For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 7, 2004
Statement on Designating Iraq under the Generalized System of Preferences (GPS) Program
President Bush today signed a proclamation designating Iraq as a
beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) program. As a GSP beneficiary country, Iraq will be
able to take advantage of duty-free tariff treatment into the United
States on approximately 3,500 products.
This GSP designation marks an important step in Iraq's return to
the world trading system. Increased opportunities for trade will help
Iraq build an economy that can offer its citizens a more prosperous
future.
GSP is a program that grants duty-free treatment to specified
products that are imported from more than 140 designated developing
countries and territories. GSP was reauthorized when President Bush
signed the Trade Act of 2002 on August 6, 2002. This program
underscores the Administration's commitment to providing trade
opportunities to developing countries as a way to encourage broad-based
economic development.
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