On September 29, 2017, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) #17-000622, advising that the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is set to expire on December 31, 2017.

In the CSMS, CBP states that “Barring Congressional action, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), special program indicator (SPI) “A,” “A+” and “A*” will expire for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse after midnight, December 31, 2017.” Importers are encouraged to continue flagging shipments with “A” even while paying regular duty rates “in the event that GSP is renewed with a retroactive refund clause”. Customs will also allow “post-importation GSP claims made via post summary correction (PSC) and protest (19 USC 1514, 19 CFR 174) subsequent to the expiration of GSP, for importations made while GSP was still in effect.”

The expiration of GSP will not affect the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) or the collection of the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF).

The entire CSMS may be found here:

https://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=23021&page=&srch_argv=&srchtype=&btype=&sortby=&sby=