Durham, N.C. – (July 15, 2024) – Sport-Brella, the leading brand of high-quality outdoor shelter solutions, is launching a new unique sun shelter, the Sol-Breeze. The Sol-Breeze features a stretchable canopy that attaches to vertical poles, allowing families and groups to adjust their level of shade while spending the day at the beach.
Michael Polk, Chief Executive Officer of Implus, said, “The Sport-Brella Sol-Breeze is for beachgoers who want to enjoy their day on the shore taking in the scenery while staying protected from the sun. Its innovative design provides families and friend groups with exceptional all-day solar protection while allowing them to enjoy full 360-degree views of the beach.”
The Sol-Breeze is an open-walled shelter that allows for unrestricted airflow and visibility so beach enthusiasts can enjoy the sand, surf and cool breezes of the shoreline while staying protected from the sun overhead. The shade is designed to float in the breeze, and it comes with corner pockets that can be filled with sand to keep it anchored throughout the day. When not in use, the Sol-Breeze is compact and lightweight, making for effortless transportation from home or car to the beach.
The Sol-Breeze is easy to set up and provides UPF 50+ protection, the highest sun protective rating achievable for fabrics. It is available in two sizes and can be purchased on Amazon:
- 7 FT x 7 FT: $99.99
- 10 FT x 10 FT: $129.99
About Sport-Brella: Born amidst the radiant sunshine of Southern California, Sport-Brella is dedicated to bringing friends, families, and teams together in outside spaces, all while keeping everyone comfortably sheltered from the sun. We protect venturesome groups from the elements with shelters that rapidly deploy and intuitively pack up so you can stay mobile as you transition from one activity to the next. Learn more at www.sportbrella.com.
About Implus: Implus is home to 18 brands in the footwear accessories, hosiery, specialty running, outdoor, fitness and movement categories. As an industry leader in active accessories, Implus is committed to enabling people to live active, healthy, and fulfilled lives, providing innovative products to more than 80,000 retail outlets worldwide. Distributing across more than 70 countries, Implus is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with five international offices. Key brands within Implus’ portfolio include Balega®, SKLZ®, Yaktrax®, TriggerPoint™, Sof Sole®, RockTape® and Spenco®. To learn more about Michael Polk and Implus leadership, please visit www.implus.com/leadership/. To learn more about Implus, please visit www.implus.com.
Media Contact
Rachel Rose
205-937-3668
[email protected]
(June 24, 2024) The following standards in several categories were modified and/or revised during the winter 2024 National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) Standards Committee meeting. Please use the links provided below to review the modifications if your products are governed by any of these standards.
Category: Football
Standard Performance Specification for Newly Manufactured Football Helmets
Category: Lacrosse
Standard Performance Specification For Newly Manufactured Lacrosse Face Protectors
(May 22, 2024) The following standards in several categories were modified and/or revised during the winter 2024 National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) Standards Committee meeting. Please use the links provided below to review the modifications if your products are governed by any of these standards.
Category: Football
Standard Performance Specification for Recertified Football Helmets
Standard Method of Impact Test and Performance Requirements for Football Faceguards
Category: Soccer
Standard Test Method and Performance Specification for Newly Manufactured Soccer Shin Guards
Category: Lacrosse
Standard Performance Specification for Recertified Lacrosse Helmets
Category: General
Standard Test Method and Equipment Used in Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Headgear/Equipment
(May 13, 2024) The SFIA Senior Bat Committee, NTS (the official certification lab of SSUSA) and Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) have been working together on a joint project to establish an on-field testing limit similar to testing USSSA and SFIA established several years ago. The result for Senior Softball is a 140-pound initial compression minimum for on-field testing.
“This standard will help us keep the senior softball playing field fair for our players and teams,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are especially grateful to Tim Lord, Co-Chair of the Baseball/Softball (BB/SB) Council, for gathering the senior bat manufacturers for essential input that helps us ensure a solid standard.”
