Generalized System of Preferences
 

Hello,

I read a newspaper article that said the certain goods from Singapore are either duty free or at reduced rates. I went the U.S Customs website and could not find any information that made any sense to me.

Can anyone tell me what goods are covered and how this works when returning to the U.S.?

Thank you!

Are you bringing back goods for personal use, or importing a container for sale?

Hello,

It would be for personal use.

Thanks

Then you have a duty-free allowance you can use, and this has absolutely nothing to do with Singapore -- consult US Customs. In practice, reasonable quantities of anything for personal use are duty-free.

Under the situation I am asking about, the goods do not count against your normal duty free allowance.

Thanks,

I don't think you understand what the GSP is. Start with this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General...of_Preferences

What it boils down to is an agreement between WTO members to allow lower import tariffs for developing countries (like, in theory, Singapore). But if you're importing for personal use, then the stuff you bring is already duty free, so none of this matters.

I do understand what it is.

I used to live in a country that had this program. In that case (Bahrain) it applied to gold items that were made in the country. Any gold items that you brought into the US with you that had the "made in Bahrain" stamp did not count against your normal duty free limit.

I'll ask when I'm there and post it.

Thanks!