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June 24 deadline for importers to seek duty-free treatment

May 28, 2009
World Trade\Interactive

The U.S. government has set a June 24 deadline for requests to extend duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences to additional products. GSP offers companies an opportunity to lower costs for manufacturing inputs and other goods, a particularly attractive option in the current global economic environment. Those interested in taking advantage of this program are advised to seek professional assistance to ensure that their applications are complete and timely filed.

Under GSP, the U.S. provides duty-free treatment to a wide range of products imported from over 100 developing and lesser-developed countries. Each year the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative solicits petitions seeking to modify the list of products eligible for GSP treatment; e.g., by expanding GSP coverage to goods not already eligible or by removing eligibility from goods currently receiving duty-free treatment. In addition, USTR provides an opportunity to request a review of whether a particular GSP beneficiary country is continuing to meet the eligibility criteria. For 2009, petitions for any of these actions are due by June 24.

USTR also invites petitions requesting that specified products remain eligible for GSP treatment, either through a waiver of the competitive need limitation or a determination that regarding products not produced in the U.S. For 2009, these petitions may be filed after June 24 and are due no later than Nov. 17.