Smith Welcomes GSP Travel Goods Announcement

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after the Office of the U.S Trade Representative (USTR) announced it will expand duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for a variety of travel goods not produced in the United States.

“Though the Obama administration declined to provide this consideration for travel goods from all eligible countries under the GSP as intended by the law, I’m glad to see the Trump administration following through on this effort,” Smith said. “Today’s announcement will lead to increasing stability and economic growth in the developing world as well as greater opportunities for retailers and consumers in the U.S. as we expand the availability of products.”

Smith served as the lead sponsor in the Ways and Means Committee for H.R. 681, the GSP UPDATE Act, to modernize the treatment of travel goods, performance outerwear, and footwear under the GSP. H.R. 681 was passed by the House as part of H.R. 1295, the Trade Preferences Extension Act, in June 2015. The Obama administration announced in January 2017 it would take no action on extending preference for travel goods to all GSP beneficiaries.

Last week, Smith questioned U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on the status of this travel goods provision in a Ways and Means Committee hearing. For a transcript and video of their exchange, click here.

Smith also recently introduced H.R. 2735 to extend preference under the Generalized System of Preferences to specific types of footwear for which there are no domestic manufacturers.