Presidential Proclamation 8098, published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2007 (72 FR 459), amends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The proclamation amends certain country designations for both AGOA and GSP and is discussed in further detail below.

African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

Effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2007, Liberia is designated as an eligible sub-Saharan African country and lesser-developed sub-Saharan African country for purposes of the AGOA. General Note 16(a) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) is amended by inserting “Republic of Liberia”.

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

Effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 18, 2007, East Timor will be designated as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP. General Note 4(a) of the HTS is amended by inserting “East Timor” into the list of independent countries.

Effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after March 3, 2007, East Timor will be designated as a least-developed beneficiary developing country (LDBDC) for purposes of the GSP. General Note 4(b)(i) of the HTS is amended with the addition of "East Timor”.

Effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania lose their beneficiary developing country status under the GSP as a result of their accession to the European Union (EU). In order to implement these changes, General Note 4(a) of the HTS is amended by deleting "Bulgaria" and "Romania" from the list of independent countries.

Bulgaria and Romania, as new EU members, become subject to the EU Pasta Agreement and the attendant P1 and P2 documentation requirements with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2007. HTS subheadings 1902.11.20 and 1902.19.20, which provide for pasta under the agreement, will be modified with the addition of Bulgaria and Romania.

Please pass this memorandum and the attached Federal Register notice to the Assistant Director Field Office, Trade; Port Directors; Assistant Port Directors; Supervisory Import Specialists; Trade Agreement Coordinators; Import Specialists; brokers; importers and other interested parties.

Please direct questions concerning this memorandum to Mr. Seth Mazze, Trade Agreements Branch, at (202) 344-2634.