GSP duty refund deadline April 18

With the United States Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme renewed on November 04, the US Customs and Border protection has announced procedures for claiming duty refunds for exports eligible under GSP programme a statement issued from US embassy in Colombo said.

The statement says there will be an April 18, 2012, deadline for filing claims for refunds of duties paid on GSP eligible merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption during the period January 1 through November 4, 2011.

GSP expired on Jan 1,2011, but was retroactively renewed effective November 4. Since refunds were automatic for those products marked with the Special Programme Indicator, the CBP has begun processing refunds for entries filed via the Automated Broker Interface with the special programme indicator "A" for duties deposited on GSP-eligible goods during he period Jan. 1 through Nov. 4. For entries filed with the SPI "A" that have reached their liquidation date, CBP will re-liquidate with the retroactive GSP benefits.

CBP adds that claims for retroactive GSP benefits on non -ABI entries or entries filed without the SPI "A" must be field by April 18,2012, and should be filed at the port where the goods were entered. CBP recommends that importers monitor refunds to ensure their receipt of applicable duties because claims for retroactive GSP refunds do not have a separate 180-day protest period in addition to the time period specified in HR 2832, the GSP renewal law.