In July 2017, the GSP program saved American companies $73 million on about $1.8 billion in imports. GSP imports were up by 18 percent – and tariffs savings were up by 23 percent – compared to July 2016. (NOTE: that likely understates savings, as U.S. government data show no claimed GSP benefits for imports of travel goods from countries such as Thailand and the Philippines despite a recent program expansion.)
Some states such as Pennsylvania and Iowa saw much larger increases in GSP imports and savings compared to the previous year, as shown in the graphic below.
GSP saved Pennsylvania companies $2.8 million in July, up over $1.1 million (63 percent) compared to one year earlier. Chromium from Kazakhstan, candy from Thailand, and pesticides from India contributed most to Pennsylvania’s GSP increases.
GSP saved Iowa companies $715,000 in July, up over $283,000 (65 percent) compared to one year earlier. Pesticides from India, gelatin from Brazil, and rubber piping from Turkey contributed most to Iowa’s GSP increases.
In addition to Pennsylvania and Iowa, companies in 21 other states saw GSP savings increase by at least 20 percent, including: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Savings on GSP imports from Sri Lanka increased by 51 percent compared to July of last year. Ohio companies’ purchases of activated carbon accounted for nearly $1.4 million GSP imports from Sri Lanka. GSP eliminated about $548,000 in import taxes on packaging plastics in July, with approximately a quarter of those savings coming from imports into South Carolina.
*** REMINDER: GSP EXPIRES IN JUST A FEW MONTHS.***
Please use our Contact Congress page to write your Members today about the need to renew GSP today. That page makes it quick and easy to email both Senators and your Representative. All you need to do is: 1) enter your contact info, 2) enter a few sentences about your company/GSP imports, and 3) click send.
