1- What is Generalised System of Preferences and who is eligible ?

The EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) is a non-reciprocal unilateral trade arrangement granted to 176 developing countries and territories under a three-year EU Council Regulation that currently covers the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011 [EU Council Regulation (EC) No 732/2008].

The scheme comprises three different regimes:

1- The general arrangement, dubbed Standard GSP, is granted to countries and territories "that are not classified by the World Bank as high-income countries and which are not sufficiently diversified in their exports". This regime does not grant complete duty free and quota free access to EU markets, but still represents a significant improvement from the 'standard' MFN tariff rate. The general EU GSP covers more than 6200 products that have been classified into two categories. The so-called "non-sentive" products enters into the EU markets duty-free. This concerns about 3200 tariff lines. The products considered "sensitive" benefit from a tariff reduction by considerable amounts compared to normal MFN rates.
ACP countries currently exporting under the Standard GSP regime are:

--> To find out which goods still face import tarrifs to enter the EU, and the level of that tarrif, click here and consult our Trade Statistics and Tariffs Details Section.


2- The commonly-called "GSP Plus" regime is a special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governanceg granted only to those "vulnerable" countries that have "ratified and effectively implemented" a number of specific human rights, core labour law and good governance conventions.
The "GSP-Plus" regime covers more than 6300 products which essentially enters the EU market duty-free.

Although the GSP Plus Scheme is in principle open to all ACP countries -- including the ACP non-LDCs -- (see the list of countries considered "vulnerable" in the sense of Article 8 of the GSP Regulation 2009-2011) none of them are currently eligible to it, given its strict conditionalities linked to the signature, ratification and implementation of the above mentioned conventions. Nigeria and Gabon have applied for GSP Plus preferences but their requests were not granted since they have not ratified some of the Conventions under the Scheme.
--> Click here to consult the list of conventions that need to have been implemented to qualify for "GSP Plus".

3. The Everything But Arms regime provides DFQF for all exports from LDCs
--> Please click here to consult the list of countries eligible for EBA arrangement.
--> For more information on this specific trading arrangement, Please consult our specific section on EBA by using our left-hand side menu or by clicking here.

--> Click here for a comparative overview of the three schemes available to ACP non-EPA signatories, including LDCs.

2- What Rules of Origins under the Generalised System of Preferences ?

In November 2010, the Commission adopted a Regulation (Reg. No 1063/2010 of 18 November 2010) amending the Rules of Origins provisions of the GSP both their substance and procedures,

To know the working/processing rules that apply to specific exports, please consult the website of the EU Export Helpdesk and make use of its Input form.

Please also consult for more information, the UNCTAD website on GSP rules of origin.

Map of Trading Arrangements