On 16 February 2023, H.E. Mr. Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand to the U.S., together with H.E. Mr. Jorge Arguello, Ambassador of Argentina to the U.S., co-chaired a meeting of the Alliance of GSP Countries (A-GSPC). The meeting was attended by ambassadors, deputy chiefs of mission and trade/economic representatives of 24 GSP Alliance countries and Ms. Supawadee Yamgamol, Minister (Commercial Affairs) of the Royal Thai Embassy.

Ambassador Tanee emphasized the importance of the GSP as a tool to further economic development and raise standards of living of the beneficiary countries, especially MSMEs and also its benefits to U.S. firms which are dependent on raw materials and intermediate imports covered by GSP in operating their businesses as well as American manufacturers and consumers who can purchase imported goods at lower prices. He also reiterated that the GSP program has now expired for more than two years, which is the longest period ever. Therefore, the GSP alliance countries have to work together to push for the re-authorization of the program at the earliest opportunity.

After the meeting, the Ambassadors of the 24 countries jointly submitted a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the U.S. Senate respectively, seeking for bipartisan support from Congress on passing legislation to renew the GSP.

The Alliance of GSP Countries is comprised of 27 GSP-eligible countries which are Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Macedonia, Nepal, Paraguay, Philippines, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine and Yemen.