The Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) is encouraging Philippine exporters to participate in the public consultations on the United Kingdom’s (UK) new GSP Schemes to provide inputs and suggestions, particularly on the relaxation of the current Origin requirements for their products.

Following the official departure of the UK from the European Union (EU), the UK aims to introduce a new, simpler, and more generous trade preferences scheme next year (2022), which will be called Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

To participate, exporters may access the UK’s online questionnaire through this LINK on or before 12 September 2021.

Major policy changes that the UK is considering include:

1. Simplifying the Rules of Origin (ROO) requirements for least developed countries (LDCs);

2. Reducing tariffs for low-income and lower-middle-income countries;

3. Amending the approach to goods graduation, which suspends preferential rates on particular goods from certain countries based on their competitiveness;

4. Amending the conditions and reporting requirements that enable a low-income or lower-middle-income country to benefit from more generous provisions through the Enhanced Framework; and

5. Simplifying the conditions that could lead to variation or suspension of preferences for any beneficiary country.

The UK is the Philippine’s 18th top export market, with average annual exports of USD450 Million. Top exports include tuna, desiccated coconut, abaca fiber, spectacle lenses, and semiconductors.

Copies of the GSP consultation questions and the UK’s Statement of Direction are also available through this LINK. Other inquiries on the UK market may be directed to the EMB thru email strategyplanning@dti.gov.ph.