President Designates Liberia as AGOA Beneficiary, East Timor as GSP Beneficiary, Bulgaria/Romania to Lose GSP Benefits, Etc.
On December 29, 2006, President Bush issued Proclamation 8098, in which he made various determinations regarding the eligibility of certain countries for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), etc.
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.
Liberia Designated as AGOA Beneficiary Country Effective January 1, 2007
President Bush has designated Liberia as an AGOA beneficiary country effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after January 1, 2007. The President has also determined that Liberia is a lesser developed AGOA beneficiary country.
(In order to reflect this designation in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), general note 16(a) is modified by adding the "Republic of Liberia" to the list of AGOA beneficiary countries.)
East Timor Designated as GSP Beneficiary Country in Mid-January 2007
President Bush has also designated East Timor as a GSP beneficiary country effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the 20th day after December 29, 2006 (approximately January 18, 2007). The President has also designated East Timor as a GSP least-developed beneficiary developing country (LDBDC) effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the 65th day after December 29, 2006 (approximately March 4, 2007).
(In order to reflect these designations in the HTS, general note 4(a) and 4(b)(i) will be modified by adding "East Timor" to the list of GSP beneficiary countries and GSP LDBDC countries, respectively.)
Bulgaria and Romania to Lose GSP Benefits When They Join EU
President Bush has also determined that Bulgaria and Romania shall no longer be designated as GSP beneficiaries upon the date that each country becomes a European Union (EU) Member State. The President notes that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) shall announce each such date in the Federal Register.
According to a European Commission press release, Bulgaria and Romania acceded to the EU on January 1, 2007.
(In order to reflect this change in the HTS, general note 4(a) will be modified by deleting Bulgaria and Romania from the list of GSP beneficiary countries effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the date they become EU members.)
Afghanistan Designated as Member of SAARC for GSP Purposes When it Joins
The President has also designated Afghanistan as a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for purposes of GSP on the date that it becomes a SAARC member. According to the President, the USTR shall announce such date in the Federal Register.
(In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 4(a) will be modified by adding Afghanistan to the list of SAARC member countries effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the day on which it becomes a SAARC member.)
Proclamation 8098 (FR Pub 01/04/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-00005.pdf.