WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
1 March 2007 
 
 (07-0877) 
Committee on Trade and Development Original:   English 
  
GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES  
 
Notification by the United States
 
 
Addendum  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 27 February 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of the United States.  
_______________ 
 
  The United States extended its General Syst em of Preferences (GSP) programme through 
31 December 2008, when the President signed the "Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006" on 
20 December 2006.  The GSP progra mme was established in 1974.  The current text of the statute 
authorizing the GSP programme (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq .) is attached as Annex I.  
 
 We are also pleased to provide a "Guide to Internet Resources on the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences" in Annex II.  The United States provides comprehensive information on its trade, tariffs, and trade-related programmes, such as GSP,  to the public via a host of internet websites.  
This Guide provides an overview of the websites th at are relevant to Members' interests as they 
review their trade under the GSP programme.   
  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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  ANNEX I 
 
U.S. CODE TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES CHAPTER 12--TRADE ACT OF 1974 
SUB-CHAPTER V--GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES1 
 
 
Sec. 2461.  Authority to extend preferences  
The President may provide duty-free treatment for any eligible article from any beneficiary 
developing country in accordance with the provisions of  this subchapter.  In taking any such action, 
the President shall have due regard for:  
 
(1) the effect such action will have on fu rthering the economic development of 
developing countries through the expansion of their exports;  
(2) the extent to which other major devel oped countries are undertaking a comparable 
effort to assist developing countries by gr anting generalized preferences with respect 
to imports of products of such countries;  
(3) the anticipated impact of such action on United States producers of like or directly 
competitive products;  and 
(4) the extent of the beneficiary developing country's competitiveness with respect to 
eligible articles.  
 Sec. 2462.  Designation of beneficiary developing countries 
 
(a) Authority to designate countries  
(1) Beneficiary developing countries  
  The President is authorized to designate countries as beneficiary developing countries for 
purposes of this sub-chapter.  
 
(2) Least-developed beneficiary developing countries  
 The President is authorized to designate any beneficiary developing country as a 
least-developed beneficiary developing country for purposes of this subchapter, based on the 
considerations in section 2461 of this tit le and sub-section (c) of this section.  
(b) Countries ineligible for designation  
(1) Specific countries  
 
The following countries may not be designated as beneficiary developing countries for 
purposes of this sub-chapter:  
 
 (A) Australia 
 (B) Canada 
 (C) European Union member states 
                                                     
 
1This Annex provides the current text of the statutory provisions that establish the U.S. Generalized 
System of Preferences (GSP).  Pl ease note that two provisions relating to the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act rather than authorization of the GSP have been omitted from this Annex.  Triple asterisks 
indicate the location of these excisions.  
  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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   (D) Iceland 
 (E) Japan 
 (F) Monaco  
 (G) New Zealand  
 (H) Norway 
 (I) Switzerland 
 
(2) Other bases for ineligibility  
 
The President shall not designate any country a beneficiary developing country under this 
sub-chapter if any of the following applies: 
 
(A) Such country is a Communist country, unless: 
 
(i) the products of such country receive non-discriminatory treatment; 
(ii) such country is a WTO Member (as such term is defined in section 3501(10) 
of this title) and a member of the International Monetary Fund;  and 
(iii) such country is not dominated or controlled by international communism.  
 (B) Such country is a party to an arrangeme nt of countries and participates in any action 
pursuant to such arrangement, the effect of which is: 
  
(i) to withhold supplies of vital commodity resources from international trade or 
to raise the price of such commodities to an unreasonable level;  and  
(ii) to cause serious disruption of the world economy.  
(C) Such country affords preferential treatme nt to the products of a developed country, 
other than the United States, which has, or  is likely to have, a significant adverse 
effect on United States commerce. 
 
