U.S. CONSIDERS CHANGING INDIA’s GSP STATUS

U.S. CONSIDERS CHANGING INDIAÆS GSP STATUS    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is considering whether to limit or revoke duty-free status on certain imports from India.
   The Generalized System of Preferences grants developing countries, such as India, special duty-free status on certain imports.
   “In 1999, more than $1 billion in imports from India were granted duty-free treatment under the GSP program; through October 2000, more than $966 million in imports from India received duty-free treatment under GSP, an increase of over 13 percent over 1999,” the USTR said.
   However, USTR has received complaints from U.S. exporters that have not had “equitable and reasonable market access” to India. On June 12, 1998, the American National Soda Ash Corp. filed a petition asking the U.S. government to either withdraw, suspend or limit India GSP’s status.
   The USTR said it would like to receive comments from the industry regarding India’s GSP status. The deadline for submissions to the agency is Feb. 16.
   For more information, contact the USTR’s GSP Subcommittee at (202) 395-6971. For a complete list of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings of potentially affected products, log onto Internet address: https://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=3406028756+30+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve.