EU - Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

The objectives of the subject “Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)” are the following:

1. To understand the characteristics of the new EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP);
2. To analyze the SPG + scheme and the Everything but Arms arrangement;
3. To know which countries and under what conditions are beneficiaries of the GSP;
4. To know how to use the rules of origin under the Generalized System of Preferences.

The Subject “Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)” belongs to the following Online Higher Educational Programs taught by EENI Global Business School:

Doctorate: European Business, African Business, World Trade.

Masters: Africa, International Business, Foreign Trade.

Courses: International Relations of Africa, EU International Relations, Export to the EU.

Learning materials in or Sistema Preferencias Generalizadas (SPG) Système préférences généralisées SGP Sistema de preferências generalizadas SPG.

European Union's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

Since 1971, the European Union schemes like the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) have allowed to the developing countries to pay lower import tariffs.

Under the revised scheme of the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences), imports that will receive the Generalized System of Preferences are estimated at EUR 37.7 billion.

The actual Generalized System of Preferences scheme covers three factors:

1. The General Generalized System of Preferences Arrangement (import tariff reductions);
2. The Special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+). GSP+ offers additional preferences to support the vulnerable developing countries in their ratification and implementation of international conventions in the field of human and labour rights, sustainable development and good economic governance;
3. The Everything But Arms Arrangement, which provides for the complete access (duty-free and Quota-free) to the European Union's market except for arms and armaments for the Least-Developed Countries (as defined by the United Nations).

In 2001, the Council adopted the “Everything But Arms Regulation,” granting duty-free access to imports of all the products from the Least-Developed Countries, except arms and ammunitions.

Total GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) beneficiary countries: 88 (177 in the previous scheme).

The Least-Developed Countries benefiting from “Everything But Arms” arrangement (40 countries):

1. Africa (34 countries): Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Benin, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, the Comoros, Liberia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sudan, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, and Cape Verde;
2. Asia-Pacific (9): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, East Timor, Yemen, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu;
3. The Caribbean: Haiti.

GSP+ beneficiaries (13): Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Mongolia, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru.

GSP Beneficiaries until 31 December 2015: Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, China, Ecuador, Maldives, Turkmenistan, and Thailand.

Countries that are no longer on the GSP beneficiary list (current scheme).

1. All the European Union members, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand are not beneficiaries;
2. Mediterranean Partnership (EUROMED): Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia;
3. CARIFORUM members;
4. Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela;
5. Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan;
6. Africa: Gabon, Libya, Mauritius, the Seychelles, South Africa, and Zimbabwe;
7. The Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman;
8. Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Macau, Maldives, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea.

The Generalized System of Preferences belongs to the European Economic Area of the Western Civilization.

(c) EENI Global Business School (1995-2023)
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