Update on Optical Products Made in Thailand

Recently, Thailand lost duty-free entry under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for approximately one-third of its exports to the U.S. Included in the list of tariff numbers losing GSP eligibility were contact lenses (HTS 9001.30.00), glass spectacle lenses (HTS 9001.40.00), and spectacles, goggles and the like, corrective or otherwise, other than sunglasses (HTS 9004.90.00). These items, if made in Thailand, will now be subject to customs duties when imported to the U.S.

However, this past summer, The Vision Council worked closely with the Lens Division and the Thai government to submit a petition requesting that plastic lenses made in Thailand, and which qualified under the GSP, retain that duty-free benefit. The Vision Council's efforts were successful, and in late October the United States Trade Representative's office granted the requested waiver.

For more information regarding these two issues, please click here.

General questions about this issue can be directed to Rick Van Arnam, The Vision Council's regulatory affairs counsel, at rvanarnam@barnesrichardson.com.