AAFA Pushes Stakeholders to Petition Travel Goods in GSP Review
The 2015 review of the Generalized System of Preferences gives stakeholders the opportunity to petition for inclusion of previously-banned travel goods in the GSP program, said the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) on Aug. 25 (here). The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recently launched that process through a request for petitions and competitive need limitation waivers (see 1508180027).
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Importers of such products could see the benefits soon, said the AAFA. “If the petitions are reviewed and accepted by the U.S. government, certain types of travel goods imported from GSP-eligible countries (including the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Brazil, and Indonesia) will be able to enter the U.S. duty-free under the GSP program,” said AAFA. “The new benefits could go into place as early as the summer of 2016.” Petitions to modify the list of GSP-qualified goods are due by Oct. 16. The travel goods are now eligible after Congress enacted the GSP Update Act, alongside GSP renewal and other trade legislation in late June (see 1506120015). The legislation gave GSP eligibility to 12 new tariff subheadings (see 1502030059).