USTR Considers Designating East Timor 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 August 25, 2006 on the designation of East Timor for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. According to the notice, the USTR will determine if East Timor meets the eligibility criteria of the GSP program and should be designated as a GSP least-developed beneficiary developing country (LDBDC).
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
USTR's notice adds that 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 East Timor 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 August 25, 2006
USTR contact - GSP Subcommittee (202) 395-6971
USTR notice (FR Pub 08/01/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-12297.pdf