The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program (i.e., A, A*, and A) for most beneficiary countries, i.e., other than those listed as African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary countries, will expire on December 31, 2008, unless a law extending it is enacted.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has submitted to Congress the Administration's eighth of eight annual reports, entitled "2008 Comprehensive Report on U.S. Trade and Investment Policy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa and Implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act."
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced the opportunity to submit petitions for the 2008 Generalized System of Preferences Product and Country Eligibility Practices Review (2008 Annual GSP Review).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a Regulatory Audit1 document on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)2 program, in order to inform importers of the basic requirements of the GSP program and how to begin structuring a system of internal controls that address the regulatory requirements for substantiating GSP claims.
The Office of U.S. Trade Representative has posted an updated version of its "U.S. Generalized System of Preferences Guidebook," dated March 2008.
The International Trade Commission has released the public version of a report on the probable economic effect of providing Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) competitive need limit (CNL) waivers for three country/tariff number combinations.
President Bush has issued Proclamation 8240, which modifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to take certain actions under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, and for other purposes, as follows:
The International Trade Commission has posted to its Web site Revision 2 (dated April 16, 2008) of the 2008 Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
In December 2007, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a press release announcing the results of the eighth meeting of the U.S.-Paraguay Joint Commission on Trade and Investment, in which the two governments agreed to expand coverage of the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to allow duty-free access for certain certified handicrafts from Paraguay and to continue cooperation on intellectual property rights, among other things.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice announcing the re-initiation of a review to consider designating the Republic of Azerbaijan as a Generalized System of Preferences beneficiary developing country.