WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/TPR/G/275 
13 November 2012 
 
 (12-6167) 
Trade Policy Review Body Original: English 
  
 
   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
Report by the  
 
UNITED STATES 
 
   
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishi ng the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization), the policy statement by the United States is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circ ulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on the United States. United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  CONTENTS  
Page 
I.  THE UNITED STATES IN THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM 5  
II.  THE UNITED STATES ECONOMIC  AND TRADE ENVIRONMENT 8  
(i)  Trade policy 8  
(ii)  Growth  8 
(iii)  Federal budget deficit 9  
(iv)  Nominal savings/investment 9  
(v)  Labor markets 9  
(vi)  Productivity 10  
(vii) Exports, imports, and the trade balance 10  
(viii) Challenges to the U.S. and global recovery 10  
(ix)  Conclusion 11  
III.  OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY:  BUILDING SUPPORT FOR TRADE 11  
(i)  Policy coordination 11  
(ii)  Public engagement and transparency 12  
(iii)  Advisory committee process 13  
(iv)  State and local government relations 14  
IV.  TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 2010 15  
(1)  WTO  AGREEMENTS AND INITIATIVES  15  
(2)  REGIONAL INITIATIVES  16  
(i)  North American Free Trade Agreement 17  
(ii)  Central America and the Dominican Republic 17  
(iii)  Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum 18  
(iv)  The U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement 19  
(v)  Engagement with the Middle East and North Africa 19  
(vi)  Managing and deepening U.S.-EU trade 20  
(vii) African Growth and Opportunity Act 21  
(viii) East African Community Trade and investment partnership 21  
(ix)  The Caribbean Basin Initiative 21  
(x)  HOPE II Act 22  
(xi)  Andean Trade Preference Act 23  
(3)  BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND INITIATIVES  23  
V.  TRADE-RELATED CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATVES 28  
VI.  TRADE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 31  
VII.  TRADE AND LABOR 32  
VIII. SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS TRADE 33  
IX.  LOOKING FORWARD/CONCLUSIONS 34  
 United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  I. THE UNITED STATES IN THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM 
1. As an original member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United States maintains 
an abiding commitment to the ru les-based multilateral trading system.  The WTO represents the 
multilateral bedrock of U.S. trade policy, playing a vital role in securing new economic opportunities 
for American workers, farmers, ranchers, manufac turers, and service provide rs and promoting global 
growth and development with widely shared be nefits.  The WTO agreements also provide a 
foundation for high-standard U.S. b ilateral and regional agreements that make a positive contribution 
to a dynamic and open global trading system based on the rule of law. 
2. As the United States Government undergo es its eleventh Trade Policy Review, the 
United States remains committed to preserving and enhancing the WTO's irreplaceable role as the 
primary forum for multilateral trade liberalization,  for the development and enforcement of global 
trade rules, and as a key bulwark against protectionism.  Recognizing that trade has and continues to make a powerful contribution in expanding the gl obal economy, the United States will seek to create 
momentum for market-opening measures that present significant opportunities for producers and consumers, and strengthen the WTO's credibility as a negotiating organization.   
3. The United States believes that the WTO contin ues to demonstrate its considerable value 
through the day-to-day work of its Standing Comm ittees and other bodies, which remain instrumental 
in promoting transparency of WTO Member trade policies and providing critical fora for monitoring 
and resisting protectionist pressures during a time of global economic challenges.  The WTO provides 
a forum for enforcing rights under the various WTO ag reements to ensure that the United States, and 
all WTO Members, receive the full benefits of WTO membership.  Recognizing the importance of 
sustaining and enhancing the WTO's critical role, th e United States has devoted additional attention to 
making the best use of the WTO's existing committe es and other structures, using them to advance 
specific U.S. trade policy objectives and to en sure the ongoing strength and credibility of the 
multilateral trading system.    
4. Through discussions in the more than 20 Standing Committees (not including Working 
Groups, Working Parties, and Negotiating Bodies), th e United States and other Members have had the 
opportunity to seek detailed information on individua l Members' trade policy actions and collectively 
consider them in light of WTO rules and their impact on individual Members and the trading system as a whole.  Such discussions have enabled Member s to assess their trade-related actions and policies 
given concerns that other Members raise and to consider and address those concerns in domestic 
policymaking.  With the ultimate goal of creating and sustaining jobs, the United States will continue 
to use the WTO Committee system to enhance transp arency, combat protectionism, and engage in a 
dialogue with WTO Members about evolving global trade challenges and key concerns.  The United States will also continue to utilize the WTO's network of committees in exploring emerging 
challenges surrounding issues such as regional trad e agreements, export restrictions, food security, 
and governmental involvement in commercial activities. 
5. The fundamental features of U.S. trade polic y – maintenance of open,  competitive markets, 
compliance with WTO obligations, and leadership  in the multilateral trading system – remain 
unchanged despite new challenges presented in the gl obal economy.  Since the last U.S. Trade Policy 
Review in 2010, the United States has pursued a tr ade policy that supports additional jobs through 
exports and two-way trade, enforcement of trade rules, and through bolstered international trade 
relationships, while also partnering with de veloping countries to fight poverty and expand 
opportunities.   WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  6. Two years after the President launched the Na tional Export Initiative (NEI) in his 2010 State 
of the Union Address, the Administration-wide effort to double exports by the end of 2014 is continuing to making strides.  Under the NEI, the Administration continues to actively pursue 
implementation work focused on improving trade a dvocacy and export promotion efforts, removing 
or reducing barriers to U.S. exports of goods  and services, increasing access to credit, robustly 
enforcing trade rules, and pursuing policies at the global level to promote strong, sustainable, and balanced growth.  Overall U.S. exports of goods and services reached a record US$2.1 trillion in 2011 
and have continued to increase this year, d espite challenging global economic conditions. 
7. In structuring U.S. trade policy, the Admini stration has put a special emphasis on expanding 
economic and trade opportunities specifically for small businesses and women-owned and 
minority-owned firms.  Through the Asia-Pac ific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), the 
United States continues to work to address some of the top barriers facing small businesses trading in 
the region, such as by making access to basic customs documentation easier and to enhance 
participation by small businesses in global producti on chains.  With European Union partners, the 
United States will undertake new Best Practices Excha nges to reduce transatlantic barriers to trade for 
small businesses.  And with its trade agreement pa rtners, the United States is working to develop 
ways for small businesses to take greater advant age of the economic opportunities created by these 
agreements.  The Administration also is committe d to improving women's ability to access financing 
and markets, to helping women-owned firms comp ete, and to fostering women in leadership 
positions.  The United States is a leader on these issu es in APEC and encourages developing countries 
to work on these issues under our trade investment  framework agreements.  Domestically, women 
owned businesses are supported by numerous progr ams, such as the U.S. Small Business 
Administration's Women's Business Centers (WBCS) – a national network of nearly 100 educational 
centers designed to assist women to start and grow small businesses. 
8. As part of its broader efforts to liberali ze trade within the scope of WTO rules, the 
United States pursues a number of broad domestic, b ilateral, and regional initiatives that complement 
multilateral approaches.  In 2011, the Administration secured congressional approval for 
market-opening trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama, renewal of trade preference programs that benefit U.S. businesses and consumers through cost savings on goods from developing 
countries, and the strengthening of Trade Adjustme nt Assistance to support American workers and 
farmers transitioning to new jobs.  Since the l ast Trade Policy Review, the United States worked 
closely with its partners in the Trans-Pacific Pa rtnership (TPP) to achieve a broad outline of an 
ambitious agreement that will tackle 21
st century trade issues while further opening Asia-Pacific 
markets to American producers of goods and services.   The United States also hosted a watershed 
year in the APEC forum, securing concrete and meaningful commitments from 20 other Asia-Pacific 
economies that will advance our trade and investment  interests and support jobs for workers in the 
United States and around the Pacific Rim.  In 2012, the United worked closel y with Russia, as APEC 
host, to build on the momentum established in 2011 by achieving similarly meaningful outcomes.  
The United States and the European Union launche d the U.S.-EU High-Level Working Group on Jobs 
and Growth (HLWG), an avenue for identifying ne w ways of strengthening our economic relationship 
with Europe.  With trading partners in the Middl e East and Africa, the United States began building 
new bilateral and regional approaches to promoti ng additional economic grow th through the removal 
of barriers to regional trade and investment.   
9. The United States also continues its efforts to maximize the benefits of international 
investment, which is a key driver of U.S. econom ic growth.  Protection of U.S. investors and 
investment abroad is essential to ensure that firm s and workers can compete on a level playing field 
and are treated according to the rule of law in fo reign markets.  In April 2012, the Administration United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  concluded its review of the U.S. model bilateral investment treaty (BIT).  Like the predecessor 2004 
model BIT, the 2012 model BIT continues to provide strong investor protections while preserving the 
government's ability to regulate in the public inter est.  The Administration made several important 
changes to the model BIT text to enhance tran sparency and public participation; sharpen the 
disciplines that address preferential treatment to  state-owned enterprises and national champions, 
including the distortions created by certain indige nous innovation policies;  and strengthen protections 
relating to labor and the environment.  Fi nalizing the updated model BIT has enabled the 
United States to advance its ongoing BIT negotiati ons with partners such as China, India, and 
Mauritius, and to consider launching additional BI T negotiations with othe r potential partners.  
10. Robust trade enforcement across the spectrum of goods and services is also a central pillar of 
U.S. trade policy.  For nearly two decades, the WT O dispute settlement system has proven valuable to 
Members as a unique venue for the discussion and adj udication of disputes with our trading partners.  
The United States' enforcement prio rities seek to target the most commercially-significant challenges 
facing U.S. workers and businesses, as well as emerging issues that have important implications for the future of the rules-based global trading syst em.  Vigorous investigation efforts by relevant 
agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and State, help ensure that trade 
agreements yield the maximum benefits in terms of  ensuring market access for Americans, advancing 
the rule of law internationally, and creating a fa ir, open, and predictable trading environment.  
Ensuring full implementation of U.S. trade agreemen ts remains one of the Administration's strategic 
priorities.   
11. The United States will continue vigilant trade enforcement efforts at the WTO, while also 
monitoring and enforcing commitments in our bilatera l, plurilateral, and regional trade agreements, to 
maintain a level playing field and uphold key comm itments.  The United Stat es remains committed to 
working with its trading partners to create a gl obal trading system where intellectual property is 
protected, where agricultural and industrial regula tions are based on science, and where transparent 
rules and regulations are applied without discrimination.   
12. Another key element of U.S. trade policy includ es efforts to partner with developing countries 
to alleviate poverty and promote economic opportunities.  Recognizing that trade is a key component 
in achieving the broad-based economic growth neces sary to drive development, economic growth and 
recovery in countries transitioning away from c onflict and natural disasters, the United States 
promotes a global development policy to support countries in their capacity to trade.  On 
22 September 2010, the President released his stra tegy for global development, which contained as 
one of its three pillars, a policy focused on sustainable development outcomes that places a premium on broad-based economic growth, democratic governance, game-changing innovations, and 
sustainable systems for meeting basic human needs.  The strategy also has as one of its pillars a 
modern architecture that elevates development and harnesses development capabilities spread across 
government in support of common objectives – in cluding a deliberate effort to leverage the 
engagement of and collaboration with other donors, foundations, the private sector, and NGOs – not 
just at the project level, but systemically.  Th e Administration continues to work closely with 
Congress to consider the future of GSP and other trade preference programs.  The United States has 
committed to increased assistance to LDCs in a numbe r of areas, in recognition of the fact that 
effective assistance to help developing countries bu ild up their capacity to trade is an important 
complement to market access. 
