There will be an April 18, 2012, deadline for filing claims for refunds of duties paid on GSP -eligible merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption during the period January 1 through November 4, 2011.

GSP expired Jan. 1, 2011, but was retroactively renewed effective Nov. 4. Since refunds were automatic for those products marked with the Special Program Indicator, the CBP has begun processing refunds for entries filed via the Automated Broker Interface with the special program indicator "A" for duties deposited on GSP-eligible goods during the period Jan. 1 through Nov. 4. For entries filed with the SPI "A" that have reached their liquidation date, CBP will reliquidate with the retroactive GSP benefits.

CBP adds that claims for retroactive GSP benefits on non-ABI entries or entries filed without the SPI "A" must be filed by April 18, 2012, and should be filed at the port where the goods were entered. CBP recommends that importers monitor refunds to ensure their receipt of applicable duties because claims for retroactive GSP refunds do not have a separate 180-day protest period in addition to the time period specified in H.R. 2832, the GSP renewal law.

More information can be found at:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/international_

agreements/special_trade_programs/gsp_gen_system/