ITC Begins Investigation on Possible GSP Additions and Removals Under 2008 Annual Review
The International Trade Commission has issued a notice announcing the initiation of an investigation (332-500) regarding possible modifications to the Generalized System of Preferences as part of the 2008 Annual GSP Review.
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Specifically, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requested that the ITC provide advice on the probable economic effect on competing U.S. industries of the addition of eleven HTS subheadings to the list of articles eligible for duty-free status under the GSP and the removal of three country/HTS subheading combinations from the list of eligible articles under the GSP. The study will also provide advice on the effects on consumers.
Eleven HTS Subheadings Being Considered for Possible Addition to GSP
The ITC is providing economic effect advice on the possible addition of the following eleven HTS subheadings to the list of articles eligible for duty-free status for all GSP countries:
| HTS Subheading | Brief Description |
| 0710.10.00 | potatoes |
| 0710.30.00 | spinach |
| 0710.40.00 | sweet corn |
| 0710.80.9722 | frozen broccoli spears |
| 0710.80.9724 | frozen broccoli, except spears, in containers holding more than 1.4 kg |
| 0710.80.9726 | frozen broccoli, except spears, in containers holding 1.4 kg or less |
| 2008.92.9040 | mixtures of fruits containing oranges or grapefruits in a liquid medium |
| 2009.41.20 | pineapple juice, not concentrated, of a Brix value not exceeding 20 |
| 2009.49.20 | pineapple juice, not concentrated, other than of a Brix value not exceeding 20 |
| 3901.20.10 | high density polyethylene |
| 4412.39.5030 | certain veneered plywood sheets |
Three Country/HTS Subheading Combos Being Considered for Possible Removal from GSP
The ITC is providing economic effect advice on the possible removal of the following three country/HTS subheading combinations from the list of articles eligible for duty-free status under the GSP:
| HTS Number | Request | Brief Description |
| 3907.60.00 | Remove for India | PET resin |
| 3907.60.00 | Remove for Indonesia | PET resin |
| 3908.10.00 | Remove for Thailand | Polyamide-6 (nylon 6) |
ITC to Hold Public Hearing on October 30, 2008
The ITC will hold a public hearing in connection with this investigation on October 30, 2008 in Washington, DC.
ITC Expects to Provide its Advice to USTR by December 19, 2008
The ITC expects to provide its advice to the USTR by December 19, 2008. The USTR indicated that those sections of the ITC's report and related working papers that contain its advice and model inputs and results will be classified as ''confidential.''
-requests to appear at the public hearing due October 14, 2008
-pre-hearing briefs and statements due October 15, 2008
-post-hearing briefs/statements and other written submissions due November 5, 2008
ITC contact - Cynthia Foreso (202) 205-3348
ITC press release on Investigation 332-500 (dated 09/29/08) available at http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2008/er0929ff1.htm
ITC notice on Investigation 332-500 (FR Pub 10/03/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-23321.pdf