USTR Examining South Sudan's Eligibility for GSP & AGOA

In a December 14, 2011 speech at the International Engagement Conference for South Sudan, U.S. Trade Representative Kirk stated that the USTR has begun the process of examining South Sudan’s eligibility for two major U.S. trade preference programs, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). While there are certain congressionally mandated criteria and legislative changes that must first be considered, by initiating the examination process, USTR has begun a necessary step prior to making a recommendation to President on South Sudan’s eligibility. He says that if South Sudan meets the criteria for these two programs, the South Sudanese will be able to export nearly everything they produce domestically to the U.S. duty-free.

(See ITT’s Online Archives 11071124 for summary of the U.S. formal recognition of the Republic of South Sudan as a sovereign and independent state.

See ITT's Online Archives 11110714 for summary of USTR seeking comment on whether South Sudan meets GSP eligibility criteria.)