“Appreciate Terry and SSUSA working with the SFIA Baseball/Softball Council to establish this new 140lb on-field testing for senior softball player and the 1.21 BPF standard,” states Tim Lord, Co-Chair of the Baseball/Softball Council. “This 140lb limit can be used by SSUSA in senior softball similar to the current 240lb on-field standard that USSSA also worked with the SFIA BB/SB Council several years ago to establish in slowpitch softball for their 1.20 BPF standard.”
(May 6, 2024) Stack Sports, a premier provider of sports management software for youth, has unveiled Stack Rewards, a rewards initiative designed to offer substantial financial relief to families involved in youth sports across the United States and North America. The program enables families to earn cashback from routine shopping and benefit from exclusive deals and offers, which can contribute towards sports expenses, potentially saving up to $100 million each year.
Amid the current economic strain characterized by rising costs of everyday items, the financial challenge of enrolling children in youth sports is significant. In response, Stack Sports created Stack Rewards to help lessen these financial pressures and provide economic relief to sports families
This year, over 10 million families within the Stack Sports network will be eligible to participate in Stack Rewards. The program offers cashback on purchases made at major retailers like Walmart, Nike, Old Navy, and Target. Given that the average family spends around $9,000 annually on groceries, utilizing Stack Rewards could yield over $180 in cashback, which families can use towards sports gear, travel, or registration fees at local clubs. This is one among several benefits that the program extends to families based on their existing spending habits.
The cashback shopping platform for Stack Rewards will be enhanced by a collaboration with FlipGive, along with additional rewards that families can accrue by using various Stack Sports software products.
Amy Halpenny, CEO of FlipGive, highlighted the financial challenges of youth sports, exacerbated by severe inflation. She noted that “44% of parents struggle to finance their children’s sports activities.” She expressed pride in providing Stack Sports with an embedded rewards solution that empowers families to earn cashback effortlessly, thereby making sports more accessible.
The launch of Stack Rewards reaffirms Stack Sports’ dedication to promoting youth sports and building a supportive, inclusive sports community. By offering significant savings through Stack Rewards, Stack Sports seeks to eliminate financial obstacles and ensure that every child can enjoy the benefits of participating in sports.
Brandon Shangraw, SVP of Marketing and Innovation at Stack Sports, expressed excitement about the launch: “We are thrilled to introduce Stack Rewards to help reduce the cost of youth sports and support our mission to increase participation and enhance the sports experience. With the scale of our operations and our strategic partnerships, Stack Rewards is poised to offer over $100 million in annual savings to families, thereby enabling more children to engage in sports and achieve their athletic aspirations.”
Durham, N.C. – (April 22, 2024) – SKLZ, the global leader in sports-specific training products, is launching an exciting new wearable tech product that measures speed, agility, and vertical jump, SKLZ Hyper Speed. The SKLZ Hyper Speed combines a sleek wearable tech band and user-friendly mobile app to accurately measure speed, agility, and vertical jump so that athletes can create their own combine in their backyard or on the practice field.
Michael Polk, Chief Executive Officer of Implus, said, “The SKLZ Hyper Speed is a game-changer for youth athletes looking for a precise and reliable device to measure their speed, agility, and vertical jump. This product is a precision tool that replaces the need for expensive timing gate systems and inaccurate stopwatches, and it provides instant feedback to easily track performance gains on SKLZ proprietary app.”
The Hyper Speed is easy to use for athletes who want to monitor and level up their performance. Users simply set up their phone in the included tripod, strap on the wristband sensor and begin training. The app features instructional video drills to help guide and challenge athletes with different workouts. After each session, users check the app to view immediate results. It tracks and graphs speed or jump results after every drill to provide a comprehensive review of progress over time.
Athletes can use the Hyper Speed with a range of additional SKLZ products to diversify their workouts or focus on refining a particular skill with various training tools.
The Hyper Speed is available now for $199.99 on SKLZ.com, Amazon and at select Dick’s Sporting Goods House of Sport stores.
