US cuts $817 million in trade preferences for Thailand under GSP
The United States is suspending $817 million in trade preferences for Thailand under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme due to a lack of sufficient progress in providing the US with "equitable and reasonable market access" for pork products.
The decision made by US President Donald Trump was announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday.
The USTR said that despite 12 years of bilateral engagement, Thailand had yet to provide the US with equitable and reasonable market access for pork products, as outlined in a 2018 petition from the National Pork Producers Council requesting removal of GSP benefits.
GSP eligibility will be revoked for approximately one-sixth of Thailand’s GSP trade, representing $817 million in US imports under the GSP programme in 2019. The decision is effective from December 30, and will close the review option for Thailand.
