During the U.S. Trade Representative's annual review of the eligibility of sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries to receive the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Madagascar may be determined ineligible, due to a recent political event in that country.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced the opportunity to submit petitions for the 2009 Generalized System of Preferences Product and Country Eligibility Practices Review (2009 Annual GSP Review).
The International Trade Commission has released the public version of a report on the probable economic effect of providing Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) 2008 competitive need limit (CNL) waivers for three country/tariff number combinations.
On April 22, 2009, twenty-nine trade associations and humanitarian groups1 sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Kirk regarding U.S. trade preferences for developing countries.
CBP has posted "pending release" versions of seven existing Importer Security Filing transaction sets. CBP also posted a list of all changes included in the pending transaction sets, which unless otherwise noted, will become effective no sooner than May 18, 2009. According to CBP sources, these pending transaction sets, which include the changes, will become effective no sooner than May 18, 2009. CBP will notify the trade approximately one to two weeks in advance via subsequent CSMS message when a definitive date is determined. The seven transaction sets are:
Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate which would authorize the President to designate areas within Afghanistan or certain areas of Pakistan as a Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) if the President determines that Afghanistan and Pakistan meet certain eligibility criteria, etc.
The International Trade Commission is announcing that it has terminated its investigation of three competitive need limitation (CNL) waiver petitions that were undergoing review as part of the 2008 Generalized System of Preferences Annual Review.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recently published a notice announcing the availability of 2008 full calendar year import statistics relating to the Generalized System of Preferences Competitive Needs Limitations (CNLs) for the 2008 GSP Annual Review.
As part of his confirmation process, U.S. Trade Representative-nominee Ron Kirk submitted responses to numerous Senate Finance Committee questions for the record.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice setting forth the schedule for comment and public hearings on the country practice petitions that have been accepted for the 2008 Generalized System of Preferences Annual Review that are continuing to be evaluated, for requesting participation in the hearings of such petitions, and for submitting pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs and comments for such petitions.