The US President signed into law HR 1295 on June 29, 2015 re-authorizing the US GSP Programme December 31, 2017 providing preferential duty free entry into the US market for nearly 5000 products from 122 designated beneficiary countries and territories, including Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka exports to pneumatic rubber tires, plastic based packing materials, rubber gloves, activated carbon, coir products, certain porcelain/china ware, rubber floor coverings to the United States under the GSP program.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC was an active member of the Alliance of GSP countries which joined other US stakeholders in advocating early renewal of the US GSP Program. The US Congressional authorization for the GSP Program expired on 31 July 2013 and the reauthorization will be effective from 29 July 2015.
With the re-authorization of the US GSP Program, the US importers are eligible to claim the import duty paid by them for the eligible products under the US GSP Program during the lapse in GSP coverage from 31 July 2013 with retrospective effect. Accordingly, Sri Lankan exporters gain duty free access for eligible products under the US GSP programme.
