The U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program provides nonreciprocal, duty-free
tariff treatment to certain products imported to the United States from designated beneficiary
developing countries (BDCs). Congress first authorized the U.S. program in Title V of the Trade
Act of 1974. The European Union and other developed countries have implemented similar
programs since the 1970s. Most recently, Congress extended the U.S. GSP program in Division
M, Title V of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141). This act extended the
GSP program until December 31, 2020, as well as retroactively renewed it for the time period 
between December 31, 2017 (the previous expiration date) and April 22, 2018. The program
expired on December 31, 2020, before Congress passed legislation to reauthorize it.