OPEI Places Trade Policy on 2025 Watchlist
Offering an update on the incoming Trump Administration and its plans regarding U.S. trade policy, OPEI reported that the President-Elect’s Nov. 25 plans indicating tariff increases of 25% on all imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on China would impact an estimated $2 trillion of U.S. annual trade. It wrote, in part, “With respect to the USMCA, a hallmark of the first Trump administration and generally heralded by the industry, the proposed increase would effectually blow up the agreement, which is due to be revisited in 2026.” The news update continued, “Trade is among the current OPEI policy priorities in assessing the transition to the newly elected U.S. government. While a consensus industry position may not always be achievable on trade, OPEI staff is nonetheless preparing, with its third-party experts and counsel, to monitor, advise and advocate, when appropriate, on proposals and actions as they are announced.”
Electric Outdoor Power Equipment Reference Guide
OPEI reported that it has compiled a battery electric outdoor power equipment (eOPE) reference guide eOPE Standard Reference Guide on its website https://www.opei.org/battery-basics/ that features published national and international standards for eOPE to illustrate industry ongoing efforts towards safety. The news summary in OPEI’s Winter 2024 newsletter noted, “As state, township, municipality programs develop incentive-based funding, OPEI recommends that such programs utilize safety standards as potential eligibility requirements.” It further mentioned, “By highlighting the all-encompassing eOPE series of standards, we can illustrate how compliant stewards take the necessary steps to ensure overall product integrity and reliability by utilizing holistic-in-design standards which establish requirements for complete interoperable system evaluation — even as new products are developed and introduced into the marketplace.”
Battery Collection Best Practices
This fall, members of OPEI’s Battery Electric Products Committee (BEPC) hosted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at OPEI’s Alexandria, Va. headquarters. OPEI’s update reported that Congress has allocated funds for the EPA to develop guidance on “Battery Collection Best Practices and Battery Labeling” by Sept. 30, 2026. It added, “The guidance aims to identify best practices for communication and outreach, collection locations, transportation, measuring progress and other important elements within the recycling value chain — especially as 11 states look to promulgate battery extended producer responsibility legislation in 2025.” The summary also said, “Further engagement with EPA staff is important to highlight industry-led EPR efforts and the all-encompassing 62841 electric OPE standards.”
Group Seeks Standards Participants
OPEI also reported in its quarterly report that it is soliciting interest from stakeholders to participate in canvass bodies for the new review of the current ANSI/OPEI voluntary standards for powered tillers and powered log splitters. Both standards (B71.8 and B71.7, respectively) are recommended for reaffirmation without substantive change. Stakeholder participation, it contends, is welcomed and encouraged from various interest groups including OEMs, suppliers, consumers, retailers, test houses, government agencies and general interest. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dan Mustico, OPE Sr. VP for Govt. & Market Affairs via email at dmustico@opei.org.
2025 Events
The organization has announced that its 2025 Annual Meeting will be held June 24-26 at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah. The program is currently being developed and registration information is expected to be circulated to OPEI members in the coming months.
The 2025 Equip Exposition is scheduled for Oct. 21-24, in Louisville, Ky. The most recent international landscape, outdoor living and equipment event, Equip Expo 2024, broke attendance records this year, with more than 28,500 registrants and significant growth in contract categories, OPEI reported.
Parts & Accessories Organization Issues Report
Also in its current Winter 2024 Quarterly Report, OPEI reported that the Outdoor Power Parts & Accessories (OPPAA) has published its exclusive 2024 dealer-focused survey with key insights into that industry. It reported that OPPAA has, since 2009, conducted the survey by gathering input from 500 independent dealers across the country. The member-exclusive report, it further notes, highlights an estimated market size of $2.1 billion with specific results on dealer trends, margin estimates, OEM vs. non-OEM purchasing habits, etc. Those interested in learning more about the 2024 Dealer Survey can visit www.oppaa.org for additional information about the impact of replacement parts and accessories across the industry.
In other OPPAA news, it was noted that its 2025 Annual Meeting will be held Feb. 1-3 at the Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa in Hilton Head, SC.
