Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP)

Over 50 years ago, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) asked developed countries to help developing countries integrate into the world economy. The Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) was born. Today, about a dozen countries have GSP mechanisms in place.

By removing such import duties, the EU’s GSP helps developing countries to alleviate poverty and create jobs based on international values and principles, including labour and human rights, environment and climate protection, and good governance.

In a nutshell

The European Union’s GSP is widely recognised as the most progressive in terms of coverage and benefits and comprises three arrangements:

• Standard GSP for low and lower-middle income countries. This means a partial or full removal of customs duties on two-thirds of tariff lines,
• GSP+: a special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance. GSP+ slashes these same tariffs to 0% for vulnerable low- and lower-middle income countries that implement 27 international conventions related to labour and human rights, environmental and climate protection, and good governance,
• EBA (Everything But Arms): the special arrangement for least developed countries (LDCs), providing them with duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for all products except arms and ammunition.