About SKLZ: SKLZ is the leading provider of performance training products and programs for athletes of all levels. SKLZ products are designed to sync the body to the brain, helping athletes to be stronger, smarter, and faster. With tools available for every sport and skill, like training nets, agility ladders, resistance bands, and more, SKLZ empowers athletes to never settle for yesterday’s best. Learn more at www.sklz.com.
About Implus: Implus is home to 18 brands in the footwear accessories, hosiery, specialty running, outdoor, fitness and movement categories. As an industry leader in active accessories, Implus is committed to enabling people to live active, healthy, and fulfilled lives, providing innovative products to more than 80,000 retail outlets worldwide. Distributing across more than 70 countries, Implus is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with five international offices. Key brands within Implus’ portfolio include Balega®, SKLZ®, Yaktrax®, TriggerPoint™, Sof Sole®, RockTape® and Spenco®. To learn more about Michael Polk and Implus leadership, please visit www.implus.com/leadership/. To learn more about Implus, please visit www.implus.com.
Media Contact
Rachel Rose
205-937-3668
[email protected]
PHOENIX, AZ, USA, April 16, 2024 – USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for pickleball in the U.S., today announced an exciting new partnership with Pickleheads, the industry’s leading platform for pickleball court and schedule information. The collaboration will enhance player access to comprehensive and up-to-date data on pickleball courts nationwide.
“USA Pickleball strongly believes in the importance of providing players ready access to reliable court and schedule information—it is essential to welcoming new players onto the courts, helping existing players get more out of their pickleball journey, and growing the sport as a whole,” said Mike Nealy, USA Pickleball Chief Executive Officer. “Our partnership with Pickleheads allows us to fulfill that mission and provide our community with the most comprehensive and accurate database of court and game data to date.”
Through this partnership, USA Pickleball’s trusted network of 2,200 ambassadors will join forces with Pickleheads’ extensive platform which includes nearly 14,000 U.S. facilities. The collaboration ensures that the USA Pickleball ambassador network and their respective communities around the country will have access to the best and most accurate platform for finding pickleball play.
“Providing reliable court and game information at players’ fingertips is vital for the growth of our sport,” said Brandon Mackie, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Pickleheads. “USA Pickleball pioneered the original court finder, and we’re thrilled to work with them to make finding a court or game easier than ever for players.”
In addition to partnering on a court and game finder, Pickleheads and USA Pickleball announced plans to collaborate on various initiatives to enhance and improve the player experience. Initiatives include the promotion of tools that streamline group management for organizers of all sizes, allowing them to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time enjoying the game, along with integrated surveys in the Pickleheads Newsletter which will provide players with an opportunity to share their opinions on key issues in the sport.
For more information on Pickleheads, please visit pickleheads.com.
About USA Pickleball: USA Pickleball is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of pickleball in the United States. Its mission is to promote the development and growth of the sport while sanctioning events and providing annual members with premier tournaments, educational opportunities, player rankings, official rules and other exclusive benefits. USA Pickleball is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that is governed and operated by a Board of Directors and a national office staff, who provide the guidance and infrastructure for the continued expansion of the sport.
About Pickleheads: Pickleheads is the #1 online platform for pickleball. Players can find courts, schedule games, join groups, chat with other players and more. Pickleheads hosts the industry’s most comprehensive database of pickleball courts, including nearly 14,000 places to play in the U.S.
Melissa Zhang
USA Pickleball
[email protected]
Durham, N.C. – (April 9, 2024) – SKLZ, the leader in sports training products, is announcing a partnership with media and entertainment company Barstool Sports to release a co-branded SKLZ | Barstool Golf product line that will combine the premium features and technology of SKLZ products with the Barstool Sports top-ranked golf podcast “Fore Play.”
Michael Polk, Chief Executive Officer of Implus, said, “We are excited to introduce our SKLZ top-rated golf training aids to the Barstool Sports audience. Barstool Sports has a large loyal fanbase and we look forward to leveraging our distribution capabilities to reach even more golf enthusiasts and equip them with tools they need to improve their golf game.”
