The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released a public version of its confidential report on the probable economic effect of possible modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which provides duty-free treatment for specified U.S. imports from certain developing countries.

The investigation, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2011 Review of Additions and Competitive Need Limitation Waivers, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, submitted a confidential version of the report to the USTR on May 14, 2012. The USTR requested that the USITC issue a public version of the report containing only the unclassified sections, with any business confidential information deleted.

The investigation provides advice on the likely impact on competing U.S. industries on U.S. imports, and on U.S. consumers, of granting GSP eligibility for the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheadings and countries as noted:

For all GSP-eligible countries:

• 3923.21.00 (sacks and bags (including cones) for the conveyance or packing of goods, of polymers of ethylene (Petition seeks GSP eligibility for statistical reporting number 3923.21.00.30, which would need to become a new eight-digit HTS subheading.)).

For least-developed beneficiary developing countries (LDBDC):

• 5201.00.18 (cotton, not carded or combed, having a staple length under 28.575 mm (1-1/8 inches), n/harsh or rough, nesoi),
• 5201.00.22 (cotton, not carded or combed, staple length of 28.575 mm or more but under 34.925 mm, described in gen. note 15),
• 5201.00.24 (cotton,/carded or combed, harsh or rough, staple length 29.36875 mm or more but n/o 34.925 mm, white in color, quota described in ch 52 add US note 6),
• 5201.00.28 (cotton, not carded or combed, harsh or rough, staple length of 29.36875 mm or more but under 34.925 mm & white in color, nesoi),
• 5201.00.34 (cotton, not carded or combed, staple length of 28.575 mm or more but under 34.925 mm, other, quota described in chapter 52 add'l US note 7),
• 5201.00.38 (cotton, not carded or combed, staple length of 28.575 mm or more but under 34.925 mm, nesoi),
• 5202.91.00 (cotton garnetted stock),
• 5202.99.30 (cotton card strips made from cotton waste having staple length under 30.1625 mm & lap, sliver & roving waste, nesoi),
• 5203.00.05 (cotton fibers, carded or combed, of cotton fiber processed but not spun, described in gen. note 15),
• 5203.00.10 (cotton fibers, carded or combed, of cotton fiber processed but not spun, quota described in chapter 52 add'l US note 10),
• 5203.00.30 (cotton fibers, carded or combed, of cotton fiber processed, but not spun, nesoi), and
• 5203.00.50 (cotton carded or combed, excluding fibers of cotton processed but not spun).

Additionally, the investigation provides advice on the likely impact on competing U.S. industries, on U.S. imports, and on U.S. consumers of granting competitive need limitation waivers on the following nine HTS subheadings for the countries as noted. "Competitive need limitations" set the maximum U.S. import level for GSP eligibility and are based on the dollar value or share of total imports of a given product. Once the limit is reached, trade is considered "competitive," benefits are no longer needed, and imports of the article become ineligible for GSP treatment, unless a waiver is granted.

• 1602.50.20 (prepared or preserved beef in airtight containers, other than corned beef, not containing cereals or vegetables) from Argentina,
• 2840.19.00 (disodium tetraborate (refined borax) except anhydrous) from Turkey,
• 2921.19.60 (other acyclic monoamines and their derivatives) from the Philippines,
• 2922.41.00 (lysine and its esters and salts thereof) from Brazil,
• 3307.41.00 ("agarbatti" and other odoriferous preparations which operate by burning, to perfume or deodorize rooms or used during religious rites) from India,
• 4015.19.10 (seamless gloves of vulcanized rubber other than hard rubber, other than surgical or medical gloves) from Thailand,
• 7606.12.30 (aluminum alloy, plates/sheets/strip, w/thick. o/0.2mm, rectangular (inc. sq), not clad) from Indonesia,
• 8415.90.80 (parts for air conditioning machines, nesi) from Thailand, and
• 8708.30.50 (pts. & access. of mtr. vehicles of 8701, nesoi, and 8702-8705, brakes and servo-brakes & pts thereof) from India.

Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2011 Review of Additions and Competitive Need Limitation Waivers (Investigation No. 332-529, USITC publication 4327, May 2012) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4327.pdf.

The report may be requested by sending an email to pubrequest@usitc.gov, by calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade. The investigations are generally conducted at the request of USTR, the Senate Committee on Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means; the USITC may also self-initiate investigations. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.