Details of Presidential Proclamation on July 1st GSP Changes, Etc. (Part II)
On June 29, 2005, President Bush issued Proclamation 7912 in order to implement certain Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) changes effective July 1, 2005; restore suspended GSP benefits for a number of India or Pakistan articles; grant GSP benefits for the country of Serbia and Montenegro; implement certain North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin changes; delineate certain Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) benefits for footwear; treat certain members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as one country for purposes of GSP, etc.
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This is Part II of a multi-part series of summaries on this proclamation, and highlights the GSP modifications contained therein. See future ITT issues for additional summaries. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/01/05 news, 05070105 for BP summary of Part I.)
Highlights of GSP Modifications Implemented by Proclamation 7912
Serbia and Montenegro. The country of Serbia and Montenegro is an eligible GSP country effective for goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after approximately July 15, 2005.
SAARC. Certain current qualifying members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 1 are to be treated a one country for purposes of GSP, effective for goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 1, 2005.
(The currently qualifying SAARC members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.)
GSP eligibility for certain carpets, floor coverings. Effective for goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 1, 2005, the Rates of Duty 1-Special subcolumn is modified to indicate that following tariff numbers for certain carpets and other floor coverings are GSP eligible:
GSP terminated for 22 country/tariff number combinations. The following country/tariff number combinations are newly excluded from receiving GSP benefits, effective for goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 1, 2005:
| Bolivia | 2611.00.60 | |
| Brazil | 4412.19.40 | 7408.19.00 |
| Colombia | 0603.10.80 | 1702.90.10 |
| 6406.91.00 | ||
| Dominican Republic | 2306.50.00 | |
| Honduras | 8544.30.00 | |
| India | 0710.29.15 | 5702.51.20 |
| 6802.93.00 | ||
| Peru | 2008.30.96 | |
| Philippines | 0804.50.80 | |
| Turkey | 6802.21.10 | 6802.91.20 |
| Russia | 7202.49.50 | 7408.11.60 |
Whole dates from all GSP countries. Effective for goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 1, 2005, the following tariff numbers (for whole dates, fresh or dried) are GSP eligible from all GSP countries (not just the least-developed GSP countries): 0804.10.40 0804.10.60
1 According to a State Dept press release, this change for SAARC is to boost imports from tsunami affected countries.
2 wool or fine animal hair
3 The India and Pakistan tariff numbers that had their suspended GSP status restored are not separately identified in the proclamation from those tariff numbers receiving GSP benefits for other reasons.
Proclamation 7912 (FR Pub 06/30/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/30jun20050800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13182.pdf
USTR statement on proclamation (dated 06/30/05), available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/June/U.S._Extends_Trade_Benefits_to_Tsunami-hit_Countries_Iraq.html