ExecutiveOrdersEO
Proc 7758ProclamationG.W. Bush · R Quiet signal

Proclamation 7758

To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of Preferences

This proclamation modifies U.S. trade preferences under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). It designates Algeria as a new beneficiary developing country, terminates GSP benefits for seven Central/Eastern European countries upon their EU accession, and removes Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, and Barbados from GSP eligibility effective January 1, 2006, due to their 'high income' status.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 10131

Impact dates

  1. GSP termination for each EU accession country (effective upon accession)

  2. GSP termination and HTS modification for Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados effective

  3. USTR Federal Register notice announcing EU accession date(s)

  4. Algeria GSP designation and HTS modification effective

Key directives

  • Designate Algeria as GSP beneficiary effective 15 days after proclamation
  • Terminate GSP designation for Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia upon each country's EU accession
  • USTR to announce EU accession dates via Federal Register notice
  • Terminate GSP designation for Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados effective January 1, 2006
  • Modify HTS general note 4(a) to reflect all designation changes
  • Update CARICOM member country listings in HTS

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Algeria GSP designation takes effect March 16, 2004 (15 days after signing)
  • HTS general note 4(a) modified to add Algeria

Near term (90d)

  • USTR to publish Federal Register notices announcing EU accession dates for Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia

Long term

  • GSP termination for seven European countries upon respective EU accession dates (May 1, 2004 for most)
  • GSP termination for Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados effective January 1, 2006
  • HTS modifications for Caribbean/CARICOM updates effective January 1, 2006

Risks & tensions

  • EU accession dates were known (May 1, 2004 for most countries) but proclamation uses conditional 'when it becomes' language, creating slight procedural uncertainty
  • Trade impact on Central European exporters muted by EU membership benefits, but may affect specific GSP-dependent sectors
  • Algeria designation may carry geopolitical signaling given post-9/11 U.S.-North Africa relations
  • Supersession clause (section 7) is standard but leaves ambiguity about which prior proclamations are affected
Proclamation 7758: To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of Preferences · Executive Orders