USTR Initiates Review Of the Eligibility of Liberia For the GSP Program
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that it has initiated a review of and is soliciting public comment by January 13, 2006 on the designation of Liberia for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. According to the notice, the USTR will determine if Liberia meets the designation criteria of the GSP program and should be designated as a GSP least-developed beneficiary developing country (LDBDC).
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(Liberia's GSP eligibility was suspended, effective May 1, 1990, because it was determined that Liberia had not taken and was not taking steps to afford internationally recognized worker rights to workers in Liberia.)
According to the USTR notice, the trade benefits under GSP are available to any country that the President designates as a GSP beneficiary developing country and additional trade benefits under GSP are available to any country that the President designates as a GSP LDBDC.
Criteria President Must Consider in Designating Liberia as GSP Eligible
The USTR states that in determining whether to designate any country as a GSP beneficiary developing country, the President shall take into account:
an expression by such country of its desire to be so designated;
the level of economic development of such country;
whether or not other major developed countries are extending generalized preferential tariff treatment to such country;
the extent to which such country has assured the U.S. that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets and basic commodity resources of such country and the extent to which such country has assured the U.S. that it will refrain from engaging in unreasonable export practices;
the extent to which such country is providing adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights;
the extent to which such country has taken action to reduce trade distorting investment practices and policies (including export performance requirements), and to reduce or eliminate barriers to trade in services; and
whether or not such country has taken or is taking steps to afford to workers in that country (including any designated zone in that country) internationally recognized worker rights.
- written comments due by January 13, 2006
USTR contact - GSP Subcommittee (202) 395-6971
USTR notice (FR Pub 12/29/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8021.pdf.