USTR Supports GSP Authorization, Suggests Changes to Help Pacific Islands
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative wants Congress to bring back the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program, it announced Sept. 29, and it wants Congress to consider designating countries in the Pacific Islands Forum that are developing countries as a regional association.
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"A GSP regional designation has the potential to further integrate regional supply chains and promote enhanced access to the U.S. market for the developing Pacific Islands states," the release said. The U.S. wants to help the countries maximize GSP benefits.
Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu were GSP beneficiaries before the program expired.
USTR asked the International Trade Commission to identify impediments to increased trade flows between the islands and the U.S., and to identify sectors of the island economies that have the greatest potential for more exports to the U.S. "The United States will use this research to inform policy-making to strengthen our trade relationship with the Pacific Islands," the release said.