Following a tariff relief that expired on January 1, 2010, the SGMA seems optimistic about the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) and the positive impact its provisions might have on ball sports.
On July 7, House Ways & Means Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI) posted a draft Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) on the committee's website that includes SGMA-supported duty suspension provisions on several sporting goods products. The posting is the first step in an effort to renew tariff relief that expired on January 1. The goal is to pass the MTB before Congress adjourns this year.
Bill Sells, SGMA's vice president of government relations commented on the impact the MTB might have for its affiliates. “This is a positive step forward as SGMA's works to reduce tariffs for our members whose products were adversely impacted by the expiration of duty relief at the start of the year.” said Sells. “If passed, this bill has the potential to save the sporting goods industry and consumers millions of dollars.”
The proposition is a manager's amendment that incorporates revisions to the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Bill of 2009. Unlike earlier bill MTB's, the new version includes Senate bills to extend expired duty suspension provisions. Of particular importance to SGMA members are duty relief extensions on products such as volleyballs, leather basketballs, golf bag bodies, rubber basketballs and basketballs of other materials.
As proposed, the duty on golf bags will be reduced to 1.5%. The new reduced duty rates for basketballs made of rubber and basketballs made from other materials will be lowered to 0.7 percent (from 1.5 percent) and adjusted to 1.1 percent (from 0.9 percent). The volleyball and leather basketball provisions would both continue to not be charged. If passed, these new duties would go into effect 15 days after enactment of the legislation and would remain in effect through December 31, 2012.
