U.S. partially suspends Ukraine from preferential trade program

WASHINGTON - 23 December 2017: U.S. President Donald Trump will suspend some of Ukraine's benefits under a preferential trade program in four months unless Kiev improves its protection of property rights, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office said in a statement on Friday.

It said Ukraine's suspension from the Generalized System of Preferences program "stems from its failure to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights despite years of encouragement and assistance from the U.S. government."

GSP provides duty-free treatment for goods from poor and developing countries.

Trump decided to provide 120 days' notice because Ukraine "has a viable path to remedy the situation, including improving the current legal regime governing royalty reimbursement to right holders' organizations," USTR said.

The USTR statement and a proclamation signed by Trump did not indicate what part of the GSP program for Ukraine would be suspended.