The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) allows limited exports of certain commodities to enter the U.S. duty-free from most countries in the Global South.  The stated purpose of the program is to promote export-led development in the Global South.  The European Union also has a GSP program.

The U.S. GSP program provides a petition process under which an organization can "petition" the U.S. government to investigate ("review") a country's treatment of workers to determine whether or not GSP benefits should be suspended for lack of progress in respecting worker rights. Petitions are filed with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative which decides whether to dismiss them out of hand or accept them for review. Review essentially puts a country on probation. After a review period (which can last for years), USTR can end the country's review, suspend duty-free treatment on one or more products (e.g. sugar), or suspend the country from the program in its entirety.

USLEAP and others have used GSP petitions as a tool to support specific organizing campaigns (e.g. at the Phillips-Van Heusen factory and Del Monte banana plantations in Guatemala) as well as general improvements in the worker rights situation in Latin American countries, with particular effect in Guatemala. The GSP petition process has produced some gains over the years (e.g. labor law reform, a breakthrough against impunity, and more labor courts in Guatemala) but implementation and concrete improvements have been inadequate.

The most recent GSP petitions on Guatemala were filed in December 2004 and June 2005 jointly by USLEAP and the Washington Office on Latin America.

The GSP worker rights petition process no longer applies to Central American countries with the passage of CAFTA.

GSP Fact Sheet on history of its use in Guatemala (2001) [1]

Selected Petitions

Petitions and responses are available at the USTR Reading Room at 600 17th St., N.W., Washington, DC. By appointment only (202-395-6186).  Also see the Human Rights Watch, International Labor Rights Fund, and AFL-CIO websites for additional petitions and other submissions to USTR on worker rights. Earlier USLEAP and US/GLEP petitions available upon request.

USLEAP and WOLA Petition on Worker Rights Violations in Guatemala; 6-05 [2]

USLEAP and WOLA Petition on Worker Rights Violations in Guatemala; 12-04 [3]

USLEAP GSP Petition on Worker Rights Violations in Guatemala; 10-03 [4]

E-versions of the Following Petitions Available Upon Request

AFL-CIO GSP Petition on Worker Rights Violations in El Salvador; 12-02 

AFL-CIO GSP Petition on Worker Rights Violations in Guatemala; 9-03

AFL-CIO GSP Supplemental Document on Costa Rica; 12-02

AFL-CIO GSP Petition on Worker Rights Violations in Costa Rica; 6-01