Press Release: Developing countries: the Commission proposes system of trade preferences for 2006-2008 – ‘targeting countries most in need, simpler, encouraging sustainable development

The European Commission on 20 October 2004 adopted a proposal setting out the details of the EU system of trade preferences (Generalised System of Preferences - GSP) for the period 2006-2008. This proposal builds on the guidelines issued by the Commission in July 2004. The GSP is a key instrument to help developing countries reduce poverty by stimulating their exports to the EU. The Commission proposed to improve the current system in a number of areas: simplification (cutting back from five to three separate arrangements); expanding the product coverage; focusing the benefits on those developing countries most in need; and setting up an additional GSP benefits ('GSP+') to encourage sustainable development. The text was sent to the EU Member States, European Parliament and Economic and Social Committee in order to be adopted in time for entry into force on 1 July 2005.

European Commission: DG Trade: Trade Issues: Generalised System of Preferences http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/issues/global/gsp/index_en.htm

European Commission: DG Trade: Documents and Publications: Document search http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/cfm/doclib_search.cfm

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