(D) (i) Such country: 
 
(I) has nationalized, expropriated, or  otherwise seized ownership or 
control of property, including pate nts, trademarks, or copyrights, 
owned by a United States citizen or by a corporation, partnership, or association which is 50 per cent or more beneficially owned by United States citizens; 
(II) has taken steps to repudiate or nullify an existing contract or 
agreement with a United States citizen  or a corporation, partnership, 
or association which is 50 per cent or more beneficially owned by United States citizens, the effect of which is to nationalize, expropriate, or otherwise seize ow nership or control of property, 
including patents, trademarks, or copyrights, so owned;  or 
(III) has imposed or enforced taxes or other exactions, restrictive 
maintenance or operational cond itions, or other measures with 
respect to property, including patent s, trademarks, or copyrights, so 
owned, the effect of which is to nationalize, expropriate, or otherwise 
seize ownership or control of such property;   WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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unless clause (ii) applies.  
 
(ii) This clause applies if the President determines that: 
(I) prompt, adequate, and effective compensation has been or is being 
made to the citizen, corporation, pa rtnership, or association referred 
to in clause (i);  
(II) good faith negotiations to provide prompt, adequate, and effective 
compensation under the applicable pr ovisions of international law are 
in progress, or the country described in clause (i) is otherwise taking steps to discharge its obligations under international law with respect 
to such citizen, corporation, part nership, or  association;  or  
(III) a dispute involving such citizen, corporation, partnership, or 
association over compensation for such a seizure has been submitted to arbitration under the provisions of the Convention for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, or in another mutually agreed 
upon forum;  
and the President promptly furnishes a copy of such determination to the Senate and 
House of Representatives.  
 
(E) Such country fails to act in good faith in recognizing as binding or in enforcing 
arbitral awards in favor of United States c itizens or a corporation, partnership, or 
association which is 50 per cent or more benefi cially owned by United States citizens, 
which have been made by arbitrators appointed for each case or by permanent arbitral bodies to which the parties involved have submitted their dispute.  
  
(F) Such country aids or abets, by granting sanctuary from prosecution to, any individual 
or group which has committed an act of inte rnational terrorism or the Secretary of 
State makes a determination with respect to such country under section 2405(j)(1)(A) 
of title 50, Appendix or such country has not  taken steps to support the efforts of the 
United States to combat terrorism. 
 
(G) Such country has not taken or is not taki ng steps to afford internationally recognized 
worker rights to workers in the country (including any designated zone in that 
country).  
 
(H) Such country has not implemented its co mmitments to eliminate the worst forms of 
child labor. 
 
Sub-paragraphs (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H) (to the extent described in section 
2467(6)(D) of this title) shall not prevent the designa tion of any country as a beneficiary developing 
country under this sub-chapter if the President de termines that such designation will be in the 
national economic interest of the United States and reports such determination to the Congress with 
the reasons therefore.  
  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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  (c) Factors affecting country designation  
In determining whether to designate any c ountry as a beneficiary developing country under 
this sub-chapter, the President shall take into account: 
 
(1) an expression by such country of its  desire to be so designated; 
(2) the level of economic development of such  country, including its per capita gross 
national product, the living standards of its inhabitants, and any other economic 
factors which the President deems appropriate;  
(3) whether or not other major developed count ries are extending generalized preferential 
tariff treatment to such country;  
(4) the extent to which such country has assure d the United States that it will provide 
equitable and reasonable access to the ma rkets and basic commodity resources of 
such country and the extent to which such country has assured the United States that 
it will refrain from engaging in unreasonable export practices;  
(5) the extent to which such country is provi ding adequate and effective protection of 
intellectual property rights;  
(6) the extent to which such country has taken action to: 
 
(A) reduce trade distorting investment practices and policies (including export 
performance requirements);  and 
 
(B) reduce or eliminate barriers to trade in services;  and 
 
(7) whether or not such country has taken or is taking steps to afford to workers in that 
country (including any designated zone in that country) internationally recognized worker rights.  
 
(d) Withdrawal, suspension, or limitation of country designation  
(1) In general 
 The President may withdraw, suspend, or lim it the application of the duty-free treatment 
accorded under this sub-chapter with respect to any country.  In taking any action under this 
sub-section, the President shall consider the fa ctors set forth in section 2461 of this title and 
sub-section (c) of this section.  
(2) Changed circumstances 
 The President shall, after complying with the requirements of sub-section (f)(2) of this 
section, withdraw or suspend the designation of an y country as a beneficiary developing country if, 
after such designation, the President determines th at as the result of changed circumstances such 
country would be barred from designation as a beneficiary developing country under sub-
section (b)(2) of this section.  Such country shall cease to be a beneficiary developing country on the 
day on which the President issues an Executive order or Presidential proclamation revoking the designation of such country under this sub-chapter.  
(3) Advice to Congress  
 The President shall, as necessary, advise the Congress on the application of section 2461 of 
this title and sub-section (c) of this section, and th e actions the President has taken to withdraw, to 
suspend, or to limit the application of duty-free treat ment with respect to any country which has failed WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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  to adequately take the actions described  in sub-section (c) of this section.  
(e) Mandatory graduation of beneficiary developing countries  
 If the President determines that a beneficiary developing country has become a "high income" 
country, as defined by the official statistics of  the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
Development, then the President shall terminate the designation of such country as a beneficiary 
developing country for purposes of this sub-chap ter, effective on 1 January of the second year 
following the year in which such determination is made.   (f) Congressional notification  
(1) Notification of designation  
 
(A) In general  
 
Before the President designates any country as a beneficiary developing country under this 
subchapter, the President shall notify the Congress of the President's intention to make such 
designation, together with the considerations entering into such decision.  
(B) Designation as least-developed beneficiary developing country  
 
At least 60 days before the President d esignates any country as a least-developed 
beneficiary developing country, the President shall notify the Congress of the President's intention to 
make such designation.  
(2) Notification of termination  
 If the President has designated any country as a beneficiary developing country under this 
subchapter, the President shall not terminate such designation unless, at least 60 days before such 
termination, the President has notified the Congress and has notified such country of the President's 
intention to terminate such designation, together with  the considerations entering into such decision.  
Sec. 2463.  Designation of eligible articles 
 
(a) Eligible articles  
(1) Designation 
 
(A) In general  
 
Except as provided in sub-section (b) of this secti on, the President is authorized to designate 
articles as eligible articles from all beneficiary de veloping countries for purposes of this sub-chapter 
by Executive order or Presidential proclamation afte r receiving the advice of the International Trade 
Commission in accordance with sub-section (e) of this section.  
(B) Least-developed beneficiary developing countries 
 
Except for articles described in sub-paragraphs (A ), (B), and (E) of sub-section (b)(1) of this 
section and articles describe d in paragraphs (2) and (3) of s ub-section (b) of this section, the 
President may, in carrying out section 2462(d)(1) of this title  and sub-section (c)(1) of this section, 
designate articles as eligible articles only for countries designated as least-developed beneficiary  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
 Page 7 
 
 
  developing countries under section 2462(a)(2) of this title if, after receiving the advice of the 
International Trade Commission in accordance with sub-section (e) of this section, the President 
determines that such articles are not import-sensitiv e in the context of imports from least-developed 
beneficiary developing countries.  
(C) Three-year rule 
 
If, after receiving the advice of the International Trade Commission under sub-section (e) of 
this section, an article has been formally consider ed for designation as an eligible article under this 
sub-chapter and denied such designation, such artic le may not be reconsidered for such designation 
for a period of 3 years after such denial.  
(2) Rule of origin 
 
(A) General rule 
 
The duty-free treatment provided under this subcha pter shall apply to any eligible article 
which is the growth, product, or manufacture  of a beneficiary developing country if: 
(i) that article is imported directly from a beneficiary developing country into 
the customs territory of the United States;  and  
(ii) the sum of: 
(I) the cost or value of the mate rials produced in the beneficiary 
developing country or any two or more such countries that are 
members of the same association of countries and are treated as one 
country under section 2467(2) of this title, plus  
(II) the direct costs of processing operations performed in such 
beneficiary developing country or such member countries, is not less than 35 per cent of the appraised value of such article at the time it is 
entered.  
(B) Exclusions  
 
An article shall not be treated as the growth , product, or manufacture of a beneficiary 
developing country by virtue  of having merely undergone: 
(i) simple combining or packaging operations;  or  
(ii) mere dilution with water or mere dilu tion with another s ubstance that does 
not materially alter the characteristics of the article.  
(3) Regulations  
 
The Secretary of the Treasury, after consulti ng with the United States Trade Representative, 
shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (2), including, but not 
limited to, regulations providing that, in order to be eligible for duty-free treatment under this 
sub-chapter, an article: WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
Page 8  
 
  (A) must be wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary developing 
country;  or  
 
(B) must be a new or different article of commerce which has been grown, produced, or 
manufactured in the beneficiary developing country.  
 
