GSP Eligibility for Specified Products Being Considered by USTR

Excerpt from: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg | January 12, 2016

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has accepted for review 34 petitions to modify the list of products eligible for duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences, as follows.

Adding to Eligibility

– Handbags and travel goods products under HTSUS 4202.11.00, 4202.11.0030, 4202.11.0090, 4202.12.40, 4202.21.60, 4202.21.90, 4202.22.15, 4202.22.45, 4202.31.60, 4202.32.40, 4202.32.80, 4202.92.15, 4202.92.20, 4202.92.45, 4202.99.90, 4202.12.2020, 4202.12.2050, 4202.12.8030, 4202.12.8070, 4202.22.8050, 4202.32.9550, 4202.32.9560, 4202.91.0030 and 4202.91.0090
– Effervescent wine under HTSUS 2204.21.10
– Essential oils of lemon under HTSUS 3301.13.00
– Ferromanganese containing by weight more than four percent of carbon under HTSUS 7202.11.50

Removing from Eligibility

– Fluorescent brightening agent 32 under HTSUS 3204.20.10 and other fluorescent brightening agents under HTSUS 3204.20.80 from India and Indonesia
– Polyethylene terephthalate resin under HTSUS 3907.60.00 from India
– Non-adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil and strip under HTSUS 3920.60.00 and 3921.90.40 from Brazil

Continuing Eligibility by Waiving Competitive Need Limitations

– Fresh or dried whole dates under HTSUS 0804.10.60 from Tunisia
– Virgin olive oil under HTSUS 1509.10.40 from Tunisia
– Dead single-cell micro-organisms, excluding yeasts, under HTSUS 2102.20.60 from Brazil
– Nonalcoholic beverages, not including fruit or vegetable juices, under HTSUS 2202.90.90 from Thailand
– Rare gases other than argon under HTSUS 2804.29.00 from Ukraine
– Insulated beverage bags with textile outer surfaces under HTSUS 4202.92.04 from the Philippines
– Porcelain or china household tableware and kitchenware in sets under HTSUS 6911.10.37 from Indonesia
– Parts and accessories of motor vehicles under HTSUS 8708.50.95 from India

A public hearing on these petitions will be held March 3-4. Comments, pre-hearing briefs and requests to appear at the hearing are due by Feb. 19. Post-hearing briefs and comments are due by March 25. The International Trade Commission is expected to publish in April a public version of its report on the probable economic effect of the proposed changes. Any modifications that the president may proclaim to the list of GSP-eligible articles resulting from this review would then be effective July 1.