The U.S. Trade Representative announced it will begin a country practices review of worker rights in Thailand to determine whether to suspend or curtail the country’s Generalized System of Preferences benefits as part of USTR’s 2015 GSP Review, it said in a notice (here). USTR also said it recently ended a country practices review of Philippines, also for worker rights, with no change to its GSP benefits. USTR will hold a hearing Jan 14-15 on its GSP country practice review of Thailand, as well as ongoing country practice reviews on Fiji (worker rights), Ecuador (arbitral awards), Georgia (worker rights), Iraq (worker rights), Iraq (worker rights), Niger (worker rights and child labor), and Uzbekistan (worker rights). Pre-hearing briefs and requests to appear at the hearing are due Jan. 4, and post-hearing briefs are due Feb. 12.
Some 19 products look set to exceed competitive need limitations (CNLs) for calendar year 2015 and lose their eligibility for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences, said the U.S. Trade Representative as it announced the availability of new import data on Nov. 16 (here). The agency’s notice (here) also extended until Dec. 4 the deadline for submission of petitions to waive CNLs and keep those goods GSP-eligible. The deadline was originally Nov. 23 (see 1508180027). Products that may exceed CNL waivers in 2015 include the following:
The U.S. and the other 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership parties as expected locked down several flexibilities to the yarn forward rule of origin in the final text of the pact, including an exemption for travel goods and an earned income allowance program for Vietnamese trouser trade. But the outcome on textiles and apparel reflects a genuine compromise between the interests of U.S. domestic producers and importers, and all sides have tentatively applauded the deal, according to interviews with a number of textile and apparel lobbyists.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative appointed Bill Jackson, the current deputy assistant USTR for the Generalized System of Preferences, as acting assistant USTR for textiles, the National Council of Textile Organizations said on Oct. 30. USTR didn't respond for comment. Jackson's appointment follows the departure of former assistant USTR for textiles, Gail Strickler, earlier in October (see 1510130013).
Customs Reauthorization negotiations would be one of the top priorities of the House Ways and Means under the leadership of Trade Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, should lawmakers elect him as full committee chair, Tiberi told Ways and Means lawmakers in a letter released on Oct. 29. Tiberi is vying for the top committee spot alongside Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas (see 1510270004). The House Republican Steering Committee (here), which includes Tiberi and other heavy-weights in the Republican conference, elects the new chairman and the full conference then must give its ratification.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Oct. 19-23 in case they were missed.
The U.S. and Pakistan launched a joint action plan on Oct. 22 to boost trade and investment ties. The announcement of the plan coincides with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the White House on the same day.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Oct. 13-16 in case they were missed.
Nearly two dozen customs broker and importer associations and retail organizations banded together in recent days to press U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to support the addition of travel goods to the Generalized System of Preferences. Industry petitions for those additions were due by Oct. 16 as part of USTR’s 2015 annual review for GSP (see 1508180027).
Protests claiming duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences during the recent lapse in the program should be denied, said CBP in a ruling that granted a protest from IAMGOLD on classification issues, but denied its GSP claims. Instead, importers seeking retroactive GSP treatment must request it during the 180-day period outlined by CBP in July (see 1507210023), said CBP in ruling HQ 264880.