Available now, the line features a range of golf training aids designed to help golfers of all skill levels improve their game. The line will come branded in Barstool colors and feature the Barstool Golf logo, and is supported by Barstool Sports’ popular, top-ranked golf podcast “Fore Play” and its personalities Sam “Riggs” Bozoian, Trent Ryan, Frankie Borrelli, and Dan Rapaport, who are featured in the campaign content.
Key SKLZ products include the Gold Flex 48”, a golf swing trainer designed to improve swing tempo, strength, and distance, the Quickster Chipping net designed with three different sized target holes for accuracy practice, and the Putt Path Gates designed to help players visualize the line and improve their putting consistency and accuracy.
The product line will be available on SKLZ.com, online at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Amazon.com, as well as Golf Galaxy stores and Dick’s Sporting Goods House of Sport stores.
About SKLZ: SKLZ is the leading provider of performance training products and programs for athletes of all levels. SKLZ products are designed to sync the body to the brain, helping athletes to be stronger, smarter, and faster. With tools available for every sport and skill, like training nets, agility ladders, resistance bands, and more, SKLZ empowers athletes to never settle for yesterday’s best. Learn more at www.sklz.com.
About Barstool Sports
One of the largest and most influential digital sports, entertainment and media platforms, Barstool Sports delivers original content across blogs, podcasts, video and social media, supported by nearly 100 dedicated personalities. Barstool Sports is home to the No. 1 sports podcast “Pardon My Take;” No. 1 golf podcast “Fore Play;” No. 1 hockey podcast “Spittin’ Chiclets;” popular lifestyle pod “Chicks in the Office;” leading comedy and original Barstool podcast, “KFC Radio;” and more. In 2023, the media juggernaut boasted 250M social followers, 90 billion video views across its content and 33M monthly podcast downloads. www.barstoolsports.com.
About Implus: Implus is home to 18 brands in the footwear accessories, hosiery, specialty running, outdoor, fitness and movement categories. As an industry leader in active accessories, Implus is committed to enabling people to live active, healthy, and fulfilled lives, providing innovative products to more than 80,000 retail outlets worldwide. Distributing across more than 70 countries, Implus is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with five international offices. Key brands within Implus’ portfolio include Balega®, SKLZ®, Yaktrax®, TriggerPoint™, Sof Sole®, RockTape® and Spenco®. To learn more about Michael Polk and Implus leadership, please visit www.implus.com/leadership/. To learn more about Implus, please visit www.implus.com.
Media Contact
Rachel Rose
205-937-3668
[email protected]
SEATTLE, April 9, 2024 –Volt Athletics, the pioneering leader in performance training technology, is proud to announce a groundbreaking milestone: the acquisition of ZAMA Health. This acquisition elevates Volt’s AI-powered athlete development platform to unprecedented heights. Known for its innovative programming, Volt dynamically adapts to each individual, delivering hyper-personalized training at scale. Now, with the integration of ZAMA Health, Volt solidifies its position as the premier holistic athlete development company worldwide.
Founded by Dan Giuliani and Trevor Watkins, Volt Athletics has revolutionized athlete training with its patented artificial intelligence and performance training platform, serving nearly 2 million individuals worldwide. Volt will now provide comprehensive mental health and wellness tools for athletes and coaches alike, further enhancing its offerings with the integration of ZAMA Health.
Brendan Sullivan, Founder and CEO of ZAMA Health, joins Volt as the General Manager of Athlete Wellbeing. ZAMA Health’s technology platform, known for its innovative approaches to mental health and athlete wellbeing, will initially operate as a distinct service within the Volt ecosystem. This integration, combined with Volt’s cutting-edge technology, ensures a seamless experience for the Volt Family of coaches and athletes worldwide, ushering in a new era of advanced athlete development.
“ZAMA Health will add a much-needed layer of mental health support for our Volt Family of coaches and athletes,” said Dan Giuliani, Co-Founder and CEO of Volt Athletics. “We aim to support the development of the entire athlete and to empower coaches to better assist their athletes through practical resources and education.”
