Presidential Proclamations affect AGOA/GSP Beneficiaries

Issue 1, January 9, 2007

On January 4th, certain Presidential Proclamations signed on December 29, 2006 were published in the Federal Register. These have certain effects on African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiaries.

LIBERIA: The Republic of Liberia has been granted AGOA benefits as a lesser developed beneficiary country with respect to articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after January 1, 2007.

EAST TIMOR: East Timor has been granted benefits as a GSP country with respect to articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the 20th day after the date of the proclamation; and designates it as a least-developed GSP country with respect to articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the 60th day after the date of the proclamation.

BULGARIA AND ROMANIA: The GSP beneficiary designation for Bulgaria and Romania is removed with respect to articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the date each becomes an European Union member state (which has already occurred).

AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan is designated a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation for purposes of GSP, with respect to articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the date it becomes a SAARC member, as announced by the U.S. Trade Representative.

For additional information, contact your local U.S. Customs & Border Protection office.