(b) Articles that may not be designated as eligible articles  
(1) Import-sensitive articles  
 The President may not designate any article as an eligible article under sub-section (a) of 
this section if such article is within one of th e following categories of import-sensitive articles:  
(A) Except as provided in paragraph (4), te xtile and apparel articles which were not 
eligible articles for purposes of this subcha pter on 1 January 1994, as this sub-chapter 
was in effect on such date.  
 
(B) Watches, except those watches entere d after 30 June 1989, that the President 
specifically determines, after public notice and comment, will not cause material 
injury to watch or watch band, strap, or bracelet manufacturing and assembly operations in the United States or the United States insular possessions.  
 
(C) Import-sensitive electronic articles.  
 
(D) Import-sensitive steel articles.  
 
(E) Footwear, handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel 
which were not eligible articles for purposes of this subchapter on 1 January 1995, as 
this subchapter was in effect on such date.  
 
(F) Import-sensitive semi-manufactured and manufactured glass products.  
 
(G) Any other articles which the President determines to be import-sensitive in the 
context of the Generalized System of Preferences.  
 
(2) Articles against which other actions taken  
 An article shall not be an eligible article for purposes of this sub-chapter for any period 
during which such article is the subject of any action proclaimed pursuant to section 2253 of this 
title or section 1862 or 1981 of this title.  
(3) Agricultural products  
 No quantity of an agricultural product subject to a tariff-rate quota that exceeds the in-quota 
quantity shall be eligible for duty-free treatment under this sub-chapter.  
(4) Certain hand-knotted or hand-woven carpets  
 Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(A), the President  may designate as an eligible article or 
articles under sub-section (a) of this section carpe ts or rugs which are hand-loomed, hand-woven, 
hand-hooked, hand-tufted , or hand-knotted, and classifiab le under sub-heading 5701.10.16, 
5701.10.40, 5701.90.10, 5701.90.20, 5702.10.90, 5702.42.20, 5702.49.10, 5702.51.20,5702.91.30,  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
 Page 9 
 
 
  5702.92.00, 5702.99.10, 5703.10.00, 5703.20.10, or  5703.30.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States.   
(c) Withdrawal, suspension, or limitation of duty-free treatment; competitive need limitation  
(1) In general  
 
The President may withdraw, suspend, or limit the application of the duty-free treatment 
accorded under this sub-chapter with respect to a ny article, except that no rate of duty may be 
established with respect to any article pursuant to  this sub-section other than the rate which would 
apply but for this sub-chapter.  In taking any action under this sub-section, the President shall 
consider the factors set forth in sections 2461 and 2462(c) of this title.  
(2) Competitive need limitation  
 
(A) Basis for withdrawal of duty-free treatment  
 
(i) In general  
Except as provided in clause (ii) and subject  to sub-section (d) of this section, 
whenever the President determines that a beneficiary developing country has exported 
(directly or indirectly) to the United States during any calendar year beginning after 
31 December 1995: 
(I) a quantity of an eligible article ha ving an appraised value in excess of 
the applicable amount for the calendar year;  or  
(II) a quantity of an eligible article equal to or exceeding 50 per cent of 
the appraised value of the total imports of that article into the 
United States during any calendar year;   
the President shall, not later than 1 July  of the next calendar year, terminate the 
duty-free treatment for that article from that beneficiary developing country. 
(ii) Annual adjustment of applicable amount  
For purposes of applying clause (i), the applicable amount is: 
(I) for 1996, $75,000,000;  and  
(II) for each calendar year thereafter, an amount equal to the applicable 
amount in effect for the preceding calendar year plus $5,000,000.  
(B) "Country" defined 
 
