MEMBER REPORT
OPEI MAINTAINS ADVOCACY FOCUS Consistent with past political transitions in Washington and their pendulum-like shifts in policy, OPEI and its member committees have remained focused on consistent and merit-
OPEI CANADA’S EPR PLAN APPROVED BY BC MINISTRY
transparent due process towards fair and relatively free trade policies. As the seemingly chaotic 2025 transitions into 2026, the focus will be on the pending U.S. Supreme Court verdict over whether the entire reciprocal tariff construct is constitutional under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). While the verdict will determine whether policy continues through numerous bilateral negotiations or instead turn to alternate legal authority (e.g. Section 122, 232, 301, 338), predictions are that administration policy and strategy will continue to rely on a high degree of uncertainty. Also of priority is the 2026 reset of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) and potential changes to the terms of North American trade. The U.S. government has already collected broad stakeholder input on the future of USMCA and has received consistent feedback from the business community in support of maintaining an enforceable trilateral agreement. EPA INVITES OPEI TO DISCUSS BATTERY EPR FRAMEWORK
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute of Canada received is extended producer responsibility plan approval on Oct. 17, from the British Columbia
Ministry of Environment & Parks for proper recycling management of Battery and Electric Outdoor Power Equipment. Under the British Columbia EPR framework, obligated producers are accountable for the full lifecycle of their products. This approval is the result of collaboration between OPEIC, the Ministry and our dedicated industry participants to ensure obligated products are properly managed at the product’s end-of-life. Together, we’ve developed a practical and forward-looking framework for recycling products in alignment with provincial regulations and recycling standards. Learn more about the British Columbia EPR framework, how producers can get involved, and to view the approved stewardship plan by visiting here. UPCOMING MEMBER MEETINGS Feb. 17 – OPEI Legal & Regulatory Committee – OPEI Office, Alexandria, VA Feb. 19 – OPEI Consumer Riding Mower Working Group – OPEI Office, Alexandria, VA March 5 – OPEI Market Statistics Committee – Equip Office, Louisville, KY June 22-24 – OPEI Annual Meeting – Savannah, GA June 24 – OPEI Board Meeting – Savannah, GA Sept. 30 – OPEI Legal & Regulatory Compliance Committee – OPEI Office, Alexandria, VA Oct. 7-8 – OPEI Market Statistics Committee – OPEI Office, Alexandria, VA Oct. 20-23 – Equip Exposition – Louisville, KY
based policy positions. This is despite the seemingly extraordinary developments in the government and the opportunities and/or challenges which they may create. As examples, key regulators like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have transitioned to fundamentally different leadership and policy priorities, and in some cases altered governance and procedural structures. Nevertheless, OPEI has continued to advance data-based advocacy towards compliance with all environmental and product safety regulation and policy changes with potential to make improvements. This consistency is also employed before state governments where the challenge is more about the disparities across state lines, where there is no preemptive federal law. Member professionals interested in OPEI policy committee work, including legal & regulatory, battery & electric products, and engine & fuels, should contact OPEI staff for more information. OPEI policy committees hold their next round of bi-annual meetings at the OPEI offices in Alexandria, VA, Feb. 16-18. OPEI FOLLOWING UNCERTAIN TRADE AGENDA Since January 2025 OPEI has worked to help advise members on changes to federal trade policy relying on both third-party experts and the coalition services of allied associations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, the National Foreign Trade Council, and the National Retail Federation, to name a few. While industry consensus positions on substantive tariff proposals remain difficult and infrequent, the industry is instead focused on opportunities to argue for objective and
OPEI recently attended an in-person discussion held by the Environmental Pro- tection Agency, regarding their work on a guidance document for “Battery Collection Best Practices
and Battery Labeling Guidelines” and develop- ment on an extended producer responsibility Regulatory Framework. The meeting reviewed many considerations from including products that contain nonre- moveable lithium-based batteries into the potential scope, funding models with possible ecomodulation fees, to reporting and battery labeling. In preparation, OPEI coordinated messaging with industry stakeholder’s to highlight national EPR framework consider- ations — focusing on portable and medium rechargeable Lithium based batteries — and manufacturer responsibilities. With an empha- sis for a unified federal approach the goal is to ensure consistency across all states, reduce compliance burdens on manufacturers and provide clear guidance to consumers. The EPA is expected to submit their battery EPR recom- mendations to Congress by summer of 2026.
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