USTR Makes Several GSP Decisions, Sets Dates for GSP Annual Review
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced the disposition of a petition on pinch-seal plastic bags that were accepted in the 2011 GSP Annual Product Review. It also said those petitions submitted in connection with the 2012 Generalized System of Preferences Annual Product Review which have been accepted for further review and set the schedule for submitting comments and for public hearings associated with the 2012 review of petitions and products.
The dates for the GSP annual review are: Feb. 14, comments, pre-hearing briefs, and requests to appear at the GSP Subcommittee Public Hearing on the 2012 GSP Annual Product Review are due; Feb. 28, GSP Subcommittee Public Hearing on all proposed or petitioned product additions and competitive need limitation (CNL) waiver petitions accepted for the 2012 GSP Annual Product Review; March 28, submission of post-hearing comments or briefs in connection with the GSP Subcommittee Public Hearing are due; April 2013, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is expected to release the public version of its statutorily-mandated report providing advice on the probable economic effect of the prospective addition of products and granting of CNL waiver petitions considered as part of the 2012 GSP Annual Product Review. Comments on the USITC report on these products should be submitted via www.regulations.gov, Docket Number USTR-2012-0013; July 1, effective date for any modifications that the President proclaims to the list of articles eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP resulting from the 2012 Annual Product Review and for determinations related to CNL waivers.
The GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff committee decided to accept for review petitions to add four products to the list of those eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP and petitions to waive CNLs for 12 products from certain countries. The accepted product addition petitions are for the following products, listed by HTS number:
- 0603.11.00 -- Fresh cut sweetheart, and spray roses
- 0710.80.97 -- Frozen vegetables not otherwise listed, including frozen broccoli
- 2005.99.80 -- Artichokes, prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid
- 7408.19.0030 -- Refined copper, wire, w/maximum cross-sectional dimension of 6 mm or less
The accepted petitions to waive CNLs relate to the following products listed by HTS number and countries:
- 0410.00.00 -- Miscellaneous edible products of animal origin (Indonesia)
- 0603.13.00 -- Cut orchids (Thailand)
- 1102.90.25 -- Rice flour (Thailand)
- 2106.90.99 -- Miscellaneous prepared foods (Thailand)
- 6911.10.37 -- Porcelain or china table and kitchenware (Indonesia)
- 7202.21.50 -- Ferrosilicon with between 55% and 80% of silicon by weight (Russia)
- 7202.30.00 -- Ferrosilicon manganese (Georgia)
- 7202.99.20 -- Calcium silicon ferroalloys (Brazil)
- 7307.21.50 -- Certain stainless steel flanges for pipes (India)
- 7307.91.50 -- Certain iron or steel flanges for pipes (India)
- 7408.29.10 -- Copper plates, sheets, and strip (Thailand) 9506.70.40 -- Ice skates (Thailand)
Further information: Tameka Cooper, 202-395-6971 or Tameka_Cooper@ustr.eop.gov.