13. In summary, the United States remains eager to  do business with trading partners around the 
world on the basis of mutual accountability and shared ambition for economic growth.  The 
United States continues to adhere strongly to the precept that trade liberalization at the multilateral WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  level holds the highest potential for securing wide-ra nging market-opening outcomes.  Furthermore, 
we view trade as an economic engine for global de velopment.  The United States will maintain its 
commitment to support jobs through exports and tw o-way trade, through enforcement of rights in a 
strong, rules-based system, and through bolstered in ternational trade relationships.  The United States 
also pledges to vigorously support and revitalize th e valuable, day-to-day work carried out by the 
WTO's Committees, Working Groups, and its dis pute settlement mechanism for the purpose of 
maintaining and enforcing the commitments to open  markets that the WTO Agreements envision, and 
retaining or realizing the jobs that market acc ess may provide.  In support of our WTO commitments, 
the United States will continue to complement its  multilateral approaches with discussions at the 
plurilateral, regional, and bilatera l levels to build consensus for, and commitments to, market-opening 
agreements in many areas critical to th e growth of trade-supported jobs.   
II. THE UNITED STATES ECONOMIC AND TRADE ENVIRONMENT 
(i) Trade policy 
14. The United States remains committed to preserving and enhancing the WTO's role as the 
primary forum for multilateral trade liberalization,  for the development and enforcement of global 
trade rules, and as a key voice against protectionism.  With 95% of the world's population living 
outside our borders, the United States is committe d to opening foreign ma rkets through negotiating 
trade agreements, either multilateral, regional or bilateral, as well as mainta ining the integrity of 
existing trade agreements and enforcing U.S. right s under those agreements.  Trade liberalization has 
benefited both the United States and the rest of the world by fueling economic growth, supporting 
good jobs, raising living standards and providing the world with more affordable goods and services.  
The gains from trade are not a win-lose proposition, but rather can be a win-win situation when we all 
focus on opening markets and playing by the ru les of our rules-based trading system.   
15. As of 2011, U.S. goods and services exports  have supported 9.7 million jobs in the 
United States alone, including one in four jobs (2.93 million/25.4%) in the manufacturing sector.  
Imports have also helped expand our purchasing power, widen choice for American consumers and 
provide valuable inputs into U.S. production. 
16. The United States maintains one of the world's most open trade regimes, with the current 
U.S. simple average tariff at 3.5% on a legally bound basis under the WTO.  When GSP and other tariff preferences are taken into account, the U.S. trad e-weighted average tariff is 1.34% on an applied 
basis.  In 2011, nearly 70% of all U.S. imports (including under preference programs) entered the 
United States duty free.  U.S. service markets ar e open to foreign providers and U.S. regulatory 
processes are transparent a nd accessible to the public. 
(ii) Growth 
17. During the period under review, the United Stat es continued to recover from the global 
recession of 2007-2009, albeit more slowly than in previous recoveries.  After falling by 3.1% in 
2009, the growth rate in U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 2.4% in 2010, then 
decelerated to 1.8% in 2011, U.S. economic activity moderated in the first half of 2012, with real 
GDP growth slowing from a 2.0% annual rate in the first quarter to 1.3% in the second quarter.  Since 
the trough of the recession in the 2
nd quarter of 2009 through the 2nd quarter of 2012, U.S. GDP is up 
2.2% on an annualized basis.  The leading contributo rs to this growth have been consumer spending, 
business fixed investment, and exports.   United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  18. Personal consumption expenditures, which acc ount for 70% of U.S. GDP, increased 4.4% 
between 2009 and 2011 and have contributed 1.5 percen tage points to GDP growth since the end of 
the recession (through 2nd quarter 2012).  Business fixed investment increased 9.4% between 2009 
and 2011, and has contributed 0.6 percentage points to GDP growth since the end of the recession.  
Both U.S. real exports and imports of goods and services increased between 2009 and 2011, with 
exports up 18.6% and imports up 17.9%.  Over the past 12 quarters of recovery (through 2nd quarter of 
2012), real exports of goods and services have contri buted nearly 1 percentage point to U.S. GDP 
growth.  However, Government expenditures declin ed by 2.5% between 2009 and 2011 – driven by a 
decline in state and local government expenditures of 5.1%.   
(iii) Federal budget deficit 
19. The Federal primary budget deficit has averag ed roughly 8 to 9% of GDP over the past 
3 fiscal years (US$1.22 trillion (8.7% of GDP) in 2009, US$1.27 trillion (8.8%) in 2010, and US$1.19 trillion (7.9%) in 2011).  As the economy co ntinues to recover, the primary deficit is 
projected to fall to 6.4% of GDP  in FY2012 and continue to narrow until FY2018, when it is expected 
to reach a primary surplus.  From FY2018 to FY2022,  the primary surplus is projected to average 
0.4% of GDP.    
20. The United States is firmly committed to putting federal finances on a sustainable trajectory.  
The Budget Control Act, passed in August 2011, w as a significant first step in this direction, 
committing the United States to US$2.1 trillion in deficit reduction over the next 10 years.  The Administration's FY2013 Budget proposal would redu ce the deficit by an additional US$2.8 trillion 
over the next decade, cutting the deficit in half as a share of the economy and putting the debt on a 
declining path by the middle of the decade.  By FY2018, the budget deficit would be less than 3% of 
GDP, the debt-to-GDP ratio would be on a declin ing path, and the primary deficit would be 
eliminated, so that spending is no longer adding to the national debt. 
(iv) Nominal savings/investment 
21. U.S. gross savings, as a percentage of gross na tional income, in recent years declined from a 
peak of 18.6% in 1998 to a low of 11.1% in 2009, then picked up to 12% in 2010 and 2011.  The 
increase in gross saving of US$282 billion between 2009 and 2011 was primarily due to an increase in business sector saving of US$232 billion.  Delevera ging by households continued as the personal 
saving rate doubled from roughly 1 to 2% in 2005-2007 to 3 to 4% in 2008-2011.  There was also a 
high level of Government dis-saving – six times the level in 2007.   
22. U.S. gross investment increased by US$279 billion between 2009 and 2 011, nearly equaling 
the US$282 billion increase in U.S. gross savings.  A lthough levels of gross domestic investment in 
the U.S. economy nearly equaled U.S. saving, ne t inflows of capital increased, from US$383 billion in 
2009, to US$450 billion in 2010, and to US$467 billion in 2011. 
(v) Labor markets 
23. Employment increased in the United States during most of the period under review, up 
3.8 million since February 2010 (up 1.0 milli on between December 2009 and December 2010, up 
1.8 million to December 2011, and up 902 thou sand to June 2012).  The unemployment rate 
subsequently decreased from a high of 9.6% in 201 0 to 8.9% in 2011 and as of August 2012 stood at 
8.1%.  Manufacturing employment is up 512,000 since January 2010 and accounts for one in eleven 
U.S. non-farm jobs.  Service-producing industri es (including Government) employed 86% of all 
U.S. non-farm workers in 2011.   WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  (vi) Productivity 
24. Labor productivity continued to increase in both 2010 and 2011, though gains were much 
stronger in 2010.  Labor productivit y, as measured by output per hour worked, grew 4.0% in 2010 and 
0.2% in 2011.  Manufacturing productivity similarly exhibited stronger growth in 2010 than 2011, up 
6.6% in 2010 and 2.5% in 2011. 
(vii) Exports, imports, and the trade balance 
25. Nominal U.S. exports of goods and services increased by 32% between 2009 and 2011 (from 
US$1.58 trillion to US$2.09 trillion).  Nominal U. S. imports of goods and services increased by 
34.9% between 2009 and 2011 (from US$1.97 trillion to  US$2.66 trillion).  As a share of nominal 
GDP, U.S. goods and services exports increased to a r ecord level of nearly 14% in 2011.  U.S. goods 
and services imports increased to a level of 17.7% of GDP in 2011, slightly below the 17.9% record 
level in 2008.   
26. The United States was the recipient of 18.1% of  world goods and services exports (excluding 
U.S. exports and intra-EU exports) in 2010 (latest data available).  The United States supplied 14.5% 
of world goods and services imports (excluding  U.S. imports and intra-EU imports).  
27. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with  other countries (on a national income and 
product accounts basis) increased by 32% from US$389 billion in 2009 (2.8% of U.S. GDP) to US$512 billion in 2010 (3.5% of U.S. GDP), then increased by only 11% in 2011 to US$568 billion 
(3.8% of U.S. GDP). 
(viii) Challenges to the U.S. and global recovery  
28. Despite the progress made over the past three y ears, the U.S. economy continues to face a 
number of challenges, both dom estic and international.  
29. Some of them, like the weak housing market and high levels of household debt, are the 
legacies of the bubble that preceded the recent financial crisis.  Conditions are improving in the housing sector, and households have made significant st rides with regard to balance sheet repair, but 
in neither case has the United States re turned to pre-bubble norms.   
30. The U.S. economy also remains vulnerable to global economic conditions, particularly the 
situation in Europe.  Uncertainty a bout sovereign debt strains in Eur ope has contributed to volatility in 
U.S. and global financial markets.  The recen t slowdown in global growth has also presented 
challenges for U.S. exports, which have been an important source of strength for the U.S. economy 
over the past three years.   
31. U.S. macroeconomic goals in the G-20 are to  put in place the building blocks for strong, 
sustainable, and balanced global growth.  The global recovery from the crisis has been slow, so the 
United States has urged all G-20 countries, advan ced and emerging market economies alike, to boost 
the pace of domestic demand growth to the extent th at they have policy space; to accelerate structural 
reforms and increase growth potential; and commit to more rapid adjustment in the rebalancing of 
global demand.  
32. The United States has welcomed the progress ma de to reduce current account surpluses and 
deficits, but has urged that additional policies be put in place to safeguard progress and foster further 
adjustment.  The United States has al so pointed out that the goal of balanced global growth is about United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  more than just reducing external imbalances; it is  also about accelerating the pace of growth in 
domestic demand in countries highly de pendent on exports as countries with  external deficits work to 
boost national saving.  Only in this way can global growth and demand be sustained at a high level. 
(ix) Conclusion 
33. The United States remains firmly committed to the WTO-based multilateral, well functioning, 
rules-based trading system.  The United States l ooks to work with other members for further 
significant liberalization of trade through the WTO.   The strengthening and further opening of global 
markets to trade would support global economic rec overy and income – increasing the expansion of 
world trade for all WTO Members, developing and developed alike.   
III. OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY:  BUILDING SUPPORT FOR TRADE 
34. Support for the United States' active trade agenda  – including for bilateral and regional trade 
agreements as well as U.S. participation in the WTO – has been built through extensive outreach to 
U.S. industry leaders, entrepreneurs, farmers, ra nchers, small business owners, works, state and local 
government officials, and advocates for labor rights , environmental protecti on, and public health, 
among other issues.  Constant coordination with Co ngress is also vital.  The United States views the 
act of consulting with those interested in and affected by issues as an important part of any 
government's responsibility.  Advice from such stakehol ders is both a critical and integral part of the 
trade policy process.   
35. As a result, the Administration has sought to  broaden opportunities for public input and 
increased transparency of trade policy.  This ha s been accomplished in part via increased the 
U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) website a nd newsletter communications; online posting of 
Federal Register Notices soliciting public comment and input and publicizing Trade Policy Staff 
Committee (TPSC) public hearings; increasing transp arency regarding specific policy initiatives; 
managing the agency's increased outreach and engage ment with small and medium-sized businesses; 
meetings with a broad array of domestic stakehol ders; and speeches to associations and conferences 
around the country regarding trade.  In additio n to public outreach, USTR is responsible for 
administering the statutory advisory committee sy stem created by Congress under the Trade Act of 
1974 as amended, as well as facilitating formal cons ultations with state and local governments 
regarding trade issues which may impact them.  These efforts are bringing U.S. trade policy into 
greater balance with the concerns and aspirations of the American people.  
(i) Policy coordination 
36. USTR has primary responsibility, with th e advice of the interagency trade policy 
organization, for developing and coordinating the im plementation of U.S. trade policy, including on 
commodity matters (for example, coffee and rubber) and, to the extent they are related to trade, direct 
investment matters.  Under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Congress established an interagency 
trade policy mechanism to assist with the implemen tation of these responsibilities.  This organization, 
as it has evolved, consists of three tiers of co mmittees that constitute the principal mechanism for 
developing and coordinating U.S. Government positions on interna tional trade and trade-related 
investment issues. 
