On Tuesday, the European Parliament voted to renew the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), extending preferential trade terms for more than 60 developing countries. The amendment passed 459 votes in favour, 127 against and 70 abstentions. New human‑rights and environmental conventions – the Paris Agreement, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child – were added as conditions for eligibility. MEPs introduced stricter readmission criteria: tariffs may only be withdrawn after a longer evaluation and a minimum 12‑month engagement, with a two‑year delay for least‑developed countries. Automatic rice safeguards will trigger if imports rise 45 % over a 10‑year average. After Council adoption, the text will be signed, published and enter force for 10 years. The GSP has been the EU’s preferential trade arrangement since 1971, aiming to reduce poverty.
© European Union, 2023 – Source: European Parliament.
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