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

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

GSP saved Georgia companies $3.9 million in December, up $1.3 million (49 percent) compared to one year earlier. Metal products from Brazil, luggage from Thailand,  and chemicals from India contributed the most to Georgia’s GSP savings increases.

GSP saved North Carolina companies $2.0 million in December, up $577,000 (39 percent) compared to one year earlier. Chemicals from the Philippines, furniture fittings from Thailand, and wood products from Indonesia contributed most to North Carolina’s GSP increases.

In addition to Georgia and North Carolina, companies in 26 other states saw GSP savings increase by at least 20 percent, including: California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

Savings on GSP imports from Indonesia increased by 31 percent compared to December of last year. California companies’ alone imported $4.6 million in silver jewelry under GSP in December. GSP eliminated about $1.5 million in import taxes on mangoes and guavas in December. About two-thirds of those savings were on imports into New Jersey.

*** REMINDER: GSP EXPIRED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1.***

The House passed GSP renewal legislation in February, but the Senate must pass legislation for GSP benefits to resume. Please use our Contact Congress tool to write your Senators about GSP renewal; answer our brief survey on how GSP expiration impacts you, and/or sign up for the free GSP supporter list to show the broad support for renewal.

• WorldFinds in Westmont, Illinois: After paying $55,000 in extra taxes during expiration, GSP renewal allowed WorldFinds to hire one full-time employee and another part-time worker – a big increase for a small business with a staff of (now) nine.
• Burris Company in Greeley, Colorado: After paying $3.2 million in extra taxes during expiration, GSP renewal allowed Burris to invest in its domestic manufacturing, leading to new, good paying jobs in Colorado.
• PolySource in Independence, Missouri: After paying $640,000 in extra taxes during expiration, GSP renewal allowed PolySource to hire five new workers, increasing overall employment from 11 workers to 16 workers.

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.

PolySource is just one of the GSP importers sharing how GSP allows its businesses and workers to thrive on our Company Profiles page.

The companies are based in 9 different states and all small businesses. In fact, all have 40 or fewer employees and the typical one has 15 workers.

None of the companies reported eye-popping GSP savings – generally $50,000 or less in 2016 – but those savings are significant for small businesses like dZi Handmade. dZi has 10 employees and saved about $20,000 last year on imports of jewelry, holiday and religious items, incense, wind chimes, and toys from India and Nepal.

Despite their small size, companies are generally both importers and exporters. For example, NOVICA imports from Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and Thailand under GSP while exporting from the United States to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK. Collectively the new supporter list companies reported exporting to 16 countries, with Canada being the most common export destination.

The next potential GSP expiration is less than 9 months away. If you import under GSP, be sure to join our free GSP Supporter List so we can continue making the case for GSP renewal well in advance of the pending expiration date.

GSP Supporter List companies added the week of April 3, 2017:

• A Simpler Time Inc. in Morrisville, North Carolina
• dZi Handmade in Easthampton, Massachusetts
• Eppco Enterprises Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio
• Ganesh Himal Trading LLC in Spokane, Washington
• Mendelson & Associates, Inc. in Los Angeles, California
• MG Golf in Irving, Texas
• Nova Gas Technologies, Inc. in North Charleston, South Carolina
• NOVICA in Santa Monica, California
• S.N.K. Enterprises, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri
• TopFlite Manufacturing in Miami, Florida

Overall, GSP tariff savings increased increased by 8 percent compared to March 2015. The value of imports under GSP increased 6 percent. Some states, such as Iowa and Missouri, saw ever bigger increases in GSP imports and savings compared to March 2015, as shown in the graphic below.

In Iowa, GSP imports increased by 152 percent and savings from GSP by 304 percent compared to one year earlier. Chemicals from India and gelatin from Brazil contributed most to Iowa’s GSP increases. In Missouri, GSP imports increased by 48 percent and savings from GSP by 17 percent compared to one year earlier. Engines from South Africa, auto parts from Turkey, and chemicals from India contributed most to Missouri’s GSP increases.

Imports from Kazakhstan jumped by 238 percent, led by increased imports of ferrochromium by companies in Ohio. GSP eliminated about $108,000 in import taxes on olive oil and nearly half of those imports went to New Jersey.

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.

Nearly 340 organizations in 41 states (plus DC) have now joined the supporter list. You can see them all here. If you’re not on the list but want Congress to renew GSP, be sure to add your name here so we can keep highlighting the importance of GSP to the different states and congressional districts.

Yet despite their differences, both New York/St. Louis-based Macy‘s and Louisiana-based CorrPak BPS have called on Congress to renew the GSP program before it expires on July 31.  Why? Because big or small, retailer or industrial supplier, parade-sponsor or otherwise, companies need to meet customer demands for high-quality products at the lowest possible price – and GSP helps them do it.

But if Congress doesn’t act soon, both these companies (and many others) will face higher taxes starting on August 1.