37. The Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG) and the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), 
administered and chaired by USTR, are the subcab inet interagency trade policy coordination groups 
that are central to this process.  The TPSC is th e first-line operating group, with representation at the 
senior civil servant level.  Supporting the TPSC are more than 80 subcommittees responsible for WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  specialized issues.  The TPSC regularly seeks advice from the public on its policy decisions and 
negotiations through Federal  Register Notices and public hearings.  In 2011 and 2012, the TPSC held 
public hearings on China's Compliance with  its WTO Commitments (5 October 2011, 
3 October 2012) and public hearings on negotiating objectives concerning the participation of Mexico 
(21 September 2012) and Canada (24 Septem ber 2012) in the proposed TPP Agreement.  
38. Through the interagency process, USTR requests input and analysis from members of the 
appropriate TPSC subcommittee or task force.  The conclusions and recommendations of this group 
are then presented to the full TPSC and serve as the basis for reaching interagency consensus.  If 
agreement is not reached in the TPSC, or if par ticularly significant policy questions are being 
considered, issues are referred to the TPRG (Deput y USTR/Under Secretary level) or to the Deputies 
Committee of the National Security Council/Nationa l Economic Council.  Issues of the greatest 
importance move to the Principals Committee of the NSC/NEC for resolution by the Cabinet, with or 
without the President in attendance. 
39. Member agencies of the TPSC and the TPRG consist of the Departments of Commerce, 
Agriculture, State, Treasury, Labor, Justice, Defens e, Interior, Transportation, Energy, Health and 
Human Services, Homeland Security, the Envi ronmental Protection Agency, the Office of 
Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Council on Environmental Quality, 
the International Development Cooperation Agency , the National Economic C ouncil, and the National 
Security Council.  The U.S. In ternational Trade Commission is a non-voting member of the TPSC and 
an observer at TPRG meetings.  Representatives of other agencies also may be invited to attend 
meetings depending on the specific issues discussed.  The Small Business Administration joined the 
TPSC/TPRG as a full member in March 2010.   
(ii) Public engagement and transparency   
40. Through the USTR blog and website pages, http://www.ustr.gov shares updated information 
about the United States' efforts to support job cr eation by opening markets and enforcing America's 
rights in the rules-based global trading system.  In teractive tools on the site allow the public to 
participate more fully in USTR's day-to-day opera tions.  The public is also invited to sign up on 
USTR's homepage to receive the weekly e-mail news letter, which highlights USTR's efforts to engage 
the public, open markets and enforce trade agreements  around the world.  This is a useful tool for 
small businesses and stakeholders outside Washingt on, D.C. to stay informed about trade policy 
developments and new market opportunities.  
41. Throughout 2011 and 2012, USTR has issued Federal Register Notices online to solicit 
public comment and has held public hearings at USTR regarding a wide array of trade policy 
initiatives. Public comments received in response to Federal Register Notices are available for 
inspection online at:  http://www.regulations.gov.  Some examples of trade policy initiatives for 
which USTR has sought public comment include t hose related to the ongoing negotiations of the 
Partnership TPP Agreement, the Generalized System  of Preferences (GSP), and a Special 301 Out of 
Cycle Review of Notorious Markets. 
42. USTR has also taken steps in specific issu e areas to increase transparency and augment 
opportunities for public input, such as through the incl usion of stakeholders at the TPP negotiations in 
the United States, and during the development and ne gotiations of an Action Plan related to Labor 
Rights in the context of the United States-Colombia  Trade Promotion Agreement.  USTR officials 
also meet frequently with a broad array of  stakeholder groups re presenting business, labor, United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  environment, consumers, state and local governme nts, NGOs, think tanks, universities, and high 
schools to discuss specific trade policy issues, subject to availability and scheduling.   
43. To promote robust and inclusive dialogue with  the American people and support an active 
trade agenda in 2012, the United States continues to develop and deploy innovative communications 
tools that enable the American people to stay  informed about and take better advantage of 
job-supporting commercial opportunities.  One such  effort to support U.S. commercial growth is 
SelectUSA.  Established by Executive Order of  the President in June 2011, SelectUSA is a 
U.S. government-wide initiative to attract, retain, a nd expand business investment in the United States 
to support economic growth and job creation.  Se lectUSA serves as an information clearinghouse, 
ombudsman, advocate, and policy expert for firms,  economic development or ganizations, and other 
stakeholders seeking to grow business investment in the United States.  SelectUSA works on behalf of 
the entire nation and exercises strict geographic neutra lity.  The U.S. Government also has plans to 
unveil a new website to assist businesses in the Un ited States called BusinessUSA.  BusinessUSA will 
consolidate information and services  from across the government into a single, integrated network for 
American business owners and entrepreneurs th at want to begin or increase exporting.  
44. The United States also continues to develop th e FTA Tariff Tool, a free online tool launched 
in 2011, which helps more small businesses take be tter advantage of tariff re duction and elimination 
under U.S. trade agreements. 
(iii) Advisory committee process 
45. The United States continues to rely on its trad e advisory committee syst em to ensure that 
U.S. trade policy and trade negotiating objectives ade quately reflect U.S. public and private sector 
interests.  The trade advisory committee system consists of 28 advisory committees, with a total 
membership of approximately 700 advisors.  It includes committees representing sectors of industry, agriculture, labor, environment, state and local interests.  The system is  arranged in three tiers:  the 
President's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy a nd Negotiations (ACTPN);  five policy advisory 
committees dealing with environment, labor, agricult ure, Africa, and state and local issues;  and 
22 technical advisory committees in the areas of industry and agriculture.   
46. These bodies were strengthened in 2011 as seven ag ricultural advisory committees that advise 
USTR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (US DA) on trade matters were reconstituted to include 
74 first-time members representing a diverse range of stakeholder interests including farmers, ranchers, agribusiness, state government, and public  health groups.  The Labor Advisory Committee 
on Trade Policy and Negotiations w as also expanded to include representatives from a broader range 
of labor organizations, strengthening the voice of American workers in shaping U.S. trade policy. 
Tier I:  President's Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN) 
47. The ACTPN consists of not more than 45 members who are broadly representative of the key 
economic sectors affected by trade.  The Preside nt appoints ACTPN members to four-year terms not 
to exceed the duration of the charter.  The ACTPN is the highest level committee in the system that 
examines U.S. trade policy and agreements from the broad context of the overall national interest.  
Members of ACTPN are appointed to represent a variety of interests including non-Federal 
Governments, labor, industry, agri culture, small business, service indus tries, retailers, and consumer 
interests.  WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  Tier II:  The Policy Advisory Committees 
48. Members of the five policy advisory committees  are appointed by USTR or in conjunction 
with other Cabinet officers.  The Intergovernme ntal Policy Advisory Co mmittee (IGPAC) and the 
Trade Advisory Committee for Africa (TACA) are a ppointed and managed solely by USTR.  Those 
policy advisory committees managed jointly with the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, and the 
Environmental Protection Agency are, respectivel y, the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee 
(APAC), Labor Advisory Committee (LAC), a nd the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory 
Committee (TEPAC).  Each committee provides advice based upon the perspective of its specific area 
and its members are chosen to represent the diversity of interests in those areas.  
Tier III:  The Technical and Sectoral Advisory Committee 
49. The 22 technical and sectoral advisory committe es are organized into two areas: agriculture 
and industry.  Representatives are appointed join tly by the U.S. Trade Representative and the 
Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce, respec tively.  Each sectoral or technical committee 
represents a specific sector, commodity group, or functional area and provides specific technical advice concerning the effect that trade policy decisions may have on its sector or issue. 
(iv) State and local government relations 
50. USTR maintains consultative procedures between Federal trade officials and state and local 
governments.  USTR informs the states, on an ongoing basis, of trade-related matters that directly 
relate to, or that may have a direct effect on, th em.  U.S. territories may also participate in this 
process.  USTR also serves as a liaison point in th e Executive Branch for state and local government 
and Federal agencies to transmit information to in terested state and local governments, and relay 
advice and information from the states on trade-re lated matters.  This is accomplished through a 
number of mechanisms, detailed below.  
State Point of Contact System and IGPAC 
51. For day-to-day communications, pursuant to  the NAFTA and Uruguay Round implementing 
legislation and Statements of Administrative Acti on, USTR created a State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) system.  The Governor's office in each stat e designates a single contact point to disseminate 
information received from USTR to relevant state and local offices and assist in relaying specific information and advice from the states to USTR on trade-related matters.  The SPOC network ensures 
that state governments are promptly informed of Administration trade initiatives so their companies 
and workers may take full advantage of increased fore ign market access and reduced trade barriers.  It 
also enables USTR to consult w ith states and localities directly on trade matters which may affect 
them.   
52. IGPAC makes recommendations to USTR and the Administration on trade policy matters 
from the perspective of state and local governments.   Previously, IGPAC was briefed and consulted 
on trade priorities of interest to states and lo calities, including:  Efforts to Pass Pending Trade 
Agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Kore a;  the TPP Agreement; Russia's Accession to the 
WTO;  U.S. work in 2012 to further advance its  trade and investment priorities through APEC, 
including by building on the outcomes of its host year in 2011; the National Export Initiative;  and other matters.  IGPAC members are also invited to participate in monthly teleconference call 
briefings, similar to teleconference calls held for St ate Points of Contact and chairs of the advisory 
committees. Specific issues of interest to IGPAC a nd SPOCs include trade enforcement, Sanitary and United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  Phytosanitary measures, improving federal-state ag ency policy and program c oordination, and foreign 
government challenges to state subsidies.  
Meetings of State and Local Associa tions and Local Chambers of Commerce 
53. USTR officials participate frequently in meeti ngs of state and local government associations 
and local chambers of commerce to apprise them of relevant trade policy issues and solicit their 
views.  For example, in June 2011, Ambassador Kirk addressed the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 
Baltimore, Maryland, and again in January of 2 012 in Washington, DC. The Ambassador has met 
with individual governors, mayors, and state legislat ors to discuss trade issues of  interest to states and 
localities, as well as hosted the Intergovernmental  Policy Advisory Committee at USTR.  The 
Ambassador also meets with local, and diverse, ch ambers of commerce to hear firsthand from local 
community officials and small businesses.  
Consultations Regarding Specific Trade Issues 
54. USTR initiates consultations with particular states and localities on issues arising under the 
WTO and other U.S. trade agreements and frequently  responds to requests for information from state 
and local governments.  Topics of interest since th e last U.S. Trade Policy Review included the trade 
agreements with Colombia and South Korea, th e pending trade agreement with Panama, negotiation 
of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the application of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, General Agreement on Tr ade in Services issues, enforcement of trade 
agreements, the NAFTA trucking issues, and consultations with individual states regarding specific anti-dumping and countervaili ng duty investigations. 
IV. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 2010 
(1) WTO
 AGREEMENTS AND INITIATIVES  
55. The WTO trade ministers agreed at the 8th Ministerial Conference that the Doha Round is at 
an impasse.  The Administration shared the concer n expressed by many that there appears to be no 
early prospects to comprehensively conclude the Rou nd in the near term.  However, the United States 
believes that the commitment at the Ministeria l Conference to consider fresh approaches to 
liberalizing trade in the WTO represents a highly sign ificant turn of events in which the organization 
can regain its footing in promoting meaningful a nd innovative initiatives to extend and strengthen the 
multilateral trading system.  There are a variety of opportunities for new trade liberalization to explore, such as the effort by some countries to  develop a plurilateral International Services 
Agreement and extend coverage of the groundbreak ing Information Technology Agreement.  Since 
the 8
th Ministerial Conference, work has picked up in multilateral negotiations on trade facilitation 
and a variety of development issues, negotiations the United States strongly supports.  The conclusion 
of new guidelines for the accession of the least develo ped countries demonstrates that where there is a 
collective will, there is a way to reach new WTO agreements.  The United States stands ready to 
consider additional areas for and approaches to nego tiations where early progress can be made, and to 
ensure that the WTO maintains its central role in  advancing trade liberalization in the multilateral 
trading system.  
Implementation of Existing Agreements 
56. Since entry into force of the Uruguay Rou nd Agreements in 1995, a central theme of 
U.S. policy has been to undertake the effective and timely implemen tation of our WTO commitments.  
