RESTRICTED  
  
WT/TPR/G/350  
14 November 2016  
(16-6233) Page: 1/30 
Trade Policy Review Body  Original: English  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
REPORT BY  
THE UNITED STATES 
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing 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 circulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on the United States . WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  Contents  
1   THE UNITED STATES IN  THE GLOBAL TRADING S YSTEM  ................................ .............  4 
2   THE UNITED STATES EC ONOMIC AND TRADE ENV IRONMENT  ................................ ...... 5 
2.1   Trade Policy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  5 
2.2   Economic Growth  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
2.3   Federal Budget Deficit  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 6 
2.4   Nominal Savings/Investment  ................................ ................................ ........................  6 
2.5   Labor Markets  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  6 
2.6   Productivity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  7 
2.7   Exports, Imports, and the Trade Balance  ................................ ................................ ........  7 
2.8   Challenges to the U.S. and Global Recovery/Economy  ................................ ......................  7 
2.9   Conclusion  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  8 
3   OPENNESS AND ACCOUNT ABILITY: BUILDING SU PPORT FOR TRADE  .........................  9 
3.1   Policy coordination  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 9 
3.2   Public engagement and transparency  ................................ ................................ ............ 10 
3.3   Advisory committee process  ................................ ................................ ........................ 11 
3.3.1    Tier I: President's Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN)  ........... 11 
3.3.2    Tier II: the Policy Advisory Committees  ................................ ................................ ......11 
3.3.3    Tier III: the Technical and Sectoral Advisory Committee  ................................ ............... 11 
3.4   State and local government relations  ................................ ................................ ............ 11 
3.4.1    State Point of Contact System and IGPAC  ................................ ................................ ...11 
3.4.2    Meetings of state and local associations and local chambers of commerce  ....................... 12 
3.4.3   Consultations regarding specific trade issues  ................................ ............................... 12 
4   TRADE POLICY DEVELOP MENTS SINCE 2014  ................................ .............................  12 
4.1   WTO Agreements and Init iatives  ................................ ................................ .................. 12 
4.2   Regional Initiatives  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....14 
4.2.1    The Trans -Pacific Partnership (TPP)  ................................ ................................ ............ 14 
4.2.2    North American Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ .......14 
4.2.3    Central America and the Dominican Republic  ................................ ............................... 15 
4.2.4   Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum  ................................ ................................ ...15 
4.2.5    The U.S. -ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement  ................................ ..16 
4.2.6    Engagement with the Middle East and North Africa  ................................ ...................... 16 
4.2.7    U.S.-EU Trade  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 16 
4.2.8    African Growth and Opportunity Act  ................................ ................................ ........... 17 
4.2.9    East African Community Trade and Investment Partnership  ................................ .......... 18 
4.2.10    The Caribbean Basin Initiative  ................................ ................................ ................. 18 
4.3   Bilateral Trade Agreements and Initiatives  ................................ ................................ .....19 
4.3.1    United States -Australia Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ............................ 19 
4.3.2    United States -Bahrain Free Trade Agreement  ................................ .............................. 19 
4.3.3    United States -Chile Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ ..19 WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.3.4   United States -Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement  ................................ .................... 19 
4.3.5    United States -Israel Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ .20 
4.3.6    United Stat es-Jordan Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ............................... 21 
4.3.7    United States -Korea Free Trade Agreement ................................ ................................ .21 
4.3.8    United States -Morocco Free Trade A greement  ................................ ............................. 21 
4.3.9    United States -Oman Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ 22 
4.3.10    United States -Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (Panama T PA) ............................... 22 
4.3.11    United States -Peru Trade Promotion Agreement  ................................ ........................ 23 
4.3.12    United States -Singapore Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ......................... 23 
5   TRADE IN SERVICES AG REEMENT  ................................ ................................ ..............  23 
6   TRADE -RELATED CAPACITY BUI LDING INITIATIVES ................................ .................  24 
6.1   World Trade Organization -Related U.S. Trade -Related Assistance  ................................ .....24 
6.2   The Enhanced Integrated Framework  ................................ ................................ ............ 25 
6.3   TCB Initiatives for Africa  ................................ ................................ .............................. 25 
6.4   Standards Alliance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......26 
7   TRADE AND THE ENVIRO NMENT  ................................ ................................ ................  27 
8   TRADE AND LABOR  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 29 
9   SMALL AND MEDIUM -SIZED BUSINESS TRADE  ................................ ..........................  29 
 
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  1  THE UNITED STATES IN  THE GLOBAL TRADING S YSTEM  
1.1.  As the United States Government undergoes its thirteenth Trade Policy Review -more than 
any other WTO Member -the United States remains committed to an ambitious trade and 
investment strategy to create and sustain jobs and promote economic growth and development. 
Recognizing that trade has made and continues to make a powerful contribution in expanding the 
global economy, the United States aims to create momentum for market -opening measures that 
increase economic opportunities and support jobs through exports by enc ouraging a strong 
rules-based international trading system, and bolstering international trade relationships.  
1.2.  The WTO has long been a vital aspect of the United States ' trade and investment policy, 
given its important function in setting the rules that gov ern the global trading system.  The WTO 
provides opportunities to further liberalize global trade, strengthen the multilateral rules -based 
trading system, enforce global trade rules, and serve as an important bulwark against 
protectionism.  
1.3.  In addition to s upporting the expansion of WTO Membership and playing a proactive role in 
market -opening negotiations, including the plurilateral Environmen tal Goods Agreement, the 
United  States will continue to promote and strengthen the WTO's existing core functions. Th is 
includes the day -to-day activities of the WTO committees, working groups, and councils (including 
DSB supervision of the dispute settlement mechanism ). These institutional structures are critical to 
promoting transparency in WTO Members ' trade polic ies, and they provide essential  fora for 
monitoring and resisting protectionist pressures. By working together, WTO Members can build 
upon efforts to revitalize the WTO and ensure that the institution remains well -equipped to drive 
future economic growth and d evelopment. The United States will also utilize the WTO's  network of 
committees to consider emerging challenges, such as state -owned enterprises, electronic 
commerce, food security, and regulatory trade barriers.  
1.4.  More broadly, the United States will approp riately utilize every available policy tool – and will 
continue to develop new tools – to pursue the most efficient and productive pathways to expand 
trade and foster economic growth, consistent with WTO rules. In February 2016, the United States 
and our 1 1 partners signed the Trans -Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement  to open markets and 
raise standards in the world's fastest growing region. The United States also made significant 
progress in negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T -TIP) and the Trade 
in Services Agreement (TiSA). Progress with the European Union toward a T -TIP agreement is 
expected to further strengthen the world's largest trade relationship, while TiSA promotes fair and 
open competition in the service sectors of pa rticipating countries.  
1.5.  Robust trade enforcement across the spectrum of goods and services remains a central pillar 
of U.S. trade policy. For more than  two decades, the WTO dispute settlement system has proven 
valuable to Members as a n important  venue for t he discussion and adjudication of disputes with 
our trading partners. The United States' enforcement priorities seek to target the most 
commercially and systemically -significant challenges facing U.S. workers and businesses, including 
emerging issues with implications for the rules -based global trading system. Vigorous work by the 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and sister  U.S. agencies, including the 
Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, State, Treasury, and others, helps ensure that trade 
agreements yield the maximum benefits in terms of ensuring market access for Americans, 
promoting respect for international obligations , and creating a fair, open, and predictable trading 
environment. Ensuring full implementation of U.S. trade agreements r emains one of the United 
States'  strategic priorities.  
1.6.  The United States will continue its vigilant trade enforcement efforts at the WTO, while also 
monitoring and enforcing commitments in our bilateral, plurilateral, and regional trade 
agreements, to maint ain a level playing field and promote a rules -based international trading 
system. The United  States remains committed to working with its trading partners to create a 
global trading system in which markets are open, intellectual property is protected, inno vation is 
promoted, electronic commerce and the global digital economy grow, agricultural and industrial 
regulations are based on science, transparent rules and regulations are applied without 
discrimination, and high environmental and labor standards are respected.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  1.7.  Trade is a key component in efforts to achieve the broad -based economic growth necessary 
to drive development, economic growth, and recovery in low-income economies and countries 
transitioning away from conflict and natural disasters. Many such  countries, including some of the 
United States' near neighbors, rely on the American market for export revenue, employment, and 
rural income. Recognizing the role that trade policies can serve in helping to alleviate poverty, 
therefore, the United States has continued to partner with some of the world 's least -advantaged 
economies in order to promote trade as a tool for poverty reduction.  In 2015, the United States 
renewed the Generalized System of Preferences, secured a ten -year renewal of the African Grow th 
and Opportunity Act, and extended trade preferences for Haiti to 2025. In 2016, the U.S. Congress 
approved a new trade preference program that would grant duty -free treatment to certain 
specified products from Nepal to help its ongoing economic recovery  efforts following earthquakes 
last year.   
1.8.  Looking at the historical record, it is clear that while trade alone cannot solve every 
development challenge, open markets are a necessary part of any successful and sustainable 
development strategy. Thus, the U. S. trade agenda brings traditional policy tools into the 
21st century and offers a more comprehensive look at development. Many regions of the 
developing world hold considerable potential for economic growth, and the United States will 
continue to explore new ways to partner with those countries to harness the power of trade as an 
engine of growth and prosperity.  
2  THE UNITED STATES EC ONOMIC AND TRADE ENV IRONMENT  
2.1  Trade Policy  
2.1.  The WTO  remains the critical forum for liberalizing multilateral trade, strengthenin g the 
multilateral rules -based trading system and enforcing global trade rules, and serves as an 
important defense against protectionism. The United States is committed to preserving and 
enhancing the WTO's role. With roughly 80% of the world's economy and  95% of the world's 
population living outside the United States, the United States is committed to opening foreign 
markets through negotiating trade agreements, whether multilateral, regional, bilateral, or 
plurilateral, as well as maintaining the integrit y of existing trade agreements and enforcing 
U.S. rights under those agreements.  
2.2.  Trade liberalization has benefited both the United States and the rest of the world by 
providing more affordable goods and services, raising living standards, fueling economic  growth, 
and supporting good jobs. Reducing barriers to worldwide trade also offers greater product variety, 
enhances product quality, and increases innovation. All countries can gain from trade when we all 
focus on opening markets and playing by the rules  of our WTO -based multilateral trading system.  
2.3.  In 2015, U.S. goods and services exports supported an estimated 11.5 million jobs in the 
United  States alone, including more than one in four jobs in the manufacturing sector. These 
export -oriented jobs  pay on  average up to 18%  higher wages than the national average. Imports 
helped expand purchasing power in the United States, widen choice for American consumers, 
provide valuable intermediate inputs into U.S. production, and increase U.S. compet itiveness. 
Rough ly half of U.S.  imports in 2015  were intermediate inputs.  
2.4.  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 bound basis under the WTO. When FTAs, GSP, and other 
tariff preferenc es are taken into account, the U.S. trade -weighted average tariff is 1.5% on an 
applied basis. By comparison, simple average tariffs in our top five trading partners range from 
4.2% to 9.6% and trade -weighted average tariffs range from 2.1% to 5.0%. In 201 5, 50% of MFN 
imports and nearly 70% of all U.S. imports (including under preference programs) entered the 
United States duty free. U.S.  service markets are open to foreign providers and U.S. regulatory 
processes are transparent , accessible , and open to pu blic input.  
2.2  Economic Growth  
2.5.  During the period under review, the Un ited States continued to grow. U.S. real gross 
domestic produc t (GDP) increased by 2.4%  in 2014 and 2.6% in 2015. For the first half of 2016, 
real GDP is up 1. 0%, on an annual basis. The slo wdown in growth in the first half of 2016 from the WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  previous years is attributable to a drawdown of inventories, as well as fixed business investment 
(particularly in mining and oil and gas). The Administration is projectin g real GDP growth of 1.9%  
for 2016 , and 2.5% and 2.4% fo r 2017 and 2018, respectively. Since the end of the recession in 
the 2nd quarter of 2009 through the 2nd quarter of 2016, U.S.  GDP has increased at an annual rate 
of 2.1 %. 
2.6.  The primary contributor to real growth since 20 14 has been con sumer spending. Personal 
consumption expenditures, which account for nearly 70% of  U.S. GDP, increased 2.9% in 2014, 
3.2% in 2015, and 3.0% , on an annual basis, for  the first half of 2016. Consumer spending has 
contributed roughly three quarters of the inc rease in U.S. real GDP s ince the end of the recession. 
Business fixed investment (nonresidential) increased 6.0% in 2014 and 2.1% in 2015, but declined 
by 1.3%, on an annual basis , for the first half of 2016 (4th quarter 2015 to 2nd quarter 2016). 
U.S. real exports of goods an d services increased 4.3% in 2014, but have  exhibited lit tle growth 
since then, up 0.1% in 2015 and up 0.5% on an annual basis for the first half of 2016 
(4th quarter  2015 to 2nd quarter 2016). Real imports, which subtract f rom economi c growth on an 
accounting basis, increased by 4.4% in 2014 and 4.6% in 2015,  but have declined by 0.2%  on an 
annual basis so far in 2016  (4th quarter 2015 to 2nd quarter 2016) . U.S. government expenditures 
decreased 0.9% in 2014, but increased 1.8% in 2015 , before remaining roughly the same  through 
the first half of 2016 on an annual basis (4th quarter 2015 to 2nd quarter 2016).  
2.3  Federal Budget Deficit  
2.7.  The Federal budget deficit has declined significantly over the period under review in both 
absolute terms a nd relative to GDP. The budget deficit dropped from US$679.5 billion (4.1% of 
GDP) in fiscal year 2013 to US$484.6 billion (2.8% of GDP) in fi scal year 2014, and to 
US$438.4  billion (2.5% of GDP) in fiscal year 2015. The federal deficit in fiscal year 2015 , at 2.5%  
of GDP, was the lowest level since 2007 and abou t one quarter of the 9.8%  of GDP deficit recorded 
in 2009, the most rapid sustained reduction since just after World War II. The 2015 deficit as a 
share of GDP was also well below the av erage over t he last 40 years. According to the Mid-Session 
Review of the FY2017 Budget , the federal budget deficit is projected to increase to 
US$615. 8 billion (3.3% of GDP) in FY2016, then decline to US$503.5 bil lion (2.6% of GDP) in 
FY2017. The deficit is estimated to average 2.6% of G DP from FY2018 through FY2026. The 
debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to peak at 77.1% in FY2017 and then begin to decline, falling to 
73.0% of GDP by FY2026 (equivalent to its FY2013 level). The progress in reducing the deficit as a 
share of GDP reflects both the stronger U.S.  economy and the deficit reduction plan put into place 
by the United States.  
2.4  Nominal Savings/Investment  
2.8.  U.S. gross saving as a percentage of gross national income has continued to grow in recent 
years following the rec ession. After d ropping to a low of 14.3%  in 2009 (from a peak of 21.1%  in 
1998), it has increased for the past six years reaching 18.6% in both 2014 and 2015, the period 
under review. The increase in gross saving of US$396 billion between 2013 and 2015 was  due to 
an increase in household and institution saving of US$208 billion as well as government saving of 
US$119 billion. Deleveraging by households continued during the period under review as the 
personal savings  rate increased from 5.0% in 2013 to 5.6%  in 2014 and 5.8% in 2015. While 
these rates were below t he post -recession peak of 7.6%  in 2012, they were more than double th e 
low of 2.5% reached in 2005. U.S. gross investment increased by US$371 billion between 2013 
and 2015, 93% the  increase in U.S.  gross saving.  
2.5  Labor Markets  
2.9.  U.S. employment continued to increase during the period under review, up 7.2 million 
between December 2013 and August 2016 (up 3.0 million between December 2013 and 
December  2014, up 2.7 million between December 2014 and December 2 015, and up 1.5 million 
between December 2015 and August 2016). U.S. employment has increased by 14.9 million 
between the trough in February  2010 and August 2016, and private employment has increased for 
77 of the past 78  months, up 15.1  million in all. Ma nufacturing employment has also increased, 
up over 828 thousand since Feb ruary 2010, up six  straight years (longest streak since 1990s), and  
accounted for one in 11.5  U.S. non-farm jobs in 2015 . Thus far  in 2016 however, it is down 
39 thousand jobs. Servic e-providing industries (including government) employed 86% of all WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  U.S. non-farm workers in 2015, and services jobs are up 12.9 million since February 201 0. With 
the improvement in U.S.  employment during this period, the unemployment rate has also 
declined,  dropping from a high of 10.0% in October 2009 to 4.9% in August 2016. Since 
December 2013, the unemployment rate has declined by 1.8 percentage points.  
2.10.   Although the labor market continues to improve, the recovery is still not complete. Labor 
force partici pation has remained constant at 62.8%, the same rate as in October 2013, though 
down from the 67 .3 percent rate in April 2000. The number of workers working part time for 
economic reasons remains elevated. Also, the United States faces long run downward pr essure on 
the labor force participation rate due to the aging of the population. The participation rate fell 
more quickly than demographics alone would imply during the recession, though, suggesting more 
labor market slack. More recently, the participation  rate has remained roughly constant since 
October 2013 as the downward demographic trend was offset by a strengthening economy pulling 
people into the labor force.  Labor compens ation has started to increase. Real hourly wages are up 
1.3% over the 12  months  ending in August 2016, and nominal wages have grown 2.8% at an 
annual rate so far this year. Real median household income in the Uni ted States increased 5.2%  in 
2015, the first annual increase in median household income since 2007, the year before the 
recession.  
2.6  Productivity  
2.11.   Labor productivity, as measured by output per hour worked, grew by 1.7% between 2013 
and 2015 (up 0.8%  in 2014 and up 0.9% in 2013). Alt hough low, this compares favourably to 
growth in the earlier period, up 1.3% between 2011 and 2013.  However, productivity has declined  
more recently, down 0.4%  over the last four quarters, reflecting faster growth in total hours 
worked than in output. Low productivity growth in recent years has been a global phenomenon 
affecting nearly all advanced econ omies, although the United States has had the strongest 
productivity growth of any G -7 economy in the last decade. The slowdown in labor productivity in 
the United States and elsewhere is mostly due to the shortfall in investment.  
2.7  Exports, Imports, and the  Trade Balance  
2.12.   Nominal U.S exports of goods and services , on a balance of payments basis,  increased 
by 3.6% in 2014 , then declined by 4.9% in 2015. Thus far in 2016 through August, U.S. exports 
were down 4.1%. Similar to exports, nominal U.S. imports of go ods and services grew in 2014 
(by 4.0%), and declined in 2015 (down 3.7%) and  thus far in 2016 (down 3.6%). The slowdown in 
U.S. trade can be attributed, in part, to slow economic growth a broad, lower commodity prices, 
and the stronger dollar. As a share o f nominal GDP, U.S. goods and services exports increased to 
record levels of nearly 14% from 2011 to 2014 before dropping to 12.5% in 2015 . U.S. goods and 
services imports decreased from 17. 2% of GDP in 2011 to 1 5.3% of GDP in 201 5.  
2.13.   The United States was the recipient of 19.1% of goods and services exports from the rest of 
the world (excluding intra -European Union exports) in 2015. The United States supplied 15.5% of 
goods and services imports to the rest of the world (excluding intra -EU imports).  
2.14.   During t he period under  review, the U.S. goods and services trade deficit with other 
countries (on a national income and product accounts  basis) increased by 6.1%  from 
US$492 billion in 2013 (2.9% of U.S. GDP) to US$522 billion in 2015 (still at 2.9% of U.S. GDP).  
Excluding the recession year of 2009, the trade deficit in 2015 was at its lowest level since 1999 
as a share of GDP. The U.S. deficit in 2015 was significantly down f rom its all -time high of 
US$771  billion, or 5.6% of GDP, in 2006.  
2.8  Challenges to the U.S.  and Global Recovery /Economy  
2.15.   In the United States,  per-capita GDP fell 5.5%  from peak to trough during  the Great 
Recession, which is  the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Yet by the fourth quarter 
of 2013, per -capita GDP had recovered to pr e-crisis levels, and in the second qu arter of this year 
was 3%  above its pre -crisis peak. The unempl oyment rate today is 4.9% , below its pre -recession 
average  of 5.3% , and real wages are rising. Overall, the current U.S. economic recovery has 
outpaced both  recoveries from earlier financial crises in the United States and the recent 
experience of many other countries —in part because of a combination of a large initial fiscal WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  expansion, consistently vigorous accommodative monetary policy, and an aggressive fi nancial 
accounting, clean -up, and liquidity assistance through programs such as the Troubled Asset Relief 
Program, the Hardest -Hit Fund, the Term Auction Facility, and Dodd -Frank reforms.  
2.16.   Nine years after the onset of the crisis, the world economy is growi ng, and the advanced 
economies have made significant progress in recovering, but this process has been uneven. 
Unusually high unemployment rates in some European countries and some continued labor market 
slack elsewhere persist, and many emerging markets a re still struggling with the effects of last 
year's precipitous drop in commodity prices. Longer -run supply challenges, in the form of lower 
productivity and investment growth, have also been pervasive across all of the advanced 
economies.  
2.17.   A key challenge to the global recovery is the slowdown in productivity growth.  In 30 of 
31 advanced economies productivity slowed from 1995 -2005 compared with  2005-2015. The 
slowdown began before the Great Recession, so this slowdown is not simply a function of th e 
financ ial crisis. While the United States  has had faster product ivity growth than the other 
G-7 economies, productivity in  the United States  remains well below trend. Productivity is an 
important driver of employment, wages , and investment ; long term growth will  be dependent on a 
productivity recovery. While the United States  has seen recent gains in employment and wages, 
business fixed investment (BFI) has been weak. This weak investment has itself contributed to the 
productivity slowdown as capital services per  worker have decline d in the last five years. The 
United States  is not unique in this experience, as investment has fallen across the world as global 
demand weakened. The negative impact of declining oil prices on BFI has largely already had its 
impact, an d expectations are generally for an increase in BFI in the second half of the year. 
Overall investment was also hit in the first part of the year by declines in inventory investment, 
which is not expected to continue into the second half of the year.  
2.18.   All of these factors have led to repeated downgrades in global growth prospects forecasted 
by the OECD and the IMF, with warnings that growth that is too low for too long ma y result in a 
low-growth trap. The slowdown presents headwinds to the U.S. economy, evid ent in the slowdown 
in U.S. export growth, but to the degree that subdued investment results in continued lower 
productivity growth and a smaller future capital stock, it may also result in lower potential growth 
in the future.  
2.19.   The current account balance provides another way to examine the relative strengths and 
weaknesses in  demand in the global economy. Countries that produce more than they consume 
and invest (net exporters) may have weaker aggregate demand than those whose demand 
exceeds production (net  importers). After running a sizable current account deficit from 2003 -7, 
the U.S.  current account balance as a share of GDP narrowed to  under 3%  in 2009 and has 
remained there since, hitting a 14 -year low in 2014. Despite this substantial progress, the 
United States still runs a larger current account deficit than its sustainability target as estimated 
by the IMF; in part, reflecting the relative strength of U.S. demand compared with the rest of the 
world. China, Japan, and the euro area – especially  Germa ny – all have larger current account 
surpluses than either their most recent IMF sustainability targets, current account norms, or both.  
2.20.   In short, various parts of the world economy are growing slowly, and likely too slowly. The 
U.S. economy is not a large  enough share  of the world economy, nor can it grow fast enough, t o 
solely support world growth. Both the OECD and the IMF have advocated coordinated policies to 
boost growth, including public investment in infrastructure and research and development, as w ell 
as structural reforms, warning of the risks inherent if low global growth persists.  
2.9  Conclusion  
2.21.   The WTO rules -based system has proved its value in supplying the framework of rules, 
rights , and obligations ; the United States remains firmly committed to t his institution. The  
United  States looks to work with other members to achieve further significant liberalization and 
expansion of world trade through the WTO, which will benefit both deve loping and developed 
countries.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  3  OPENNESS AND ACCOUNT ABILITY: BUILDIN G SUPPORT FOR TRADE  
3.1.  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 constant 
coordination with Congress and extensive outreach to U .S. industry leaders, entrepreneurs, 
farmers, ranchers, small business owners, work ers, state and local government officials, and 
advocates for labor rights, environmental protection, and public health, among other issues. The 
United States views the act o f consulting with those interested in and affected by issues as an 
important part of any government's responsibility. Consultation and engagement is vital to 
ensuring that trade policy reflects American interests and American values. Advice from such 
stake holders is both a critical and integral part of the trade policy process.  
3.2.  As a result, the Administration has sought to broaden opportunities for public input and 
increased transparency of trade policy. USTR works to ensure that timely trade information is  
available to the public and disseminated widely to stakeholders. This has been accomplished in 
part via increased use of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's website, social media, and 
newsletter communications; online posting of Federal Register  Notices soliciting public comment 
and input and publicizing Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) public hearings; increas ed 
transparency in all trade negotiations;  increased outreach and e ngagement with a broad array of 
stakeholders, including small and me dium-sized businesses , agricultural commodity groups and 
farm associations, environmental organizations, labor unions, consumer advocacy groups, 
non-governmental organizations, academia, think tanks, trade associations, faith groups, 
development and povert y relief organizations, and state and local governments ; and advocacy for 
the President's robust trade agenda in speeches to audiences around the country . In addition , 
USTR is responsible for administering the statutory advisory committee system created by  
Congress under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, as well as facilitating formal consultations 
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 concer ns and aspi rations of the 
American  people.  
3.1  Policy coordination  
3.3.  USTR has primary responsibility, with the advice of the interagency trade policy organization, 
for developing and coordinating the implementation 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 implementation of these res ponsibilities. This 
organization, as it has evolved, consists of three tiers of committees that constitute the principal 
mechanism for developing and coordinating U.S. Government positions on international trade and 
trade -related investment issues.  
3.4.  The Tra de Policy Review Group (TPRG) and the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), 
administered and chaired by USTR, are the subcabinet interagency trade policy coordination 
groups that are central to this process. The TPSC is the first -line operating group, with 
representation at the senior civil servant level. Suppo rting the TPSC are more than 
100 subcommittees responsible for specialized issues. The TPSC regularly seeks advice from the 
public on its policy decisions and negotiations through Federal  Register Notices and public 
hearings. In 201 5 and 201 6, the TPSC he ld public hearings on China 's compliance with its WTO 
Commitments ( September 2015 and September  2016), Russia's  implementation of its WTO 
Commitments (October  2015 and October 2016) and the annual Speci al 301 report on intellectual 
proper ty protection (February  2015 and February 201 6). 
3.5.  Through the interagency process, USTR requests input and analysis from members of the 
appropriate TPSC subcommittee or task force. The conclusions and recommendations of t his 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 particularly significant policy questions are being 
considered, issues are referred to the TPRG (Deputy USTR/Under Secretary level) or to the 
Deputies Committee of the National Security Council/National 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 Presid ent in attendance.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  3.6.  The 21 m ember agencies of the TPSC and the TPRG consist of the U.S. Departments of 
Commerce, Agriculture, State, Treasury, Labor, Justice, Defense, Interior, Transportation, Energy, 
Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, the Envir onmental Protection Agency, the Office 
of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Council on Environmental 
Quality, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Small Business Administration, the 
National Economic Council, and th e National Security Council  as well as USTR itself . The 
U.S. International 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 speci fic issues addressed.  
3.2  Public engagement and transparency  
3.7.  The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 marked a 
watershed not only in the ambitious negotiating objectives it set for the United States, but in the 
reforms it br ings to the American trade policymaking process. USTR has encouraged public 
participation and broadened opportunities for input, created new institutional guarantees of public 
access including the milestone appointment of a Chief Transparency Officer and t he formalization 
of comprehensive Guidelines for Consultation and Engagement, and increased the transparency of 
trade policy through initiatives carried out by the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public 
Engagement.  
3.8.  Through its blog and website page s, http://www.ustr.gov , USTR shares updated information 
about the United States' efforts to support jobs by opening markets and enforcing America's rights 
in the rules -based global trading system. Interactive tools on th e site allow the public to stay 
informed of USTR's day -to-day operations. The public is also invited to sign up on USTR's 
homepage to receive the weekly e -mail newsletter, which highlights USTR's efforts to engage the 
public, open markets , and enforce trad e agreements around the world. This is a useful tool for 
small businesses and stakeholders outside Washington, D.C. to stay informed about trade policy 
developments and new market opportunities.  
3.9.  Throughout 2015 and 2016 , USTR has published  Federal Register  Notices online to solicit 
public comment on negotiations and policy decisions . 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 : renewal of 
the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the review of South Africa's AGOA eligibility, 
implementation of the WTO's Government Procurement Agreem ent, the 2015 National Trade 
Estimate report, and the functioning of the Generalized System of Preferences and the Caribbean 
Basin trade preference program. USTR also held public hearings regarding a variety of trade policy 
initiatives, including renewal o f the AGOA, additions of products to the Generalized System of 
Preferences, and implementation of the Russian and Chinese WTO accession agreements. These 
hearings were web -cast live, and the submissions of all parties were posted online.  
3.10.   USTR has also take n steps in specific issue areas to increase transparency and augment 
opportunities for public input, such as through the inclusion of st akeholders at the Transatlantic 
Trade and Investment Partnership (T -TIP) and Trans -Pacific Partnership (TPP)  negotiation s. 
Stakeholder engagement events are an important opportunity for USTR and its trade negotiators 
to receive feedback as talks are ongoing, with the aim of ensuring the strongest possible outcomes 
for trade negotiations. USTR has hosted stakeholder forums d uring the U.S. -hosted rounds of the 
T-TIP negotiations. These events included over 2 50 global stakeholders at each forum. 
Stakeholders were invited to give presentations, engage with negotiators, and attend briefings 
hosted by the U.S. and EU Chief Negotia tors. In addition , during TPP negotiations, USTR  worked 
with each TPP partner hosting negotiating rounds to plan events open to registered stakeholder 
participation. These events , including during the final round of negotiations in Atlanta in 
September -October 2015,  included briefings from chief negotiators and provided multiple 
opportunities to provide input into the negotiations, including those with respect to chapters 
addressing agriculture, market access for industrial goods, environment, tobacco, inve stment, 
pharmaceuticals , and intellectual property.  
3.11.   USTR published the full text of the TPP Agreement on 5 November 2015, well in advance of 
the legal requirement, accompanied by detailed chapter summaries and fact sheets explaining the 
agreement's content s and benefits for workers, manufacturers, ranchers, farmers, services 
providers, and others, and explaining its achievements on issues such as maintaining a free and WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  open Internet, raising labor and environmental standards, and helping American small and 
medium -sized businesses export.  
3.3  Advisory committee process  
3.12.   The United States continues to rely on its trade advisory committee system as an integral 
part of its efforts to ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiating obj ectives adequately 
reflect U. S. public and private sector  interests . The trade advisory committee system , substantially 
broadened and reformed,  consists of 28 advisory committees,  with a total membership of 
approximately 7 00 advisors. Advisory committee members represent the full span  of interests 
including manufacturing; agriculture; digital trade; intellectual property; services; small 
businesses; labor; environmental, consumer, and public health organizations; and state and local 
governments. The system is arranged in three  tiers: t he President's Advisory Committee for Trade 
Policy  and Negotiations (ACTPN); five  Policy Advisory Committees dealing with environment, labor, 
agriculture, Africa, and state and local issues; and 22 technical advisory committees in the areas 
of industry and  agriculture.  
3.3.1   Tier I: President's Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN)  
3.13.   The ACTPN consists of not more than 45 members who are broadly representative of the 
key economic sectors affected by trade. The President appo ints ACTPN members to 
four-year terms not to exceed the duration of the committee 's charter. Members of ACTPN are 
appointed to represent a variety of interests including non -Federal Governments, labor, industry, 
agriculture, small business, service industries, retailers, and  consumer interests.  
3.3.2   Tier II: the Policy Advisory Committees  
3.14.   Members of the five policy advisory committees are appointed by USTR or in conjunction 
with other Cabinet officers. The Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade (IGPAC), 
the Trade and  Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC), and the Trade Advisory 
Committee on Africa (TACA) are appointed and managed by USTR. The Agricultural Policy Advisory 
Committee for Trade (APAC) is managed jointly with the Department of Agriculture and the L abor 
Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy (LAC) is managed jointly with the 
Department of Labor. Each committee provides advice based upon the perspective of its specific 
area and its members are chosen to represent the diversity of i nterests in those areas.  
3.3.3   Tier III: the Technical and Sectoral Advisory Committee  
3.15.   The 22 technical and sectoral advisory committees are organized into two areas: agriculture 
and industry. Representatives are appointed jointly by the U.S. Trade Representativ e and the 
Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce, respectively. 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.  
3.4  State and local government relations  
3.16.   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 direc tly 
relate to, or that may have a direct effect on, them. U.S. territories may also participate in this 
process. USTR also serves as a liaison point in the Executive Branch for state and local 
government and Federal agencies to transmit information to inte rested state and local 
governments, and relay advice and information from the states on trade -related matters. This is 
accomplished through a number of mechanisms, detailed below.  
3.4.1   State Point of Contact System and IGPAC  
3.17.   For day -to-day communications, pursu ant to the NAFTA and Uruguay Round implementing 
legislation and Statements of Administrative Action, USTR created a State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) system. The Governor's office in each state designates a single contact point to 
disseminate informatio n 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 WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  SPOC network ensures that state governments are promptly informed of Administration trade 
initiatives so their companies and workers may take full advantage of increased foreign 
market  access and reduced trade barriers. It also enables USTR to consult with states and 
localities directly on trade matters which may affect them.  
3.18.   The IGPAC makes re commendations to USTR and the Administration on trade policy matters 
from the perspective of state and local governments. During the review period, the IGPAC has 
been briefed and consulted on trade priorities of interest to st ates and localities, including : the 
TPP; the T -TIP; the Trade in Services Agreement  (TiSA) ; enforcement actions at the WTO ; and 
other matters. IGPAC members are also i nvited to participate in periodic  teleconference call 
briefings, similar to teleconference calls held for S POC and chai rs of the advisory committees.  
3.4.2   Meetings of state and local associations and local chambers of commerce  
3.19.   USTR officials participate frequently in meetings of state and local government associations 
and local chambers of commerce to apprise them of relevant t rade policy issues and solicit their 
views. USTR senior officials have met with the National Governors  Association , the National 
Conference of State  Legislatures, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and other state and local 
commissions and organizations. Addit ionally, USTR officials have addressed gatherings of state 
and local officials and port authorities around the country.  
3.4.3   Consultations regarding specific trade issues  
3.20.   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 the last U.S. Trade Policy Review includ ed the 
TPP, T-TIP, TiSA , the application of the WTO Government P rocurement Agreement, the General 
Agree ment on Trade in Services , enforcement of trade agreements, and consultations with 
individual states regarding certain  trade remedy investigations.  
4  TRADE POLICY DEVELOP MENTS SINCE 201 4 
4.1  WTO Agreements and Initiatives  
4.1.  The United States maintains an abiding commitment to the rules -based multilateral trading 
system, which advances the well -being of the people of the United States and of our trading 
partners. The WTO plays a vital role in securing new economic opportunitie s for all traders and 
promoting global growth and development with widely shared benefits. The WTO agreements also 
provide a foundation for high -standard U.S. bilateral and regional agreements that make a positive 
contribution to a dynamic and open global trading system based on the rule of law.  
4.2.  During the review period, the United States continued efforts to strengthen the rules -based 
multilateral trading system, including through new initiatives, as evidenced by the U.S. role in 
finalizing the expansion o f the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), in negotiating the 
Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA), and in announcing —together with a diverse group of 
developing and developed countries —our intention to launch negotiations in the WTO on a 
plurilateral fi sheries subsidies agreement.  
4.3.  The ITA expansion negotiations were launched by the United States and five other ITA 
participants in May 2012; in July 2015, the United States and over 50 WTO Members announced 
the landmark deal to eliminate tariffs on 201 tech nology products that comprise about 
US$1.3 trillion in annual global trade. Members completed the process to review and approve the 
draft tariff schedules, clarifying how each will implement its commitments, in December 2015.  
4.4.  In July 2014, the United Stat es and 13 other WTO members, accounting for 86% of global 
trade in environmental goods, launched the EGA negotiations.  The current 17 WTO Members 
participating in the EGA negotiations have made significant progress to develop a list of 
environmental techno logies that will be subject to tariff elimination. At the G20 Leaders ' summit in 
September 2016, Ministers achieved a landing zone to conclude the EGA negotiations by the end 
of 2016. Achieving global free trade in environmental goods is a key part of both  the President's 
Climate Action Plan and U.S.  trade and environmental policy.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.5.  On 14 September 2016, the United States and 12 other WTO members announced their 
intent to negotiate a plurilateral fisher ies subsidies agreement to address the urgent challenges  
facing global fisheries. Our goal is to eliminate harmful subsidies, including those subsidies that 
contribute to overfishing and overcapacity, and subsidies linked to illegal, unreported and 
unregulated (IUU) fishing.  
4.6.  At the WTO's Eighth Ministerial Conf erence (MC8) in December 2011, there was a consensus 
among Ministers that the Doha Development Agenda ( DDA) was at an impasse, and that fresh, 
credible approaches were needed to further trade liberalization. The Ministerial Conference noted 
that "Members n eed to more fully explore different negotiating approaches," and reiterated 
previous ministerial guidance that, where progress can be achieved on specific elements of the 
DDA, provisional or definitive agreements might be reached before all elements of the  negotiating 
agenda are fully resolved. During the course of 2012 and 2013, Members took the MC8 guidance 
to heart in working collectively to complete the historic "Bali Package"  at the WTO's Ninth 
Ministerial Conference (MC9) in Bali, Indonesia . The Bali package reflected the approach called for 
at MC8, and included the first new multilateral agreement, the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), 
in the nearly 20 -year history of the WTO.  In January 2015, the United States submitted to the 
WTO its letter of acc eptance of the TFA protocol.  
4.7.  At the WTO 's Tenth Ministerial Conference  (MC10)  in December 2015, Members succeeded in 
building on the results of Bali by reaching agreement on multiple agriculture issues, including 
export competition, and concluding decision s on key issues for the benefit of the least developed 
countries. However, for the first time since the launch of the DDA in 2001, Ministers could not 
agree to reaffirm the Doha mandates going forward. The United States joined a number of other 
Members in insisting that the moment had come to move on from  the DDA given its limited results 
and multiple failures in 14 years of negotiations. As a result, the United States expects that future 
discussions in the WTO will focus on developing new approaches and ta king up new issues in 
negotiations, without being constrained by the DDA architecture established  over 15 years ago. 
This was a historic turning point for the WTO, allowing Members to further reestablish the 
negotiating credibility of the multilateral trad ing system and to achieve results that reflect the 
many changes in the global economy since the beginning of the Doha Round.  
4.8.  Since entry into force of the Uruguay Round Agreements in 1995, a central theme of 
U.S. trade policy has been to promote  the effect ive and timely implementation  of WTO 
commitments. The United  States believes it is not only important for American t rade interests, but 
for the WTO  system as a whole, to ensure that all Members meet their commitments. The various 
manifestations of this pol icy range from active and constructive participation in the deliberations of 
WTO committees to the use of various proceedings available under the WTO dispute settlement 
mechanism. U.S. trade policy seeks to support and advance adherence to WTO rules that u nderpin 
the international trading system . 
4.9.  USTR coordinates the Administration's active monitoring of foreign government compliance 
with trade agreements to which the United States is a party and pursues enforcement actions, 
negotiating solutions, employing  WTO and FTA institutional mechanisms, using dispute settlement 
procedures, and applying the full range of U.S. trade laws when necessary. Vigorous investigation 
efforts by USTR and relevant sister agencies help ensure that these agreements yield the 
maxim um benefits in terms of ensuring market access for Americans, advancing the rule of law 
internationally, and creating a fair, open, and predictable trading environment. Ensur ing full 
implementation of U.S.  trade agreement s is one of the United States'  strategic priorities.  
4.10.   To ensure the enforcement of WTO agreements, the United States has been one of the 
world's most frequent users of WTO dispute settlement procedures. Since the establishment of the 
WTO in 1994, the United States has filed 117  complaints at  the WTO, thus far successfully 
concluding 78 of them by settling 31 cases favorably and prevailing in 47 others through litigation 
before WTO panels and the Appellate Body. The United States has obtained favorable settlements 
and rulings in virtually all sectors, including manufacturing, intellectual property, agriculture, and 
services.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.2  Regional Initiatives  
4.11.   As part of its broader efforts to liberalize trade, the United States is also involved in several 
regional and bilateral initiatives , which complement and reinforce our efforts within the multilateral 
trading system. Like other Members of the WTO, the United States has created an extensive series 
of bilateral and regional t rade and investment agreements. The WTO agreements provide a 
foundation for high -standard U.S. bilateral and regional agreements that make a positive 
contribution to a dynamic and open global trading system based on the rule of law. To extend the 
benefits of trade more broadly, the United States is working with like -minded partners arou nd the 
world to remove barriers to trade, address new and emerging trade issues, and enhance economic 
integration on a regional basis.  
4.12.   The United States has insisted on high standards for U.S. trade agreements, and has taken 
a proactive approach, in close consultation with Congress and American stakeholders, to ensure 
trade agreements not only open markets , but also improve transparency and governance, and 
support stronger protection of lab or rights and the environment. Such an approach better serves 
Americ an workers and business, better reflect our values, and creates a stronger, more enduring 
foundation for economic links with our partners. Throughout 2015 and 2016, the United States has 
sought to intensify its efforts through regional initiatives, such as  the TPP  and the T -TIP, as well as 
through bilateral engagement with major trading partners and emerging markets.  
4.13.   The following regional initiatives are each examples of the WTO -complementary 
liberalization efforts pursued by the United States.  
4.2.1   The Trans -Pacific Partnership (TPP)  
4.14.   During the period of this review, the United States and its 11 T PP partners – Australia, 
Brunei  Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and 
Viet Nam – concluded the TPP, a high -standard, re gional trade and investment agreement. 
Negotiations were concluded in October 2015, and the agreement was signed by the 12 TPP 
partners in February 2016. The TPP countries have now turned to approval of the agreement 
through their r espective domestic proce sses. In the United States, the Congressional approval 
process is laid out in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, 
known as Trade Promotion Authority . 
4.15.   The TPP  Agreement  will open markets and raise standards in the f astest growing  region in 
the world, boosting economic growth, promoting innovation, and support ing job creation  in the 
United  States and its TPP partners, as shown by independent economic studies. In addition to 
including  ambitious market access commitment s, the TPP address es non-tariff barriers and 
includes commitments that will create common, high standards across the region in such areas  as 
intellectual property, labor, environment, and transparency and anti -corruption. The TPP also 
address es new and eme rging issues that affect the ability of businesses and workers to compete,  
including digital commerce, regulatory coherence, and disciplines on the competitive behavi or of 
state-owned enterprises.  
4.16.   TPP has been designed as a regional platform, and following  the conclusion of the TPP 
negotiations, a number of other Asia -Pacific economies expressed interest in potentially seeking to 
join TPP in the future. The 12 TPP partners have welcomed this interest , while noting that their 
current focus is on completing t heir respective domestic approval processes and having the 
agreement enter into force.  
4.2.2   North American Free Trade Agreement  
4.17.   On 1 January 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, 
Canada, and Mexico (NAFTA) entered into force. Under NAFTA, the Parties progressively eliminated 
tariffs, with final tariffs eliminated, as scheduled, on 1 January 2008. NAFTA created the world's 
largest free trade area, which now links 478 million people producing roughly US$20.7 trillion 
worth of goo ds and services. By dismantling barriers, NAFTA has led to increased trade and 
investment, growth in employment, and enhanced competitiv eness. Trade between the 
United  States and its NAFTA partners has soared since the agreement ente red into force. 
U.S. goods exports to NAFTA partners increased by 264% bet ween 1993 and 2015, from 
US$142  billion to an estimated US$516 billion.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.18.   After signing NAFTA, the United States, Canada, and Mexico concluded supplemental 
agreements on labor and environment. Under these ag reements, the Parties are, among other 
things, obligated to effectively enforce their environmental 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.  
4.19.   The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) oversees trilateral 
cooperation on  environmental matters. The United States, together with Mexico and Canada, have 
continued efforts to ensure that trade liberalization and environmental policies are mutually 
supportive, including by having trade and environment officials participate in th e development of 
the CEC's work plans.  
4.2.3   Central America and the Dominican Republic  
4.20.   On 5 August 2004, the United States signed the Dominican Republic -Central 
America -United  States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA -DR) with five Central Ame rican countries 
(Costa Ri ca, El  Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic. The 
CAFTA -DR is the first free trade agreement between the United States and a group of smaller 
developing economies. This agreement is creating new economic opportunities by eliminating 
tariffs, opening markets, reducing barriers to services, and promoting transparency. It is 
facilitating trade and investment among the seven countries and furthering regional integration.  
4.21.   CAFTA -DR countries represent the third largest U.S. expo rt market in Latin America, behind 
Mexico and Brazil.  U.S. goods exports to the CAFTA -DR countries were valued at US$29 billion  
in 2015.  Combined total two -way trade in 2015  between the United States and Central America 
and the Dominican Republic was US$53  billion.  
4.22.   The agreement entered into force for the United States and El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, and Nicaragua during 2006, for the Dominican Republic on 1 Marc h 2007, and for 
Costa  Rica on 1  January 2009.  
4.2.4   Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum  
4.23.   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 U.S. efforts 
to achieve a seamless economy in the Asia -Pacific region that wil l expan d opportunities for 
U.S. exporters, services providers, and workers, providing greater economic growth across the 
region.  
4.24.   As of November 2015 , the 21 APEC member economies collectively accounted for about 
40% of the world 's population, 44%  of global trade,  and close to 60% of total GDP.  In 2014, 
U.S.-APEC total trade in goods was an estimated US$2.5  trillion.  Total U.S.-APEC trade in services 
(exports and imports) was US$418 billion in 2014  (latest data available).  The significant value of 
U.S. trade in the  Asia-Pacific region underscores the importance of the region as a market for 
U.S. exports and the significant role APEC continues to play in promoting trade and investment 
liberalization and facilitation in the region.  
4.25.   In 2015, during the Philippines'  APEC host year, the United States worked with APEC to 
build on the commitments of previous years, as well as to launch work on other issues of priority 
to the United States  and other APEC economies , that will help promote economic growth and 
support jobs for American workers and businesses.  The United States joined with other APEC 
economies to advance  capacity  building actions  to help developing APEC economies improve the 
efficiency of supply chains, as measured by reductions in time, cost, and uncertainty of shipments.  
The projects in the plan match closely with the provisions of the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement . APEC's supply chain work will make it significantly cheaper, easier, and faster for 
businesses to trade in the Asia -Pacific.  APEC is working clos ely with supply chain expert s in the 
region through the APEC Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2) to advance these goals.  
4.26.   A major accomplishment in 2015 was the implementation by most APEC economies of APEC 
Leaders ' ground -breaking 2011 commitment  to reduce their tariffs on an agreed list of WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  environmental goods to 5 % or less by  2015. APEC also started to advance work on promoting 
services trade through the adoption of the APEC Services Cooperation Framework. APEC focused 
attention in 2015 on the gr owing importance of digital trade to economic growth and innovation. 
APEC also showed leadership by continuing efforts to strengthen the implementation of good 
regulatory practices and by launching a set of actions designed to enable the growth of global 
value chains.  
4.2.5   The U.S. -ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement  
4.27.   The United States is pursuing several initiatives to expand and deepen economic 
engagement with the 10 member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations 
(ASEAN). ASEAN col lectively represents the United States' fourth largest goods export market and 
fifth largest trading partner. Under the Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement signed in 
2006, the United States is working with ASEAN countries to enhance and deepen the U .S.-ASEAN 
economic relationship and support ASEAN regional integration. Earlier this year, the United States 
and ASEAN concluded the ASEAN -United States Cooperation in Fostering Transparency and Good 
Regulatory Practices, and the ASEAN -United States Cooper ation in Fostering International 
Investment , which will help promote best practices across the region in these areas . 
4.2.6   Engagement with the Middle East and North Africa  
4.28.   The revolutions and other changes that swept through the Middle East and North Africa 
(MENA) in 2011 prompted a comprehensive reevaluation of U.S. trade and investment policies 
toward this critical part of the world. In response to these events, USTR coordinated  with other 
Federal agencies, outside experts, and stakeholders in both the United States and MENA partner 
countries to develop trade and investment initiative s to support jobs and enhance regional trade. 
To pursue th ese initiative s, the United States initially focused on certain specific areas, including 
trade facilitation, investment, and the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, as 
a first step toward developing longer -term trade and investment objectives with trading partners 
in the region.  
4.29.   Although ongoing political and in some cases military turmoil in the MENA reg ion has 
hampered, to varying degrees, U.S. efforts to engage MEN A partner governments, the 
U.S. Government has sought to maintain dialogue with as many partners as possible. In 201 5-16, 
the United States continued to monitor, implement, and enforce U.S. FT As in the region (Bahrain, 
Israel, Jordan, Morocco, and Oman)  and held consultations under Trade and Investment 
Framework Agreements (TIFAs) with Algeria, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries 
(Bahrain, Kuwait , Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia , and the Uni ted Arab Emirates), Tunisia, and Egypt. 
In these discussions, the United  States and partner governments have explored possible new ways 
to address key trade and investment issues affecting bilateral trade and investment, including 
customs, intellectual pro perty, control procedures for food imports, standards development, legal 
harmonization, and WTO initiatives.  
4.2.7   U.S.–EU Trade  
4.30.   The U.S. trade and investment relationship with the EU is the largest and most complex 
economic relationship in the world, with trans atlantic trade in goods and services averaging over 
US$3  billion each day during 2015. The total stock of transatlantic direct investment was worth 
US$4.6  trillion in 2015. These enormous trade and investment flows are a key pillar of prosperity 
both in th e United States and Europe, and countries around the world benefit from access to the 
markets, capital, and innovations of the transatlantic economy.  
4.31.   The United States interacts extensively with counterparts in the major EU  governing 
institutions (the Euro pean Commission, the European 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 protection of intellectual property right s (IPR), and 
joint efforts on shared concerns in third country markets.  
4.32.    To further strengthen this critical trade and investment relationship, on 17 June 2013 
President Obama and EU Leaders  announced the launch of negotiations on the T-TIP agreement, 
with the mutually agreed commitment to further strengthen the contribution of trade and WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  investment to fostering jobs, growth, and competitiveness in both economies and to address 
global issues of common concern . 
4.33.   The United States and the EU completed the 1 5th round of T -TIP negotiations in 
New York City in October  2016. Significant progress has been made toward completi ng negotiation 
of a comprehensive agreement, with notable advancement toward the elimination of duties and on 
various regulatory issues. The Uni ted States and EU have also made progress toward agreement 
on a number of other provisions that would expand market access, as well as rules -based 
commitments which will build on rules in the WTO . The parties continue to work toward completing 
negotiation of a comprehensive and ambitious T -TIP agreement.  
4.34.   Under the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) umbrella, officials from USTR, Department 
of Commerce, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the EU's Directorate -General 
for Trade and Director ate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs 
organized the 7th U.S. Small and Medium Enterprise Workshop in Tallinn, Estonia in June 2016. 
Participants in the conference exchanged best practices, identified common trade barriers and  
facilitated increased small business participation in transatlantic trade.  
4.2.8   African Growth and Opportunity Act  
4.35.   AGOA has been the cornerstone of U.S. -African engagement on trade and investment since 
it was enacted in 200 0. By providing duty -free entry into the United States for almost all products 
of beneficiary countries, AGOA has helped to expand and diversify two -way trade between the 
United  States  and sub -Saharan Africa, and helped to foster an improved business environment in 
many su b-Saharan African co untries. AGOA was extended to 2025 by the Trade Preferences 
Extension Act of 2015. The renewed AGOA provides additional tools to support compliance with the 
AGOA eligibility criteria, including by providing greater flexibility to withdraw, suspend, or limi t 
benefits under the program if it is determined that such action would be more effective than 
termination of AGOA eligibility. The renewed AGOA was also enhanced to promote greater regional 
integration by expanding rules of origin and by encouraging benef iciary countries to develop AGOA 
utilization strategies. In 2015 , U.S. -sub-Saharan Africa two -way trade (exports plus imports) 
totalled US$37  billion. U.S. total imports under AGOA, including its Generalized System of 
Preferences provisions, was US$9.3  billion and U.S. imports of non -oil goods under AGOA totalled 
US$4.1 billion, a nearly threefold increasing since AGOA entered into force.  
4.36.   AGOA requires the President to monitor, review, and report to Congress bi -annually on the 
progress of sub Saharan Afric an countries in meeting the AGOA eligibility criteria set out in the 
legislation – including, among other things, making continual progress in establishing a market 
based economy, rule of law, and protection of internationally recognized workers' rights. T he 
U.S. Trade Representative makes recommendations to the President regarding which countries 
should be eligible for benefits based on an annual country eligibility review that takes into account 
information drawn from U.S. Government agencies, the private  sector, non -governmental 
organizations, and prospective beneficiary governments. In 2016, 38 countries were eligible for 
AGOA benefits.  
4.37.   The United States -Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, informally 
known as the "AGOA Forum," is an annual ministerial -level meeting with AGOA -eligible countries. 
In August 2015, the U.S. Trade Representative led the USG delegation to the AGOA Forum held in 
Libreville, Gabon. The U.S. Trade Representative and other U.S. participants met with numerous 
African senior officials, including trade ministers, leaders of African regional economic 
organizations, and representatives of the African and American private sectors and civil society to 
discuss issues and strategies for advancing trade, investment, and ec onomic development in Africa 
as well as ways to increase two -way U.S. -African trade. In September 2016, the U.S. Trade 
Representative led the USG delegation to the AGOA Forum held in Washington , D.C., where they 
met with African trade ministers, senior Afr ican officials, and participants from the private sector 
and civil society. The discussion topics included how to foster greater trade and investment 
between the Uni ted States and Africa, and  how to expand that relationship beyond AGOA in the 
future.  
4.38.   Most recently, as part of the Congressionally required response to the long -term renewal of 
AGOA in 2015, USTR published a major study entitled "Beyond AGOA: Looking to the Future of WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment ". (At: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2016 -AGOA -
Report.pdf ) The report presents the case for deepening U.S. -Africa economic investment, and 
outlines key trends in Africa, the United States and the broader global trading s ystem against 
which such engagement will likely evolve. It also explores the substantive building blocks 
potentially important to a new U.S. -Africa trade architecture, and assesses some strategic and 
structural options for moving forward.  
4.2.9   East African Comm unity Trade and Investment Partnership  
4.39.   During his landmark visit to sub -Saharan Africa in the summer of 2013, President Obama 
announced  a new initiative, Trade Africa, which is a new partnership between the United States 
and sub -Saharan Africa that seeks t o increase intra -Africa trade and investment and expand trade 
and economic ties between Africa, the United States, and other global markets. Trade Africa will 
initially focus on the member states of the East African Community (EAC) – Burundi, Kenya, 
Rwanda , Tanzania, and Uganda. Subsequently, South Suda n became a member of the EAC 
in 2016. Trade Africa will help mobilize resources to support increased U.S. -EAC trade and 
investment, building upon the United States -EAC Trade and Investment Partnership announc ed in 
June 2012. In February 2015, the U.S. Trade Representative and trade ministers from five EAC 
countries marked a milestone for Trade Africa by signing a "Cooperation Agreement among the 
Partner States of the East African Community and the United State s of America " on trade 
facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and technical barriers to trade. The Agreement 
will increase trade -related capacity building in these key areas in EAC countries and is intended to 
deepen e conomic ties between the U nited States and the EAC. Total two -way goods trade between 
the United States and the EAC was an estimated US$2.0 billion in 20 15, with US$1.2 billion in 
U.S. goods exports and U.S. goods imports totalling US$796 million.  
4.2.10   The Caribbean Basin Initiative  
4.40.   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 Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and  substantially 
expanded in 2000 with the U.S. -Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act  (CBTPA), the CBI was 
further expanded in the Trade Act of 2002. In addition, the United States provides substantial 
benefits to Haiti through the Haitian Hemispheric Opport unity through Partnership Encouragement 
Act of 2006 ( "HOPE Act "), the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership 
Encouragement Act of 2008 ( "HOPE II "), and the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010 
("HELP Act"). In 2015, Congress extended this p rogram of unila teral support for Haiti 
through  2025.  
4.41.   The CBERA provides beneficiary countries and territories with duty -free access to the 
U.S. market for certain eligible articles. Current beneficiary countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, 
Aruba, the Bahamas , Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, 
Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent a nd the Grenadines, and 
Trinidad  and Tobago. At the end of 2013, the President designated Curaçao, a successor po litical 
entity of the Netherlands Antilles, as an eligible beneficiary of CBERA and CBTPA.  
4.42.   On the date the CAFTA -DR entered into force for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic , respectively, each country cease d to be 
designated as a CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary. Similarly, Panama ceased to be designated as a 
CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary when the United States -Panama Trade Promotion Agr eement 
entered into force on 31  October 2012.  
4.43.   Since its inception, the CBERA ha s helped beneficiaries diversify their exports. In 
conjunction with economic reform and trade liberalization by b eneficiary countries, the 
trade  benefits of the program have contributed to their economic growth. In Decembe r 2015, 
USTR submitted its elevent h biannual report to Congress on the operation of the CBERA. The 
report can be found on the USTR website, http://www.ustr.gov . On 10 July 2014, the 
United  States submitted a report to the WTO on the operation of the trad e-related provisions of 
the CBERA (WT/L/928).  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.3  Bilateral Trade Agreements and Initiatives  
4.3.1   United States –Australia Free Trade Agreement  
4.44.   The United States -Australia FTA entered into force on 1 January 2005. U.S. two -way goods 
trade with Australia totalled  US$36 billion in 2015, up 67% since 2004, the year before the FTA 
entered into force. U.S. two -way services trade with Australia totalled  US$26 billion in 2014 (latest 
data available), an increase of 151% since 2004. The stock of U.S. foreign direct investmen t in 
Australia reached US$180 billion in 2014 (latest data available); the United States is the largest 
foreign investor in Australia, while the United States is the top destination for outbound Australian 
foreign direct investment.  
4.45.   The United States and Australia continue to closely monitor FTA implementation. The fifth 
Joint Committee Meeting to review implementation of  the FTA and other bilateral issues was held 
in May 2016, and covered topics including customs, services, autos, and investment. The two 
countries cooperated closely in the successful conclusion of the TPP negotiations in 2015, and 
worked to further promote trade and investment through WTO, APEC, and other regional 
initiatives.  
4.3.2   United States –Bahrain Free Trade Agreement  
4.46.   The United States -Bahrain FTA entered into force 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. In 2015 , two -way trade in goods was US$2.2 billion. U.S. exports of good s 
were US$1.3 billion, and U.S. imports o f goods from Bahrain were US$902 million.  
4.47.   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 the 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 investme nt levels, possible cooperation in the 
broader MENA region, and additional cooperative efforts related to labor rights and environmental 
protection.  
4.48.   The U.S. -Bahrain FTA also promotes the United States'  policy to increase job -supporting 
trade and investmen t between the United States and Middle East. The United  States -Bahrain 
Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) took effect in May 2001.  
4.3.3   United States –Chile Free Trade Agreement  
4.49.   The United States -Chile FTA entered into force on 1 January 2004. The United States -Chile 
FTA eliminates tariffs and opens markets, reduces barriers to trade in services, provides protectio n 
for intellectual property, ensures regulatory transparency, guarantees non -discrimination in the 
trade of digital products, commits the Parties to mai ntain competition laws that prohibit 
anticompetitive business conduct, and requires effective labor and environmental enforcement. 
Two-way goods trade totalled US$24.2 billion in 2015, with U.S. goods exports to Chile totalling 
US$15.4 billion. As of 1  January 2015, all products became duty free under the Agreement.  
4.50.   The central oversight body for the FTA is the United States -Chile Free Trade Commission 
(FTC), comprised of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Chilean Director General of 
International Econom ic Affairs or their designees. In June 2014, the United States and Chile 
executed an exchange of letters agreeing to a Code of Conduct for Dispute Settlement Proceedings 
and Common Guidelines for the Interpretation, Application and Administration of Chapte r Four and 
other relevant provision s of the Agreement. The FTC last met in June 2015 to review 
implementation of the Agreement.  
4.3.4   United States -Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement  
4.51.   The United States -Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) entered into force on 
15 May 2012. Two -way goods trade totalled US$30.4 billion in 2015, with U.S. goods exports to 
Colombia totalling US$16.3 billion. "Year 5 " tariff cuts occurred on  1 January 2016. The CTPA's WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  central oversight body is the United States -Colombia Free Trade  Commissi on (FTC), comprised of 
the U.S.  Trade Representative and the Colombia Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism or their 
designees. In  November 2012, the FTC held its inaugural meeting to review implementation  of the 
Agreement.  
4.52.   During 2014 and 2015 , the United States continued intensive engagement with the 
Colombian government under the Action Plan Related to Labor Rights to support its efforts to 
improve the protection of worker rights, prevent violence against trade unionists, and ensure the 
prosecut ion of the perpetrators of such violence. The Colombian government has continued to take 
important steps to strengthen labor rights, including issuing a new Presidential Decree in 
April 2016 to help inspectors investigate and apply potentially very signifi cant fines to employers 
that use abusive forms of subcontracting to violate labor rights, and hiring 279  additional lab or 
inspectors for a total of 413  new inspectors since the launch of the Action Plan. More work remains 
to be done, and the United States  will continue its intensive engagement with the Government of 
Colombia and stakeholders to ensure progress on workers ' rights.  
4.53.   In December 2013, both the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) under the CTPA and the 
Environmental Cooperation Commission (ECC)  under the United States -Colombia Environmental 
Cooperation Agreement (ECA), which entered into force on 28 June 2013, met. The Council and 
Commission also held a public session pursuant to the CTPA environment chapter and the ECA. 
The EAC reviewed impleme ntation of the Environment Chapter of the CTPA including actions taken 
by both countries to increase levels of environmental protection, ensure effective enforcement of 
environmental laws, and provide opportunities for public participation in environmental  governance 
and the trade policy -setting processes. The ECC reviewed ongoing environmental cooperation 
activities and approved and signed the first United States -Colombia Work Program for 
Environmental Cooperation under the ECA, which provides a robust fra mework for advancing 
environmental cooperation in the coming years. In 2015 and 2016, the United States and 
Colombia made progress toward the establishment of an independent secretariat to receive and 
consider submissions from the public on matters regardi ng enforcement of environmental laws 
pursuant to Article 18.8 of the CTPA, and hope to finalize the agreement in 2016 or early 2017. 
The secretariat mechanism is intended to promote public participation in the identification and 
resolution of issues regard ing each party 's enforcement of its environmental laws.  
4.3.5   United States –Israel Free Trade Agreement  
4.54.   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 foundation for expa nding trade and investment 
between the United States and Israel by reducing barriers and promoting regu latory transparency. 
In 2015, U.S. goods exports to Israel were US$15.1 billion.  
4.55.   In January 2016, the United States and Israel sought ways to engage in c ollaborative efforts 
to increase b ilateral trade and investment. During the meeting, the United States and Israel began 
discussion of a work plan to address the remaining barriers to bilateral trade, including in the 
areas of agriculture and customs, among  other areas. The two sides also made progress on a 
number of market access issues related to standards, customs classification, and technical 
regulations.  
4.56.   In 1996, 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 for certain agricultural products. The 1996 agreement was extended through 2003, and 
a new agreement was concluded in 2004. While this Agreement originally ran thro ugh 2008, it has 
been extended ann ually since then. In June 2014, the United States proposed revised modalities 
for a new ATAP agreement, seeking to capitalize on progress to date and to streamline the 
negotiations while liberalizing trade to the maximum d egree possible. Each side is reviewing the 
proposals put forward by the other in preparation for the next round of negotiations, tentatively 
planned for late 2016. In December 2015, the two sides agreed to extend the 2004  ATAP through 
31 December 2016, whi le negotiations for a new ATAP continue.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.3.6   United States –Jordan Free Trade Agreement  
4.57.   In 2016, the United States and Jordan continued to benefit from their economic partnership. 
A key element of this relationship is the United States -Jordan Free Trade Agreeme nt, which 
entered into force on 17 December 2001, and was implemented fully on 1 January 2010. In 
addition, the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs), established by the U.S. Congress in 1996, all ow 
products to enter the United  States duty free if manufacture d in Jordan, 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.  
4.58.   U.S. goods exports were an estimated US$1.4 billion in 2015 , dow n 33% from 2014. 
QIZ products account for about 5% of Jordanian exports to the United States, but the QIZ share of 
these exports is declining relative to the share of exports shipped to the United States under 
provisions of the FTA. This shift toward expor ting products manufactured outside  of the QIZs 
demonstrates the important role the FTA plays in helping Jordan diversify its economy.  
4.59.   At the May 2016 meeting of the Joint Committee (JC) established under the FTA, the United 
States and Jordan agreed to upda te an action plan outlining concrete steps to boost trade and 
investment bilaterally, and between Jordan and other countries in the Middle East region.  
4.60.   Additionally, the United States continued to work with Jordan in the area of labor standards, 
particula rly through ongoing efforts under the Implementation Plan Related to Working and Living 
Conditions of Workers in Jordan, signed in 2013. The Plan addresses labor concerns in Jordan 's 
garment factories including anti -union discrimination against foreign wor kers, conditions of 
accommodations for foreign workers, and gender discrimination and harassment.  
4.3.7   United States –Korea Free Trade Agreement  
4.61.   The United States -Korea Free Trade Agreement  (KORUS) entered into force on 
15 March  2012. Despite a prolonged period of relatively slow growth in Korea and resultant drop in 
import demand, U.S. -Korea goods and services trade increased from US$126 billion to 
US$146 billion between 2011 (pre -FTA) and 2015. Manufacturing exports reached US$37.2 billion  
in 2015, an 8.2% incr ease from  2011. Passenger vehicle exports increased 208% by value 
between 2011 and 2015, more than 14 times faster than the increase in U.S. auto exports to the 
world. S ervices exports reached US$20.5  billion in 2015, an increase of 23.1% from 2011. Overal l, 
the U.S. International Trade Commiss ion estimated in 2016 that U.S.  exports to Korea were 
roughly US$16 billion higher than they would have been absent KORUS.  
4.62.   There are 21 KORUS Committees and Working Groups, which meet regularly and can also 
be conven ed on an ad hoc basis to address issues of concern. The agreement's central oversight 
body is the Joint Committee, chaired by the U.S. Trade Representative and the Korean Trade, 
Industry and Energy Minister . There have been four Joint Committee meetings si nce the 
agreement entered into force, at which issues of substantial interest to both Parties , such as the 
regulatory environment, competition policy, and automotive trade, were discussed.  Senior Officials 
Meeting s are also held in conjunction with Joint C ommittee meetings to coordinate and report on 
the activities of the committees and working groups established under the agreement and to 
review important issues as they arise.  
4.63.   The United States addresses KORUS compliance and other trade issues on a continu al basis 
through regular inter -sessional consultations, through our respective embassies, and other 
engagement with the Korean government, including at senior levels, in order to resolve issues in a 
timely manner.  
4.3.8   United States –Morocco Free Trade Agreement  
4.64.   The United States -Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on 
1 January  2006. Since the e ntry into force of the FTA, two -way U.S. -Morocco tra de in goods has 
grown from US$927 million in 2005 (the year prior to entry into force) to US$2.6 bill ion in 2015. 
U.S. goods exports to Morocco in 2014 were  US$1.6 billion, down 23.5%  from the previous year. 
Corresponding U.S. imports from Morocco in 2015 were US$1.0 billion, up nea rly 2%  from 2014.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.65.   The United States and Morocco held the fourth meeting of  the FTA Joint Committee (JC) on 
February 20, 2015 in Rabat. U.S. and Moroccan officials noted productive bilateral environmental 
and labor -related cooperation under the Labor and Environment FTA Subcommittees, which had 
met in September and October 2014, respectively. They also reviewed recent improvements to 
Morocco 's legislative regime for the protection of i ntellectual property rights and discussed 
Morocco 's steps to implement the bilateral Customs and Mutual Assistance and Trade Fac ilitation 
agreements , signed in  2013 and which entered into force on February 1, 2016, as well as the WTO 
Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
4.66.   In the area of agriculture, the JC reviewed discussions held just prior to the JC 's session in 
combined mee tings of the Agriculture and Sani tary and Phytosanitary (SPS)  FTA Subcommittees. 
In the Subcommittee meetings, expert -level delegations considered the steps required to complete 
Moroccan SPS applications for market access to the United States for a number of agricultural 
products. They al so explored new approaches to the operation of the tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for 
wheat established by Morocco under the FTA. Useful exchanges of technical information across a 
range of issues took place, designed to facilitate ongoing discussions. The two delegations 
committed to a series of digital video conferences and other communications throughout the year 
in order to maintain progress. Several of these conferences subsequently were held throughout 
2015.  The Subcommittees are currently planning thei r next meetings for Fall 2016.  The next 
Agriculture and SPS FTA committee is scheduled for October 2016.  
4.3.9   United States –Oman Free Trade Agreement  
4.67.   The United States -Oman Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 
1 January  2009, complements existing  FTAs to promote economic reform and openness in the 
region. Implementation of the obligations contained in the comprehensive agreement will generate 
export opportunities for U.S. goods and services providers, solidify Oman's trade and investment 
liberalization  efforts, and strengthen intellectual property rights protection and enforcement.  In 
2015, two -way trade in goods was US$3.3 billion. U.S. exports of goods were US$2.4 billion, and 
U.S. imports of goods from Oman were US$906 million.  
4.68.   The central oversight body for the FTA is the United States -Oman Joint Committee, chaired 
jointly by the U.S. Trade Representative  and the Minist er of Commerce and Industry. Dates for the 
third meeting of the JC have not yet been set, but when scheduled, officials of the two 
governments expect to discuss a broad range of trade issues including efforts to increase bilateral 
trade and investment levels, possible cooperation in the broader Middle East and North Africa 
region, an d additional cooperative efforts related to labor righ ts and environmental protection.  
4.3.10   United States –Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (Panama TPA)  
4.69.   The United States -Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (Panam a TPA) entered into force on 
31 October 2012. The United States' two -way goods trade with Panama  was US$ 8.1 billion 
in 2015, with U.S. goods exports to Panama totalling US$ 7.7. billion. "Year 5 " tariff cuts occurred 
on 1 January  2016. The TPA 's central oversight body is the United States -Panama Free Trade 
Commission (FTC), comprised of the U.S. Trade Represent ative and the Panamanian Minister of 
Trade and Industry or their designees. The Parties have agreed to hold an FTC meeting in 
November 2016, to review implementation of the Agreement.  
4.70.   The Agreement includes obligations for both countries to protect fundame ntal labor rights as 
well as to effectively enforce existing labor laws, which will enable workers and businesses to 
compete on a level playing field. The Agreement also established a Labor Affairs Council (LAC) 
under the labor chapter.  
4.71.   The Agreement esta blishes an Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) under the environment 
chapter. The related U.S. -Panama Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) establishes an 
Environmental Cooperation Commission (ECC). In December 2015, the United States and Panama 
signed  an agreement establishing the secretariat for environmental enforcement matters, which is 
housed at the Water Center for Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC). 
The agreement entered into force in August 2016.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  4.3.11   United States –Peru Trade  Promotion Agreement  
4.72.   The United States -Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) entered into force on 
1 February  2009. The PTPA eliminates tariffs and removes barriers to U.S. services, provides a 
secure, predictable legal framework for investors, and strengt hens protection for intellectual 
property, workers, and the environment. The United States' two -way goods trade with Peru was an 
estimated US$ 13.8 billion in 201 5, with U.S. goods exports to Peru totalling US$ 8.7 billion.  
4.73.   The PTPA's central oversight body is the United States -Peru Free Trade Commission (FTC), 
comprised of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Peruvian Minister of For eign Trade and 
Tourism or their designees. In June 2015, the FTC held its fifth meeting to review implementation 
of the Agreem ent. 
4.74.   The PTPA also established the United States -Peru Forest Sector Subcommittee and the 
Environmental Affairs Council (EAC). 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 (Forest Annex), and through the EAC, the United States and Peru have had 
robust engagement concerning the implementation of the environmental obligations under the 
PTPA Environment Chapter and the Forest Annex. In June 201 5, the EAC met in Lima, Peru along 
with the Forest Sector Subcommittee and the Environmental Cooperation Commission (ECC) . The 
Parties reviewed progress under the Forest Sector Annex, including the launch of a new Peruvian 
Forest and Wi ldlife Service in Au gust 2014. The Parties also signed an agreement to establish the 
secretariat for environmental matters, an independent body to receive public submissions 
concerning environmental enforcement and approve d and ECC Work Program for 2015 –2018 
which lays out a plan f or continued support for Peru. As provided for under the Forest Annex, in 
February 2016 the United States requested the Government of Peru to verify that a 2015 timber 
shipment exported to the United States complied with applicable P eruvian laws and regulations. 
The United States responded to the verification findings with a set of recommended actions and 
intends to work with the Government of Peru to implement reforms to improve enforcement of 
Peruvian forestry laws.  
4.3.12   United States –Singapore Free Trad e Agreement  
4.75.   The United States -Singapore  FTA, the United States' first in  Asia, has been in effect 
since 2004. Since then, two-way trade  has increased 50%.  Singapore is the 17th largest goods 
trading partner  of the United States , with US$50 billion in two -way goods trade, and its 
19th largest services trading partner, with US$21 billion in two -way services trade. The 
United  States consults regularly with Singapore to monitor implementation of the FTA, address 
bilateral issues, and further build and expand th e bilateral relationship.  
5  TRADE IN SERVICES AG REEMENT  
5.1.  Launched in 2013, the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) is a trade initiative focused 
exclusively on services. Drawing on best practices from around the world, TiSA is designed to 
encompass state -of-the-art trade rules aimed at promoting fair and open competition across the 
full spectrum of service sectors – from telecommunications and technology to distribution and 
delivery services.  
5.2.  Twenty -three economies are participating in TiSA negotiations: Austra lia; Canada ; Chile; 
Colombia ; Costa Rica ; the European Union ; Hong Kong , China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; 
Liechtenstein; Mauritius; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; Peru; the Republic of 
Korea; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei ; Turkey;  and the Unite d States. TiSA participan ts represented 
nearly 70%  of the world 's US$55 trillion services market in 2014  (latest data available) . 
5.3.  The United States and other TiSA partners are working to comp lete negotiations by the end 
of 2016. Substantial progress has be en made in stabilizing texts across its many components, and 
negotiations will be intensifying in an effort to reach agreement on additional disciplines in areas 
like telecommunications, financial services, and e -commerce, as well as to obtain high -quality  
market access offers from all participants.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  6  TRADE -RELATED CAPACITY BUI LDING INITIAT IVES 
6.1.  Trade policy and development assistance are key tools that together can help alleviate 
poverty and improve opport unities. Through "Aid for T rade," the United States fo cuses on helping 
developing countries integrate into the global trading community. Support to countries, in the form 
of training and technical assistance , can help them make decisions about the benefits of trade 
arrangements and reforms; implement their international and regional obligations to bring 
certainty to their trade regimes; and enhance these countries' ability 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 communities, rural areas, and small 
businesses, including female entrepreneurs, benefit from ambitious reforms in trade rules that are 
being negotiated in the W TO and in other trade fora . The United States promotes  trade and 
economic growth in developing countrie s through a wide range of trade  capacity building (TCB) 
activities.  
6.2.  An important element of this TCB work involves coordinating U.S. Government technical 
assistance activities with those of the international  institutions in order to identify and take 
advantage of donor synergies  in programming and to avoid duplication. Such institutions include 
the WTO, the World Bank, the IMF, the regional de velopment banks, and the United  Nations. The 
United States, led by USTR at the WTO , by the Treasury Department at various  international 
financial bodies , and by the State Department at the United Nations,  works in partnership with 
these institutions and other donors to ensure that, where appropriate, trade -related assista nce is 
an integral component of development programs tailored to the circumstances within each 
developing country.  
6.3.  The United States' efforts build on its longstanding commitment to help partner countries 
benefit from the opportunities provided by the glob al trading system, both through bilateral 
U.S. assistance and through multilateral institutions. U.S. bilateral assistance includes programs 
such as targeted assistance for developing countries participating in U.S. preference programs and 
coordination of assistance through Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs). The 
United States also provides bilateral assistance to developing countries to enable them to work 
with the private sector and non -governmental organizations to transition to a more ope n economy, 
to prepare for WTO negotiations, and to abide by their trade obligations. Multilaterally, the 
United  States has supported and will continue to support trade -specific assistance mechanisms, 
such as the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Tra de-Related Assistance to Least -Developed 
Countries and the WTOs Global Trust Fund for Trade -Related Technical Assistance.  
6.1  World Trade Organization -Related U.S. Trade -Related Assistance  
6.4.  International trade can play a major role in the promotion of economic growth and the 
alleviation of poverty, and the United States recognizes that TCB can facilitate more effective 
integration of developing countries into the international trading system and enable them to 
benefit further from global trade. The United States has an d 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 active partner in the WTO's Aid for Trade 
discussion.  
6.5.  The Unite d States supports the trade -related assistance activities of the WTO Secretariat 
through voluntary contributions to the DDA Global Trust Fund. In Septembe r 2016, the 
United  States pledged an additional US$600,000  to the trust fund . Taking into accoun t this  
contribution, total U.S.  contributions to the WTO have amounted to more than US$1 7 million 
since 2001.  
6.6.  The United States provides technical support to countries that are in the process of acceding 
to the WTO and for post -accession implementation. In 2015,  the United States provided WTO 
accession assistance to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Liberia. Among current accession applicants, 
Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon, Serbia, and 
Uzbekistan received U.S. technical assistance earlier in their accession processes. In addition, 
Albania; Georgia;  Lao P eople's Democratic Republic; Macedonia;  Morocco;  Nepal; Tajikistan; 
Ukraine;  and Viet  Nam continue to receive assistance with implementing their membership 
commitments.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  6.2  The Enhanced Integrated Framework  
6.7.  The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is a multi -organization, multi -donor program that 
operates as a coordination mechanism for trade -related assistance to least -developed countries 
(LDCs) with the overall objective of in tegrating trade into national development plans. The 
United  States supports the EIF primarily through complement ary bilateral assistance to 
EIF participating countries. U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ) bilateral assistance 
to LDC participa nts 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.  
6.3  TCB Initiatives for Africa  
6.8.  In July 20 13, President Obama launched "Trade Africa " with the five members of the East 
African Community  (EAC)  – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda – to support 
increased regional and U.S. -EAC trade and investment. As part of this engagement , the 
United  States and its EAC partners negotiated, and have been w orking to implement, a 
February  2015 Cooperation Agreement covering sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, 
technical barriers to trade  (TBT) , and trade facilitation. The Administration subsequently expanded 
the Trade Africa initiative to Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, and Zambia, and it 
committed to provide technical support on trade matters to the Economic Community of West 
African States (ECOWAS). Cooperation between the United States a nd its Trade Africa partners  – 
including through technical and capacity building assistance  – could help the latter meet their WTO 
obligations under the SPS, TBT , and Trade Facilitation Agreements , foster an improved business 
climate, and address capacity issues that constrain trade.  
6.9.  The United States has boosted trade capacity building assistance through Trade and 
Investment Hubs on the continent, which are expected to facilitate over US$200 million in new 
investments  and foster the creation of 37,000 jobs  by 2020 . Under this initiative, USAID expanded 
its flagship Trade Hubs into Trade and Investment Hubs (Hubs). These Hubs, located in Accra, 
Ghana; Pretoria, South Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya, implement new and innovative initiatives to 
reduce bottlenecks a long major trade corridors, as well as boost exports through the formation of 
sustainable business associations with international membership. The Hubs are responsible for 
creating Source Africa, the continent 's largest apparel trade show. Moreover, the Hu bs support 
implementation of the  Feed the Future initiative to help improve food security by integrating 
regional markets and reducing the time and cost to move goods from areas of surplus to those of 
deficit. Supporting such investment allows key value ch ains to scale up, reaching tens of 
thousands of smallholder farmers , and create stable, long -term employment opportunities.  
6.10.   The U.S. Department of Agriculture 's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) administers a 
number of agricultural technical assistance, t raining, and research programs in sub -Saharan Africa. 
USDA 's capacity -building program objectives are to increase agricultural trade both regionally and 
with the United States, help develop trade policies based on sound science, support agricultural 
sector  growth in partner countries and promote regional food security. To this end, FAS 
administers programs to support SPS regulatory and policy development and improvements that 
will help decrease international trade constraints. This capacity building creates  regional 
frameworks for countries to develop equivalent SPS systems that govern regional trade, including 
transboundary animal disease and plant pest monitoring, control, and emergency response. In 
addition, FAS capacity building is helping to develop foo d monitoring systems that will both ensure 
exported foods meet international requirements and that will safeguard domestic food supplies 
from chemical and microbiological contamination.  
6.11.   The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) works in partnership with w ell-governed 
developing countries to tackle the most critical obstacles to private investment and economic 
growth. While MCC 's program with each country is different, many partner countries place a high 
priority on increasing their competiveness and facili tating domestic commerce as well as regional 
and international trade. Since MCC was created in 2004, the agency has invested more than 
US$6 billion in trade -related assistance to developing countries, and more t han half of that has 
gone to 15  sub-Saharan A frican countries. This aid focuses on trade -related infrastructure such as 
roads and electricity, improving the productivity of small and medium -sized businesses and 
export -oriented industries, and leveraging policy and regulatory reforms. Such support all ows 
countries to expand their export -oriented sectors and better utilize AGOA. Major projects have WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  included expansions to the principal sea ports of Benin and Cape Verde, upgrades to Mali 's 
international airport, and roads for commerce in Ghana, Senegal, T anzania, and Mozambique. MCC 
has also supported trade policy and customs improvements through its threshold programs in 
Liberia and Zambia.  
6.12.   Through Power Africa , launched in 2013, the U.S. Government a nd a coalition of more than 
130 public and private sect or partners are working to double access to electricity in sub -Saharan 
Africa.  At the 2014 U.S. -Africa Business Forum, President Obama pledged new funding to expand 
Power Africa 's reach to all of sub -Saharan Africa, and announced a new aggregate goal of ad ding 
30,000 megawatts (MW) of new, cleaner electricity and increasing electricity access by at least 
60 million new connections.  Power Africa is providing support for projects expected to generate 
more than 29,000 MW, and this support has already helped tr ansactions expected to generate 
more than 4,600 MW of generation reach financial close.  Through the combined efforts of Power 
Africa 's strategic partners, including the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, the 
European Union, and the Governments  of Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, and 
Japan, Power Africa is on track to meet its goals by 2030. To date, Power Africa 's initial 
US$7 billion commitment has mobilized more than US$52 billion in additional external 
commitments, including more than US$40 billion in private sector commitments to invest in power 
generation and distribution across sub -Saharan Africa . By demonstrating that renewable power 
transactions are financially viable, improving the performance of utilities, changing the regul atory 
mind-set on renewables, and harmonizing policies to drive investment and stability, Power Africa is 
also playing a critical role in advancing affordable, reliable, and modern energy services and 
substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in sub -Saharan Africa.  
6.13.   The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the U.S. Government 's project 
preparation agency, works to reduce barriers to financing infrastructure. In support of Trade Africa 
goals, USTDA increased its portfolio in Africa by two -thirds to stimulate the infrastructure 
development Africa requires to trade globally. This early -stage investment across 30 projects, 
including ports, airports, electricity, and telecom, and has the potential to mobilize more than 
US$2 billion in private an d public financing during implementation. USTDA also facilitated eight 
rever se trade missions, in which 120  public and private sector del egates from 19 countries in 
sub-Saharan Africa participated, increasing their capacity to make informed investment deci sions 
in their infrastructure investments.  
6.14.   Since 2005, the United States has mobilized  its development agencies to help the 
West African countries of Benin, Burkina F aso, Chad, Mali, and Senegal address obstacles t hey 
face in the cotton sector. MCC, USAID,  and USDA continue to work with these nations as they s eek 
to develop a coherent long -term development strategy to improve p rospects in the cotton sector. 
Elements of such a strategy address key challenges such as improved prod uctivity and domestic 
reforms . The United  States will continue to coordinate with the WTO, World Bank, the 
African  Development Bank, and others as part of the multilateral effort to address the 
development aspects of cotton. This includes the active participation of the United States in the 
WTO Secretariat's periodic meetings with donors and recipient countries to discuss the trade, 
development, and reform aspects of cotton.  
6.15.   The USAID -funded West Africa Cotton Improvement Program (WACIP), which ran from 
2006-2013, and the follow -on Fee d the Future C -4 Cotton Partnership Pr ogram, along with other 
U.S. Government and MCC agriculture and trade -related programs in the C -4 countries, reflect the 
substantial commitment of the U.S. Government to address the development aspects of cotton 
raised  by the C -4 countries. The cooperative agreement for the  Cotton Partnership Program was 
approved in April  2014 and is anticipated to cover fo ur years ending in March 2018. The 
United  States also provides complementary support to the cotton sector through o ther programs. 
MCC is implementing or has implemented compacts with Benin, Bu rkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal. 
USDA also provides support to these countries through its Food for Progress program, which 
encourages development of the agriculture sector and mark et development. USDA  further 
supports the West African cotton sector through its research and exchange programs, specifically 
the Borlaug and Cochran Programs.  
6.4  Standards Alliance  
6.16.   In November 2012, the United States launched a U.S. -sponsored assistance faci lity called 
the "Standards Alliance" with the goal of building capacity among developing countries to WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  implement the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). The Standards 
Alliance provides resources and expertise to enable developing c ountries to effectively implement 
the TBT Agreement. The focus of these efforts in developing countries includes efforts: to improve 
practices related to notification of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures to 
the WTO; to strengthen d omestic practices related to adopting relevant international standards; 
and to clarify and streamline re gulatory processes for products.  
6.17.   In May 2013, USAID and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) entered into a 
public -private partnership that coordinate s private -sector subject matter experts from ANSI 
member organizations in the delivery of training and other technical exchange with interested 
Standards Alliance countries on international standards and best practices. In coordination with 
USTR,  the USAID -ANSI partnership includes activities in up to 10  markets representing a variety of 
geographical regions and levels of economic development. In consultation with TPSC member 
agencies and private sector experts, ANSI reviewed the applications rece ived based on 
consideration of bilateral trade opportunities, available private sector expertise that may be 
leveraged, demonstrated commitment and readiness for assistance, and potential development 
impact. Participating countries/regions include: Central  America (CAFTA -DR, Panama), Colombia, 
Mexico, the East African Community, Indonesia, Middle East/North Africa, Peru, Southern Africa 
Development Community, developing ASEAN members, and Yemen.  
