The European Union's generalised scheme of preferences

The "Generalised Scheme of Preferences" (GSP) is a set of EU rules allowing exporters from developing countries to pay less or no duties on their exports to the European Union. The EU Export Helpdesk provides the necesary resources to check which specific products benefit from GSP.

The European Union adopted a new Generalised Scheme of Preferences in 2012 (Regulation (EU) 928/2012). The new preferences apply beginning in January 2014. The objectives of the EU's new GSP are: to focus help on countries which are more in need of trade preferences; provide incentives for good governance and sustainable development; and to make the scheme more transparent, stable and predictable.

The Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) has 3 strands:

• GSP general arrangement – for all beneficiary countries.

• GSP+ – a special scheme with entire removal of tariffs on essentially the same product categories as those covred by the general arrangement. Countries need to ratify and implement international conventions relating to human and labour rights, environment and good governance.

• Everything But Arms – a special arrangement for least developed countries (as recognised and classified by the UN) giving them duty- and quota-free access for all products, except arms and ammunitions.

For detailed information consult the links below:

• General information on the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences

• New GSP regulation

• Highlights of the new GSP

• Countries eligible to apply for GSP+

• List of products in the new GSP