The United States believes it is not only important for American trade interests, but for the WTO WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  system as a whole, to ensure that all Members me et their commitments.  The various manifestations 
of this policy range from active and constructiv e participation in the deliberations of WTO 
committees to the use of the dispute settlement m echanism.  U.S. trade policy seeks to support and 
advance the rule of law. 
57. USTR coordinates the Administration's active monitoring of foreign government compliance 
with trade agreements to which the United St ates is a party and pursues enforcement actions, 
negotiating agreements, employing WTO and FTA in stitutional mechanisms, using dispute settlement 
procedures, and applying the full range of U.S. tr ade laws when necessary.  Vigorous investigation 
efforts by relevant agencies help ensure that these agreements yield the maximum benefits in terms of 
ensuring market access for Americans, advancing the rule of law internationa lly, and creating a fair, 
open, and predictable trading environment.  Ensuri ng full implementation of U.S. trade agreements is 
one of the Administration's strategic priorities. 
58. To ensure the enforcement of WTO agreements, the United States has been one of the world's 
most frequent users of WTO dispute settlement pro cedures.  Since the establishment of the WTO in 
1994, the United States has filed 99 complaints at th e WTO, thus far successfully concluding 65 of 
them by settling 28 cases favorably and prevailing in 37 others through litigatio n before WTO panels 
and the Appellate Body.  The United States has obt ained favorable settlements and favorable rulings 
in virtually all sectors, including manufacturing, inte llectual property, agriculture, and services.  These 
cases cover a number of WTO agreements – involving rules on trade in goods , trade in services, and 
intellectual property protection – and affect a wide range of sectors of the U.S. economy.  
(2) REGIONAL INITIATIVES  
59. As part of its broader efforts to liberalize trad e, but still within the scope of WTO rules, the 
United States is also involved in several regi onal and bilateral initiatives which complement our 
efforts within the multilateral trading system.  Like  other Members of the WTO, the United States has 
created an extensive series of bilateral and regi onal trade and investment agreements.  The WTO 
agreements have provided a foundatio n for high-standard U.S. bilatera l and regional agreements that 
make a positive contribution to a dynamic and open gl obal trading system based on the rule of law.  
To extend the benefits of trade more broadly, th e United States is working with partners around the 
world to remove barriers to trade and enhan ce economic integration on a regional basis.  
60. The United States has insisted on higher standard s for U.S. trade agreements, and has taken a 
proactive approach, in close consultation with Congr ess and American stakeholders, to ensure trade 
agreements better serve American workers and busin ess, and better reflect our values.  Throughout 
2012, the United States has sought to intensify its e fforts through regional initiatives, such as the TPP, 
as well as through bilateral engagement with ma jor trading partners and emerging markets.   
61. During the period of this review, the United St ates and its negotiating partners in the TPP – 
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam – 
continued their work to craft a comprehensive, hi gh-standard regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement, 
that addresses new and emerging trade issues and 21st-century challenges.  Th e United States seeks to 
further strengthen its robust trade relationships with its TPP negotiati ng partners and foster additional 
job-supporting export opportunities by enhancing trade and investment among TPP countries.  The 
United States and its negotiating partners share a vision for the TPP that is predicated on the long-
term objective of expanding the agreement to add itional countries across the Asia-Pacific region.  To 
that end, the nine TPP countries formally extended an invitation to Mexico and Canada in July 2012 United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  to join the negotiations, pending the successful comp letion of each country's domestic procedures.  
Consultations with Japan on its interest in joining the TPP are ongoing. 
62. In 2012, the United States also began to explor e with our trading partners creative approaches 
to fostering increased regional trade and investme nt integration worldwide, not only through the TPP 
and across the Asia-Pacific region, but also with the European Union and in response to historic 
transitions and changing conditi ons in areas including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), 
sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Americ an and the Dominican Republic.    
63. Regional work has also included monitoring compliance with, and/or improving the 
functioning of, current agreements and program s, including the North American Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA), the Asia Pacific Econom ic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Dominican 
Republic-Central America-United States Free Trad e Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Caribbean Basi n Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), and the 
Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Er adication Act (ATPDEA or ATPA). 
64. The following regional initiatives are each examples of the WTO-complementary 
liberalization efforts pursued by the United States.   
(i) North American Free Trade Agreement 
65. On 1 January 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, 
Canada, and Mexico (NAFTA) entered into force.  All remaining duties and quantitative restrictions 
were eliminated, as scheduled, on 1 January 2008.  NAFTA created the world's largest free trade area, 
which now links 457 million people  producing roughly US$18 trilli on worth of goods and services. 
66. Trade between the United States and its NAFTA partners has soared since the agreement 
entered into force.  U.S. two-way trade with Canada and Mexico exceeds U.S. trade with the 
European Union and Japan combined.  U.S. goods exports to NAFTA partne rs have more than 
doubled between 1993 and 2011, from US$142 billion to an estimated US$480 billion. 
67. By dismantling barriers, NAFTA has led to increased trade and investment, growth in 
employment, and enhanced competitiveness.  Fr om 1993 to 2010, cumulative foreign direct 
investment (stock) in the NAFTA countries has increased by over US$3.4 trillion.  Increased 
investment has brought better-paying jobs, as well as lower costs and more choices for consumers and 
producers. 
68. After signing the NAFTA, the United States, Canada, and Mexico c oncluded supplemental 
agreements on labor and environment.  Under these agreements, the parties are, among other things, 
obligated to effectively enforce their environmenta l and labor laws.  The agreements also provide 
frameworks for cooperation among the parties on a wide variety of labor and environmental issues.  In 
connection with NAFTA, the United States and Mexico  also agreed to fund a development bank to 
address environmental infrastructure needs along the U.S.-Mexico border. 
(ii) Central America and the Dominican Republic 
69. On 5 August 2004, the United States signed the Dominican Republic-Central 
America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CA FTA-DR) with five Central American countries 
(Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic.  The 
CAFTA-DR is the first free trade agreement betw een the United States and a group of smaller 
developing economies.  This agreement is creati ng new economic opportunities by eliminating tariffs, WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  opening markets, reducing barriers to services, and pr omoting transparency.  It is facilitating trade and 
investment among the seven countries and furthering regional integration. 
70. Central America and the Dominican Republic repr esent the third largest U.S. export market in 
Latin America, behind Mexico and Brazil.  U.S.  goods exports to the CAFTA-DR countries were 
valued at US$30.5 billion in 2011.  Combined tota l two-way trade in 2011 between the United States 
and Central America and the Domi nican Republic was US$58.7 billion. 
71. The agreement entered into force for the United States and El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, and Nicaragua during 2006, for the Dominican Republic on 1 March 2007, and for 
Costa Rica on 1 January 2009.  With the addition of Costa Rica, the CAFTA-DR is in force for all 
seven countries that signed the  agreement. 
72. The inaugural meeting of the CAFTA-DR Free Trade Commission (FTC) took place in 
February 2011.  Trade Ministers reviewed implementation of the CAFTA-DR and took several important actions to expand benefits and strengt hen the operation of the Agreement.  Among these, 
the FTC endorsed a CAFTA-DR Trade Facilitation Initiative to enhance regional integration and 
competitiveness, expand and broaden the benefits of  trade under the Agreement, and support jobs, 
with special attention to promoting greater particip ation by small and medium sized business.  With 
input from the private sector and the support of  the InterAmerican Development Bank, the 
CAFTA-DR countries will identify cha llenges to the efficient flow of trade in the region and policies 
and best practices to address them.  Among several initiatives, the Ministers released "Frequently 
Asked Questions about Opportunities for Small Businesses to Export in the CAFTA-DR Region," 
providing answers to questions for firms that want to expand their business by taking advantage of the 
CAFTA-DR Agreement and expand their export mark ets.  A CAFTA-DR Vice-Ministerial meeting 
was held in October 2011 and th e second CAFTA-DR FTA meeting was held in January 2012.   
(iii) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum 
73. Since it was founded in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has 
been instrumental in promoting regional and global trade and investment and is central to our efforts 
to achieve a seamless economy in the Asia-Pacific  region that will create more jobs, and expand 
opportunities for U.S. exporters, services providers, and workers, providing greater economic growth 
across the region.   
74. In 2010, the 21 APEC member economies collectively accounted for 44% of world trade and 
54% of global GDP.  In 2011, U.S.-APEC total tr ade in goods was an estimated US$2.3 trillion.  
Total trade in services was US$317 billion in 2010 (lat est data available).  Th e significant value of 
U.S. trade in the Asia-Pacific region underscor es the importance of the region as a market for 
U.S. exports and the significant role APEC contin ues to play in promoting trade and investment 
liberalization and facilitation in the region. 
75. As host of APEC in 2011, the United States worked closely with other APEC economies to 
secure APEC Leaders' commitments to address tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and investment in 
environmental goods and services; to implement policies to ensure market-driven and non-discriminatory innovation policies that prev ent the emergence of barriers to trade in 
U.S. technology; and to take steps to improve the qua lity of the regulatory environment in the region.  
The United States also worked w ith APEC member economies to streamline import procedures for 
energy-efficient test vehicles;  facilitate trade in  remanufactured goods by ensuring that they are 
treated "like new" at the border; establish commercia lly useful de minimis values that will exempt United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  low-value shipments from duties or taxes; and to break down barriers to small businesses trading in 
the region, including by promoting small business e ngagement in global production chains through 
regional trade agreements.   
76. In 2012, during Russia's APEC host year, the Un ited States worked with APEC economies to 
build on these commitments, as well as to launch work on other issues of priority to the United States, 
that will help promote economic growth and job cr eation for American workers and businesses.  The 
United States led the way in securing APEC Leaders endorsement of a commercially and environmentally credible list of environmental goods on which they will reduce tariffs to 5% or less 
by 2015, based on the Leaders' 2011 commitment.  The APEC List of Environmental Goods includes 
54 core environmental products, in cluding renewable and clean energy technologies, wastewater 
treatment equipment, air pollution control technologies, and environmental monitoring and assessment equipment.  Currently US$1.2 billion in  U.S. environmental goods exports to the region 
face tariffs above 5%, and tariffs on some of these pr oducts in the region are currently as high as 35%.  
Thus, the commitment will contribute meaningfully to  trade liberalization efforts in the region.   
77. APEC also showed leadership by agreei ng to launch work to address local content 
requirements in the region, and calling for the swif t and meaningful conclusion of negotiations to 
expand the product scope and membership of the WTO Information Technology Agreement.  In 
addition, APEC agreed to continue its work to address next generation trade and investment issues, 
including by promoting market-driven and non- discriminatory innovation policy and increasing 
transparency and due process in policymaking, whic h will help to bring APEC trade policies in line 
with the realities of the regional environment th at U.S. businesses confront,  and to advance a 
comprehensive effort to improve supply chain pe rformance in the region, which will make it 
significantly cheaper, easier, and faster fo r businesses to trade in the Asia-Pacific. 
(iv) The U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement 
78. The ten member countries of the Associati on of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) 
collectively rank as the United States' fourth largest two-way goods trading partner and fourth largest 
goods export market.  U.S. trade with the region continued to expand in 2011, with U.S. goods 
exports up 10% and imports up 11%.   
79. The United States and ASEAN members conclude d a TIFA in August 2006 and since then 
have been working to build upon already strong tr ade and investment ties to further enhance their 
economic relationship as well as promote ASEAN regi onal economic integration.  In September 2012, 
the United States and ASEAN held a first ASEAN- U.S. business forum in Cambodia focusing on how 
technology can contribute to competitiveness and economic growth.  The United States and the 
ASEAN ministers also met and reaffirmed to th e goal of achieving concrete outcomes under their 
TIFA.  They agreed on a work plan for 2013 to in clude cooperation on trade facilitation, the digital 
economy, trade and the environment, and small- and medium-sized enterprises.  In addition, the 
agreed to organize a second road show of the ASEAN ministers to key U.S. cities to expand 
commercial linkages and improve Unite d States-ASEAN economic relations.  
(v) Engagement with the Middle East and North Africa 
80. The revolutions and other changes that swep t through the Middle East and North Africa 
(MENA) in 2011 prompted a comprehensive reeval uation of U.S. trade and investment policies 
toward this critical part of the world.  In r esponse to these events, USTR coordinated with other 
Federal agencies, outside experts, and stakeholde rs in both the United States and MENA partner WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  countries to develop a trade and investment initiative to spur job growth and enhance regional trade.  
