pinned
Event | GSP Engagement Workshop
03 February 2021
Join us for the virtual GSP Engagement Week from 22 - 25 March 2021! Let's discuss the interplay between the economic rationale and the values perspective of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences. Some of the questions we would like to address include: how can the GSP help economic diversification, what kind of opportunities does it present for EU producers, and how can civil and environmental targets be achieved in beneficiary countries.
Interview | Three Questions about the GSP to MEP Raphaël Glucksmann
19 February 2021
In part three of our interview series, MEP Raphaël Glucksmann highlights trade as an important means to achieve sustainable, democratic & social development. How does the GSP relate to that? Click on the link to find out more.
Interview | Three Questions about the GSP to MEP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne
18 February 2021
What is the role of the GSP for a post-COVID19 recovery and how can the impact created by the GSP be improved? Read part two of our short interview series with MEPs, today with MEP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne.
Interview | Three Questions about the GSP to MEP Saskia Bricmont
17 February 2021
How is the GSP connected to the EU's trade and values agenda? In what area does the arrangement not live up to its potential? Read the first interview of our short interview series with MEPs, today with MEP Saskia Bricmont.
Interview | Green, Sustainable Partnership?- The GSP from an environmental perspective, Interview with Eline Blot and Marianne Kettunen from the IEEP
12 February 2021
The GSP Hub team sat down with the Institute for European Environmental Policy for a discussion on the environmental implications of the GSP. Does the arrangement promote sustainable trade between the EU and beneficiary countries? Can the GSP part of a greener global future? What about the European Green Deal? Read our interview to learn more about the green aspect of the GSP and how the scheme can further evolve in this regard.
Opinion | Can Bangladesh get prepared for EU's GSP-plus?
04 February 2021
Over the past few years, Bangladesh has progressed a lot in terms of economic and social development. However, graduation from the LDC group will be the most important milestone that Bangladesh could achieve in the coming years. But the question remains: is Bangladesh's trade sector ready to face the challenges after the country graduates from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2024? Losing preferential market access in many export destinations seems to be the most challenging aspect of the path of smooth graduation. Read this op-ed by Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Abeer Khandker, Senior Lecturer, East West University and share your views!
VIDEO | "We need the engagement from the stakeholder community " - summary of the interview with CTEO Denis Redonnet
11 December 2020
You did not have a chance to read our interview with the CTEO yet? Check out the summary of the interview here:
STORY | Sri Lanka developed as a hub for premium cigar tobacco manufacturing
14 January 2021
In our newest article, Mr Serge Ponnet from J. Cortès Cigars tells the GSP Hub team the success story of their company. Read more about how the Generalised Scheme of Preferences facilitates premium quality tobacco imports from Indonesia and cigar manufacturing in Sri Lanka.
STORY | Increasing Pakistan’s international competitiveness through the GSP
14 January 2021
Read the stoy of Mr Rashid Attari, Export/Import Deputy Manager at Kay & Emms (Pvt) Ltd. and his insights on how the GSP supported trade industries and overall competitiveness of Pakistani products on the world market.
STORY | The Role of the GSP in EU-Armenia Cooperation
08 January 2021
Since 2014, Armenia is a beneficiary of the Special Incentive Scheme for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) granted by the European Union. Read this story on how the GSP+ impacted EU-Armenian trade relations and contributed to improving Armenian people’s rights and quality of life.
OPINION | Human Rights Watch: Uzbekistan Not Even Close to Meriting EU's Trade Scheme
16 December 2020
In June, Uzbekistan officially applied for GSP+ beneficiary status. This arrangement not only grants more favourable duty reductions compared to the General GSP but comes with the condition to ratify and implement 27 international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance, incentivising sustainable development. The European Commission has already examined the application and believes Uzbekistan is ready for GSP+. Read this opinion piece contributed by Human Rights Watch and share your views - is Uzbekistan ready for this next step?
STORY | A more sustainable textile and denim industry in Pakistan
14 December 2020
After 2014, when Pakistan acceded to the GSP+ a small boom took place in the textile and denim industry. By now, textiles have become the largest product section imported under the GSP+ arrangement, comprising more than 70% of Pakistan’s GSP imports to the EU. Read the story of Mayoral Moda Infantil, a spanish producer of children's clothing.
STORY | The sports goods industry and diversification in Pakistan
14 December 2020
Pakistan’s GSP+ success story is particularly visible in the city of Sialkot, the capital of the country’s sports industry. About 98 per cent of products manufactured in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises located in the city are exported to foreign markets. “These industries – particularly the sports goods industry – have been an important source of Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings,” says Mr Arshad Javad Sandal, Chairman of the Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
STORY | Civil society and human rights education in Mongolia
11 December 2020
The Globe International Center is a Mongolian NGO committed to improve the access to public information to support the development of an active civil society. The Globe International Center has formed a “3 Cs Support Group” as a core group to provide professional support and assistance to stakeholders involved in the GSP+ scheme and the relevant human rights-related commitments made by beneficiary countries under the GSP+.
INTERVIEW | EU CTEO Underscores Role of Business & Civil Society for Effective GSP
07 December 2020
We sat down virtually with the new Chief Trade Enforcement Officer Denis Redonnet and talked about his new position and its implications for the EU's trade & values agenda and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences. Mr Redonnet was appointed Chief Trade Enforcement Officer in July 2020, a new position created under Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
WTO NEWS | Germany and Estonia pledge 815,000 € to help poorest countries expand role in world trade
07 December 2020
On 3 December, Germany and Estonia have pledged 815,000 € to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a programme which supports Least Developed Countries to better use trade for sustainable development and poverty reduction. The funds will be used to address new challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
EVENT | Join the virtual Bangladesh-Netherlands Investment Summit
04 December 2020
Are you an economic operator from the Netherlands or the EBA beneficiary Bangladesh? Take the opportunity and join this webinar series organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in the Netherlands, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Three webinars on the 8th and 9th December 2020 will bring together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and policymakers from the Netherlands and Bangladesh. Stakeholders will present and discuss opportunities and consider the specific scope for engagement in trade and investments between Dutch and Bangladeshi companies. Click on the link below to for a detailed agenda and registration.
REPORT | Mongolia Engagement Workshop
28 October 2020
On 27 October the first beneficiary country workshop took place in Mongolia as part of the EU Trade Days. This workshop kicked off a series of events in beneficiary countries, and engaged stakeholders to increase the use of preferences under the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+) through identifying routes for export diversification, encouraging European companies to increase their imports from Mongolia, and promoting the related international sustainability standards.
REPORT | GSP Stakeholder Forum
30 September 2020
On 29 September the inaugural Stakeholder Forum of the Action on GSP Trade Preferences took place in a hybrid format. A small number of participants gathered at the Charlemagne Building while all interested participants were able to follow the panel discussions online. The topics that were discussed included the role of the GSP for a post-pandemic recovery, the GSP's relevance and potential for Africa, and the promotion of sustainable development in Central Asia.