On March 1, 2022, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the President’s 2022 Trade Policy Agenda and USTR’s 2021 Annual Report. These documents are issued yearly to Congress pursuant to Section 163 of the Trade Act of 1974. The agenda, which has historically been used as a messaging document, highlights the unique approach each
USTR
United States Trade Representative (USTR) Announces Replacement of Section 232 Tariffs on EU Imports with a Tariff-Rate Quota
By Crowell & Moring on
On October 31, 2021, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States would be replacing the existing 25% tariff on EU steel and 10% tariff on EU aluminum under Section 232 with a tariff-rate quota (TRQ). As such, eligible products that are within the quota will be able to…
Ambassador Tai Outlines New Approach to U.S.-China Trade Relationship: USTR to Restart Tariff Exclusion Process for Section 301 Duties
By John Brew on
On October 4, 2021, United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) Katherine Tai delivered a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlighting the Biden Administration’s new strategy for navigating U.S.-China trade relations. Ambassador Tai focused her remarks on President Biden’s vision for a worker-centered trade policy in the U.S.-China trade dynamic, however the…
U.S. and Vietnam Reach Currency Agreement
By John Brew & Frances P. Hadfield on
On July 19, 2021, the United States and Vietnam announced an agreement on currency practices. The announcement was made following a high-level meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen and Vietnamese State Bank Governor Hong and in the context of rising U.S. concern over Vietnam’s foreign exchange market interventions. The agreement aims to address the currency…
Government Releases Updated Version of Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
By Frances P. Hadfield & John Brew on
On July 13, 2021, the U.S. government released an updated version of the Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory. The notice, which was originally released last summer, states that the PRC government is perpetrating genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, highlights the legal risks posed to companies and supply chains, updates the list of U.S.…
First Meeting of USMCA Labor Council Targets Forced Labor in Advance of Final Rules
By John Brew & Frances P. Hadfield on
On June 29, 2021, U.S. Trade Representative for Labor, Joshua Kagan, and U.S. Department of Labor’s Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs, Thea Lee, met with their counterparts from Mexico and Canada for the first USMCA Labor Council meeting.
Key areas of discussion as outlined by USTR included:
- USMCA’s requirement that each party prohibit the importation
…
U.S. and EU Agree on Framework to Resolve Large Civil Aircraft Dispute
By John Brew & Frances P. Hadfield on
On June 15, 2021, Unites States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis announced an outline to resolve the 20 year old large civil aircraft dispute and suspend tariffs on $115 billion in related products for a period of five years. The announcement follows President Biden’s first in person meetings…
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Proposes Forced Labor Provisions in WTO Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations
On May 26, 2021, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed new measures to address forced labor on fishing vessels as part of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) agreement on curbing harmful fisheries subsidies. The negotiations, which began last year were delayed due to COVID-19. Negotiations restarted in April of 2021 with WTO Director-General Ngozi…
Highlights from USTR’s Annual Special 301 Report for 2021 Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
By Joshua Boswell & Evan Yu on
On April 30, 2021, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its annual Special 301 Report for 2021 on the adequacy and effectiveness of trading partners’ protection of intellectual property rights.
301 Report Highlights
- The Report’s Executive Summary stated that a priority of the Biden administration is to craft trade policy in service of America’s
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U.S. Calls Out Foreign Trade Barriers: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Releases 2021 National Trade Estimate Report
By John Brew & Jeffrey L. Snyder on
On March 31, 2021, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), released the 2021 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report. The report, which is the first issued under the Biden Administration, provides a detailed inventory of significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, investment, and digital trade.
The NTE Report, which by…