U. S. Senate Fails to Extend GSP
01/03/11 03:22 PM
The
111th meeting of the U.S. Congress adjourned on
December 23, 2010 without extending the Generalized
Systems of Preferences (GSP) program which
subsequently expired on December 31, 2010. Although
the House of Representatives passed the Omnibus
Trade Act of 2010, including GSP trade preference
program, on December 15, 2010, the Senate failed to
reach agreement on longer term extensions of the
GSP as well as the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug
Eradication Act (ATPDEA) and Trade Adjustment
Assistance (TAA) programs.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notification via Automated Broker Interface (ABI) that importers may continue to apply the GSP special program indicators “A” and “A+” on eligible goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse after December 31, 2010, however, they must pay the applicable Column 1 rate of duty.
It is expected that the GSP program will be reauthorized in the 112th Congress including provision for retroactive recovery of any duties that importers must pay as of January 1, 2011, for goods that would be duty-free if GSP program was in force.
CBP noted that GSP program indicators will enable CBP to liquidate all GSP preference claims with a refund if the program is reauthorized with retroactivity.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notification via Automated Broker Interface (ABI) that importers may continue to apply the GSP special program indicators “A” and “A+” on eligible goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse after December 31, 2010, however, they must pay the applicable Column 1 rate of duty.
It is expected that the GSP program will be reauthorized in the 112th Congress including provision for retroactive recovery of any duties that importers must pay as of January 1, 2011, for goods that would be duty-free if GSP program was in force.
CBP noted that GSP program indicators will enable CBP to liquidate all GSP preference claims with a refund if the program is reauthorized with retroactivity.
2010 Annual GSP Product Review and Deadlines for Filing Petitions Announced
07/15/10 02:40 PM
On
July 15, 2010, Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR) published a
notice in the Federal
Register announcing the initiation of the 2010
annual Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
product review and deadlines for filing
petitions.
Interested parties, including foreign governments, may submit petitions to:
All petitions to modify the list of articles eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP must be received by the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee no later than 5 PM on August 3, 2010.
Petitions requesting competitive need limitation (CNL) waivers for GSP-eligible articles from beneficiary developing countries that exceed the CNLs in 2010 must be filed in the 2010 Annual Review. To be considered in the 2010 Annual Review, petitions requesting CNL waivers must be received by the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee by 5 PM on November 16, 2010.
Interested parties, including foreign governments, may submit petitions to:
- Designate additional articles as eligible for GSP treatment;
- Withdraw, suspend or limit the application of duty-free treatment accorded under the GSP with respect to any article, either for all beneficiary developing countries, least-developed beneficiary developing countries or beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, or for any of these countries individually;
- Waive the “competitive need limitations” for individual beneficiary developing countries with respect to specific GSP-eligible articles (these limits do not apply to either least-developed beneficiary developing countries or AGOA beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries); and
- Otherwise modify
GSP coverage.
All petitions to modify the list of articles eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP must be received by the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee no later than 5 PM on August 3, 2010.
Petitions requesting competitive need limitation (CNL) waivers for GSP-eligible articles from beneficiary developing countries that exceed the CNLs in 2010 must be filed in the 2010 Annual Review. To be considered in the 2010 Annual Review, petitions requesting CNL waivers must be received by the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee by 5 PM on November 16, 2010.
President Obama Signs GSP and ATPA Bill into Law President Signs GSP and ATPA Bill into Law President Obama Signs GSP and ATPA Bill into Law
12/28/09 10:49 PM
On
December 28, 2009, President Obama
signed into law H.R.
4284, which extends the Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade
Preference Act (ATPA) for one year, through
December 31, 2010. Under the GSP treatment,
beneficiary developing countries receive certain
trade benefits.
According to the Presidential Proclamation, effective January 1, 2011, Croatia and Equatorial Guinea will no longer receive the GSP treatment as they have achieved “high income” classification. Cape Verde will be removed from the list of least-developed beneficiary countries under GSP effective January 1, 2010.
According to the Presidential Proclamation, effective January 1, 2011, Croatia and Equatorial Guinea will no longer receive the GSP treatment as they have achieved “high income” classification. Cape Verde will be removed from the list of least-developed beneficiary countries under GSP effective January 1, 2010.
Deadline Set for Importers to Request Duty-Free Treatment under GSP
05/28/09 01:02 AM
On May
28, 2009, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
issued a notice in the Federal
Register announcing it has set June 24 as the
deadline for its 2009 Annual Generalized System
of Preferences (GSP) Product and Country
Practices Eligibility Review. During the Annual
Review, USTR assesses petitions to modify the
list of products and countries that receive
duty-free treatment under the GSP.
By utilizing GSP, which provides duty-free treatment to a range of products from over 100 developing and lesser developed countries, U.S. importers can better control the cost of inputs.
Interested parties must submit petitions to modify the GSP products and country status by June 24, 2009. Petitions for products to continue receiving GSP treatment will be accepted starting June 24 and November 17, 2009.
By utilizing GSP, which provides duty-free treatment to a range of products from over 100 developing and lesser developed countries, U.S. importers can better control the cost of inputs.
Interested parties must submit petitions to modify the GSP products and country status by June 24, 2009. Petitions for products to continue receiving GSP treatment will be accepted starting June 24 and November 17, 2009.
Oman and Peru Removed from GSP Program
02/04/09 05:31 PM
On
February 3, 2009, Customs
announced that “goods from
Oman and Peru are no longer eligible for GSP
preferences due to the implementation of bilateral
trade agreements with these countries.” The Oman
FTA took effect on January 1, 2009 and the Peru TPA
on February 1, 2009. GSP claims from these
countries will not be accepted on or after these
dates.
USTR Initiates GSP Review for Vietnam
06/23/08 11:18 AM
On
June 20, 2008, the United States Trade
Representative (USTR) announced in the
Federal
Register the initiation
of a review to consider designating the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam as a beneficiary
developing country (BDC) for purposes of
the Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) program
and solicits public comments on whether Vietnam
meets eligibility requirements for designation
as a BDC. Comments are due by Monday, August 4,
2008 and must be submitted in accordance with
the requirements set out in the notice.
USTR Posts Notice Regarding Initiation of the 2008 Annual GSP Product and Country Eligibility Practices Review
05/16/08 11:24 PM
On May
15, 2008, the United States Trade Representative
(USTR) published a notice
in
the Federal Register announcing that it will
receive petitions in 2008 to modify the list of
products that are eligible for duty-free
treatment under the Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) and to modify the GSP status
of certain GSP beneficiary developing countries
because of country practices.