Congress Revives the Generalized System of Preferences and Makes Benefits Retroactive to August 1, 2013 but Requires Affirmative Applications for Refund by U.S. Importers.

Amid the often rancorous debate on the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Trade Promotion Authority enabling legislation, both the House and the Senate last week found a common ground in addressing legislation related to the international movement of goods and passed the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (The Act), reviving the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) that had expired July 31, 2013. Importantly, The Act did not simply revive the program; it made its…