Overall, GSP saved U.S. companies $600 million in the first 10 months of 2016. GSP savings in 2016 are up about $49 million, or 9 percent, compared to the first 10 months of 2015.

In Louisiana, GSP imports more than doubled and savings increased by about 59 percent compared to one year earlier. Valves and parts from India, copper cathodes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and ferrochromium (typically used to produce stainless steel) from South Africa contributed the most to Louisiana’s GSP increases.

In New Mexico, GSP imports increased by 80 percent and savings from GSP by 144 percent compared to one year earlier. Aluminum products and electric motors from India along with rubber gloves from Thailand and Indonesia contributed most to New Mexico’s GSP increases.

Savings on GSP imports from Armenia increased more than 50 percent to $137,000. GSP eliminated about $223,000 in import taxes on glass construction products (e.g, pavers and blocks) in October, with nearly all of those imports going to Florida.

REMINDER FOR ALL GSP PROGRAM USERS: GSP EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2017. Please click that link to learn about how to get involved in the Coalition for GSP’s renewal activities this year.

Overall, the value of GSP imports and tariff savings both increased by more than 10 percent compared to May 2015. Some states, such as Arkansas and Rhode Island, saw very large increases in GSP imports and savings compared to May 2015, as shown in the graphic below.

In Arkansas, GSP imports and savings both increased by 37 percent compared to one year earlier. Vanadium oxides and hydroxides from South Africa, firearms from Turkey, and transmission parts from Thailand contributed most to Arkansas’ GSP increases.

In Rhode Island, GSP imports increased by 79 percent and savings from GSP by 145 percent compared to one year earlier. Costume jewelry from Thailand, glass fibers from Sri Lanka, and metal picture frames from Turkey contributed most to Rhode Island’s GSP increases.

Imports from Cambodia jumped by 121 percent, led by increased imports of window blinds by companies in California. GSP eliminated about $109,000 in import taxes on buses in May and has waived more than $400,000 on imports of buses in the first five months of 2016.

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.

But instead of talking about how GSP reduces prices for the American families in the abstract, we thought we’d show you some ways the Coalition’s own Dan Anthony uses GSP products every day. For example, here’s a picture of his dinner from last night:

Like almost every night, the meal was served on GSP-eligible dinnerware from Indonesia. The plate and bowl are part of a set for which GSP eliminates import taxes of 8 percent!  And it’s not just the plates: the wine is from South Africa and also eligible for duty-free treatment because of GSP.

At meal time, our four-legged family members may also benefit from GSP. Every night before eating, Duchess takes a moment to appreciate the fact that GSP eliminated the 2 percent tariff on her stainless steel dog bowl from India:

“Thanks Congress! I can almost taste the GSP savings!” – Duchess

While they actually live far away, we keep our family members close in these wooden picture frames from Thailand, whose import taxes are reduced by 3.9 percent because of GSP:

These are just some of the items we could identify quickly.  Counter tops, bathroom sinks and toilets, wooden doors – all of these products found in the home are top imports under GSP.  Unfortunately, no “Made in…” labels were present, so Dan couldn’t confirm any of those items.

Of course, GSP is not the reason these items were purchased (and Dan’s background clearly is not photography). But that’s one beauty of the GSP program for American families: they benefit from lower costs resulting from GSP even if they’ve never heard of it!

American families can use those GSP savings to buy other things, go out to dinner (like Dan and his wife may do tonight), or otherwise raise their standard of living, as highlighted in the new “Imports Work for America” report.  All they need is for Congress to renew GSP before July 31 so those savings will continue.

This post is part of the 2013 Imports Work for America Week initiative, an effort by a number of organizations and individuals in the trade policy community to talk about the benefits of imports for the U.S. economy.  You can see our previous post here or visit the Imports Work website here.

