CSMS Message: 09-000383

On December 28, 2009, the President signed a bill that renewed the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA)/Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) programs until December 31, 2010. Additionally, on December 23, 2009, the President issued Proclamations 8467 and 8468, which modified the list of beneficiary countries eligible for the GSP and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Presidential Proclamation 8467, “To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of Preferences, And For Other Purposes,” states that effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse on or after December 23, 2009, Maldives has been redesignated as a GSP beneficiary country and is now part of the “Member Countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).” For goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse on or after January 1, 2010, Trinidad and Tobago is no longer eligible for benefits under GSP while Cape Verde has been removed from the list of least-developed beneficiary countries.

Presidential Proclamation 8468, “To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act,” states that effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse on or after December 23, 2009, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Mauritania) is designated as an eligible sub-Saharan African country and as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country (not yet eligible for textile benefits until a visa arrangement is negotiated). Mauritania is also designated as a lesser developed beneficiary country. This Proclamation also terminates the Republic of Guinea, the Republic of Madagascar, and the Republic of Niger as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse on or after January 1, 2010.

Questions concerning this notice should be referred to the International Coordination Branch at FTA@dhs.gov .