Brendan Sullivan expressed excitement about the acquisition: “Our collective goal is to build the world’s foremost athlete development platform by adding mental health and wellbeing offerings into the Volt Athletics ecosystem. Athletes need more than just operational systems or clinical care–they require a holistic solution. I’m looking forward to joining the Volt team to help spearhead these efforts.”
Volt welcomes a prestigious bench of ZAMA advisors and investors, including DeAndre Yedlin, pro soccer player for FC Cincinnati and the US Men’s National Team, who is an investor in both companies. ZAMA received early investments from the premier technology accelerator, Techstars, as well as the leading brain health organization, One Mind. Additionally, ZAMA’s advisory board includes experts from global technology, mental health, and fitness organizations, such as the former Head of Science at Calm, Jen Huberty, and industry veteran, Gene DeFilippo, who previously served as the athletic director at Boston College and Villanova.
“I’m thrilled to see Volt and ZAMA joining forces,” said DeAndre Yedlin. “Combining physical training and mental wellness is critical for athlete performance, health, and wellbeing. As an investor in both companies, I’ve seen firsthand the impact they have on athletes worldwide and can’t wait to see what they are able to do together.”
The collaboration between Volt Athletics and ZAMA Health signifies a commitment to addressing the holistic needs of athletes worldwide. By integrating physical, mental, and social health technologies, Volt aims to maximize athlete performance and wellbeing.
For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
About Volt Athletics: Volt Athletics is the leader in personalized performance training technology, providing AI-driven training solutions for athletes and coaches worldwide. Volt dynamically adapts to each individual, delivering hyper-personalized training at scale. Through the use of technology and sport science, Volt aims to maximize results, minimize injuries, and help athletes achieve their goals.
First launched in 2013, Volt has served nearly 2 million individuals, including collegiate and professional teams, first responders, military personnel, and corporate entities. Volt Athletics has been named one of the Best Companies to Work For by Seattle Magazine six times and the Best Employer in Sports by Front Office Sports twice.
About ZAMA Health: ZAMA is an athlete mental health and wellness platform, which has been specifically designed to support collegiate athletes and staff through educational programming and self guided modules, peer to peer support, and custom integrations with on campus-resources. ZAMA partners directly with athletic departments to help them meet the NCAA’s requirements around mental health best practices. Additionally, ZAMA collaborates with clinics across the country to provide athletic departments with direct access to therapy and psychiatry services when necessary.
2024 Quarter 1 Recap
While election-year politics hang over Congress, there is hope for tariff relief & health promotion policies. With the Presidential race getting the headlines, Congress navigates the choppy waters of an election year to find common ground. Divisions in Congress may get all the attention, but there are Members committed to finding bipartisan solutions, however, the path to success is narrow in a highly contentious election year.
If 2023 is any indication of what to expect in 2024 it will be a challenge, as only 27 bills were signed into law last year and 2024 will be more volatile due to the Presidential election. Despite the challenges presented by Presidential election year politics, SFIA policy priorities cut across party lines.
With the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, Congress has moved on to recovery. The economy remains sluggish and consumer prices continue to rise. SFIA advocacy has targeted policies to lower consumer costs, create more resilient supply chains, protect IPR, and increase participation in sports and fitness.
SFIA has focused much of its efforts on legislation to:
INCREASE PARTICIPATION
Capture the Economic Impact of Youth Sports
Participation in team sports continues to rise and the economic footprint of youth sports is large and growing. SFIA is working with Congress to launch an annual BEA study on the economic impact of youth sports to add to our messaging in promoting youth sports policies.
The gross economic output of Outdoor Recreation was $1.1 trillion in 2022, according to an annual study performed by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Outdoor recreation is not in every community throughout the U.S., but youth sports are, and we want to capture that information.
