Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for permanent duty-free treatment on imports of basketballs.
Description: This bill modifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to give imports of basketballs permanent duty-free treatment.
Sponsors: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Target Audience
Population: People who play, sell, or manufacture basketballs
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The bill affects international trade by altering duty requirements for importing basketballs into the United States.
- Businesses involved in manufacturing and selling basketballs internationally may see increased market opportunities in the U.S. due to lower costs.
- Consumers in the U.S. could benefit from potential reductions in basketball prices, resulting from reduced import costs.
- Retailers in the U.S. may experience changes in their supply chains related to sourcing basketballs more affordably from other countries.
- The amendment particularly impacts countries that export basketballs to the U.S. by making their products more price-competitive in the American market.
Reasoning
- Considering the budget limitations, the policy has to carefully target and benefit both businesses (manufacturers, retailers) and consumers (basketball players, institutions) involved in the basketball market.
- The population includes 30 million people actively playing basketball, with an added focus on sports retailers and educational institutions that purchase basketballs.
- However, the policy's impact will not be uniformly distributed; while some individuals and groups may see tangible benefits due to the cost reduction, others may not experience any significant change in well-being.
- The policy is likely to have a stronger effect on those directly engaged in the basketball trade or employment sector, less so on casual consumers.
Simulated Interviews
Professional basketball player (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing tariffs on basketballs is great, it'll make it cheaper for players to practice more.
- It might lead to more affordable equipment deals for players like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Sports equipment retailer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Duty-free imports will lower costs significantly and allow us to offer competitive prices.
- However, hope this doesn't affect domestic job markets negatively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Amateur basketball player (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I might save some money, but it isn't going to dramatically change my life.
- More competitive pricing could be motivating.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
College basketball player (Boston, MA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Lower costs could help our college team get better equipment.
- Our funding might stretch further, allowing for improved training conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Sports equipment manufacturer (New York, NY)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about increased competition from global brands entering the market without tariffs.
- Might need to innovate to stay competitive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Retired, basketball enthusiast (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t buy basketballs often, so I don't expect a big change for me.
- It’s still nice to have if prices drop. May buy more equipment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Warehouse manager for a sports distributor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worried about job impacts but see growth potential in handling more imports.
- Need policies ensuring employment stability amidst market changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
High school basketball coach (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Cheaper basketballs would allow us to purchase more for training and games.
- Looking forward to reallocating some budget towards other necessities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Basketball blogger (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change can drive interesting shifts in market dynamics.
- Globally sourced basketballs could bring variety to the consumer base.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Parent of a young basketball player (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even small savings on basketballs add up over time with family expenses.
- Hope this extends to more sports equipment eventually.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $800000 (Low: $500000, High: $1000000)
Year 2: $800000 (Low: $500000, High: $1000000)
Year 3: $800000 (Low: $500000, High: $1000000)
Year 5: $800000 (Low: $500000, High: $1000000)
Year 10: $800000 (Low: $500000, High: $1000000)
Year 100: $800000 (Low: $500000, High: $1000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy primarily impacts revenue from imported basketballs, positioning it as a trade-focused financial measure.
- It provides economic benefits to consumers that may not be reflected in government accounts as direct savings.
- Attention should be given to the competitive pressures this will place on domestic basketball producers.