USTR Requests Comments on Whether to Change the GSP Program, Etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking public comments and has scheduled a public meeting as part of its review on whether the operation of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program should be changed so that the program's benefits are focused in a different way, etc.
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The USTR explains that legislation authorizing the GSP program expires on December 31, 2006. As Congress considers re-authorization of this program, the TPSC is reviewing whether the Administration's operation of the program should be changed.
Comments on Sought on Which Countries, Products Should be GSP Eligible
According to the USTR, the TPSC is seeking written comments and testimony at the public hearing on the following issues:
Whether operation of the GSP program should be modified so that beneficiaries that have not previously been major traders under the program increase their participation, which will assist them in using trade to promote their economic development, and
Whether some beneficiaries are sufficiently competitive with respect to trade in eligible products and have expanded exports to the extent that they should no longer be designated as GSP beneficiaries.
According to the USTR, the top ten GSP beneficiary developing countries by trade volume in 2004 (excluding trade in petroleum products) were India, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Philippines, South Africa, Venezuela, Argentina, and Russia.
Comments Sought on Reauthorization of GSP Program
In addition, the TPSC is seeking comments on the period for which Congress should reauthorize the GSP program.
The USTR also notes that the TPSC is not seeking information of the type provided in connection with its annual review of product coverage and competitive need limits under the GSP program.
Subscribers should note that only the "standard" GSP program (i.e, A, A*, and A) for GSP counties other than those listed as African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary countries is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2006.
For AGOA beneficiary countries, both the standard GSP program (i.e., A, A*, and A) and the AGOA-GSP program (i.e., D) are scheduled to expire on September 30, 2015. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/14/04 news, 04071405, for BP summary of the enactment of AGOA III, which set this September 30, 2015 expiration date.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/09/02 news, 02080910, for BP summary of the retroactive reinstatement of the standard GSP program for non-AGOA beneficiary countries through December 31, 2006.)
-the TPSC's hearing will be held on November 3, 2005 in Washington, DC and will continue on the next day, if necessary. November 14, 2005 is the deadline for submission of written public comments and post-hearing briefs.
USTR Contacts - Regina Teeter (procedural questions) (202) 395-9681
Marideth Sandler (other questions) (202) 395-6971
USTR Notice (FR Pub 10/06/05) available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-20089.pdf