On June 25, 2013, USA-ITA submitted comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility for Burma/Myanmar and Laos. In the comments, drafted by USA-ITA Washington Counsel David Spooner of Squire Sanders, we note that we “strongly support” the designation of Burma/Myanmar and Laos as GSP beneficiaries as well as least-developed beneficiaries. We also call for GSP benefits to be extended to include apparel, as doing so would “foster broad-based economic development” in the beneficiary countries and indirectly benefit both member companies as they consider sourcing from Burma/Myanmar and Laos as well as apparel workers in those countries.