The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program of the United States provides unilateral, non-reciprocal, preferential duty-free entry for thousands of products from beneficiary developing countries for the purpose of aiding their economic development through preferential market access. This program was created by the Trade Act of 1974. Provisions tying intellectual property protection to trade benefits were first added to the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984, and were simplified in the GSP Renewal Act of 1996 to require the President to "take into account the extent to which such country is providing adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights." Provisions tying market access to these trade benefits were introduced in the GSP Renewal Act of 1996, Subtitle J, which revised 19 USC 502(c)(4) to require the President to take into account "the extent to which [a country seeking to obtain or maintain GSP eligibility] has assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets … of such country …." There have been many renewals of the GSP Program since 1996, including 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008, and 2009 (through December 31, 2010 when the GSP Program expired). On October 21, 2011, President Obama signed legislation to reauthorize the GSP program through July 31, 2013. GSP trade benefits became effective 15 days after the President signed the bill (November 5, 2011) and are to apply retroactively from January 1, 2011.

The GSP Committee is continuing to investigate the IPR practices of Russia, Lebanon, and Uzbekistan, all of which were initiated on petitions originally filed by the IIPA. In late December 2011, IIPA filed petitions requesting reviews of the GSP eligibility of Ukraine (under the IPR criteria) and Indonesia (under the IPR and market access criteria).