For purposes of this paragraph, the term "country" does not include an association of 
countries which is treated as one country under section 2467(2) of this title, but does include a 
country which is a member of any such association.  
(C) Redesignations  
 
A country which is no longer treated as a beneficiary developing country with respect to an 
eligible article by reason of sub-paragraph (A) ma y, subject to the considerations set forth in WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
Page 10  
 
  sections 2461 and 2 462 of this title, be redesi gnated a beneficiary developi ng country with respect to 
such article if imports of such article from such country did not exceed the limitations in 
sub-paragraph (A) during the preceding calendar year.  
(D) Least-developed beneficiary developi ng countries and beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African countries  
 
Sub-paragraph (A) shall not apply to any least -developed beneficiary developing country or 
any beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.  
(E) Articles not produced in the United States excluded 
 
Sub-paragraph (A)(i)(II) shall not apply with respect to any eligible article if a like or 
directly competitive article was not produced  in the United States on 1 January 1995.  
(F) De minimis waivers 
 
(i) In general  
The President may disregard sub-paragra ph (A)(i)(II) with respect to any eligible 
article from any beneficiary developing countr y if the aggregate appraised value of the 
imports of such article into the United St ates during the preceding calendar year does not 
exceed the applicable amount fo r such preceding calendar year.  
(ii) Applicable amount 
For purposes of applying clause (i), the applicable amount is: 
(I) for calendar year 1996, $13,000,000;  and  
(II) for each calendar year thereafter, an amount equal to the applicable 
amount in effect for the preceding calendar year plus $500,000. 
(d) Waiver of competitive need limitation  
(1) In general  
 
The President may waive the application of sub-section (c)(2) of this section with respect to 
any eligible article of any benefi ciary developing country if, before 1 July of the calendar year 
beginning after the calendar year for which a determ ination described in sub-section (c)(2)(A) of this 
section was made with respect to su ch eligible article, the President: 
(A) receives the advice of the Internationa l Trade Commission under section 1332 of this 
title on whether any industry in the United States is likely to be adversely affected by 
such waiver; 
 
(B) determines, based on the considerations described in sections 2461 and 2462(c) of 
this title and the advice described in sub-para graph (A), that such waiver is in the 
national economic interest of the United States;  and  
 
(C) publishes the determination described in sub-paragraph (B) in the Federal Register. 
  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
 Page 11 
 
 
  (2) Considerations by the President  
 
In making any determination under paragraph (1),  the President shall give great weight to: 
(A) the extent to which the beneficiary de veloping country has assured the United States 
that such country will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets and 
basic commodity resources of such country;  and  
 
(B) the extent to which such country prov ides adequate and effective protection of 
intellectual property rights.  
 
(3) Other bases for waiver 
 The President may waive the application of s ub-section (c)(2) of this section if, before 
1 July of the calendar year beginning after the cal endar year for which a determination described in 
sub-section (c)(2) of this section was made with respect to a beneficiary developing country, the 
President determines that: 
(A) there has been a historical preferential trade relationship between the United States 
and such country; 
 
(B) there is a treaty or trade agreement in force covering economic re lations between such 
country and the United States;  and  
 
(C) such country does not discriminate against, or impose unjustifiable or unreasonable 
barriers to, United States commerce; 
 
and the President publishes that dete rmination in the Federal Register.  
(4) Limitations on waivers  
 
(A) In general  
 
The President may not exercise the waiver author ity under this sub-section with respect to a 
quantity of an eligible article entered during an y calendar year beginning after 1995, the aggregate 
appraised value of which equals or exceeds 30 pe r cent of the aggregate appraised value of all 
articles that entered duty-free under this subc hapter during the preceding calendar year.  
(B) Other waiver limits  
 
