Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, introduced a bill Jan. 6 that would bar countries that aren't following international environmental obligations or enforcing their environmental laws from participating in the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program. Currently, GSP is not in effect. In the previous Congress, Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., introduced a bill (see 2012080049) that included this plank, as well as eligibility predicated on whether the country is making continual progress toward establishing “the rule of law, political pluralism, the right to due process, a fair trial and equal protection under the law,” and whether those countries are working to “reduce poverty, increase the availability of health care and educational opportunities,” and combat corruption. All legislation introduced last year has to be reintroduced in the new Congress to be considered.
The International Trade Commission posted the 2021 Preliminary Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the removal of GSP benefits for many Thai products, as well as the redesignation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as eligible for African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits, and the extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act until 2020. New statistical breakouts are also added for many medical products, including those used in the treatment of COVID-19, as well as for industrial turbines and hemp seed, among other goods. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2021, unless otherwise noted.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories published in 2020 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference numbers.
The International Trade Commission posted the 2021 Preliminary Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the removal of GSP benefits for many Thai products, as well as the redesignation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as eligible for AGOA, and the extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act until 2020. New statistical breakouts are also added for many medical products, including those used in the treatment of COVID-19, as well as for industrial turbines and hemp seed, among other goods. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2021, unless otherwise noted.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Dec. 21-24 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, won't be leading the Senate Finance Committee next year but said “it's going to take more than a few minutes between staff to work things out” on how to change the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program. “I’m open to some of the things the Democrats hope to get in GSP,” he said Dec. 23 on a phone call with reporters, noting he's interested in promoting human rights, environmental protections and labor standards in other countries. But “some industries and segments of our economy” are going to suffer because the tariff preferences expired, he said. “And it’s just too bad.”
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Dec. 14-18 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
CBP issued filing instructions in a CSMS message for goods eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences treatment after the GSP benefits program expires at the end of the year. As in previous GSP lapses, filers would continue to use the GSP special program indicator to flag their entries, but would have to pay duties at the normal, non-preferential rate for any imports with a time of entry during the lapse. GSP is currently set to expire Dec. 31 if the program isn’t extended by Congress. GSP renewal didn't make into year-end spending legislation, so expiration is likely (see 2012210040).
The Generalized System of Preferences and Miscellaneous Tariff Bill will expire at the end of the year, as neither provision moved with the end-of-year spending bill and COVID-19 relief package.
Technical fixes for USMCA, including the restoration of merchandise processing fee refunds for post-entry filings, are part of the end-of-year legislative package expected to pass later today, a Senate Finance Committee spokesman said.