To pursue this initiative, the United States re-la unched its TIFA with Tunisia, setting up specific 
working groups to develop the means of incr easing trade and investment, and pursued similar 
initiatives with Egypt.  USTR is also working in collaboration with EU and MENA trading partners to 
promote common interests in the stability and prosperity of the region.   
81. The United States continued to implement, m onitor, and enforce its FTAs with Bahrain, 
Jordan, Israel, Morocco, and Oman.  In 2011, U STR led several bilateral meetings under these 
frameworks, achieving notable progress toward outsta nding trade issues and fostering effective trade 
dialogues with partner countries.  The dramatic de velopments in certain countries in the region 
provided new opportunities for engagement.  The United States has also increased its engagement 
with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) a nd its six member states (Saudi Arabia, 
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait).   
(vi) Managing and deepening U.S.-EU trade 
82. The U.S. trade and investment relationship w ith the EU is the largest and most complex 
economic relationship in the world, with transatlan tic trade and investment flows averaging almost 
US$3 billion each day during 2011.  The total stock of transatlantic direct investment was worth 
US$3.4 trillion in 2010.  These enormous trade and i nvestment flows are a key pillar of prosperity 
both in the United States and Europe, and count ries around the world benefit from access to the 
markets, capital, and innovations of the transatlantic economy.    
83. In 2011, the United States interacted extensiv ely with counterparts in the major EU governing 
institutions (the European Commission, the Europ ean Parliament, and the European Council) and EU 
Member State governments on key issues for U.S. workers, farmers, and businesses, such as EU 
restrictions on U.S. agricultural exports, the protec tion of intellectual property rights (IPR), and joint 
efforts on shared concerns in third country markets.  
84. During their November 2011 Summit meeting, President Obama and EU leaders established a 
High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth (H LWG) and charged it with identifying and 
assessing options for generating new transatlantic trade and investment that would support job 
creation and growth.  With extensive input from pr ivate sector stakeholders, the HLWG, co-chaired 
by the U.S. Trade Representative and the EU Trad e Commissioner, examined a range of negotiating 
and other options for expanding transatlantic trade and investment.  In its 19 June 2012 Interim Report 
to U.S. and EU leaders, the HLWG said it had reached the "preliminary conclusion" that "a 
comprehensive agreement that addresses a broad range of bilateral trade and investment policies as 
well as issues of common concern with respect to third countries would, if achievable, provide the 
most significant benefit of the various options we  have considered."  The Working Group further 
concluded, however, that "further substantive wo rk" would be "required before a more definitive 
recommendation can be made" on whether to la unch comprehensive trade negotiations.  The 
U.S. government and the European Commission are wo rking internally, with domestic stakeholders, 
with legislators, and with each other to assess poten tial challenges for a negotiation, with the aim of 
developing final recommendations by the end of the year for generating new transatlantic trade and 
investment in support of increased exports and jobs.    
85. Under the Transatlantic Economic Council ( TEC) umbrella, collaboration with the EU 
continued throughout 2011 on sever al initiatives and on a broad range of issues, including agreeing on 
a set of regulatory best practices aimed at reducing non-tariff barriers to trade; implementing a work 
plan on trade and other policy issues influenci ng access to industrial raw materials; and conducting United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  two major exchanges on "best practices" for SMEs a nd their participation in international trade.  
During the November 2011 TEC meeting, the United States and the EU agreed to recognize each 
other's "trusted trader" cargo security programs, a step that will facilitate growth in secure marine 
trade.  The TEC also reached agreement on a jo int plan for promoting regulatory and standards 
cooperation in the emerging electric vehicles sector.  It established a new dialogue on 
nanotechnology, aimed at preventing the adoption of  unnecessary divergent regulations and standards 
which could damage trade in this critical emerging sector.  In early 2012, the TEC Investment Working Group successfully negotiated a text of sh ared principles for international investment 
policies, which the two sides will seek to persuade other countries to embrace. 
(vii) African Growth and Opportunity Act 
86. For the last several years, the African Grow th and Opportunity Act (AGOA), enacted in 2000, 
has been the cornerstone of U.S.-African enga gement on trade and investment.  By providing 
duty-free entry into the United Sates for almost all products of beneficiary countries, AGOA has helped to expand and diversify two-way trade betw een the United States and sub-Saharan Africa, and 
helped to foster an improved business environment in  many sub-Saharan African  countries.  In 2011, 
U.S.-sub-Saharan Africa two-way trade (exports plus  imports) totaled US$95.3 billion.  U.S. total 
imports under AGOA, including its Generalized System of Preferences provisions was US$53.8 billion and U.S. imports of non-oil goods under AGOA totaled US$5 billion.    
87. As a result of a 2011 out-of-cycle review of Guin ea, Niger, and Cote d'Ivoire, and the regular 
2011 annual review of country eligibility, the Presi dent designated 40 sub-Sa haran African countries 
to be eligible for AGOA benefits in 2012.  In A ugust 2012, the U.S. Congress passed legislation, 
which President Obama subsequently signed into law, extending AGOA's third-country fabric (TCF) 
provisions to 30 September 2015.  The TCF provisions we re originally set to expire in 2007, but were 
extended to 30 September 2012 under the African Investment Incentives Act of 2006.  The TCF 
provisions allow eligible AGOA apparel manufacturer s to use textiles imported from anywhere in the 
world in the production of their AGOA apparel exports.    
(viii) East African Community Trade and investment partnership 
88. During the 2011 AGOA Forum in Zambia, the United States proposed a new partnership 
between the United States and the East African Co mmunity (EAC) that would include the exploration 
of a regional investment treaty, creation of trade enhancing agreements in areas such as trade facilitation, continued trade capacity building assist ance, and the development of stronger commercial 
engagement between the United States and the EAC.  The EAC Partner States include Burundi, 
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ug anda.  Total two-way goods trade between the United States and 
the EAC was an estimated US$1.5 billion in 2011,  with US$955 million in U.S. goods exports and 
U.S. goods imports totaling US$535 million.   
(ix) The Caribbean Basin Initiative 
89. The programs known collectively as the Caribbean  Basin Initiative (CBI) are a vital element 
in U.S. economic relations with its neighbors in  Central America and the Caribbean.  Initially 
launched in 1983 by the Caribbean Basin Econom ic Recovery Act (CBE RA) and substantially 
expanded in 2000 with the U.S.-Caribbean Basi n Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), the CBI was 
further expanded in the Trade Act of 2002.  
90. The CBERA provides beneficiary countries and territories with duty-free access to the 
U.S. market for certain eligible articles. Current  beneficiary countries ar e:  Antigua and Barbuda, WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
Page 22 
  
  Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virg in Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, 
Jamaica, Montserrat, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis,  St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and 
Trinidad and Tobago. 
91. When the CAFTA-DR entered into force for each of its signatori es, those countries ceased to 
be designated as CBERA beneficiaries.  The CA FTA-DR entered into force for Costa Rica on 
1 January 2009 and is now in force for all 7 c ountries.  On 12 October 2011, the Congress passed 
legislation approving the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement and President Obama 
signed the legislation on 21 October 2011.  When th is agreement enters into  force, Panama will cease 
to be designated as a CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary country.  
92. Since its inception, the CBERA has helped be neficiaries diversify their exports.  In 
conjunction with economic reform a nd trade liberalization by beneficiary countries, the trade benefits 
of the program have contributed to their economi c growth.  In December 2011, USTR submitted its 
ninth biannual report to Congress on the operation of  the CBERA.  The report can be found on the 
USTR website, http://www.ustr.gov/. 
93. Of the CBERA beneficiaries, eight are also CBTPA beneficiaries, including Barbados, Belize, 
Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, St. Lucia, and Tr inidad and Tobago.  Under the CBTPA, duty- and 
quota-free treatment is provided for apparel assemb led in CBI countries from U.S. fabrics formed 
from U.S. yarns and cut in the United States. 
(x) HOPE II Act 
94. In addition to CBERA, the Haitian Hemis pheric Opportunity through Partnership 
Encouragement Act of 2008 (HOPE II) represents an other example of the on-going U.S. commitment 
to economic development in the Caribbean Basin.  The HOPE II Act was enacted in 2008 as a continuation and expansion of th e original HOPE Act of 2006.  HOPE II provides for duty-free access 
for up to 70 million square meter equivalents (SME) of knit apparel (with some t-shirt and sweatshirt 
exclusions) and 70 million SMEs of woven apparel w ithout regard to the country of origin of the 
fabric or components, as long as the apparel is whol ly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti.  HOPE II 
provides for duty-free treatment of knit or wo ven apparel under a "three for one" earned import 
allowance program:  for every three SMEs of qua lifying fabric (sourced from the United States or 
certain trade partner countries) shipped to Ha iti for production of appare l, qualifying apparel 
producers may export duty-free from Haiti or the Domi nican Republic to the United States one SME 
of apparel wholly-formed or knit-to-shape in Ha iti regardless of the source of the fabric.  HOPE II 
also provides for duty-free treatment for certain bra ssieres, luggage, headgear, and certain sleepwear.  
HOPE II allows these Haitian goods to enter the Un ited States duty-free if shipped either directly 
from Haiti or through the Dominican Republic. 
95. On 16 October 2009, as required by HOPE II for c ontinued country eligibility, the President 
certified to Congress that Haiti has (i) implemented a Technical Assistance Improvement and 
Compliance Needs Assessment and Remediation (TAICNAR) program;  (ii) established a Labor 
Ombudsperson's Office;  (iii) agreed to require pr oducers of articles for which preferential tariff 
treatment may be requested to participate in the TAICNAR program;  and (iv) developed a system to 
ensure participation by such producers, including  by establishing a producer registry. To remain 
eligible for preferential treatment, Haiti must al so have established or be making continual progress 
towards establishing the protection of internationally recognized worker rights.   The United States 
continues to work with the Haitian government and Haitian producers to ensure compliance with the 
HOPE II labor obligations. United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  96. To further support Haiti's recovery and de velopment, the Administration supported 
Congressional efforts to increase Haiti's HOPE II bene fits.  On 24 May 2010, the President signed 
into law H.R. 5160, the "Haiti Economic Lift Pr ogram Act of 2010," whic h expanded and extended 
trade benefits available to Haiti, increasing the ava ilability of preferential access to the U.S. market 
for certain Haitian-made apparel and other articles. 
(xi) Andean Trade Preference Act 
97. The Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) wa s enacted in 1991 to promote broad-based 
economic development, diversify exports, and co mbat drug trafficking by providing sustainable 
economic alternatives to drug-crop production in Boli via, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.  In 2002, the 
Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradicati on Act (ATPDEA) amended the ATPA to provide 
duty-free treatment for a number of products previous ly excluded under the original ATPA program.  
The most significant expansion of benefits was in the apparel sector. 
98. On 30 June 2012, pursuant to section 203(f) of the ATPA, as amended, USTR transmitted its 
Sixth Report to Congress on the Operation of the A ndean Trade Preference Act as Amended.  The 
report described the main features of the program, analyzed trade trends and outlined the countries' 
performance related to the program's eligibility criteria. 
99. The ATPA, as amended, was originally set to  expire on December 31, 2006, but Congress has 
enacted several extensions.  On 12 February 2 011, the privileges under ATPDEA lapsed but were 
reauthorized, retroactively, on 21 October 2011, fo r eligible countries pursuant to section 501 of the 
United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the Implementation Act).  
In its previous extension of the program, C ongress stipulated that Bolivia would not receive 
ATPA/ATPDEA benefits after 30 June  2009, unless by that date the President determined that Bolivia 
was satisfying the program's eligibility criteria.  In a 30 June 2009 report to Congress, President 
Obama determined that Bolivia did not satisfy the pr ogram's eligibility requirements.  As a result, no 
ATPA/ATPDEA benefits remained in effect for Bolivia after that date.  Further, Section 201 of the 
Omnibus Trade Act of 2010, which re-authorized the ATPA/ATPDEA, terminated any preferential 
treatment available under ATPA/ATPDEA to Peru, after 31 December 2010.  Peru has a free trade 
agreement with the United States.   At the time of the 2011 re-authorization, only Colombia and 
Ecuador were eligible beneficiary countries.  Pu rsuant to the Implementation Act, Colombia was no 
longer a beneficiary country as of 15 May 2012, leaving Ecuador as the only remaining beneficiary country.   
(3) B
ILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND INITIATIVES  
100. From day one, the Administration has insisted  on higher standards for trade agreements, and 
in 2011 won congressional approval of  long-awaited pacts with Korea, Colombia, and Panama after 
taking steps to make the agreements better refl ect priorities expressed by Congress and American 
stakeholders.  The free trade agreement with Kor ea entered into force on 15 March 2012, and the free 
trade agreement with Colombia entered into for ce on 15 May 2012.  The United States Government is 
engaging in cooperative work with the Government  of Panama on implementing the Agreement as 
soon as possible and reviewing the relevant laws and regulations to ensure compliance with the 
obligations of the Agreement.  These free trade ag reements will enhance American competitiveness in 
these markets.  The United States also continues to  actively monitor and enforce commitments in our 
other bilateral trade agreements in order to uphold key commitments, such as those to protect labor 
rights and the environment.  WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  101. In April 2012, the Administration also complete d its review of the model text on Bilateral 
Investment Treaties, which produced an updated model that preserves high-standard investor 
protections without compromising governments' ability to regulate in the public interest, and that 
enhances transparency and public participation. 
United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement 
102. The United States-Australia FTA entered into fo rce on 1 January 2005.  U.S. two-way goods 
and services trade with Australia was an estimated  US$56 billion in 2011, up 73% since 2004, the 
year before the FTA entered into force.  U.S. goods e xports were US$24 billion in 2011, up 71% from 
2004, and U.S. goods imports were US$10 billion, up 34% from 2004.    
103. Agricultural trade between the United States and Au stralia continued to grow in 2011.  Under 
the FTA, the two countries established working gr oups aimed at promoting closer cooperation 
between them in this sector and creating fora for discussing agricultural and sanitary and phytosanitary issues.  The working groups met in April 2011 to address specific bilateral animal and 
plant health matters with a view to facilitating ag ricultural trade.  The next working group meeting 
will be held in 2012. 
104. In 2011, the United States and Australia con tinued to closely monitor FTA implementation 
and discuss a range of FTA issues. The two sides work ed to further deepen the trade and investment 
relationship in the TPP Agreement as we ll as through WTO and APEC initiatives. 
The United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement 
105. The United States-Bahrain FTA entered into fo rce on 1 August 2006.  On the first day the 
agreement took effect, 100% of the two-way trade in  industrial and consumer products began to flow 
without tariffs. 
106. The central oversight body for the Agreement is the United States-Bahrain Joint Committee 
(JC), chaired jointly by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Bahrain's Ministry of Industry and Commerce.  Dates for the third meeting of th e JC have not yet been set, but when scheduled, 
officials of the two governments expect to discuss a broad range of trade issues, including efforts to 
increase bilateral trade and investment levels, po ssible cooperation in the broader MENA region, and 
additional cooperative efforts related to la bor rights and environmental protection. 
107. The U.S.-Bahrain FTA also promotes the Admi nistration's policy to increase job-supporting 
trade and investment between the United States and Middle East.  The United States-Bahrain Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which took effect in Ma y 2001, covers investment issues between the two 
countries. 
United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement 
108. The United States-Chile FTA entered into force on 1 January 2004.  The United States-Chile 
FTA eliminates tariffs and opens markets, reduces barriers for trade in services, provides protection 
for intellectual property, ensures regulatory transp arency, guarantees non-discrimination in the trade 
of digital products, commits the Parties to main tain competition laws that prohibit anticompetitive 
business conduct, and requires effective labor and envi ronmental enforcement.  In 2011, U.S. goods 
exports to Chile increased by an estimated 44% to  US$15.7 billion, while U.S. goods imports from 
Chile increased by 33% to US$9.3 billion.  United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  109. The central oversight body for the FTA is th e United States-Chile Free Trade Commission 
(FTC), comprised of the U.S. Trade Representative a nd the Chilean Director General of International 
Economic Affairs or their designees.  The FTC held  its eighth meeting on 3 July 2012, during which 
the two governments evaluated progress on the im plementation and operation of the FTA during 
2011.  The Parties also initiated an exchange of letters  to adjust the product-specific rules of origin in 
the FTA to reflect the 2012 changes to the Harmon ized System nomenclature, and discussed the 
efforts being made to hold several committee me etings during the rest of 2012, including the 
committees on Technical barriers to Trade (TBT),  the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
(SPS) Measures. 
110. The Parties also noted that efforts are be ing made to hold the sixth Meeting of the 
Environment Affairs Council (EAC) and the fourth  Joint Commission on Environmental Cooperation 
in fall 2012 in Santiago.  
United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement 
111. The United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement is the United States' first FTA.  It entered into 
force in 1985 and continues to serve as the founda tion for expanding trade and investment between 
the United States and Israel by reducing barriers and promoting regulatory transparency.  From 2010 
to 2011, U.S. goods exports to Israel rose  by an estimated 25.6%, to US$14.2 billion. 
112. In August 2011, the United States and Israel finalized a work plan that addresses the 
remaining barriers to bilateral trade, including in the areas of agriculture and services.  As initial steps 
under the work plan, the two sides agreed to pursu e negotiations towards implementation of a Mutual 
Recognition Agreement for assessing conformity in telecommunications equipment and to facilitate 
trade by reviewing existing customs procedures and regulations.  The two sides also made progress on a number of market access issues related to standards, customs classification, and technical regulations.  
113. Recognizing in the 1990s that the FTA had inadequa tely liberalized bilate ral agriculture trade, 
the United States and Israel concluded an Agreement Concerning Certain Aspects of Trade in 
Agricultural Products (ATAP), which provided for duty -free or other preferential treatment of certain 
agricultural products.  The 1996 agreement was ex tended through 2003, and a new agreement was 
concluded in 2004.  While this Agreement origin ally extended through 2008, it has been extended 
annually since then.  In December 2011, the two sides agreed to extend that agreement through 
31 December 2012.  The two sides met in February and June with additional engagements likely later 
in 2012 to continue negotiations of a successor agreement to the 2004 ATAP. 
United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement 
114. In 2011, the United States and Jordan continue d to benefit from their economic partnership.  
A key element of this relationship is the United St ates-Jordan Free Trade Ag reement, which entered 
into force on 17 December 2001, and was implemente d fully on 1 January 2010.  In addition, the 
Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs), established by  the U.S. Congress in 1996, allow products to enter 
the United States duty free if manufactured in Jord an, Egypt, or the West Bank and Gaza, with a 
specified amount of Israeli content.  The program  has succeeded in stimulating significant business 
cooperation between Jordan and Israel. 
115. The United States-Jordan FTA has expanded the trade relationship between the two countries 
by reducing barriers for services, providing cutting e dge protection for intellectual property, ensuring 
regulatory transparency, and requiring effective labor  and environmental enforcement.  In June 2010, WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
Page 26 
  
  the two sides crafted a plan of action, pursuan t to the 2009 meeting of the JC charged with 
administering the FTA.  Under this strategy, o fficials committed to explore ways to intensify 
cooperation in the areas of customs, agriculture, inte llectual property rights, labor, the environment, 
and technical assistance. 
116. The FTA has played a significant role in boos ting overall United States-Jordanian economic 
ties.  U.S. goods exports were an estimated US $1.4 billion in 2011, up 22% from 2010.  QIZ products 
still account for more than half of Jordanian expor ts to the United States, but the QIZ share is 
declining relative to total products shipped unde r the FTA.  This shift toward exporting products 
manufactured outside of the QIZs demonstrates the important role the FTA plays in helping Jordan 
diversify its economy. 
United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement 
117. The United States and Morocco signed an FTA on 15  June 2004.  Since the entry into force of 
the FTA on 1 January 2006, the U.S. goods trade su rplus with Morocco has risen to US$1.6 billion in 
2011, up from US$35 million in 2005 (the year prior to entry into force).  U.S. goods exports in 2011 were US$2.7 billion, up 37% from the previous year.  Corresponding U.S. imports from Morocco 
were US$1.0 billion, up 49% from 2010. 
118. The Joint Committee (JC) established by th e FTA last met in November 2009.  In 
October 2010, the United States and Morocco agreed to  develop an action plan for activities to pursue 
in advance of the next JC meeting.  Pursuant to  the action plan, in 2011, the two sides negotiated and 
concluded a Customs Mutual Assistance Agr eement and Morocco undertook measures that 
strengthened its regime for the protection of intell ectual property rights.  In December 2011, the two 
sides discussed strengthening their trade-related e nvironmental cooperation and agreed to focus on 
green economy issues in developing future enviro nmental collaboration activities that will support 
Morocco's implementation of the environment chapte r of the FTA.  In addition, in 2011 and 2012 the 
two countries began discussions on new areas of c ooperation, including with respect to other MENA 
countries, in line with the historic transitions underway in the region. 
United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement 
119. The United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement, wh ich entered into force on 1 January 2009, 
complements existing FTAs to promote economic refo rm and openness in the region.  Implementation 
of the obligations contained in the comprehensiv e agreement will generate export opportunities for 
U.S. goods and services providers, solidify Oman's trade and investment liberalization efforts, and 
strengthen intellectual property ri ghts protection and enforcement. 
120. The central oversight body for the FTA is the United States-Oman Joint Committee (JC), 
chaired jointly by USTR and Oman's Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  The second meeting of the JC took place in September 2012.  The two governments discussed a broad range of trade issues including efforts to increase bilate ral trade and investment levels, possible cooperation in the broader 
Middle East and North Africa region, and additiona l cooperative efforts related to labor rights and 
environmental protection. 
United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement 
121. The United States-Peru Trade Promotion Ag reement (PTPA) entered into force on 
1 February 2009. The United States ' two-way goods trade with Peru  was an estimated US$14.7 billion 
in 2011, with U.S. goods exports  to Peru totaling US$8.4 billion. United States WT/TPR/G/275 
 Page 27 
 
 
  122. The PTPA eliminates tariffs and removes barri ers to U.S. services, provides a secure, 
predictable legal framework for investors, and strengthens protection for intellectual property, 
workers, and the environment. The PTPA is the first agreement in force that incorporates 
groundbreaking provisions concerning the protection of  the environment and labor rights that were 
included as part of a bipartisan Congressional- Executive agreement on trade on 10 May 2007. 
123. The PTPA's central oversight body is the United States-Peru Free Trade Commission (FTC), 
comprised of the U.S. Trade Representative and th e Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism 
or their designees.  The FTC is responsible fo r overseeing implementation and elaboration of the 
PTPA.  The second FTC was convened on 13 July 2011, in  Lima, Peru.  At the FTC meeting, officials 
discussed bilateral trade and investment and econom ic issues of mutual interest, as well as the 
administration of the PTPA.  Both governments acknowledged the progress over the last year to 
implement the commitments under the Agreement, and discussed a plan to effectively monitor 
implementation of, and compliance with, environm ental and labor obligations.  Officials also 
discussed intellectual property, remanufactured goods, and agricultural biotechnology.  Additionally, 
the Parties held the first meeting of the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) working group 
and discussed how to further enhance the ability of SMEs to capitalize on the benefits of the PTPA.  
The Commission agreed to hold the third meeting of the FTC in the United States in fall 2012. 
