Kouboo sells home decor products that are handmade from natural materials, such as rattan vines. Kouboo was started by Patrice and Joey Gerber with products sourced from the Philippines, and sourcing expanded to Indonesia and Myanmar. The handmade nature of the products provides significant employment opportunities in GSP countries, especially for women weavers in poor, rural areas.

As Kouboo has grown, GSP savings rose dramatically: from a few hundred dollars per month in 2013 to a few thousand dollars per week in 2020. So has the number of women artisans supported by Kouboo’s GSP imports into the United States.

In the first clip, Patrice explains how higher tariffs from GSP expiration, along with global shipping delays and the pandemic, combine to create the “perfect storm” for his business. While Kouboo converted one part-time worker into a full-time worker on January 1 (it’s first non-family member), the impact of higher tariffs plus higher shipping costs forced Kouboo to put plans for another full-time hire on hold.

In the second clip, Patrice provides information on how their products are manufactured, and how GSP/their products provide employment opportunities, especially to rural women. Since men’s agricultural income typically isn’t enough, the women’s income reduces pressure for children to work – improving access to education – as well as pressure to leave the rural areas for urban ones in search of jobs. The unique nature of the products, and limited alternative employment options in the villages, means lost GSP hurts many without even the possibility that someone else could gain.

Kouboo is a great example of how lost GSP hurts companies and workers in both the United States and developing countries. If you’re like Kouboo and harmed by GSP expiration, please add your name to our free GSP supporter list.

GSP eliminates hundreds of thousands of dollars in tariffs annually on Cannon’s imports from Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The savings are passed along to Cannon’s customers, while helping those GSP countries “compete with giants like China.”

Watch CEO Frank Cannon explain how why its so important for Congress to renew GSP this year.

If you’re a GSP importer, submit your own video testimonial here.

Lost GSP for India and Turkey cost American companies as much as $33 million in extra tariffs in July, including up to $26.5 million in new taxes on imports from India and $6.5 million on imports from Turkey. The impacts of the decisions are clear, as shown in the graph below. Before June 2019, year-over-year GSP rose in 37 straight months.

GSP savings from other countries continued to grow, increasing $18.4 million (30%) from September 2018 to September 2019. Savings on imports from Cambodia grew by $10.9 million, from Indonesia by $4.1 million, from Burma by $2.1 million, and from the Philippines by $1.6 million.

By value, the states with the largest year-over-year savings declines were Florida (-$2.1 million), New Jersey (-$2.1 million), Texas (-$2.1 million), Pennsylvania (-$1.1 million), New York (-$984,000), Michigan (-$955,000), North Carolina (-$878,000), Louisiana (-$605,000), Iowa (-$545,000), and Massachusetts (-$490,000).

Savings for companies in Delaware declined over 90%, driven by lost GSP for India. Savings for companies in Maine declined by 84%, resulting from broader-based declines in imports from Brazil, India, Thailand, etc.

Fifteen states saw GSP savings increase in September. Among those, California (+$3.4 million) accounted for 60% of GSP savings increases.

The impacts of the India and Turkey decisions are clear, as shown in the graph below. Year-over-year GSP savings regularly were growing by $10+ million per month. In fact, June marked the first time since April 2016 (37 months) that year-over-year GSP savings declined. The $15 million year-over-year drop was the largest decline in GSP savings since the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

GSP savings from other countries continued to grow, increasing $12.5 million (23%) from June 2018 to June 2019. Savings on imports from Cambodia grew by $7.3 million, from Indonesia by $3.0 million, from Thailand by $1.6 million, and from Burma by $1.3 million.

But growth from other countries was not able to offset the loss of GSP ineligibility for India and Turkey throughout the country: 39 states plus DC and Puerto saw GSP savings decline from June 2018 to June 2018.

By value, the states with the largest year-over-year savings declines were New Jersey (-$4.1 million), Florida (-$3.6 million), Texas (-$2.0 million), New York (-$1.2 million), Illinois (-$1.1 million), Louisiana (-$1.0 million), Michigan (-$942,000), North Carolina (-$882,000), Georgia (-$716,000), and South Carolina (-$512,000).

By percent, the states with the largest year-over-year savings declines were Louisiana (-88%), Nebraska (-82%), Vermont (-76%), Wyoming (-71%), Minnesota (-71%), Mississippi (-68%), New Mexico (-65%), Iowa (-62%), Arkansas (-60%), and Idaho (-54%).

In many of these states, declines were wholly attributable to lost GSP for India and Turkey, leaving little chance that savings will bounce back in July.

The large increases come despite the fact that July, August, and September savings appear significantly understated: official U.S. government data show no claimed GSP benefits for imports of travel goods from countries such as Thailand and the Philippines in July or August despite a recent program expansion. So not only is GSP program usage is booming, it’s likely that data on savings will be revised up considerably in the near future.

Some states such as Oklahoma and Florida saw much larger increases in GSP imports and savings compared to the previous year, as shown in the graphic below.

GSP saved Oklahoma companies $316,000 in September, up $126,000 (67 percent) compared to one year earlier. Taps and cocks and artificial plants from India, rubber hoses from Turkey, and ceramic wares from Indonesia contributed most to Oklahoma’s GSP savings increases.

GSP saved Florida companies $4.8 million in September, up $1.3 million (36 percent) compared to one year earlier. Tropical plywood from Ecuador, travel goods from Burma and Cambodia, and motor boats from South Africa contributed most to Florida’s GSP increases.

In addition to Oklahoma and Florida, companies in 21 other states saw GSP savings increase by at least 20 percent, including: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Savings on GSP imports from Pakistan increased by 52 percent compared to September of last year. New York companies’ purchases of jewelry alone resulted in $179,000 in GSP savings. GSP eliminated about $500,000 in import taxes on valves in September, with about half of those savings coming from imports into Texas.

*** 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.

• That is the highest reported monthly savings since October 2008.
• GSP imports were up by 17 percent – and tariffs savings were up by 21 percent – compared to August 2016.
• Year-to-date savings from GSP are up $72 million, or $9 million per month, over the first 8 months of 2016.

All that despite the fact that August savings are likely significantly understated: official U.S. government data show no claimed GSP benefits for imports of travel goods from countries such as Thailand and the Philippines in July or August despite a recent program expansion.

Put differently: GSP program usage is booming. Some states such as New Jersey and Texas saw much larger increases in GSP imports and savings compared to the previous year, as shown in the graphic below.

GSP saved New Jersey companies $7.4 million in August, up over $2.3 million (45 percent) compared to one year earlier. Travel goods from Burma and Cambodia, precious metal compounds from South Africa, and stone products from Brazil contributed most to New Jersey’s GSP increases.

GSP saved Texas companies $7.1 million in August, up over $1.7 million (32 percent) compared to one year earlier. Industrial machinery from Thailand, PET resin from Brazil, and stainless steel flanges from India contributed most to Texas’ GSP increases.

In addition to New Jersey and Texas, companies in 17 other states saw GSP savings increase by at least 20 percent, including: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Savings on GSP imports from Cambodia increased by 307 percent compared to August of last year. New York companies’ purchases of travel goods from Cambodia alone resulted in $740,000 in GSP savings. As companies gear up for the holiday season, GSP eliminated about $1.4 million in import taxes on Christmas lights in August, with over $250,000 of those savings coming from imports into Washington.

*** 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.