EU SEEN TO EXTEND GSP+ RULES ON PHL–PASCUAL

action, there is a joint committee within the EU that proposed the rollover of the existing GSP+ for another four years—that means rollover or under existing conditions, so there will be no additional obligation,” Pascual said.

The GSP+, which imposes zero tariff on most of the product categories entering the European Union, is set to expire by the end of the year. The EU has granted the GSP+ to Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.

“There is pressure for them [when it comes to the extension] since it can leave their partner countries, which are exporting products to them, hanging if they will do nothing,” Pascual said.

He said they hope the European Parliament will decide on the matter before they go on their summer break, which runs from July 25 to August 21.