Escape Tariff Update: Here’s What You Need to Know

Escape Trailer

Escape Trailer Industries
Industry Pro
Joined
Dec 20, 2023
Messages
24
Location
Chilliwack

Leak-Proof. Critter-Proof. Now Tariff-Proof!​

We’ve always produced some of the best travel trailers on the market! We understand your concerns about tariffs and want you to know we’re here to support you.

1) Confirm your trailer today, and give us your (previously) non-refundable 10% deposit to secure your build slot in the new year
2) In the event the tariffs never come to pass, everything proceeds as per normal and the deposit remains non-refundable
3) In the event there is a tariff put in place:

Escape will upon completion discount your trailer up to the amount of the tariff or 25% (whichever is less) such that you (the customer) don't pay more than your signed-off build sheet commitment to import your trailer into the USA

or, at its sole option Escape will refund your (otherwise) non-refundable 10% deposit

Screenshot 2024-12-06 at 12.58.47 PM.jpg


A Message From Escape's President​

Here at Escape, we went to bed with some uncertain feelings recently following President elect Trump’s announcement of planned January 20, 2025 executive orders for 25% tariffs on all products imported from Canada into the USA (alongside other planned tariff announcements impacting other USA trade partners).

Since then, many of our team members have been contacted by existing customers and prospective customers about the impacts of these planned tariffs either on their existing or new order, upcoming delivery and further upon Escape as a whole.

We are also aware that there are multiple discussions on the owner’s forum / facebook group discussing the planned tariffs and no doubt additional discussions are underway in many other areas.

In deciding what to communicate in response, we looked to our company values – and the best ones to apply in this instance are honesty & caring.

Starting with honesty – the simple truth is that we don’t know more than any of you about what happens from here.

There’s a massive amount of speculation in the press – on both sides of the political spectrum and/or border, but very few facts to work from.

What we do know for certain is that the President elect stated that he is concerned about illegal immigration and drugs coming into the USA from both its north and south borders and is planning to use broad tariffs on all imports from both Canada and Mexico unless those concerns are sufficiently addressed.

In addition, we know that there is an existing trade agreement between Canada, the USA and Mexico with rules that prevent certain unilateral tariff actions by any of the three countries who are a part of the agreement.

That said, how – if at all – the existence of this trade agreement impacts the additional planned tariffs is likely a matter for a lot of lawyers to decide, and not one that Escape as a small, Canadian manufacturer is likely to have a say in.

However, we are optimistic that solutions can and will be found before January 20th that will result in limited, if any impact on our business and its relationship with our customers and prospective customers North America wide.

We also believe that by signalling that he would place a tariff on the entire trade relationship between Canada and the USA two months before being empowered to do so; impacting a relationship which is estimated to be worth nearly $1 trillion / year in total, the President elect has guaranteed that everyone else – on both sides of the border – will be incredibly focused on ensuring that the steps are taken between now and then to ensure it never is required. We are encouraged to see that a lot of activity has happened since they were first announced, including the Prime Minister’s meeting with the President Elect and his team just before US Thanksgiving.

Moving to caring, even if tariffs or some other trade barriers were to come to pass, we believe that each of our customers and prospective customers know that we are not your average trailer manufacturer and are certainly not your average dealer. We’re your partner.

Escape’s team is made up of a group of incredible people who care deeply about our customers – as each of you know we’re in the business of building trailers for you to live out your dreams in. Therefore, we absolutely intend to continue to be your partner and do what we can to find a way for each of you to still receive your dream trailer and for Escape to be successful as well – no matter what happens. Thank you for your business and continued support & trust.
 
We've got a "dog in the fight" since our trailer completion date is 3/17/25. We greatly appreciate ETI's customer-first stance on this issue, and just want to say a huge THANK YOU to them for both the statement and their contingency plans.

That said, we haven't been especially worried. Our view has been that the announcement of potential tariffs was a negotiation tactic to get Canada's and Mexico's buy-in on securing the borders against criminal and drug activity on the border. I'm not talking about the pros and cons of immigration, but only specific criminal activity like sex-trafficking, fentanyl, gang infiltration and the like. It sounds like both countries share the same concerns as the US and are willing to work towards a mutual solution, so my long odds are on the fact that these tariffs will never happen, especially as ETI pointed out, USMCA, negotiated in 2019, is currently in place, and all three countries benefit from the current trade agreement. Guess we'll see.

But, again, this issue really highlights what an amazing company ETI is, and that the customer is king. They have gone above and beyond.
 
Escape will upon completion discount your trailer up to the amount of the tariff or 25% (whichever is less) such that you (the customer) don't pay more than your signed-off build sheet commitment to import your trailer into the USA

or, at its sole option Escape will refund your (otherwise) non-refundable 10% deposit
To me this last paragraph sounds like you may not get your trailer if they decide they don’t want to give you the discount, This makes getting the trailer you want less of a certainty, even as you order and wait for delivery. Or am I mis-reading this?
 
To me this last paragraph sounds like you may not get your trailer if they decide they don’t want to give you the discount, This makes getting the trailer you want less of a certainty, even as you order and wait for delivery. Or am I mis-reading this?
Given the overall tone of the announcement, my more charitable reading is that the deposit refund is a possibility if things go really haywire and the "amount of the tariff or 25% (whichever is less)" isn't acceptable to the buyer. A highly unlikely scenario, IMO.

Methinks that ETI is doing everything they can, short of promising an open-ended blank-check, to provide 'tariff price protection' confidence for those already committed or considering entering a commitment during the period of tariff uncertainty, including covering scenarios that are very unlikely to come into play.

IMO that's laudable (and business-smart to encourage continuing order-placement during this hopefully relatively short period of uncertainty).
 
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@Centex - I have little doubt that their intentions are good and that this is a major positive step toward reassuring potential customers. They also need to manage a business so having an out is appropriate if the very unlikely happens to happen. Still, the buyer should be aware that the finalization of the sale at the agreed price is not as certain as it normally would be. That said, it is absolutely more certain now than before this announcement.
 
To me this last paragraph sounds like you may not get your trailer if they decide they don’t want to give you the discount, This makes getting the trailer you want less of a certainty, even as you order and wait for delivery. Or am I mis-reading this?
I think that was the lawyers comment. You have to have a back door ya know!
 
To me this last paragraph sounds like you may not get your trailer if they decide they don’t want to give you the discount, This makes getting the trailer you want less of a certainty, even as you order and wait for delivery. Or am I mis-reading this?
This statement already exists in the original build sheet contract that we signed. It gives example of hyperinflation in the contract, but leaves the door open for other scenarios.
 
Sounds like an excellent pro-customer strategy to deal with the possibility of tariffs.

Nice to hear from the President of ETI. But the note is not signed. Who is the President?
 
I think that Tammy is enjoying her well earned retirement and horses along with Reace and his helicopter.

Every time I look at my classic arborite and upholstery which I credit probably to Tammys choices, I think that she made a better choice than I would have. Or coarse I have trouble choosing different shades of beige. :)
Ron
 
You have to love the new Escape ownership team! Glad you guys are there!
 
I think that Tammy is enjoying her well earned retirement and horses along with Reace and his helicopter.

Every time I look at my classic arborite and upholstery which I credit probably to Tammys choices, I think that she made a better choice than I would have. Or coarse I have trouble choosing different shades of beige. :)
Ron
Woops! I didn't think that was the 'Tammy' of founders Tammy and Reece. Clearly that site is out of date!
 

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