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Writer's pictureArne Mielken

EU: Examining the Effectiveness of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP)

Unpacking the EU's GSP Unilateral Trade Programme: Insights from the Latest Effectiveness Report. Download the Report, a GSP Factsheet and detailed FAQs on GSP.


The EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) unilaterally provides preferential access to the Union market through reduced or removed EU import tariffs, to foster the sustainable development of lower-income countries and to reduce poverty through international trade. GSP benefits are linked to beneficiary countries’ respect of international standards on human rights, labour rights, environment and climate, and good governance.


This report is a key part of the regular monitoring and reporting activities on the implementation of the GSP:

It covers the implementation and impact of the GSP over the 2020 to 2022 period (the “reporting period”) across its three arrangements:

  • Everything But Arms (EBA) applying to least developed countries (LDCs)

  • Standard GSP

  • and the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development (GSP+).


This report assesses the longer-term impact of the GSP, with respect to both economic effects and sustainable development, and how to ensure continued engagement in the scheme among GSP beneficiaries.


The main highlights of the report, in simple and easy to understand words are:

  1. The GSP is a key way for the EU to help low-income countries develop in a way that is sustainable.

  2. Also, even though exports were slower during and after the pandemic, the continued exports of GSP-benefiting countries to the EU are very important for economic stability, especially during times of crisis.

  3. By giving more access to the EU market than the standard GSP arrangement, GSP+ effectively implements international standards in good governance, climate and environmental protection, human and workers' rights, and human and workers' rights.

  4. The fact that Uzbekistan became a new GSP+ beneficiary during the reporting period is another sign of how appealing the programme is. Tajikistan officially applied to join the GSP+ in April 2023, and other countries are still interested in doing the same.

  5. The GSP pushes countries that get it to join multilateral governance structures by making them follow the rules of international conventions. For GSP+, this means that countries have to ratify and effectively implement these conventions.

  6. Many countries that benefit from the GSP have made a lot of progress in implementing and following international standards, even though they still have problems in some areas.

  7. EU GSP monitoring and implementation work helps to make sure that basic ILO standards on workers' rights are upheld.

  8. Investors and companies from the EU can also push for sustainable practises and international standards in GSP countries when it comes to human rights, workers' rights, the environment and climate, and good governance. However, all GSP countries need to keep working hard to reform in order to get the full benefits of the GSP, which include reducing poverty, diversifying the economy, and promoting sustainable development.

More information and downloads


The GSP 2020-2023 Report



The GSP FAQ document


The Factsheet on GSP



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