September 22, 2021 – BISHKEK – On September 21, Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asian Affairs Zeba Reyazuddin and Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Laura Buffo provided an overview of the Generalized System of Preferences to Kyrgyz entrepreneurs and government officials. The GSP program promotes economic growth through the provision of preferential duty‐free treatment for over 3,500 products from a wide range of designated countries, including the Kyrgyz Republic.
Highlighting the U.S. commitment to building U.S.-Kyrgyz trade ties, in the webinar’s opening remarks, Charge d’Affaires a.i. Sonata Coulter said, “We want to see the Kyrgyz economy thrive; sharing knowledge about the tools available to support local entrepreneurs is crucial to help your exports reach large overseas markets like the United States.”
The United States Trade Representative provided essential information on how Kyrgyz businesses can identify eligible products under GSP, gain enhanced access to the U.S. market, and obtain duty-free status for a number of goods exported to the United States. Kyrgyz business leaders and officials from different government ministries and agencies participated in the virtual webinar.
The GSP program is one important way Kyrgyz companies can establish mutually-beneficial commercial ties with the United States. The United States Trade Representative presentation noted that increased participation in the GSP program could save Kyrgyz exporters thousands of dollars in duty fees, in addition to increasing U.S. demand for imports from the Kyrgyz Republic.