Presidential Proclamations Affect on DR-CAFTA, GSP, and AGOA

Issue 86, December 30, 2008

The following Presidential proclamations affecting several free trade agreements/programs have been issued-

Costa Rica

A proclamation has been issued to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement for Costa Rica, effective January 1, 2009.

Costa Rica is the last of the signatory countries for which the DR-CAFTA will enter into force. The DR-CAFTA is already in force with El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic

The U.S. Trade Representative’s statement on Costa Rica’s implementation into DR-CAFTA is available at- http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/December/asset_upload_file215_15259.pdf

GSP Eligibility for Azerbaijan and Kosovo

A proclamation has been issued to designate Azerbaijan and Kosovo as beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the GSP program, effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after February 1, 2009.

AGOA Eligibility for Mauritania Terminated

A proclamation has been issued terminating the designation of Mauritania as an AGOA beneficiary country, effective on January 1, 2009.

A copy of Presidential Proclamation 8330 (FR Pub 12/23/08) is available to view at- http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-30765.pdf

If you require additional information or clarification, please contact your local DHL Global Forwarding representative.

Sincerely,

Paul Vroman, Manager
DHL Global Forwarding Regulatory & Compliance Consulting Group