Youth sports are far more than registration fees and field/court/rink rentals; referees and administrative staff at facilities and leagues, coaches, clinics, camps, and sports equipment sales all directly contribute to the youth sports economy – but so does development around sports facilities. Tournaments fill hotel rooms and generate revenue in the community. Fuel stations, grocery and convenience stores, fast food, and chain pharmacies pop up around facilities, and concessions and sports shops in the facility create jobs and contribute to the local economy.
The BEA Youth Sports Economic Impact study will not be available until 2026 at the earliest.
Promote Healthy Lifestyles Via Increased Activity and Access to Facilities
The pandemic highlighted the mental and physical health benefits of physical activity, and communities with children not able to participate on teams due to lack of sports facilities had worse outcomes. Ensuring greater access to facilities will lead to better health and lower future U.S. outlays to treat preventable chronic conditions and mental health problems.
SFIA is working with Congress to increase investments in youth sports infrastructure. Legislation to expand the use of Economic Development Assistance (EDA) funds to include youth sports infrastructure has bipartisan leadership in the House. SFIA is seeking a Republican to join our Democratic Senate lead.
Under the bill, urban and rural communities with a high incidence of substance abuse or violent crime, and lacking sports facilities, would be targeted for new investments in sports and recreation infrastructure. The Secretary of Education would award EDA grants; with 40 percent going to schools and the balance split between non-profits, cities/political subdivisions, and economic development districts.
SFIA has launched a state-of-the-art Sports & Recreation Project Database to give our members advanced notice of new investments in Sports & Recreation Infrastructure. The database uses AI to review up to 400,000 pages of minutes and agendas weekly from local government, council, committee, and board meetings. The database captures the information at the earliest stage of the project, often before the RFP is written, giving SFIA members a competitive advantage.
The Sports and Recreation Project database is searchable by sport, product, facility type, state, and date for customized reports that focus on projects with the most relevance to a business. Database users will receive daily e-mails on new investments to provide the latest info and keep users ahead of their competition.
New youth sports facilities will address the access barrier to youth sports, adult fitness and recreation, and the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act will lower the cost barrier. PHIT expands Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and other pre-tax medical accounts to cover activity expenses as a form of prevention. An independent commission reviewing the U.S. Olympic Committee publicly pressed Congress to pass PHIT earlier this month.
PHIT would lower family and consumer costs for youth sports, health clubs/fitness centers, and adult recreation by allowing payment using pre-tax dollars. Allowable expenses include registrations, membership dues, subscription fees, instruction, clinics, camps, tournaments, and equipment used exclusively to participate in sports, recreation, and fitness. Apparel and footwear that can be worn casually and travel and accommodations would not be eligible for PHIT savings.
PHIT has support from more than 80 Republicans and Democrats in Congress, including 15 from the tax-writing Ways & Means Committee which has jurisdiction for the bill. PHIT Champions are seeking an appropriate legislative vehicle to attach PHIT and move it through Congress.
TARIFF RELIEF
Renew Tariff Relief to Lower the Cost of Getting Products to Market
An estimated 100 million dollars in tariff relief on industry products awaits Congressional action, two years after the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) lapsed at the end of 2020. SFIA has more than 80 MTB petitions on industry products fully vetted by the US International Trade Commission and recommended for inclusion in the MTB. MTB tariff relief is capped at $500,000 per petition for up to $40 million in tariff relief on industry products. Gloves, equipment bags, backpacks, and other sports equipment enter the U.S. duty-free if made in a GSP-eligible country, avoiding tariffs ranging from 3.0% to 17.6%.
Environmental issues are a sticking point, but the U.S. included provisions in the USMCA trade agreement that could be adopted for MTB and GSP to address those concerns. The bigger obstacle is Democrats desire to add Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to help workers displaced by jobs moving overseas to MTB/GSP renewal legislation; Republicans counter with a demand to give the President Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to negotiate free trade agreements without Congressional interference. TAA and TPA are policy differences that can be worked on outside of MTB/GSP, but to date, these have languished in Congress and impeded progress on tariff relief.
