On October 25, 2017, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer announced new efforts toward enforcement of eligibility criteria for beneficiary countries on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.
The new efforts will focus on closing outstanding GSP cases, and assessing the eligibility of beneficiary countries through a new interagency process. Additionally, the new process will include a triennial assessment by USTR on the eligibility of beneficiary countries. Currently, eligibility for a beneficiary country requires that a beneficiary country “meet 15 eligibility criteria established by Congress, including respecting arbitral awards in favor of U.S. citizens or corporations, combating child labor, respecting internationally recognized worker rights, providing adequate and effective intellectual property protection, and providing the United States with equitable and reasonable market access.”
The GSP beneficiary countries will be assessed over a three-year period, starting with beneficiary countries in Asia. GSP beneficiary countries from other geographic locations will be assessed during the second and third years of the process.
The USTR announcement can be found here:
