Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
This executive order, signed by President Jimmy Carter on 1978-02-25, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Generalized System of Preferences for Developing Countries." It outlines operative directives for executive department officers, delegating enforcement responsibilities and establishing official governance guidelines.
Constitutional Assessment: This action represents an orderly exercise of Article II administrative discretion, managing the internal machinery and personnel of the executive branch without abridging the ancient liberties of the people.
Key Directives & Operative Actions
▪11888 of November 24, 1975, as amended, listing articles that are eligible for benefits of the GSP when imported from any designated beneficiary developing country, is further amended as provided in Annex II, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
▪11888, as amended, listing articles that are eligible for benefits of the GSP when imported from all designated beneficiary countries except those specified in General Headnote 3(c)(iii) of the TSUS, is amended by substituting therefor the new Annex III, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
▪General Headnote 3(c)(iii) of the TSUS, listing articles that are eligible for benefits of the GSP except when imported from the beneficiary countries listed opposite those articles, is amended by substituting therefor the new Annex IV, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
▪The amendments made by this Order shall be effective with respect to articles that are both: (1) imported on or after January 1, 1976, and (2) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after March 1, 1978.
Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted
🏛️ Merchants, Importers & Commercial Enterprises
Total Words
380
2,294 characters
Estimated Read Time
2 min
@ 200 words / min
Flesch-Kincaid
13.4
Post-Grad reading level
Constitutional Polarity
+0.02
Framers' Alignment index
📜
Scholarly & Legal Citations
Exec. Order No. 12041, Jimmy Carter (Feb 25, 1978). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-12041-generalized-system-preferences-for-developing-countries.
Official Document Text
Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)
AMENDING THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States of America, including Title V and Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 2066, 19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.; 88 Stat. 2073, 19 U.S.C. 2483), and as President of the United States of America, in order to modify, as provided by Section 504(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 2070, 19 U.S.C. 2464(c) ), the limitations on preferential treatment for eligible articles from countries designated as beneficiary developing countries, and to adjust the original designation of eligible articles taking into account information and advice received in fulfillment of Section 503(a) and 131-134 of the Trade Act of 1974, it is hereby ordered as foliages. SECTION 1. In order to subdivide existing items for purposes of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS) are modified as provided in Annex I, attached hereto and made a part hereof. SEC. 2. Annex II of Executive Order No. 11888 of November 24, 1975, as amended, listing articles that are eligible for benefits of the GSP when imported from any designated beneficiary developing country, is further amended as provided in Annex II, attached hereto and made a part hereof. SEC. 3. Annex III of Executive Order No. 11888, as amended, listing articles that are eligible for benefits of the GSP when imported from all designated beneficiary countries except those specified in General Headnote 3(c)(iii) of the TSUS, is amended by substituting therefor the new Annex III, attached hereto and made a part hereof. SEC. 4. General Headnote 3(c)(iii) of the TSUS, listing articles that are eligible for benefits of the GSP except when imported from the beneficiary countries listed opposite those articles, is amended by substituting therefor the new Annex IV, attached hereto and made a part hereof. SEC. 5. The amendments made by this Order shall be effective with respect to articles that are both: (1) imported on or after January 1, 1976, and (2) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after March 1, 1978. JIMMY CARTER The White House, February 25, 1978. [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:44 a.m., February 27, 1978]