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General System of Preferences Under Review

Several major trading partners of the U.S. could lose their ability to send goods duty free under a newly announced review of the U.S. General System of Preferences.

Among those countries are Brazil and India, which helped stall the World Trade Organization talks while making demands of the U.S. congressional authority for GSP, which allowed $26.7 billion in imports from eligible developing countries in 2005 and expires Dec. 31.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab has called for the first review of the program in 20 years, which could determine if some advanced developing countries should "graduate" out of the favored trading status. Comments are due by Sept. 5.