Horses in container stalls waiting to be loaded onto a plane

American Horse Council Monitoring Tariffs

Equine | April 2025

Written by:

Graham Garrison is an editor and writer with experience in business and trade publications across several industries. He has worked for Veterinary Advantage since 2009.

Tariffs are the horse industry’s ‘journey into the great unknown,’ AHC said.

Tariffs on horses and horse products could affect the broader global trade network, impacting both breeders and owners involved in international transactions, according to the American Horse Council. Keeping up with changes in trade policies is important for making informed decisions regarding horse purchases and sales.

It’s also dizzying. “Despite AHC’s best efforts to inform members and stakeholders, it is crucial to acknowledge the rapid, sometimes hourly, changes in tariff information,” the organization said.

AHC provided several “need to know” items about potential tariffs, including:

  • Tariffs on horses and horse products could increase costs. Tariffs may be applied to horses, horse equipment, and related products, leading to increased costs for owners importing or exporting horses. Understanding tariff schedules is crucial to avoid unexpected expenses.
  • Temporary vs. permanent imports. There is a distinction between temporary imports, such as horses brought in for competitions, and permanent imports. Horses temporarily imported may avoid tariffs, but owners must provide adequate documentation and may need to pay refundable deposits.
  • Documentation requirements. Proper documentation, including health certificates and permits, is essential for importing horses or related products. These documents help ensure compliance with international trade regulations and can affect tariff responsibilities.
  • Tariff codes. Horse owners need to familiarize themselves with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which assigns specific codes to various goods, including horses and related products. The correct code determines the tariff rates applied to imports or exports.

AHC Horse Council has created a webpage (click here to view) with updates, information, graphics, resources and examples of how tariffs could affect the horse industry.

Three horses in travel stalls

 

U.S. tariff resources

U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule – Click here

FTA Tariff Tool – Click here

U.S. Interactive Tariff Training – Click here

Photo credits: istockphoto.com/Leila Melhado; istockphoto.com/crbellette

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