The US’s and the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences: A Comparison in the Context of Workers’ Rights

Aneta Tyc

Tytuły

Abstrakt

In the context of recent GSP changes, especially the Trump Administration’s steps relating to certain beneficiary countries, it is timely to assess the effectiveness of this unilateral mechanism. In particular, the academic question connected to the impact of the GSP on social development and human rights in the beneficiary countries is the key issue. It is also interesting to what extent the threat of blocking imports or the withdrawal from the scheme can give rise to policy change regarding labour standards. This article aims to analyse the legal basis, and compare the EU’s and the US’s GSP labour provisions. The author applies critical reasoning and comparative analysis with a view to showing the differences between both countries. She focuses her attention on advantages and disadvantages of the GSP schemes—not only those currently in effect in the US and the EU, but also from a historical perspective.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

* The project was financed by the National Science Centre in Poland pursuant to the decision number DEC-2016/21/D/HS5/03849. The project’s registration number is: 2016/21/D/HS5/03849.

In the context of recent GSP changes, especially the Trump Administration’s steps relating to certain beneficiary countries, it is timely to assess the effectiveness of this unilateral mechanism. In particular, the academic question connected to the impact of the GSP on social development and human rights in the beneficiary countries is the key issue. It is also interesting to what extent the threat of blocking imports or the withdrawal from the scheme can give rise to policy change regarding labour standards. This article aims to analyse the legal basis, and compare the EU’s and the US’s GSP labour provisions. The author applies critical reasoning and comparative analysis with a view to showing the differences between both countries. She focuses her attention on advantages and disadvantages of the GSP schemes—not only those currently in effect in the US and the EU, but also from a historical perspective.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

* The project was financed by the National Science Centre in Poland pursuant to the decision number DEC-2016/21/D/HS5/03849. The project’s registration number is: 2016/21/D/HS5/03849.

Słowa kluczowe

labour standards, workers’ rights, scheme of generalised tariff preferences, international trade / standardy pracy, prawa pracownicze, ogólny system preferencji taryfowych, handel międzynarodowy

labour standards, workers’ rights, scheme of generalised tariff preferences, international trade

Bibliografia

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Beke L., Hachez N. (2015) The EU GSP: A Preference for Human Rights and Good Governance? The Case of Myanmar [in:] J. Wouters, A. Marx, D. Geraets, B. Natens (eds.), Global Governance through Trade: EU Policies and Approaches, Cheltenham–Northampton.

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Church Albertson P., Compa L. (2015) Labour Rights and Trade Agreements in the Americas [in:] A. Blackett, A. Trebilcock (eds.), Research Handbook on Transnational Labour Law, Cheltenham–Northampton.

Douglas W. A., Ferguson J. P., Klett E. (2004) An Effective Confluence of Forces in Support of Workers’ Rights: ILO Standards, US Trade Laws, Unions, and NGOs, “Human Rights Quarterly,” Vol. 26, Issue 2.

Gassebner M., Gnutzmann-Mkrtchyan A. (2018) Politicized Trade: What Drives Withdrawal of Trade Preferences?, “Economics Letters,” Vol. 167, Issue C.

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Myant M. (2017) The Impact of Trade and Investment Agreements on Decent Work and Sustainable Development, European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Brussels.

Novitz T. (2018) Labour Standards and Trade: Need We Choose between “Human Rights” and “Sustainable Development”? [in:] H. Gött (ed.), Labour Standards in International Economic Law, Springer.

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Peel J. (1979) The Real Power Game: A Guide to European Industrial Relations, Maidenhead.

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Ringel B. (2019) President Trump Suspends Preferential Trade Treatment for Thailand, 28 October, https://www.ustrademonitor.com/2019/10/president-trump-suspends-preferential-trade-treatment-for-thailand/ (access: 20 December 2019).

The International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (2018) Tools of Trade. The Use of U.S. Generalized System of Preferences to Promote Labor Rights for All, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/583f3fca725e25fcd45aa446/t/5a723ff1ec212d3d586635d9/
1517436916673/ICAR+GSP+Report+FINAL.pdf (access: 9 January 2020).

Tsogas G. (2000) Labour Standards in the Generalized Systems of Preferences of the European Union and the United States, “European Journal of Industrial Relations,” Vol. 6, No. 3.

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Weiss M. (2018) The EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences and the Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance [in:] A. Perulli, T. Treu (eds.), Sustainable Development, Global Trade and Social Rights, Alphen aan den Rijn.

Yap J. (2015) One Step Forward: The European Union Generalised System of Preferences and Labour Rights in the Garment Industry in Bangladesh [in:] J. Wouters, A. Marx, D. Geraets, B. Natens (eds.), Global Governance through Trade: EU Policies and Approaches, Cheltenham–Northampton.

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Informacje

Informacje: Studia z Zakresu Prawa Pracy i Polityki Społecznej (Studies on Labour Law and Social Policy), Volume 27 (2020), Tom 27 Zeszyt 2, s. 115 - 124

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/25444654SPP.20.011.11949

Typ artykułu: Oryginalny artykuł naukowy

Tytuły:

Polski:

The US’s and the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences: A Comparison in the Context of Workers’ Rights

Angielski:

The US’s and the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences: A Comparison in the Context of Workers’ Rights

Autorzy

Aneta Tyc

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0593-2862

Uniwersytet Łódzki, Katedra Prawa Ubezpieczeń Społecznych i Polityki Społecznej

Publikacja: 09.06.2020

Status artykułu: Otwarte

Licencja: CC BY-NC-ND

Udział procentowy autorów:

Aneta Tyc (Autor) - 100%

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Języki publikacji:

Angielski

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