WASHINGTON — The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said Wednesday it has added five upland cotton fiber products to the Generalized System of Preferences program, granting duty-free treatment to imports of those products from least developed countries.
“This action fulfills the U.S. pledge in the World Trade Organization to make imports of all upland cotton products from LDCs duty-free and quota-free,” the office said.
USTR Michael Froman added, “The annual GSP product review helps to ensure that the program is meeting statutory requirements and keeping up with evolving trade patterns, including those related to the competitiveness of beneficiary countries in different product areas.”
The GSP program gives duty-free treatment to 5,000 types of eligible imported products from 122 beneficiary developing countries and territories, including 43 LDCs. In 2014, the total value of duty-free imports under GSP was $18.3 billion.
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While the entire GSP program does not cover most apparel and textile imports to the U.S., it does cover accessories, such as jewelry, and legislation that was approved by Congress in June would make eligible for consideration textile and leather travel goods.