OIA Urges Pack and Bag Importers to Petition for Lower Tariffs

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is urging companies that import backpacks and travel goods from eligible countries to petition the U.S. Trade Representative Office for preferential tariffs created by a new trade law.

The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2014, recently signed into law by President Obama, renews and expands a program known as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) which provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 100 developing countries for approved items.
 
For the first time, the product scope has been expanded to include certain travel goods, including backpacks, sports and travel bags and other luggage.

“If you currently import or plan on importing travel goods from Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand or other GSP eligible countries, we urge you to participate in the petition process to add this items to the GSP program and lower your costs,” wrote OIA Trade Policy Adviser Rich Harper in a July 24 email.

Harper said OIA members can learn more about the process by viewing a PowerPoint presentation from a webinar he hosted last week. OIA members should also access a detailed background paper on the GSP petition process for travel goods and a list of eligible products.

He also asks interested parties fill out a survey to tell OIA which Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheadings are most important to your company. Also to please share a picture of the related product.

Harper will moderate a discussion on the new trade laws, including the GSP petition process for travel goods, at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City on Wednesday August 5 from 2 to 2:45pm in Salon F of the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown at City Creek hotel across the street from the Salt Palace.
 
Panelists will be Ron Sorini, principal from OIA’s trade firm Sorini, Samet and Associates and Matt Schreiner, global product specialist from W.L. Gore and Associates. In addition to the GSP program, panelists will discuss the Protective Athletic Footwear Initiative and recreational performance outerwear breakouts.
 
Harper, who can be reached at rharper@outdoorindustry.org, is also offering to meeting individually with OIA members to review the GSP petition process in more detail.