The China/Section 301 diversion is real. So far in 2021, GSP imports are up 12% for products where Chinese imports face Section 301 tariffs but down 7% for products where Chinese imports don’t face any new Section 301 tariffs. It is impossible to know how much more GSP imports might be up (or Chinese imports down) if GSP expiration hadn’t forced American companies to pay tariffs for those products too. We wrote about how GSP renewal must be a part of any “China trade” conversation here.

Imports into 38 states (plus Puerto Rico) paid at least $1 million in tariffs due to GSP expiration. The map below shows estimated tariffs paid for products claiming GSP by state.

It is critical that Congress renew GSP – with refunds for tariffs paid – as soon as possible. We strongly encourage GSP importers hurt by expiration to answer our new survey here. As always, no company-specific details will be published without permission.

In the first six months of expiration, American companies paid at least $480 million in extra taxes as a result of GSP expiration. Companies in 34 states (plus Puerto Rico) paid at least $1 million in tariffs from January-June 2021 due to GSP expiration. The map below shows estimated tariffs for products claiming GSP paid by state in that period.

June was the most expensive month of GSP expiration yet for 12 states: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. For Alabama, Colorado, and Delaware, each new month has been the most expensive one yet (e.g., June was more than May, which was more than April, which was more than March…).

The data on tariffs paid is a conservative estimate, and the real figure likely is higher. Why? Estimates only capture products that continued to claim GSP despite expiration. Yet imports of many products that traditionally get GSP have not claimed it in 2021. Tariffs paid on those imports still would be eligible for refunds in the event of a retroactive renewal, but importers would need to file manual requests.

It is critical that Congress renew GSP – with refunds for tariffs paid – as soon as possible. We strongly encourage GSP importers hurt by expiration to answer our new survey here . As always, no company-specific details will be published without permission. Companies that want to help the Coalition for GSP educate policymakers on the importance of GSP should also join the Coalition for GSP and/or add their name to the free GSP supporter list.

In the first five months of expiration, American companies paid at least $397 million in extra taxes as a result of GSP expiration. Companies in 32 states paid at least $1 million in tariffs from January-May 2021 due to GSP expiration. The map below shows estimated tariffs for products claiming GSP paid by state in that period.

May was the most expensive month of GSP expiration yet both nationally and for 19 states: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. In three states – Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico – tariffs paid in May were at least double any of the previous four months.

While many believe the United States has low tariffs, Colorado companies have paid extra tariffs averaging 11.7% due to GSP expiration. Companies in Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah, and Wisconsin have all paid extra tariffs average 7-10%.

The data on tariffs paid is a conservative estimate, and the real figure likely is higher. Why? Estimates only capture products that continued to claim GSP despite expiration. Yet imports of many products that traditionally get GSP have not claimed it in 2021. Tariffs paid on those imports still would be eligible for refunds in the event of a retroactive renewal, but importers would need to file manual requests.

It is critical that Congress renew GSP – with refunds for tariffs paid – as soon as possible. Companies that want to help the Coalition for GSP educate policymakers on who is hurt by expiration (and how) should:

• join the Coalition for GSP
• add their name to the free GSP supporter list
• answer our very short survey on GSP expiration impacts to date

In the first four months of expiration, American companies paid at least $308 million in extra taxes as a result of GSP expiration. Companies in 31 states paid at least $1 million in tariffs from January-April 2021 due to GSP expiration. The map below shows estimated tariffs for products claiming GSP paid by state in that period.

April was the most expensive month of GSP expiration yet for 21 states – stretching from Florida to Alaska:

• GSP expiration costs have increased every month in Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, and Virginia.
• GSP expiration costs were about 4x higher in April than January in both Idaho and Delaware, and nearly 2x higher in Colorado and Alabama.
• The extra $2 million in tariffs paid in April by companies in Indiana is 40% higher than the average in the first three months of the year, while the $370,000 paid by companies in Nevada was 75% over the January to March average.

GSP expiration impacts are getting worse over time.

The data on tariffs paid is a conservative estimate, and the real figure likely is higher. Why? Estimates only capture products that continued to claim GSP despite expiration. Yet imports of many products that traditionally get GSP have not claimed it in 2021. Tariffs paid on those imports still would be eligible for refunds in the event of a retroactive renewal, but importers would need to file manual requests.

