Bush Administration declares '2005 Annual Review' of GSP
01 Jul '06
4 min read
The majority of products imported from beneficiary countries are eligible for GSP benefits, with a significant exception being textile and apparel products.
"As part of the annual review, we found that imports of certain products from specific developing countries now account for major shares of U.S. imports of those products and are effectively competitive with imports from other countries, making them no longer eligible for duty-free status," continued Schwab.
"Accordingly, we have acted to put those imports on a level playing field with other producers. This action also advances our goal to administer the GSP program in the way Congress intended, by increasing the share of benefits for those countries that need it the most."
Additionally, the Bush Administration reviewed petitions to remove certain countries from the GSP program for not meeting several statutory criteria for GSP eligibility. These criteria include taking steps to afford internationally recognized worker rights, adequately protecting intellectual property rights, and not giving preferential tariff treatment to imports from other developed countries that cause or could cause an adverse effect on U.S. commerce.
Earlier this year, the Bush Administration restored GSP eligibility to Liberia as a least developed GSP beneficiary developing country and closed reviews of certain country practice petitions without removing GSP eligibility. These cases examined worker rights in Swaziland and intellectual property rights enforcement in Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Brazil. Because of the steps taken by each country to address the pertinent concerns, the Administration determined to continue each country's GSP eligibility.
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