January 15, 2009
News Release 09-004
Inv. No. 332-500
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today released a public version of its confidential report on possible modifications to the Generalized System of Preferences.

The investigation, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2008 Review of Additions and Removals, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

As requested, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, provided advice on the likely impact on competing U.S. industries of the addition of 11 HTS subheadings to the list of articles eligible for the GSP and the removal of two HTS subheadings from duty-free status from certain beneficiary developing countries.

The HTS subheadings being considered for additions are: 0710.10.00 (frozen potatoes); 0710.30.00 (frozen spinach); 0710.40.00 (frozen sweet corn); 0710.80.97.22 (frozen broccoli spears); 0710.80.97.24 (frozen broccoli, except spears, in containers holding more than 1.4 kg); 0710.80.97.26 (frozen broccoli, except spears, in containers holding 1.4 kg or less); 2008.92.90.40 (certain canned fruit); 2009.41.20 (pineapple juice, not concentrated, of a Brix value not exceeding 20); 2009.49.20 (pineapple juice, not concentrated, other than of a Brix value not exceeding 20); 3901.20.10 (high density polyethylene); and 4412.39.50.30 (certain veneered plywood sheets). The HTS subheadings being considered for removal are: 3907.60.00 (PET resin) from India and Indonesia and 3908.10.00 (polyamide-6 (nylon 6)) from Thailand.

The ITC delivered its confidential report to the USTR on December 18, 2008.

The public report, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2008 Review of Additions and Removals (Investigation No. 332-500, USITC publication 4057, January 2009) is available on the ITC Internet site at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/332/pub4057.pdf.

A copy of the report may be requested by sending an email to pubrequest@ustic.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. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

ITC 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 ITC 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 ITC 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.