(i) The President may not exercise the waiver authority provided under this 
sub-section with respect to a quantity of an eligible article entered during any 
calendar year beginning after 1995, the aggregate appraised value of which exceeds 15 per cent of the aggregate appraised value of all articles that have entered duty-free under this sub-chapter during the preceding calendar year from those beneficiary developing count ries which for the preceding calendar 
year: 
(I) had a per capita gross national product (calculated on the basis of the 
best available information, including that of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Developmen t) of $5,000 or more;  or  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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  (II) had exported (either directly or indirectly) to the United States a 
quantity of articles that was duty-free under this sub-chapter that had an aggregate appraised value of more than 10 per cent of the aggregate appraised value of all articles that entered duty-free under this sub-chapter during that year.    
(ii) Not later than 1 July of each year, the President should revoke any waiver 
that has then been in effect with respect to an article for 5 years or more if the 
beneficiary developing country has export ed to the United States (directly or 
indirectly) during the preceding calendar year a quantity of the article:  
(I) having an appraised value in ex cess of 1.5 times the applicable 
amount set forth in sub-section (c)(2)(A)(ii) for that calendar year;  or  
(II) exceeding 75 per cent of the appraised value of the total imports of 
that article into the United States during that calendar year.   
(C) Calculation of limitations 
 
There shall be counted against the limitations  imposed under sub-paragr aphs (A) and (B) for 
any calendar year only that value of any eligible article of any country that: 
(i) entered duty-free under this sub-chapter during such calendar year;  and  
(ii) is in excess of the value of that article that would have been so entered during 
such calendar year if the limitations under sub-section (c)(2)(A) of this section applied.  
(5) Effective period of waiver 
 Any waiver granted under this sub-section sh all remain in effect until the President 
determines that such waiver is no longer wa rranted due to changed circumstances.  
(e) International Trade Commission advice  
Before designating articles as eligible articl es under sub-section (a)(1) of this section, the 
President shall publish and furnish the Internationa l Trade Commission with lists of articles which 
may be considered for designation as eligible articles for purposes of this sub-chapter.  The 
provisions of sections 2151, 2152, 2153, and 2154 of this title shall be complied with as though 
action under section 2461 of this title and this sectio n were action under section 2133 of this title to 
carry out a trade agreement entered in to under section 2133 of this title.  
(f) Special rule concerning Puerto Rico  
No action under this sub-chapter may affect an y tariff duty imposed by the Legislature of 
Puerto Rico pursuant to section 1319 of this  title on coffee imported into Puerto Rico.  
Sec. 2464.  Review and report to Congress 
 
The President shall submit an annual report to  the Congress on the status of internationally 
recognized worker rights within each beneficiary de veloping country, including the findings of the 
Secretary of Labor with respect to the benefici ary country's implementati on of its international 
commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.   WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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  Sec. 2465.  Date of termination  
No duty-free treatment provided under this su bchapter shall remain in effect after 
31 December 2008.   
Sec. 2466.  Agricultural exports of beneficiary developing countries  
The appropriate agencies of the United States shall assist beneficiary developing countries 
to develop and implement measures designed to assure that the agricultural sectors of their 
economies are not directed to export markets to th e detriment of the production of foodstuffs for 
their citizenry.  
Sec. 2467.  Definitions  
For purposes of this sub-chapter:  
(1) Beneficiary developing country  
 
The term "beneficiary developing country'' mean s any country with resp ect to which there is 
in effect an Executive order or Presidential proc lamation by the President designating such country 
as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of this sub-chapter.  
(2) Country  
 
The term "country" means any foreign country or territory, including any overseas 
dependent territory or possession of a foreign country, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.  
In the case of an association of countries which is a free trade area or customs union, or which is contributing to comprehensive regional econom ic integration among its members through 
appropriate means, including, but not limited to, the reduction of duties, the President may by 
Executive order or Presidential proclamation provide th at all members of such association other than 
members which are barred from designation under secti on 2462(b) of this title shall be treated as one 
country for purposes of this sub-chapter.  
(3) Entered  
 
The term "entered" means entered, or wit hdrawn from warehouse for consumption, in the 
customs territory of the United States.  
(4) Internationally recognized worker rights  
 
 The term "internationally recognized worker rights" includes: 
  
 (A) the right of association;  
  
 (B) the right to organize and bargain collectively;  
  
 (C) a prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor;  
  (D) a minimum age for the employment of children; and a prohibition on the worst forms 
of child labor, as defined in paragraph (6);  and  
  
 (E) acceptable conditions of work with respect  to minimum wages, hours of work, and 
occupational safety and health.  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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(5) Least-developed beneficiary developing country  
  The term "least-developed beneficiary devel oping country" means a beneficiary developing 
country that is designated as a least-developed beneficiary developing country under section 
2462(a)(2) of this title.  
  
