On 22 September 2021, the European Commission (“Commission”) published its legislative proposal (“GSP Proposal”) for the EU new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (“GSP”) which is due to expire on 31 December 2023. The GSP...more
The European Commission has unveiled its newly proposed Generalised Scheme of Preferences ("GSP") for the period 2024-2034 – aiming at a more effective system which delivers benefits to where they are needed, and at the same...more
On May 27, 2021, the U.S. Senate voted to amend the United States Innovation and Competition Act (the Act), formerly the Endless Frontier Act, a bill that started as an effort to increase the United States competitive...more
After months of negotiations, Congress passed an omnibus legislative package on Dec. 22, 2020, that funds the government through September 2021 and includes a package of hard-fought COVID-19 relief measures. Also included was...more
While many of us anxiously await putting 2020 behind us, the start of the new year may have significant import duty implications for many U.S. companies. On December 31, two significant U.S. import duty relief programs are...more
On November 16, 2020, the European Commission (“EC”) debuted their new complaints system for stakeholders to report harmful trade barriers and violations to European Union (“EU”) trade agreements. The “Single Entry Point”...more
The UK Department for International Trade announced on February 6, 2020 that it is preparing the UK’s own WTO tariff schedule, expected to enter into force on January 1, 2021. What does this mean for your business? The...more
India Loses GSP Preferential Status Effective June 5, 2019 In a sudden announcement after 8pm on Friday May 31, 2019, the President made the anticipated decision that India was to be removed from the Generalized System of...more
Just when moving manufacturing from China to Mexico seemed like an option, the threat of U.S. tariffs on Mexico emerged. Despite a reported agreement by Mexico and the Trump administration, the tariff threat admittedly...more
USTR Publishes Notice on Increase in Section 301 List 3 Tariff Rate- On May 8, 2019, USTR released its federal register notice on the tariff increase for the third tranche (List 3) Section 301 tariffs on China. The duty...more
USTR Initiates 2017 Annual Review Of Generalized System Of Preferences Product And Country Practices – On August 11, 2017, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a Federal Register notice (the Notice)...more
President Obama Highlights TPP, Cuba Embargo in Final State of the Union Address - On January 12, President Obama delivered his seventh and final State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people. Among the...more
On June 29, President Obama signed the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 and extended key preferential trade programs with many of the world's developing economies. These programs include the Generalized System of...more
It was not easily accomplished, but on June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law a series of trade measures, including Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), providing the administration with rules governing the negotiation of...more
On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (HR 1295). Among other actions, the law revives the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, a trade preferences program...more
On June 29, President Obama signed into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (“the Act”). This legislation extends certain U.S. trade preference programs through which the United States grants duty-free treatment...more
As we reported last month, quick-strike action by the Senate on May 22 to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) included within the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Act of...more
On May 14, the Senate passed customs reauthorization trade preference legislation and gave an affirmative cloture vote for the Trade Promotion Authority Act and the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. As part of a...more
This past week saw more congressional activity on trade legislation than has been seen in some time. Both houses of US Congress marked up and advanced badly needed and long-overdue legislation in a number of areas relevant to...more
With the end of July approaching, Congress has finally turned some of its attention to addressing overdue international trade matters. However, it may be too late to prevent at least a temporary disruption to importers who...more