GSP expiration is already costing American jobs and raising prices for American companies that need inputs and consumers that purchase finished goods. It is critical that Congress renew GSP – with refunds for tariffs paid – as soon as possible. To help the Coalition for GSP educate policymakers on who is hurt by expiration (and how), companies are strongly encouraged to:

• join the Coalition for GSP
• add their name to the free GSP supporter list
• answer our very short survey on GSP expiration impacts to date

GSP imports were up by 15 percent – and tariffs savings were up by 17 percent – compared to a year earlier. Some states such as Nebraska and Maryland saw much larger increases in GSP imports and savings compared to the previous year, as shown in the graphic below.

GSP saved Nebraska companies $105,000 thousand in June, up $42,000 (68 percent) compared to one year earlier. Activated carbon from the Philippines, copper alloys and rubber stoppers from India, and aluminum frames from Thailand contributed most to Nebraska’s GSP increases.

GSP saved Maryland companies $2.1 million in June, up over $450,000 (28 percent) compared to one year earlier. Silicon from Kazakhstan, carbides from South Africa, and zinc from India contributed most to Maryland’s GSP increases.

In addition to Nebraska and Maryland, companies in 17 other states saw GSP savings increase by at least 20 percent, including: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Savings on GSP imports from Lebanon increased by 58 percent compared to June of last year. Illinois companies’ purchases of nuts accounted for nearly $250,000 of the GSP imports from Lebanon. GSP eliminated about $471,000 in import taxes on steering wheels in June, with more than a fifth of those savings on imports into Michigan.

The map below shows the overall value of year-to-date 2017 GSP imports (in blue) and tax savings (in red) by state.

This map will be updated monthly as new trade data become available and the most up-to-date version will be available at all times on our Graphics page. These posts highlight select states, products, and countries contributing to increases in January, February, and March.

REMINDER: GSP EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2017. Click here to learn about ways to take action and support GSP renewal this year.

Some states, such as Alabama and Ohio, saw particularly large increases in GSP imports and savings compared to December 2015, as shown in the graphic below.

GSP saved Alabama companies $451,000 in December, up $147,000 (48 percent) compared to one year earlier. Silicone from South Africa, PET resin from Brazil, and tungsten ores from Bolivia were among the products contributing most to Alabama’s GSP increases.

GSP saved Ohio companies $2.7 million in December, up $459,000 (21 percent) compared to one year earlier. Ferrochromium from Turkey, machining centers from Brazil, and pesticides from India contributed most to Ohio’s GSP increases.

In addition to Alabama and Ohio, companies in 18 other states saw GSP savings increase by at least 20 percent, including: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas.

Savings on GSP imports from Egypt increased by 11 percent compared to one year earlier. New York’s purchases of olive oil were among the top GSP imports from Egypt. GSP eliminated nearly $900,000 in import taxes on mangoes and guavas in December, with California accounting for more than a quarter of those savings.

REMINDER: GSP EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2017. Click here to learn about ways to take action and support GSP renewal this year.

GSP renewal appears to be having a very positive impact on American companies – and their sourcing from GSP countries.

Based on data released last week, American importers saved $57 million in November 2015 as a result of the program’s reinstatement in late July 2015. In total, GSP saved American companies $230 million between August and November 2015.

With the program back in place, GSP usage appears to be climbing. GSP savings in each of the last 4 months exceeded the average monthly tariffs paid during the 2-year expiration. That is true despite the fact that several major GSP imports (e.g., plywood from Indonesia) have lost GSP benefits since the program was reinstated.

Increased GSP usage plays out at the state level as well:

• GSP savings in November 2015 exceeded the tariffs paid during any of the 24 months of GSP expiration for 7 states: Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
• GSP savings in August, September, or October exceeded tariffs paid during any expiration month for 8 others states: Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Utah, and Washington
• In Mississippi, GSP savings in 3 of the 4 months since reinstatement exceeded the tariffs paid during any expiration month: August, October, November
• GSP savings in two different months since reinstatement exceeded the tariffs paid during any expiration month for 7 other states: Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Of course, those savings are on top of the $1.3+ billion in refunds due to companies for tariffs paid during expiration. Customs announced that 98 percent of the automatic refunds had been processed by late September. The total refund value will grow as companies had until December 28 to request refunds for products that did not claim GSP during the expiration.

All of which has had a positive impact on companies, as detailed here, here, here, here, or here. If you have a good story about how GSP renewal is benefiting your business, we want to hear it. You can either email directly so or answer the questions here.