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

The investigation, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2002 Review (Investigation No. 332-451), was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

As requested, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, provided advice as to whether any industry in the United States is likely to be adversely affected by the addition of certain items to the GSP. The items include certain cheeses, figs, peanut oil, mixed vegetables and fruits, filberts, canned sardines, frozen lemon juice, adipic acid, toluidines and its salts, MSG, certain dichlorobenzotrifluorides, ferroniobium, titanium sponge, non-high definition color TVs, and flat-panel color video monitors. The items are imported under HTS subheadings 0406.20.51, 0710.22.37, 0710.22.40, 0710.30.00, 0710.80.97 (pt.), 0710.80.9730, 0710.90.91, 0804.20.80, 1508.10.00, 1508.90.00, 1604.13.20, 1604.13.30, 2001.90.20, 2008.19.20, 2009.31.6020, 2009.39.6020, 2903.69.70 (pts.), 2917.12.10, 2921.43.15, 2921.43.80 (pt.), 2922.42.10, 7202.93.00, 8108.20.0010, 8528.12.3224, 8528.12.3235, 8528.12.3250, and 8528.21.70.

The Commission also provided advice as to whether any industry in the United States is likely to be adversely affected by the addition of certain knives, forks, and spoons of base metals, imported under HTS subheadings 8211.91.20, 8215.99.01, 8215.99.10, and 8215.99.30, for countries designated as least-developed beneficiaries.

In addition, the Commission provided advice as to the probable economic effect on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers of the removal of Russia from eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP for other titanium articles imported under HTS subheading 8108.90.60.

The report also provided advice as to the adverse impact of the granting of a waiver of the competitive need limits for Argentina for peanut oil and frozen lemon juice under HTS subheadings 1508.10.00, 2009.31.6020, and 2009.39.6020; for Brazil for MTBE, ferroniobium, and certain power train parts for motor vehicles under HTS subheadings 2909.19.14, 7202.93.00, 8413.30.10, and 8708.99.67; for India for copper kitchen ware and non-electrical lamps under HTS subheadings 7418.19.10, 7418.19.50, 9405.50.20, 9405.50.30, and 9405.50.40; for Kazakhstan for ferrosilicon chromium and titanium sponges under HTS subheadings 7202.50.00 and 8108.20.0010; for Morocco for other processed vegetables and canned sardines under HTS subheadings 1604.13.20, 1604.13.30, and 2001.90.20; for Thailand for certain ceiling fans, certain color TV/VCRs, and ignition wiring harnesses under HTS subheadings 8414.51.00 (pt.), 8528.12.28, and 8544.30.00; and for Turkey for dried apricots and gold necklaces under HTS subheadings 0813.10.00 and 7113.19.29. "Competitive need limits" represent the maximum import level of a product that is eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP; 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. With respect to the competitive need limit in section 503(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the 1974 Act, the Commission, as requested, used the dollar value limit of $105,000,000.

The ITC submited its confidential report to USTR on May 21, 2003. As requested by the USTR, the report released today contains only the unclassified sections, with any business confidential information deleted.

Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2002 Review (Investigation No. 332-451, USITC publication 3601, May 2003) will be posted in the Publications area of the ITC Internet site at www.usitc.gov. A printed copy may be requested by calling 202-205-1809 or by writing the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.

ITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Senate Committee on Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means. 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.