India, Turkey Terminated from GSP

India, the biggest recipient of the Generalized System of Preferences, will be terminated from the program after the mandatory 60-day waiting period, because it is not providing "equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors," the U.S. Trade Representative announced Monday evening. Turkey, which is the fifth-largest beneficiary of the program, is being terminated because its economy has developed sufficiently that it should no longer benefit from preferential market access, USTR said.

In 2017, the total imports covered by GSP were worth $21.2 billion; Indian products accounted for $5.6 billion, and Turkish products were valued at $1.7 billion. Almost 12 percent of India's exports to the U.S. are covered by GSP. The medical device interest group and dairy exporters have been asking for India's removal from GSP since October 2017.

President Donald Trump notified Congress March 4, and once the governments of India and Turkey are notified, and after the waiting period, the termination will be enacted by a presidential proclamation.