124. Since the FTC in 2011, several committees established under the PTPA have met, including 
the Committee on Agricultural Trade, the Sta nding Committee on SPS, the Committee on Intellectual 
Property and the Committee on Textiles and Apparel Trade Matters.  Additionally, there has been 
robust engagement concerning in the implementati on of the environmental obligations under the 
PTPA Environment Chapter and the Annex on Forest  Sector Governance.  In May 2012, the United 
States and Peru held the fourth meeting of the Un ited States-Peru Forest Sector Subcommittee and the 
third meeting of the Environmental Affairs Counc il (EAC) in Washington, DC.  The Subcommittee 
serves as a forum for the Parties to exchange views and share information on any matter arising under 
the PTPA's Annex on Forest Sector Governance.  The Parties agreed to continue working together to 
ensure that Peru completes the n ecessary steps to fully implement its obligations under the Annex.  At 
the EAC meeting, officials discussed implementation of the PTPA's Environment Chapter and Annex on Forest Sector Governance, and how to ensu re proper monitoring of, implementation of, and 
compliance with, the Chapter and Annex obligatio ns.  Both governments acknowledged the progress 
and collaborative work that has taken place sinc e entry into force of the PTPA.  The EAC and 
Subcommittee meetings also included a public session where civil society and other stakeholders had 
an opportunity to exchange views on issues relate d to implementation of the Environment Chapter 
and Annex.  The United States and Peru also held the second meeting of the Environmental 
Cooperation Commission (ECC) in May.  The ECC is  responsible for review ing implementation of 
the United States-Peru Environmental Cooperation Agreement, an agreement designed to enhance 
environmental cooperation and build capacity  between the United States and Peru.  
United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement 
125. The United States-Singapore FTA has been in force since 1 January 2004.  U.S. two-way 
goods trade with Singapore totale d US$49.1 billion in 2011, up 55% from 2003 (the year before the 
FTA's entry into force).  U.S. goods exports were US$31.7 billion, up 91% from 2003, and U.S. goods imports were US$17.4 billion, up 15% from 2003. 
126. The United States and Singapore held regular c onsultations throughout 2011 and will hold the 
seventh annual FTA review in 2012.  During the ongoing consultations, the two governments agreed 
that implementation remains on track, and focused th eir discussions on ways to deepen the bilateral WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
Page 28 
  
  relationship.  In 2011, the two sides discussed a ra nge of issues covered by the FTA, including trade 
in textiles and apparel, restrictions on imports of U.S. beef, protection of intellectual property rights, 
and new requirements for pay television companies to cross-carry content from competing providers. 
127. The two sides also discussed their continued environmental cooperation efforts.  In 2011, 
officials from the United States and Singapore par ticipated in two separate study tours, which 
provided the opportunity to exchange ideas regardi ng the latest advances in air quality monitoring, 
modeling, and forecasting as well as enabled govern ment officials to share innovative policies and 
programs that promote cleaner production and energy  efficiency, particularly within the private 
sector. 
128. The two countries took advantage of opportunities during the year to discuss issues and areas 
of ongoing labor cooperation.  In addition to enga gement with Singapore through the negotiations of 
the labor provisions of the TPP Agreement, labor  officials from both governments continued their 
collaboration on areas in which Singapore's Ministry of Labor has expressed an interest, such as the 
United States' system for mediating collective ba rgaining disputes and improving labor management 
relations. 
V. TRADE-RELATED CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATVES 
129. Trade policy and development assistance are key to ols that together can help alleviate poverty 
and improve opportunities.  Through "aid for trad e," the United States focuses on giving countries, 
particularly the least trade-active, the training a nd technical assistance needed to: make decisions 
about the benefits of trade arrangements and reforms;  implement their obligations to bring certainty to 
their trade regimes; and enhance such countries' ab ility to take advantage of the opportunities of the 
multilateral trading system and to compete in a global economy. Accordingly, U.S. assistance addresses a broad range of issues so that commun ities, rural areas, and small businesses, including 
female entrepreneurs, benefit from ambitious reform s in trade rules that are being negotiated in the 
WTO and in other trade agreements.  The Unite d States promotes trade and economic growth in 
developing countries through a wide range of  trade capacity building (TCB) activities.  
130. Recognizing that trade is a key component in  achieving the broad-based economic growth 
necessary to drive development, economic growth a nd recovery in countries transitioning away from 
conflict and natural disasters, the United States h as prepared a global development policy to support 
countries in their capacity to trade.  On 22 September 2010, the President released his strategy for global development, which contained as one of it s three pillars, "a policy focused on sustainable 
development outcomes that places a premium on broad-based economic growth, democratic 
governance, game-changing innovations, and sustaina ble systems for meeting basic human needs."  
The strategy also has as one of its pillars, "a m odern architecture that elevates development and 
harnesses development capabilities spread across government in support of common objectives – 
including a deliberate effort to leverage the e ngagement of and collaboration with other donors, 
foundations, the private sector, and NGOs – not just  at the project level, but systemically." 
131. An important element of U.S. TCB work invol ves coordinating U.S. Government technical 
assistance activities with those of the international in stitutions in order to id entify and take advantage 
of donor complementarities in programming and to a void duplication.  Such institutions include the 
WTO, the World Bank, the International Monetary  Fund (IMF), the regional development banks, the 
United Nations, and others.  The United States, led by USTR at the WTO and by the Treasury 
Department at the international financial institutions , works in partnership with institutions and other United States WT/TPR/G/275 
 Page 29 
 
 
  donors to ensure that, where appropriate, trade-re lated assistance is an integral component of 
development programs tailored to the circum stances within each developing country. 
132. The United States' efforts build on its longsta nding commitment to help partner countries 
benefit from the opportunities provided by the global trading system, both through bilateral 
U.S. assistance and through multilatera l institutions.  U.S. bilateral assistance includes programs such 
as targeted assistance for developing countries pa rticipating in U.S. preference programs;  
coordination of assistance through Trade and Invest ment Framework Agreements (TIFAs);  trade 
capacity building (TCB) working groups that are inte gral elements of negotia tions to conclude Free 
Trade Agreements (FTAs);  and Committees on T CB created to aid in the negotiation and or 
implementation of a number of FTAs, including the FTAs with the Dominican Republic and Central 
America, Colombia, Panama, and Peru, and for so me partners in the ongoing TPP negotiations.  The 
United States also provides bilateral assistance to de veloping countries to enable them to work with 
the private sector and non-governmental organizati ons to transition to a more open economy, to 
prepare for WTO negotiations, and to implement th eir trade obligations.  Multilaterally, the United 
States has supported and will continue to support trade-specific assistance  mechanisms like the 
Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Assistance to Least- Developed Countries and the 
WTOs Global Trust Fund for Trade-Related Technical Assistance. 
World Trade Organization-Related U.S. Trade-Related Assistance 
133. International trade can play a major role in  the promotion of economic growth and the 
alleviation of poverty, and the United States re cognizes that TCB can facilitate more effective 
integration of developing countries into the interna tional trading system and enable them to benefit 
further from global trade.  The United States has and will continue to directly support the WTO's 
trade-related technical assistance efforts.  As a major bilateral provider of trade capacity building 
assistance, the United States has remained an activ e partner in the WTO's Aid for Trade discussion, 
including through its participation in the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade, held at the WTO in July 2011.   
134. The United States supports the trade-related assistance activities of the WTO Secretariat 
through voluntary contributions to the DDA Global Trust Fund.  With an additional contribution of 
US$1 million in 2012, total U.S. contributions to the WTO have amounted to more than US$13 million since the launch of DDA negotiations.  
135. The United States has also provided substantia l assistance over the years in the areas of 
customs and trade facilitation.  More recently, U. S. support for building trade and development 
corridors in Africa, including through the U.S. Government's Global Hunger and Food Security 
Initiative, is increasing.  Through this assist ance, the United States has supported the WTO 
discussions by providing assistance to developing countries that seek help in responding to the regulatory proposals made by members in the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation.  In 
November 2011, the United States announced the Part nership for Trade Facilitation, a new, flexible 
funding mechanism that will support developing count ries' efforts to implement provisions of the 
WTO trade facilitation agreement currently under negotiation.  Additionally, in 2012 the 
United States contributed to the WTO Trust Fund to support updated needs assessments, for those 
Members that request such updates, in connection with the WTO negotiations on trade facilitation.  
These assessments, initially conducte d in 2007-2010, analyzed whethe r Members were in compliance 
with numerous proposed trade facilitation meas ures and tried to identify the reasons for 
non-compliance, the actions needed to implemen t the measures, and the technical assistance and 
capacity building needs and priorities.   WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
Page 30 
  
  136. Another element of U.S. multilateral TCB assi stance is the technical support provided to 
countries that are in the process of acceding to the WTO.  In 2011, WTO accession support was provided to several countries, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, and Serbia. 
The Enhanced Integrated Framework 
137. The Enhanced Integrated Framework is a multi-organization, multi-donor program that 
operates as a coordination mechanism for trade-rela ted assistance to least-developed countries (LDCs) 
with the overall objective of integrating trade into  national development plans.  The United States 
supports the EIF primarily through complementary bila teral assistance to EIF participating countries.  
USAID bilateral assistance to LDC participants supports initiatives both to integrate trade into 
national economic and development strategies and to  address high priority capacity building needs 
designed to accelerate integration into the global trading system. 
Free Trade Agreement Negotiations 
138. Although the WTO programs and the EIF are high priorities, they are only part of the 
U.S. TCB effort.  In order to help U.S. FTA partners participate in  negotiations, implement 
commitments, and benefit over the long-term, US TR has created TCB working groups in FTA 
negotiations with developing countries and Comm ittees on TCB to prioritize and coordinate TCB 
activities during the transition and implementation pe riods once an FTA enters into force.  USAID 
and USDA, their field missions, and a number of other U.S. Government assistance providers actively participate in these working groups and committees so  that TCB needs identified can be quickly and 
efficiently incorporated into ongoing regional and country assistance programs.  The Committees on 
TCB also invite non-governmental organizations, representatives from the private sector, and international institutions to join in building the tr ade capacity of the countries in each region.  Trade 
capacity building is a fundamental feature of bila teral cooperation in support of the CAFTA-DR and 
the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.  USTR also works closely with the Department 
of State and other agencies to track and guide th e delivery of TCB assistan ce to Jordan, Morocco, 
Bahrain, and Oman.  As with other agreemen ts, the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion 
Agreement and the United States-Panama Trade Pr omotion Agreement each provide for the creation 
of a Committee on TCB to build upon the progress made by the proceeding TCB working groups on economic assistance and poverty alleviation.  
TCB Initiatives for Africa 
139. Through bilateral and multilatera l channels, the United States h as also invested more than 
US$3.3 billion in trade-related projects in sub-Sa haran Africa since 2001 to spur economic growth 
and fight poverty. 
140. In June 2011, the United States reinforced its  long-standing commitment to trade capacity 
building in sub-Saharan Africa by announcing the new African Competitiveness and Trade Expansion 
(ACTE) Initiative.  This initiative will provide up to US$120 million over 4 years to improve Africa's 
capacity to produce and export competitive, value-a dded products, including those that can enter the 
United States duty-free under AGOA, and to address supply-side constraints that impede African 
trade.  ACTE will continue to support the work of three regional trade hubs and will help to drive 
economic development in African countries, and enhance trade opportunities among Africans and 
Americans alike.  United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  141. ACTE was a successor to the US$20 million African Global Competitiveness Initiative 
(AGCI), which was the centerpiece of U.S. supp ort for building trade capacity in Africa until 
September 2010.  The primary focus of AGCI was to  help expand African trade and investment with 
the United States, with other international tradi ng partners, and regionally within Africa through 
improving the competitiveness of sub-Saharan Afri can enterprises.  Through 2010, AGCI trade and 
investment programs facilitated over US$178 milli on in AGOA exports, provided export capacity 
building assistance to over 234,000 firms, and trai ned nearly 660,000 Africans in trade capacity 
building.  These results reflect a strategic emphasi s by the U.S. Government on providing marketing 
assistance to African exporters at major internationa l trade shows.  Under an agreement with USAID, 
USDA addressed sanitary and phytosanitary issu es as a part of the AGCI program, focusing 
specifically on the areas of food safety and plant and animal health.  Additionally, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Commercial La w Development Program worked to improve 
protection of intellectual property rights. 
142. Since 2005, the United States has mobilized its  development agencies to help the West 
African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ma li, and Senegal to address obstacles they face in 
the cotton sector.  The MCC, USAID, USDA, a nd the U.S. Trade and Development Agency 
continued to work with these nations as they s ought to develop a coherent  long-term development 
strategy to improve prospects in the cotton sector.  The centerpiece of U.S. assistance to the cotton sector in West Africa is USAID's West Africa Cotton Improvement Program (WACIP).  The program is aimed at helping to improve the production and marketing of cotton in five countries: Benin, 
Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Senegal.  The WACI P is designed to help achieve the following 
objectives:  (1) reduce soil degradation and expand the use of good agricultural practices; 
(2) strengthen private agricultural organizations;  (3) establish a West African regional training 
program for ginners;  (4) improve the quality of W est African cotton through better classification of 
seed cotton and lint;  (5) improve linkages betwee n U.S. and West African research organizations 
involved with cotton;  (6) improve the enabling environment for agricultural biotechnology;  and 
(7) assist with policy/institutional reform.  
