New European GSP 2026: what changes for importers and supply chains

Key data

If your company imports fabrics, agricultural components or manufactures from Asia, Africa or Latin America, the tariff framework that governed those purchases since 2012 has just changed. The Regulation (EU) 2026/1395, published on 22 June 2026, repeals Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 and substantially updates the European Union's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

The GSP is the mechanism by which the EU allows certain developing countries to export to the European market with reduced or zero tariffs. Any change in its rules directly affects the cost of your imports if your suppliers are in beneficiary countries.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 updates three fundamental axes of the European GSP compared to the previous framework (Regulation 978/2012):

Graduation is the mechanism by which a country or specific sector loses the tariff benefit when it reaches a sufficient level of competitiveness. With the new regulation, the conditions for this to occur have been reviewed, which may mean that some suppliers who previously had preferential access now lose it, or vice versa.

Additionally, exporters from beneficiary countries will have to comply with the new rules of origin and certification requirements to access reduced rates. If a supplier cannot properly certify origin under the new requirements, the European importer will lose the tariff benefit at customs.

Economic and operational impact

The impact for importing companies materializes in two possible scenarios:

• Risk scenario: A supplier that until now exported with reduced or zero tariff loses preferential status under the new eligibility or graduation criteria. The Spanish importer moves to pay the EU's general MFN tariff, which in sectors like textiles can exceed 10-12%.
• Opportunity scenario: New countries or sectors that were not previously covered gain access to the GSP, opening the door to new sourcing options with tariff advantage.

At the operational level, companies must anticipate two types of costs:

• Documentary review cost: Audit the certificates of origin of all affected suppliers to verify their validity under the new regulation.
• Cost of renegotiation or supplier change: If a supplier loses status, the company must decide whether to absorb the higher tariff, renegotiate price with the supplier or seek alternatives in countries that do maintain the benefit.

Who does it affect?

• European importers who purchase products from suppliers located in GSP beneficiary countries.
• Spanish companies with supply chains in developing countries, especially in the textiles, agriculture and manufactures sectors.
• Procurement and supply chain departments that manage contracts with suppliers in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America.
• CFOs and financial directors who must recalculate the cost of imports if the tariff status of their suppliers changes.
• Customs brokers and logistics operators who process the clearance of goods from beneficiary countries.
• Exporters from beneficiary countries who must certify compliance with the new rules of origin and certification requirements to maintain preferential access to the European market.

Practical example

A Spanish textile company imports semi-finished fabrics from a supplier in Bangladesh, a country historically beneficiary of the GSP (EBA category — Everything But Arms). With the new Regulation (EU) 2026/1395, the procurement department must verify two things before processing the next order:

1. Does Bangladesh maintain its preferential status under the new eligibility criteria? If it has been graduated or excluded, the applicable tariff would move from 0% to the EU's general MFN rate for that product.
2. Can the supplier issue the certificate of origin in accordance with the new certification requirements of the regulation? If not, Spanish customs will deny preferential treatment even if the country remains a beneficiary.

This double check must be carried out before the new regulation enters into force to avoid surprises in customs clearance and recalculate the cost price if necessary.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify all affected suppliers: Draw up a list of all suppliers located in developing countries with which you currently operate under the GSP regime. Prioritize those with the highest purchase volume.
2. Verify the status of each supplier country: Consult the official list of beneficiary countries of the new Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 on EUR-Lex to confirm whether they maintain preferential access under the new criteria.
3. Review certificates of origin in portfolio: Check that the certificates of origin issued by your suppliers comply with the new certification requirements of the regulation. Coordinate with your customs broker.
4. Recalculate the impact on costs: For each supplier whose status is uncertain, simulate the scenario with general MFN tariff to quantify the impact on cost price and margins.
5. Communicate new requirements to suppliers: Inform your suppliers in beneficiary countries about the new certification requirements so they can properly certify origin from the entry into force of the regulation.
6. Update supply contracts: Review price clauses and tariff conditions in contracts with suppliers to include adjustment mechanisms if preferential status changes.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601395