SFIA continues to press Congress for the renewal of these traditionally bipartisan, non-controversial tariff relief bills. A March advocacy day on Tariff Relief was well received – Congress is sympathetic and seeking a way to break the impasse to move legislation to renew GSP/MTB.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has repeatedly indicated the Section 301 Tariffs on products made in China serve a purpose and give the U.S. leverage in future trade negotiations. Ambassador Tai points to the tariffs leading to increased sourcing outside of China, including back to the U.S., but there is little evidence to support that claim. China’s failure to meet all the terms of the Phase 1 trade deal provides justification for continuing tariffs of up to 25 percent on imports, although Section 301 tariffs on most consumer goods are 7.5 percent. The Section 301 tariffs are in addition to other tariffs on imported products and inputs, putting the total tariff on many Chinese imports above 10 percent.
While it is unlikely that Section 301 Tariffs will be dropped anytime soon, SFIA has pushed for a required U.S. Trade Representative four-year review of the Chinese tariffs. The review will report on the impact of the tariffs, China’s compliance with the terms of the Phase 1 agreement, and most importantly the Section 301 Tariff Exclusion process.
The initial USTR Exclusion process provided relief for roughly a third of requests on Lists 1 and 2, covering steel, aluminum, large consumer appliances, and industrial products, but, only five percent of Exclusion requests were approved for consumer products on Lists 3 and 4A. A General Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Exclusion process found it to be seriously flawed and unfair. GAO recommended re-opening the exclusion process with greater transparency to ensure fair consideration of requests for relief. The USTR review will provide insight into the government’s position on reopening a more transparent exclusion process that offers SFIA members an opportunity to seek relief from China tariffs.
Supply chains
Ensure Reliable Supply Chains to Ensure Timely Delivery of Products
The reliable movement of goods from factories into the stream of commerce is critical to meeting consumer demand and limiting spikes in costs to businesses and consumers. Following the supply chain crisis from the pandemic, Congress enacted the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 to address rising fees and challenges to the timely delivery of products.
The new laws have reduced fees and led to more reliable shipments of products, but recent global conflicts have disrupted the flow of goods. Shippers have opted to avoid the Suez Canal due to hostilities off the coast of Yemen targeting ships and the longer shipping routes have disrupted the flow of commerce. It is estimated that $80 billion in cargo has been diverted due to hostilities in Red Sea shipping lanes. New routes take ships around the Cape of Good Horn and create greater reliance on West Coast Ports. The new routes have driven up shipping costs due to increased traffic at certain ports that lack the equipment necessary to process the increased volume efficiently.
SFIA requested safe and secure maritime commerce in the Red Sea in a February letter encouraging countries to commit to a multinational security initiative. Twenty-three countries are currently participating in Operation Prosperity Guardian to keep Red Sea shipping lanes safe, and the Suez Canal a viable shipping option. SFIA and other concerned parties stress the need to protect the 30 percent of global trade flowing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal from interference and attacks.
The current labor contract for port workers from Maine to Texas expires on September 30. Negotiations are ongoing between the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMA) on a new contract to avoid any disruptions in the flow of commerce to East Coast Ports. The ILA has set a May 17 deadline for local contracts to be agreed upon to allow for negotiations on an overall Master contract prior to the September deadline. To date, only the ports of New York/New Jersey and Baltimore have reached tentative local agreements.
ILA is seeking a more generous contract than West Coast Ports received and pointed to the 40 percent increase in wages and benefits in the Great Lakes District contract as a target. East Coast Port worker unions also object to increased automation and want exclusive port contracts for its workers. Historically, East Coast and Gulf Coast Ports have been less aggressive on strikes and slowdowns during contract negotiations due to the royalties longshoremen receive based on the tonnage of cargo processed. Any disruptions that divert cargo to the West Coast would be bad for East Coast port workers.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Combat the Theft of Intellectual Property
At the January PGA Show, the Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office identified SFIA’s U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council anti-counterfeiting program as a model for U.S. businesses seeking to curb the flow of fake products from China. The USGMC program addresses the counterfeit product issue at the root of the problem, focusing its efforts on the ground in China. USGMC identifies fake products, determines the source, and then works with local law enforcement to take down the counterfeiters, seize fake products, and close the production facility. Listings of fake products are removed from online marketplaces and websites dedicated to the sale of fake golf equipment are shut down.
