USTR Launches Second GSP Eligibility Review of Thailand
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is beginning a second inquiry into whether Thailand should remain eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences program, USTR said in a May 17 press release. The review was requested by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), which alleges Thailand is not providing fair market access to U.S. pork products. The review comes in addition to a separate eligibility review launched at the request of the AFL-CIO labor union in 2015 (see 1511240017).
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The NPPC petition, filed in April, alleges Thailand maintains an array of import restrictions on U.S. pork, including a ban on uncooked pork and offal products and a ban on imports of pork produced with ractopamine. Thailand also fails to maintain a maximum residue limit for the feed additive, and has not released a scientific justification for the ban, it said. The NPPC also alleges that the government of Thailand “rarely, if ever, grants import licenses for U.S. pork and that the few shipments that are licensed are charged excessive inspection fees,” USTR said.
USTR will hold a public hearing and accept comments on the review, with its schedule set to be announced in an upcoming Federal Register notice. “Congress directs USTR to ensure that beneficiary countries are permitting equitable and reasonable market access for American goods. The petition from the National Pork Producers Council raises important questions regarding Thailand’s compliance with this criterion for GSP eligibility.” USTR launched country eligibility reviews of India, Indonesia and Kazakhstan on April 12 (see 1804130027).