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CONCEPT – GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (GSP) (UPDATED)
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- What is Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) : It is a preferential tariff system extended by developed countries to developing countries, also known as beneficiary countries. It is a preferential arrangement in the sense that it allows concessional low/zero tariff imports from developing countries, to help them grow.
- Which developed nations? Developed countries including the US, EU, UK, Japan etc., gives GSPs to imports from developing countries. GSP involves reduced/zero tariffs of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of GSP providing countries.
- Since 1976 : The US has a strong GSP regime for developing countries since its launch in 1976, by the Trade Act of 1974. In the past, thousands of products were imported from nearly 120 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
- The objectives of GSP
- The objective of GSP was to give development support to poor countries by promoting exports from them into the developed countries. According to the US Trade Representative Office website, GSP promotes sustainable development in beneficiary countries by helping these countries to increase and diversify their trade with the United States. “GSP provide opportunities for many of the world’s poorest countries to use trade to grow their economies and climb out of poverty” – USTR.
- According to the USTR, “GSP also boosts American competitiveness by reducing costs of imported inputs used by U.S. companies to manufacture goods in the United States.”
- Beneficiaries under the GSP : The beneficiaries of GSP are around 120 developing countries. As of 2019, India and Brazil were the major beneficiaries in terms of export volume realized under GSP. Imports from China and some developing countries are ineligible for GSP benefits. The beneficiaries and products covered under the scheme are revised annually.
- The procedure for GSP in the case of the US : Under GSP, there were zero/low concessional tariff on imports from developing countries. The US government selects a group of poor countries and a set of products and offers these countries lower-than-normal tariffs than it applies to imports from all other World Trade Organization countries. The USTR makes annual reviews about the types of commodities to be selected under GSP and the countries to be benefited.
- Product groups covered under GSP : These are mainly agricultural products including animal husbandry, meat and fisheries and handicraft products. These products are generally the specialized products of the developing countries.
- What is the difference between GSP and the usual trade arrangement under WTO? Under the normal trade laws, the WTO members must give equal preferences to trade partners. There should not be any discrimination between countries. This trade rule under the WTO is called the Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause. The MFN instructs non-discrimination that any favorable treatment to a particular country. At the same time, the WTO allows members to give special and differential treatment to from developing countries (like zero tariff imports). This is an exemption for MFN. The MSP given by developed countries including the US is an exception to MFN.
- Trump administration’s approach on GSP : The Trump administration has decided to withdraw GSP for 94 products from all GSP beneficiary developing countries on the route to completely phased out. GSP withdrawal covers mainly Agricultural and handicraft products and is effective from November 1, 2018 onwards. According to the Washington Post, in 2016, the GSP covered only $19 billion, or less than 3 percent, of U.S. imports.
- Impact of GSP withdrawal on India : India exports nearly 50 products of the 94 products on which GSP benefits are stopped. The GSP removal will leave a reasonable impact on India as the country enjoyed preferential tariff on exports worth of nearly $ 5. 6 billion under the GSP route out of the total exports of $48 bn in 2017-18. In total India exports nearly 1,937 products to the US under GSP. According to the Washington Post, 90 percent of Indian/Brazilian exports to America face normal US tariffs and hence will remain unaffected from the exit of the GSP program.
- Removal of GSP indicate a tough trade position by the US; especially for countries like India who benefited much from the scheme. The US was insisting India to reduce its trade surplus. India is the 11th largest trade surplus country for the US and India enjoyed an annual trade surplus of $ 21 bn in 2017-18.
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