FTAs vs GSP: understanding key differences and practical implications for companies

Annette Reiser
Annette Reiser
Attorney at Law, Customs and Trade Compliance, nettes`globaltrade, Germany
Ilona Mishchenko
Ilona Mishchenko
Associate Professor of the Maritime, Customs and Information Law Department, National University "Odesa Law Academy", Ukraine
Published 23 Apr 2026
FTAs vs GSP: understanding key differences and practical implications for companies
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This article explores the practical differences between free trade agreements (FTAs) and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) scheme. As they operate in fundamentally different ways, they also influence internal company processes differently. It explains why origin information relevant to the GSP may still be included in suppliers’ declarations and examines the concepts of bilateral and regional cumulation within the GSP framework, among other aspects.