Legislators seek to add footwear to GSP

Congressmen Adrian Smith, R-Neb., and Earl Blumeneauer, D-Ore., introduced a bill (H.R. 2735) on Thursday to add footwear to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.    Congressmen Adrian Smith, R-Neb., and Earl Blumeneauer, D-Ore., introduced a bill (H.R. 2735) on Thursday to add footwear to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.
   If passed, it would be the first time that footwear has ever been included in the 42-year-old trade program, which allows duty-free access of certain approved imports into the United States from developing countries.
   The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) applauded the congressman’s proposed bill.
   “AAFA strongly supports this new footwear legislation as it makes small but critical changes to products that are eligible for GSP status,” said the trade association’s president and CEO, Rick Helfenbein, in a statement.
   “As with a similar AAFA-supported GSP initiative, overwhelmingly enacted by Congress two years ago, this approach carefully avoids impacting products that are made in the United States,” he added. “If these footwear items are ultimately designated as GSP-eligible, companies will be able to use duty savings to support U.S. workers, to invest in product innovation, and have the ability to pass along savings to consumers.”
   AAFA also urged Capitol Hill lawmakers to quickly move forward with GSP renewal legislation. The trade program, which has to be periodically reauthorized by Congress, is scheduled to expire at the end of the year.