ASTA Letter to Congress on the Importance of Renewing the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Trade Program

On March 11, 2025, ASTA submitted a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative in response to the administration's call for information on unfair and non-reciprocal foreign trade practices. ASTA’s submission emphasizes the critical role of imported spices in the U.S. food supply and urges the government to avoid imposing tariffs on spices that cannot be commercially produced in the U.S., noting that such measures will raise costs for American businesses and consumers. ASTA recognizes the importance of supporting U.S.-grown spices but provides a list of many spices that must be imported due to climate limitations in the U.S., requesting that no new tariffs be imposed on these spices. ASTA also calls for a tariff-exclusion request process to allow individual entities to request exemptions from any tariffs that may be applied on food or agricultural items.

On August 12, 2025, ASTA sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative asking that consideration be extended to agricultural commodities, such as spices, that cannot be grown in the United State as trade policy advances, including ongoing bilateral negotiations.