiness guidance with practical information and individual stakeholder notices for specific sectors (including recreational craft and industrial products).