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

This proclamation restores Burma's (Myanmar) eligibility for duty-free trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, ending a suspension in place since 1989, and additionally designates Burma as a least-developed beneficiary developing country. The tariff schedule modifications take effect 60 days after signing.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 63671

Impact dates

Nov 13, 2016
HTS modifications effective for articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse

Key directives

End suspension of GSP preferential treatment for Burma (Proclamation 5955 of 1989)
Designate Burma as least-developed beneficiary developing country under GSP
Modify HTS general note 4(a) to add Burma to 'Independent Countries' and 'ASEAN Member Countries' lists
Modify HTS general note 4(b)(i) to add Burma as least-developed beneficiary
Notify Congress of beneficiary designation
Notify Congress at least 60 days before least-developed designation (statutory requirement cited)

Timeline

Immediate

Congressional notification of Burma's restored beneficiary status and least-developed designation

Near term (90d)

HTS modifications take effect November 13, 2016 (60 days after signing)
Duty-free treatment begins for eligible Burmese articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse

Long term

Ongoing preferential trade access for Burma under GSP
Potential expansion of U.S.-Burma trade relations

Risks & tensions

Timing coincides with Burma's fragile democratic transition, creating tension between trade incentives and human rights monitoring
Supersession clause may create uncertainty about scope of affected prior proclamations and Executive Orders
Least-developed designation despite ongoing governance and labor rights concerns in Burma