DTI to conduct info sessions on EU GSP+

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to conduct across the country more than 80 information sessions focused on the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (EU GSP+) to allow more businesses to benefit from the scheme.

According to the DTI, it is holding more than 80 information sessions under the Doing Business Free Trade Areas program focused on the EU GSP+ in key cities and towns in the country to help exporters understand how to avail of the scheme.

“As tariffs go down, we need to work more closely with Philippine businesses to help them navigate the rules of origin requirements and to hurdle other barriers, for instance product standards,” Trade assistant secretary Ceferino Rodolfo said.

The EU GSP+ is a scheme which allows beneficiary countries to export 6,274 products to any of the 28 members of the EU bloc at zero tariff for a period of 10 years.

The Philippines, which is the only beneficiary country of the scheme in Southeast Asia, secured EU GSP+ status in December last year.

Products that may avail of the duty free access  include coconut and marine products, processed fruit, prepared food, animal and vegetable fats and oils, textiles, garments, headwear, footwear, furniture, umbrellas, and chemicals.

Prior to securing EU GSP+ status, the Philippines was a beneficiary of the regular GSP program which only covered 6,209 products, with 2,442 products subject to zero duty and the rest subject to lower tariffs.

Initial business information sessions on how to use the EU GSP+ have been conducted in Makati, Cebu and Davao.

The DTI said information sessions would also be held in General Santos and Pampanga.

Sessions would likewise be held every last Thursday of the month from January until June at the DTI International Building along Senator Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City.

The information sessions would have resource speakers from the Philippine Trade & Investment Center in Belgium, DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau and Bureau of International Trade Relations as well as the Bureau of Customs, who would discuss updates on the EU-GSP+, export opportunities, as well as how to navigate the EU Export Help Desk website and avail of the scheme.

Apart from attending information sessions, exporters can also visit the http://exporthelp.europa.eu portal for more information on the EU GSP+.