FASA/Gemini Shippers Group sent a letter, cosigned by 12 trade groups, on November 1 to the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman urging the designation of 28 categories of travel goods to be eligible for duty free access to the United States from all Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligible countries. The letter was sent as part of a process the Administration reopened (following pressure from FASA/Gemini Shippers) to review whether more advanced developing countries should be able to export travel goods to the United States duty free. The Obama Administration had issued a proclamation in late June that provided this treatment for travel goods that are imported from countries in Africa or a handful of least developed developing countries. The early decision precludes countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and India from exporting travel goods duty free to the United States. FASA/Gemini has participated actively on this throughout the year, providing testimony and signing on to letters in August and March.
