Generalised System of Preferences - Temporary withdrawal of Preferences from Belarus
In response to a systematic and serious violation of the core principles of the International Labour Organisation, of which Belarus is a member, the European Commission recommended that trade preferences to Belarus under the Generalised System of Preferences be withdrawn and the EU Member States approved this proposal in December 2006.
When Belarus failed to significantly improve the protection of core labour rights, the withdrawal entered into force on 21 June 2007.
Once Belarus has shown that it respects basic trade union rights, the EU is ready to immediately reverse its decision on GSP withdrawal. It should be noted that GSP withdrawal is not a sanction related to the political situation, but the cancellation of a trade privilege. The removal of the trade preferences will not halt Belarus' exports to the EU - it will simply return Belarus' import tariffs to the standard non-preferential rate.
Council of the EU Regulation (EC) No 1933/2006 temporary withdrawal of generalised tariff preferences from Belarus