143. A key element of the WACIP program is the identification of specific policy priorities 
through National Advisory Committees. Composed of stakeholders in each country, these committees 
undertook work to identify the specific projects that  would yield the assistance and results sought by 
participants and these projects have been the basi s of WACIP's work.  In 2010, WACIP was extended 
to April 2012. In December 2011, the U.S. Government announced that it would continue 
cotton-related trade capacity build ing to these four West African countries, providing up to 
US$16 million over four years subject to the outcome of the U.S. budget process. 
144. The U.S. Government also provides complement ary support to the cotton sector through other 
programs.  MCC is implementing compacts wi th Benin (US$307 million), Burkina Faso 
(US$481 million), Mali (US$460 milli on), and Senegal (US$540 million). 
VI.  TRADE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 
145. Since the last U.S. Trade Policy Review, the United States has enhanced work on 
environment and trade matters across multiple front s, including through multilateral, regional, and 
bilateral trade initiatives.  On the multilateral fr ont, the United States has continued to be a global 
leader in seeking to discipline harmful fisheries subsidies and to eliminate barriers to trade in 
environmental goods and services, including in the clean energy sector, through the WTO as part of 
the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations.  The United States also has sought to orient 
activities in APEC and the OECD Joint Working Party on Trade and Environment to focus on WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  value-added contributions to ongoing WTO work, as well as strong analytical research on the 
interface between trade and clean energy policies. 
146. As host of APEC in 2011, the United States de fined and achieved a robust agenda on green 
growth, and, in particular, secured commitments from APEC Leaders to lower applied tariffs on 
environmental goods to no more than 5% by 201 5 and eliminate local content requirements that 
distort trade and investment for environmental goods and services.  APEC member economies also 
agreed to establish an Experts Group on Illegal L ogging and Associated Trade and to work to 
implement appropriate measures to prohibit trade in illegally harvested forest products.  Finally, in 
2011, we gained agreement to take steps to stream line import procedures for energy-efficient vehicles, 
facilitate trade in remanufactured goods, and impr ove the quality of regulations and standards for 
emerging green technologies in the region.   
147. In 2012, during Russia's host year, the United States worked with APEC member economies 
to gain APEC Leaders' endorsement of a comme rcially and environmentally credible list of 
environmental goods that will be the basis for their 2011 commitment to reduce ta riffs to 5% or less 
by 2015.  This historic outcome marks the first ti me that trade negotiations have produced such a list 
of environmental goods for tariff cuts.  The APEC List of Environmental Goods includes 
54 environmental goods, including such core products as wastewater treatment  filters, solar panels 
and wind turbines, as well as air and water quality monitors.   
148. In 2010, APEC regional trade in the products on the APEC List of Environmental Goods 
totalled US$185 billion, and APEC makes up 60% of world exports of these products.  Reducing 
tariffs on these environmental goods will help A PEC businesses and citizens access important 
environmental technologies at lower cost, which in turn will produce envi ronmental benefits and 
improve the quality of life and living standards of  people across the Asia-Pacific region due to a 
cleaner environment.  It will also contribute signi ficantly to APEC's core mission to promote free and 
open trade and investment. 
149. Since the last review, the United States has al so continued to prioritize implementation of 
U.S. free trade agreements.  In particular, the Un ited States has worked in close collaboration with 
Peru to advance implementation of the A nnex on Forest Sector Governance under the 
United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.  In the lead up to entry into force of the U.S. free 
trade agreements with Korea and Colombia, the Un ited States also worked closely with Korea and 
Colombia on implementation of the environmental pr ovisions of those agreements, and has continued 
to prepare for implementation of the environmental provisions of the United States-Panama Trade 
Promotion Agreement.  
VII. TRADE AND LABOR 
150. The trade policy agenda of the United States includes a strong commitment to ensuring that 
workers and their families in America and around the world benefit from trade.  The United States has 
continued its efforts to enhance U.S. Government e ngagement with trade part ners to improve respect 
for labor rights and to increase monitoring and enforc ement of trade agreement labor provisions.  The 
U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement is a recent example of how addressing labor issues can support trade liberalization.  The agreement includes strong protections for workers' rights that reflect 
a 2007 Congressional-Executive commitment in the United States to incorporate high labor standards into trade agreements.  In addition, the U.S. and Colombian governments announced, on 7 April 2011, 
an ambitious and comprehensive Labor Action Plan th at included major, swift and concrete steps for 
the Colombian government to take to improve re spect for labor rights.  In the following year, United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  Colombia made historic progress on labor rights in  Colombia, including unprecedented legal reforms 
and new resources for labor enforcement and comp liance efforts.  On 15 May 2012, the trade 
agreement entered into force, and the Labor Acti on Plan played a significant role in building the 
domestic consensus necessary in the United States to implement this important trade initiative. 
151. As an essential component of the Administrati on's trade agenda, President Obama signed into 
law renewal of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (T AA) programs to assist workers, firms and farmers 
adversely affected by global competition.  On  21 October 2011, President Obama signed the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 (T AAEA).  The renewal of TAA preserves the key 
goals of the 2009 TAA program reforms, such as covering service workers and workers whose jobs 
shift to China, India, and other countries.  It help s ensure that American wo rkers affected by global 
competition are given the best opportunity to ac quire skills and credentials to get good jobs.  The 
TAA program currently offers the following services to eligible workers: training; weekly income 
support; out-of-area job search and relocation a llowances; case management and employment 
services; assistance with payments fo r health insurance coverage thr ough the utilization of the Health 
Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC); and wage insura nce for some older workers.  In FY 2011, 
US$704,005,680 was allocated to state governments to fund and administer TAA benefits. 
VIII.  SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS TRADE  
152. In October 2009, USTR announced a Small Bu siness initiative aimed at ensuring that the 
specific export challenges and priorities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and their workers 
are reflected in our trade policy and enforcement activ ities.  This effort also supports the goals of the 
Administration's National Export Initiative (NEI) to  double U.S. exports by the end of 2014 to support 
millions of American jobs.  The NEI highlights priority attention to expanding SME exports. 
153. U.S. small businesses are key engines for U.S. economic growth, jobs, a nd innovation.  SMEs 
that export tend to grow faster, add jobs faster, and pay higher wages than SMEs that serve purely 
domestic markets.  Recent studies by the U.S. In ternational Trade Commission (USITC), requested by 
USTR, reveal that SMEs play a larger role in the export economy than is suggested by traditional 
trade statistics, with direct and indirect exports by U.S. SMEs supporting about four million jobs in 
the United States while accounting for over 40% of the total value of U.S. exports of goods and 
services.  There are some 30 million SMEs in the Un ited States, but currently, as few as 1% of these 
companies export goods or services, and most export only one product or service to one foreign country.   
154. Several aspects of USTR's trade policy agenda  have particular poten tial to help boost SME 
exports.  These include enhancing trade facilitation work, strengthening and enforcing intellectual 
property rights, and targeting services barriers that are especially difficult for SMEs, such as requirements for staffing an office in each country to which companies wish to export.  Tariff barriers, 
burdensome customs procedures, discriminatory or arbitrary standards, and lack of transparency 
relating to relevant regulations in foreign market s present particular challenges for SMEs in selling 
abroad.   
155. On an interagency basis, USTR's Small Business, Market Access, and Industrial 
Competitiveness office par ticipates in the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee's (TPCC) Small 
Business Working Group, collabora ting with agencies including the U.S. Department of Commerce, 
the Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, and others across the government to promote small business exports, and connect SMEs WT/TPR/G/275 Trade Policy Review 
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  to trade information and resources to help them be gin or expand their exports  and take advantage of 
existing trade agreements. 
156. Throughout 2011-12 Ambassador Kirk and senior USTR staff actively participated in 
numerous events around the country to hear directly  from local small businesses, workers, and other 
stakeholders about the trade opportunities and challenges they face.  USTR staff regularly consult 
with the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Small and Minority Business to seek its advice and 
input on U.S. trade policy negotiations and initiatives , and meet frequently w ith individual SMEs and 
associations representing SME members on specific issues.   
IX. LOOKING FORWARD/CONCLUSIONS 
157. The United States looks forward to vigorous en gagement with trading partners around the 
world on the basis of mutual accountability and shar ed ambition for economic growth.  U.S. trade 
policy will remained focused on leveling the playing field for American business, workers, farmers, 
ranchers, manufacturers and service providers that compete and sell products around the globe.  The 
United States will pursue policies that contribute to increased opportunities and jobs through exports 
and two way trade, through support for a strong rule s-based international trading system, and through 
bolstered international trade relationships.   
158. The pursuit of market opening and trade libera lization remains at the forefront of the 
U.S. trade policy, and the Administration adheres strongly to the precept that trade liberalization at the multilateral level holds the highest potential fo r securing wide-ranging market-opening outcomes 
while at the same time advancing trade as an economic engine for global development.  The 
United States is committed to preserving and enhanc ing the WTO's irreplaceable role as the primary 
forum for multilateral trade liberalization, for the de velopment and enforcement of global trade rules, 
and as a key bulwark against protectionism.  Going forward, the United States will continue to contribute constructively and creatively to the effec tive functioning of the WTO.  The United States is 
convinced that the WTO's negotiating arm can and mu st become strong again.  A testament to the 
WTO's important negotiating role is the landmar k 2011 agreement to revise the text of the WTO 
Government Procurement Agreem ent and expand the procuremen t that it covers, which was 
successfully concluded last year.  As we continue to promote the rebuilding of the WTO's negotiating mission, the United States will also work to vigor ously support and revitalize the valuable work 
carried out by the WTO's Committees, Working Groups , and its dispute settlement mechanism.  The 
United States also remains committed to advanci ng the multilateral negotiations on trade facilitation 
and a variety of development issues as well as c onsidering new approaches to trade liberalization in 
the WTO and ways to further strengthen the multilateral trading system.   
159. To complement efforts in the WTO, the Unite d States will work to secure swift entry into 
force and full implementation of its trade agreem ents, and will provide s upport for ongoing regional 
and bilateral initiatives.  Recognizing the job-su pporting benefits of trade more broadly, the 
United States is committed to working with partners  around the world to remove barriers to trade and 
enhance economic integration on a regional basis.  The United States will promote higher standards 
for trade agreements, in order to ensure that the agreement better serve workers and better reflect 
U.S. values.  The United States will continue to advo cate that trade agreements can and should be part 
of the solution to urgent international environmen tal challenges, as well as a mechanism for protecting 
worker's rights and promoting high labor standards.    
160. The United States will seek increased cooperation and trade with many developing countries 
through our preferential trade measures, such as the Generalized System of Preferences, the African United States WT/TPR/G/275 
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  Growth and Opportunity Act, the Andean Trad e Promotion and Drug Eradication Act, and the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.  Additiona lly, the United States will work with partners – 
especially LDC's – to help increase their utilization of  the tariff preferences available to them through 
these programs.  Trade is a key component in ach ieving the broad-based economic growth necessary 
to drive development, economic growth, and rec overy in countries transitioning away from conflict 
and natural disasters.  The United States therefore remains committed to supporting countries in their 
capacity to trade.  Further, the Administration pl ans to continue to develop and support innovative 
public-private partnerships that bring together important actors and combined resources to address 
development challenges.   
161. By undertaking these various elements – pursi ng global, regional, and bilateral trade 
initiatives, encouraging developing countries' multilate ral integration, building support for open trade, 
encouraging sustainable development and core labor standards, and fostering greater transparency – 
the United States will continue to demonstrate its support for trade liberalization and a strong trading 
system of benefit to all.  The Administration is  committed to the hard wo rk necessary to harness 
U.S. trade policy as an engine of growth and prosperity for the United States and for the world.  
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