There were approximately 10,600 country-product combinations imported under GSP in 2012, from Afghani fruits to Zimbabwean wood products and everything in between. As shown by the graph below, for the majority of these country-product combos, the imports come in under GSP or not at all.
For country-product combos worth $2.7 billion in 2012, not a single penny was imported outside of the GSP program!  That accounts for about 43 percent of all country-product combos and is an amazing statistic considering that importers and their customs brokers 1) need to know about the GSP program; 2) specifically claim benefits; 3) meet certain in-country value-added thresholds, and 4) maintain extra  documentation on GSP imports.

Many of these “100 percenters” are raw materials and industrial goods used by American manufacturers, such as ferrosilicon from Russia and Georgia and ceramic laboratory materials from Brazil.

For another $4.4 billion worth of GSP imports in 2012, at least 99 percent of U.S. imports of those products from GSP-eligible countries came in under the program, including tires from Indonesia, aluminum alloy sheets from South Africa, and metal flanges from India.

Even the value of imports on the low end of the spectrum is deceptively high: $628 million of the $852 million worth of imports in the “less than 25 percent” category come from two oil products from Angola – which overwhelmingly receive duty-free access under AGOA.

Wyoming companies imported an estimated $2.6 million under GSP in 2011, saving them on average 3.2%. South Africa was the most important source of GSP imports, accounting for about 35 percent of the tariff savings. Sprockets and transmission parts were Wyoming’s top import under GSP in 2011 and would have faced average tariffs of 2.8% without GSP.

Yet GSP is set to expire on July 31, 2013, and companies could face tariffs higher tariffs starting on August 1 if Congress does not pass legislation renewing GSP. When GSP expired at the end of 2010, American companies paid nearly $2 million per day, every day, until Congress finally acted 11 months later!

This graphic shows just some of the negative impacts from the last GSP expiration. It also helps explain why more than 335 companies and associations joined the 2011 GSP Supporter List urging renewal of the program when it last expired.

Are you a Wyoming company that would be hurt by GSP expiration? If so, please take 30 seconds to let Congress know by adding your name to our free 2013 GSP Supporter List right now.

Pennsylvania companies imported an estimated $811 million under GSP in 2011, saving them on average 3.3%. South Africa was the most important source of GSP imports, accounting for about 21 percent of the tariff savings. Ferrosilicon manganese was Pennsylvania’s top import under GSP in 2011 and would have faced average tariffs of 3.9% without GSP.

Yet GSP is set to expire on July 31, 2013, and companies could face tariffs higher tariffs starting on August 1 if Congress does not pass legislation renewing GSP. When GSP expired at the end of 2010, American companies paid nearly $2 million per day, every day, until Congress finally acted 11 months later!

This graphic shows just some of the negative impacts from the last GSP expiration. It also helps explain why more than 335 companies and associations – including at least 17 in Pennsylvania – joined the 2011 GSP Supporter List urging renewal of the program when it last expired.

Are you a Pennsylvania company that would be hurt by GSP expiration? If so, please take 30 seconds to let Congress know by adding your name to our free 2013 GSP Supporter List right now.

Connecticut companies imported an estimated $492 million under GSP in 2011, saving them on average 2.4%. South Africa was the most important source of GSP imports, accounting for about 25 percent of the tariff savings. Unwrought zinc was Connecticut’s top import under GSP in 2011 and would have faced average tariffs of 1.5% without GSP.

Yet GSP is set to expire on July 31, 2013, and companies could face tariffs higher tariffs starting on August 1 if Congress does not pass legislation renewing GSP. When GSP expired at the end of 2010, American companies paid nearly $2 million per day, every day, until Congress finally acted 11 months later!

This graphic shows just some of the negative impacts from the last GSP expiration. It also helps explain why more than 335 companies and associations – including at least 11 in Connecticut – joined the 2011 GSP Supporter List urging renewal of the program when it last expired.

Are you a Connecticut company that would be hurt by GSP expiration? If so, please take 30 seconds to let Congress know by adding your name to our free 2013 GSP Supporter List right now.