Companies engaged in the production and distribution of fake golf equipment are fined and required to pay damages. Individuals are sentenced to jail time and assessed fines for golf IPR violations. Since the inception of the USGMC anti-counterfeiting program, an estimated 2,000,000 pieces of equipment have been seized. The raids have resulted in over $118,000,000 in damages awarded, more than 100 convictions, and almost $3,000,000 in fines. Only fake products containing marks and branding of the golf manufacturers paying for the program can be seized; fake golf products from non-participating golf companies are left on the factory/warehouse/distribution center floor.
With the implementation of Section 301 Tariffs on Chinese imports, companies based in China have turned to direct shipments to consumers to avoid CBP inspections and applicable tariffs. ‘De Minimis’ shipments with a value of $800 or less enter the U.S. without CBP inspection for forced labor or counterfeit products and appropriate tariffs are not collected. More than two million packages a day enter the U.S. under the De Minimis exemption and the total value of de minimis shipments has increased from $40 million in 2012 to $67 billion in 2022. Counterfeiters in China have utilized the de minimis exemption to gain access to the U.S. market without CBP inspections.
SFIA applauds Senators Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) and Rick Scott’s (R-FL) February 23rd letter to President Biden requesting he “utilize broad executive authorities to end duty-free treatment for Section 321 de minimis e-commerce shipments that are facilitating the import of illegal products, goods produced with forced labor, and other contraband to the detriment of U.S. manufacturers, workers, and communities.” SFIA supports the Import Security & Fairness Act to prohibit the use of de minimis for products shipped from non-market economies on the USTR’s priority watch list. CBP would be given additional authority to collect more information on De Minimis shipments and ban bad actors.
REGULATION
Ensure Reasonable Regulation and Compliance with Laws
SFIA supports efforts to stem the flow of products containing illegally harvested wood from entering the stream of commerce. The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces the Lacey Act to regulate the importation of plant products, including wood and other materials, to ensure compliance with U.S. policies on the source of wood in finished products.
Importers must provide scientific name, value, quantity, and country of harvest to certify products contain no illegally harvested wood. APHIS provides two options for filing declarations online: The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS). More information and guidance on declarations can be found on the APHIS website.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyflouroakyl (PFAS) substances have been found to adversely affect health. Lower fertility, development delays, behavioral changes in children, and potentially an increased risk of certain cancers have all been linked to PFAS chemicals. PFAS substances are used in water and stain-resistant coatings found in athletic apparel and footwear, some swim products, and certain sports and fitness products.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a new rule requiring any person that manufactures (including imports) or has manufactured (including imported) PFAS or products containing PFAS chemicals in any year since January 1, 2011, to electronically report information regarding PFAS uses, production volumes, disposal, exposures, and hazards.
Any entities, including small entities, that have manufactured or imported products containing PFAS will have 18 months to report PFAS data to EPA. Small manufacturers (as defined at 40 CFR 704.3) whose reporting obligations under this rule are exclusively from article imports will have 24 months to report PFAS data to EPA.
Non-compliant PFAS products warehoused in 2024 cannot be sold in the U.S. beginning January 1, 2025.
Ten States have PFAS restrictions, with California and New York being the most aggressive. California has announced an expansion of the PFAS list of banned substances in consumer products to include Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and Perfluorononanioc acid (PFNA) to the list of banned chemicals. Proposition 65 mandates warning labels on consumer products containing certain chemicals. The new California PFAS restrictions go into effect on January 1, 2025. New York has banned apparel with intentionally added PFAS beginning January 1, 2025, and outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions starting January 1, 2028.
SFIA members making apparel & footwear have the highest industry exposure.
For more information or for questions on SFIA public policy, please contact Bill Sells.