| |
 The Agreement on the Global System of Trade Preferences Among Developing Countries - a global endeavour of developing countries to enhance economic co-operation on trade in goods on a definitive legal basis - is a framework for cooperation on tariffs, para-tariffs, non-tariff measures, direct trade measures and sectoral agreements. Currently, their cooperation covers tariffs negotiated during the First Round of negotiations in the mid-1980's. The tariff concessions are embodied as schedules in Annex IV of the Agreement.
The Agreement was established on 13 April 1988 and entered into force on 19 April 1989.
The GSTP recognizes the special needs of the least-developed countries. They are not required to make concessions on a reciprocal basis. Annex III of the Agreement provides for additional measures in their favor.
The GSTP Committee of Participants administers the operation of the Agreement in Geneva, Switzerland.
To further expand the GSTP and attain its objectives, Participants may convene rounds of negotiations to exchange concessions. They have launched three rounds since 1986: the first in Brasilia (1986), the second in Tehran (1992) and the ongoing third in Sao Pãulo (2004).
Forty-three countries are parties ('Participants') to the Agreement. In 2005, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Haiti, Madagascar, Mauritania, Rwanda, Suriname, Uganda and Uruguay applied for accession to the Agreement.
Every three years, Participants may modify or withdraw their concessions, subject to consultations and negotiations. They may also take safeguard measures to ward-off serious injury or threat thereof to their domestic industries or to address serious balance-of-payments difficulties.
Products in the schedules of concessions are eligible for preferential treatment if they satisfy the rules of origin under the Agreement.
The Agreement has provisions for consultations and settlement of disputes.
|
|
|