(6) Worst forms of child labor  
 
 The term "worst forms of child labor" means: 
  
 (A) all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale or trafficking of 
children, debt bondage and serfdom, or forced or compulsory labor, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict;  
  
 (B) the use, procuring, or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of 
pornography or for pornographic purposes;  
  
 (C) the use, procuring, or offering of a child for illicit activities in particular for the 
production and trafficking of drugs;  and  
  
 (D) work which, by its nature or the circumst ances in which it is carried out, is likely to 
harm the health, safety, or morals of children.  
  The work referred to in sub-paragraph (D) sha ll be determined by the laws, regulations, or 
competent authority of the beneficiary developing country involved.  
  WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.4 
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  ANNEX II 
 
GUIDE TO INTERNET RESOURCES ON THE  
U.S. GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (GSP)  
 
 
 The United States provides comprehensive inform ation on its trade, tariffs and trade-related 
programmes, such as GSP, to the public via a ho st of easily-accessible and user-friendly internet 
websites.  This annex provides a highlight of the in ternet website addresses most relevant to Members' 
interests as they review their trade under the U.S. GSP programme.    I. THE U.S. GSP PROGRAMME – HTTP://WWW.USTR.GOV  
• A downloadable guidebook to the GSP programme; 
• Public announcements, notices, and proclamations relating to the GSP programme; 
• Legislation authorizing the GSP programme (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq .); 
• GSP regulations (15 C.F.R. 2007) promulgate d by the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR); 
• Results of the GSP Annual Reviews rega rding product and country eligibility; 
• Lists of GSP-eligible products. 
 
http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Development/Prefer ence_Programs/GSP/Section_Index.html  
 
 
II. THE U.S. HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE (HTS) – http://www.usitc.gov  
• The complete HTS in downloadable form;  
• Identification of products and coun tries eligible for GSP treatment;  
• Alphabetical index.  
 
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/  
 
 
• Quick reference to product and country information;  
• Search engine on all special tariff programmes, including GSP.  
 
http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/gsp/gsp_tariff.asp 
  
• Complete list of GSP-eligible products; 
• Complete list of GSP-eligible countries, least-developed countries, and territories; 
• Regional associations eligible for GSP tr eatment (for rules of origin purposes); 
• Country-specific instances of GSP product ineligibility ( i.e., those found in General Note 4 of 
the HTS). 
 
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm 
 
 
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  III. U.S. REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTATION – http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/  
• General information about the importing pro cess, import requirements, entry of goods, 
informed compliance, assessment of duty, classification and value, marking, and HTS changes; 
• U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) publications. 
 
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/publications 
 
 
• CBP Guidebook to importing products under GSP  
 
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/reg_audit/archive/gsp.xml   
 
 
• Tariff classification rulings by the CBP 
  
http://rulings.cbp.gov  
 
• Customs forms 
 
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/forms/  
 
IV. U.S. TRADE DATA – http://www.usitc.gov  and http://www.census.gov   
• Comprehensive database of statistics on U.S. imports and exports
1; 
• U.S. import and export statistics by preference programme (such as GSP); 
• U.S. import and export statistics by HTS code, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and 
Standard International Trade Classification (SITC); 
• U.S. import and export statistics by other groupi ngs -- product, country or country group and 
U.S. export/import port; 
• U.S. import and export statistics on an annual, quarterly, or monthly basis, from 1989 to the 
most recent available month (usually two months prior to the present). 
 
http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/user_set.asp  
 
• U.S. Census monthly trade reports, U.S. In ternational Trade in Goods and Services; 
• U.S. Census statistics on imports and exports, by trading partner, and by U.S. State; 
• U.S. Census historical data series from 1960 to present. 
 
http://www.census.gov  
 
__________ 
 
 
                                                      
1 U.S. import data from this resource can be used to calculate utilization rates under U.S. preference 
programmes, such as GSP.