EU adopts new GSP rules for 2027-2036 with stricter sustainability

The European Union (EU) has adopted a new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation for 2027-2036, introducing stronger sustainability and transparency requirements while continuing to provide preferential market access for developing-country exports. The regulation was adopted on June 17, 2026, published in the Official Journal on June 22, 2026, and will come into effect from January 1, 2027.The announcement accompanied a joint implementation report published by the European Commission and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, which reviewed the performance of the current GSP framework during 2023-2025. Covering Standard GSP, GSP+ and Everything But Arms (EBA), the report said the scheme has continued to provide low or zero-duty access to the EU market, offering stability and predictability amid geopolitical uncertainty.

The EU has adopted a new GSP Regulation for 2027-2036, introducing stricter sustainability and transparency requirements from January 1, 2027.
A review of the current scheme showed the EU imported nearly €60 billion under GSP preferences in 2024, generating €5 billion in tariff savings, with Bangladesh, India and Pakistan among the biggest beneficiaries and clothing accounting for 59 per cent of GSP trade.

According to the report, the EU imported almost €60 billion (~$69 billion) worth of goods under GSP preferences in 2024. Preferential tariff treatment generated an estimated €5 billion in savings for beneficiary countries, with least-developed countries receiving more than €3 billion under the EBA arrangement. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan were the largest beneficiaries, while clothing remained the leading sector, accounting for 59 per cent of all trade conducted under GSP preferences.

The report added the GSP framework continues to encourage sustainable development by promoting compliance with human rights, labour rights, environmental and climate-related standards. However, it also highlighted persistent challenges in implementing GSP+ commitments, including uneven enforcement of labour rights and limited capacity of labour inspectorates in some beneficiary countries.

The new regulation is intended to strengthen the scheme’s sustainability focus while preserving preferential access to the EU market for eligible developing economies.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk