USTR Accepts Petitions for GSP Review, CNL Waivers
The Generalized System of Preferences Subcommittee of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) has accepted for review 23 petitions to add a product to the list of goods eligible for GSP duty-free treatment, three petitions to remove an item from GSP eligibility, and eight petitions to waive competitive needs limitations (CNLs), as part of its annual GSP product review, according to a notice published in the Federal Register Jan. 11 (here). Acceptance of the petitions indicates only that TPSC found that they warrant a review.
Petitions for Addition to GSP
- Handbags and travel goods under HTS subheadings 4202.11.00; 4202.11.00.30; 4202.11.00.90; 4202.12.2020; 4202.12.2050; 4202.12.40; 4202.12.8030; 4202.12.8070; 4202.21.60; 4202.21.90; 4202.22.15; 4202.22.45; 4202.22.8050; 4202.31.60; 4202.32.40; 4202.32.80;4202.32.9550; 4202.32.9560; 4202.91.0030; 4202.91.0090; 4202.92.15; 4202.92.20; 4202.92.45; and 4202.99.90.
- “Effervescent wine” under subheading 2204.21.20
- “Essential oils of lemon” under subheading 3301.13.00
- Ferromanganese containing by weight more than 4 percent of carbon under subheading 7202.11.50.
Petitions for Removal from GSP
- Fluorescent brightening agent 32 under subheading 3204.20.10 for India and Indonesia
- Other fluorescent brightening agents under subheading 3204.20.80 for India and Indonesia
- Polyethylene terephthalate resin under subheading 3907.60.00 for India
- Non-adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, non-cellular, of polyethylene terephthalate under subheading 3920.62.00 for Brazil
- Non-adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, flexible, nesoi, of non-cellular plastics under subheading 3921.90.40 for Brazil
Petitions to Waive CNLs
- Dates, fresh or dried, whole, without pits, packed in units weighing over 4.6 kilograms under subheading 0804.10.60 from Tunisia
- Virgin olive oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, not chemical modified, weighing with the immediate container 18 kilograms or over under subheading 1509.10.40 from Tunisia
- Single-cell micro-organisms, dead, excluding yeasts (but not including vaccines of heading 3002) under subheading 2102.20.60 from Brazil
- Nonalcoholic beverages, nesi, not including fruit or vegetable juices of heading 2009, under subheading 2202.90.90 from Thailand
- Rare gases, other than argon under subheading 2804.29.00 from Ukraine
- Insulated beverage bag with outer surface textiles, interior only flexible plastic container storing/dispensing beverage through flexible tubing under subheading 4202.92.04 from the Philippines
- Porcelain or china (o/than bone china) household table & kitchenware in sets in which aggregate val. of arts./US note 6(b) o/$56 n/o $200, under subheading 6911.10.37 from Indonesia
- Parts and accessories of motor vehicle of 8701, nesoi, 8702 and 8704-8705, half-shafts under subheading 8708.50.95 from India
The GSP Subcommittee will host a public meeting March 3-4 to discuss all proposed product additions, removals, and CNL waiver petitions accepted for the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Product Review, and USTR is asking the public to submit all comments, pre-hearing briefs, and requests to appear at the hearing by Feb. 19. The deadline for submitting post-hearing comments or briefs is March 25. The International Trade Commission is expected to publish a public version of its report shedding light on the probable economic effect of any GSP additions and removals, and any CNL waivers in April. July 1 is the effective date for any modifications the President proclaims to the list of articles eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP resulting from the 2015/2016 Annual Product Review.
The hearing will be held at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20508, starting at 9:30 a.m. (EST) both days.