ExecutiveOrdersEO
Proc 8240ProclamationG.W. Bush · R Quiet signal

Proclamation 8240

To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences and for Other Purposes

This proclamation designates Togo as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under AGOA and as a lesser developed beneficiary country for apparel tariff preferences. It also designates the Solomon Islands as a least-developed beneficiary developing country under the GSP program, makes technical corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule for Colombia's CNL waiver, and withdraws duty-free treatment for certain Jamaican imports that exceeded competitive need limitations.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 21515

Impact dates

  1. Solomon Islands GSP designation effective for articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse

  2. Togo AGOA designation effective for articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse

Key directives

  • Designate Togo as eligible and beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under AGOA
  • Designate Togo as lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for apparel provisions
  • Designate Solomon Islands as least-developed beneficiary developing country under GSP
  • Modify HTS general note 16(a) to add Togo
  • Modify HTS general note 4(b)(i) to add Solomon Islands
  • Modify HTS general note 4(d) to withdraw duty-free treatment for Jamaica subheading 2202.90.37
  • Modify HTS general note 4(d) to delete Colombia from exclusion list for subheading 1701.11.05
  • Modify HTS chapter 98 notes to conform to Harmonized System Convention
  • Supersede inconsistent prior proclamations and Executive Orders

Timeline

Immediate

  • Proclamation issued April 17, 2008

Near term (90d)

  • Togo AGOA benefits effective May 17, 2008 (30 days after signing)
  • Solomon Islands GSP benefits effective June 21, 2008 (65 days after signing)

Long term

  • Ongoing preferential trade treatment for Togo under AGOA
  • Ongoing least-developed GSP status for Solomon Islands
  • Permanent HTS corrections for Colombia and Jamaica
  • Ongoing HTS conformity with Harmonized System Convention

Risks & tensions

  • Jamaica duty-free withdrawal follows mandatory CNL formula but may strain bilateral trade relations
  • Technical correction for Colombia suggests prior administrative error in tariff treatment
  • AGOA eligibility for Togo contingent on continued governance/economic reform compliance
  • Supersession clause (section 10) may create uncertainty about which prior provisions remain valid
Proclamation 8240: To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences and for Other Purposes · Executive Orders