6.18.   Between 2014 -2016, the Standards Alliance completed over 35 TB T-related trainings, 
workshops, and delegation visits that included more than 1,500 participants from 65 countries. 
These capacity building activities have bolstered Standards Alliance countries ' understanding and 
application of TBT -related mechanisms. Hig hlights from the third year of Standards Alliance 
implementation include a series of programs on automotive standards and regulation, an advanced 
course on TBT conducted with Mexico, completion of a pilot project implementing a new Uniform 
Plumbing Code fo r Indonesia, and Zambia submitting its first TBT notifications since 2007. During 
its third year, the Standards Alliance observed an expanded application of WTO mechanisms and 
increased participation in WTO meetings by Standards Alliance countries. For exa mple, during the 
past three WTO TBT Committee meetings, Standards Alliance countries raised 24% more specific 
trade concerns (STCs) on the floor of the WTO when compared with the same period in 2012. 
Standards Alliance countries also exhibit a  growing expe rtise on  TBT matters. The number of STCs 
raised against Standards Alliance countries in the past three TBT Committee meetings decreased 
by 49% when compar ed with the same period in 2012.  
7  TRADE AND THE ENVIRO NMENT  
7.1.  Since  the last U.S. Trade Policy Review, th e United States has achieved significant results on 
trade and environment matters in multiple fora, including through regional a nd bilateral trade 
initiatives.  
7.2.  The TPP Environment chapter includes commitments addressing a broad range of 
environmental chall enges in the Asia -Pacific region, such as combating wildlife trafficking and 
illegal logging and associated trade, promoting sustainable fisheries management,  and prohibiting  
harmful fisheries subsidies that negatively affect overfished fish stocks or supp ort vessels engaged 
in illegal fishing . The TPP Agreement also liberalizes  trade in environmental goods and services . 
The chapter also creates a framework for environmental cooperation and capacity building to help 
developing TPP countries meet their oblig ations . Obligations in the chapter are subject to the same 
dispute settlement procedures and remedies as obligations in other chapters of the TPP 
Agreement, including the availability of trade sanctions  for violations . In the T -TIP negotiations, 
the United  States is also seeking ambitious environmental commitments , including those relating 
to the protection and conservation of wildlife, marine f isheries, and forest resources.  
7.3.  The United States  has continued to prioritize implementation of the FTAs currently  in force.  
Since the last review, the United States has worked in close collaboration with Peru to advance 
implementation of the Annex on Forest Sector Gov ernance under the United States -Peru Trade 
Promotion Agreement. As provided for in the Forest Annex, in February 2016 the United States 
requested the Government of Peru to verify that a shipment of timber products exported to the 
United  States complied with applicable Peruvian laws and regulations. The United States 
responded to the verification findings with a set of recommended actions and intends to work with 
the Government of Peru to implement reforms to improve enforcement of Peruvian forestry laws.  
During the review period, the United States also met with officials from Central America and the WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  Domini can Republic, Chile, Colombia, Korea , Morocco, Panama , and Singapore  to discuss 
implementation of the environment chapters of our FTAs . 
7.4.  The United States and the 16 other  WTO Members participating in EGA  negotiations have 
made significant progress to devel op a list of environmental technologies that will be subject to 
tariff elimination . At the G20 Trade Ministerial Meeting in July 2016, Ministers committed to 
conclude the EGA negotiations by the end of 2016, and to achieve  a landing zone by the 
G20 Leaders ' Summit in September 2016, which EGA participants succeeded in achieving. T he EGA 
will eliminate tariffs on a broad range  of envi ronmental technologies such as wind turbines, water 
treatment filters, and solar water heaters , expanding  on the APEC list of 54 environmental goods . 
In addition to the United  States, Australia;  Canada; China; Costa Rica; the European Union;  
Hong Kong, China;  Iceland;  Israel;  Japan;  Korea ; New Zealand; Norway; Singapore;  Switzerland;  
Chinese Taipei ; and Turkey  are participating i n the negotiations.  
7.5.  In APEC, the United States continued to work closely with other economies to ensure full 
implementation of APEC Leaders' 2011 commitment to reduce tariffs on environmental goods to 
5% or less by the end of 2015. To date, t hat commitmen t has resulted in the reduction of duties 
on hundreds of tariff lines in the A sia-Pacific region, impacting billions of dollars of trade in clean 
technologies.  In 2016, the United States launched an initiative under APEC's Regulatory 
Cooperation Advancemen t Mechanism (ARCAM) aimed at facilitating trade and investment in 
sustainable materials management (SMM) solutions. This effort will catalogue APEC economy 
definitions of key terms (e.g. municipal solid waste, recyclable material, renewable energy) that 
impact trade and investment in SMM solutions as a first step towards addressing the barriers these 
definitions occasionally create.  
7.6.  In September 2016, the United States and 12 other WTO Members (A rgentina, Australia, 
Canada, Chile, Colombia, New Zealand, Nor way, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Singapore, Switzerland, 
and Uruguay ), announced their plans to negotiate in the WTO a first of its kind, rules -based 
plurilateral agreement to prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies . The United States anticipates that 
other conse rvation -minded WTO Members will join these negotiations and work towards an 
ambitious, high -standard agreement, while at the same time working to make progress toward a 
multilateral agreement on fisheries subsidies in the WTO.  
7.7.  In July 2013, the President i ssued an Executive Order on Combating Wildlife Trafficking in 
order to enhance U.S. Government efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. The Executive Order 
established a Presidential Task Force to develop and implement a National Strategy for combating 
wildlife trafficking. The National Strategy , released in February 2014, includes a comprehensive 
whole -of-government plan to address the wildlife trafficking crisis, including by using existing and 
future U.S. FTAs, environmental cooperation mechanisms, and ot her trade -related initiatives.  The 
United States has made substantial progress in implementing the National Strategy , including by 
securing enforceable commitments to combat wildlife trafficking in the TPP Environment Chapter.  
7.8.  In June 2014, the President i ssued a Presidential Memorandum on Combating Illegal Fishing 
and Seafood Fraud. The memorandum established a Presidential Task Force that developed a 
comprehensive framework to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and 
seafood fraud , which is outlined in the Action Plan on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and 
Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud (Action Plan), released in March 2015. The Action 
Plan specifically calls for the United States to seek commitments from U.S. trading partn ers to 
combat IUU fishing and eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies, such as those that go to illegal 
fishers.  The TPP Environment Chapter includes commitments in this areas, and the United States is 
seeking similar commitments in the T -TIP negotiations.  
7.9.  Through t he APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade , the United States 
worked with other Asia -Pacific economies on efforts to combat illegal logging and associated trade. 
This work included developing a definitional understanding of what constitutes illegal logging and 
associated trade, and establishing a reporting template for each economy to report on its laws and 
regulations that are within the scope of the agreed definition. Additionally, the United States is 
working bilaterally with China to enhance efforts to combat illegal logging and associated trade.  WT/TPR/G/350 • United States  
 
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  8  TRADE AND LABOR  
8.1.  Ensuring respect for worker rights is a core value, and the trade policy agenda of the 
United  States includes a strong commitment to ensuring that workers and their fa milies in America 
and around the world benefit from trade. In the TPP, the United States sought to build on the 
strong labor provisions in the most recent U.S. trade agreements and achieved enforceable rules 
that protect the rights of freedom of associatio n and collective bargaining; discourage trade in 
goods produced by forced labor, including forced child labor; promote acceptable conditions of 
work; and establish mechanisms to monitor and address labor concerns.  
8.2.  The United States has continued its effort s to enhance U.S. Government engagement with 
trade partners to improve respect for labor rights and to increase monitoring and enforcement of 
trade agreement labor provisions.  The United States also continues to enhance its engagement 
with trade partners o n labor rights through the formal mechanisms of trade agreements, trade 
programs, and other means. In 2014, Labor Affairs Council meetings were held under FTAs with 
Morocco, Panama and Peru, where high -level labor officials discussed workers' rights and 
employment issues and held open sessions to meet with labor stakeholders and the general public . 
8.3.  As an essential component of the Administration's trade agenda, President Obama signed 
into law renewal of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs to assi st workers, firms and 
farmers adversely affected by global competition. On 29 June 2015, President Obama signed the 
Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TAARA). The TAA Program ensures that 
workers harmed by foreign trade have the best opportunity to acquire skills and credentials to get 
good jobs, by offering trade -affected workers retraining to prepare them for the 21st century 
economy. The TAA Program currently offers the following services to eligible workers: training, out 
of area j ob search and relocation allowances, weekly income support (Trade Readjustment 
Allowances (TRA)), wage supplements for older workers (RTAA), and a health coverage tax credit 
to eligible TAA recipients. In FY2015, US$507,434,200 was available to carry out t he program.  
8.4.  The United States has continued to promote initiatives on labor rights that strengthen 
economic integration and build high quality trade agreements around the world. In 2014, the 
United States developed an initiative with Burma and the internat ional community to develop new 
tools to help Burma improve fundamental labor rights and set a strong foundation for sustainable 
growth and development. In October 2014, the United States, along with Burma, Japan, Denmark, 
and the International Labor Organi zation (ILO), launched a new Initiative to Promote Fundamental 
Labor Rights and Practices in Burma.  The Initiative will help modernize Burma's labor code, 
improve compliance with international labor standards, and foster a robust dialogue between the 
gover nment, business, labor and civil society.  
9  SMALL AND MEDIUM -SIZED BUSINESS TRADE  
9.1.  Under the Obama Administration, USTR announced a Small Business 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 activities. During 2015, USTR 
continued to engage with its interagency partners and with trading partners to develop and 
implement new and continuing initiatives to enhance small bu siness export opportunities.  
9.2.  U.S. small businesses are key engines for U.S. economic growth, jobs, and innovation. SMEs 
that export tend to grow faster, add jobs faster, and pay higher wages than SMEs that serve 
purely domestic markets. Studies by the U.S.  International Trade Commission, 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. But currently, fewer than 5%  of American SMEs export goods, and most  of those who do,  
export only one product to one foreign country.  
9.3.  Several aspects of U.S. tra de policy have particular potential 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 requir ements 
for staffing an office in each country to which companies wish to export. Tariff barriers, 
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  relating to relevant regulations in foreign markets present par ticular challenges for SMEs in selling 
abroad. On an interagency basis, under the Administration's NEI/NEXT initiative, the Trade 
Promotion Coordinating Committee' s (TPCC) Small  Business Working Group  brings together 
various U. S. government agencies to promote small business exports and to connect SMEs to 
trade information online and resources to help them begin or expand their exports and take 
advantage of existing trade agreements.  USTR is supporting interagency efforts to help more SMEs 
reach overseas ma rkets by improving data, leveraging new technology applications, and 
empowering local export efforts.  
9.4.  Since the last TPR , the United States has actively worked to increase  opportunities for  SME 
exports. For exampl e, the United States concluded negotiations  in 2015 for the landmark TPP 
agreement, which will open markets for U.S. SME exporters of agricultural goods, industrial goods, 
and services, and facilitate the participation of U.S. SMEs in regional Asia -Pacific supply chains. 
TPP is the first U.S. trade  agreement ever to contain an SME chapter dedicated to the specific 
needs of SME exporters, building on commitments elsewhere in the Agreement by requiring the 
establishment of dedicated national SME websites and other tools to ensure that small businesses  
have access to the information they need to enter TPP markets. The United Sates' continuing 
negotiations under T -TIP with the European Union aim, in part, to strengthen U.S. -EU cooperation 
to enhance the participation of SMEs in trade between the United S tates and the EU, as well as 
address in the Agreement trade barriers that may disproportionately burden SMEs and prevent 
them from reaching new markets. In 2015, USTR convened the 6th U.S.-EU Small and Medium 
Enterprise Workshop in Washington, D.C. in coor dination with the Department of Commerce, the 
Small Business Administration, and the European Commission, to hear directly from SME 
stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic regarding the trade policy priorities of SMEs in T -TIP. 
APEC adopted the Boracay Action Agenda to Globalize Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises 
(MSMEs), as well as the APEC Iloilo Initiative: Growing Global SMEs for Inclusive Development. 
APEC also welcomed the U.S. -led initiative on the Digital Economy Action plan for MSMEs to 
furthe r assist SMEs' access to international markets.  
9.5.  In the Western Hemisphere, the United States is working to support the Small Business 
Network of the Americas (SBNA), an initiative to spur growth in small and medium -sized 
businesses in the Hemisphere, and t o expand trade between them by connecting small business 
development centers on a regional basis.  
9.6.  The United States also continues to develop the FTA Tariff Tool, a free online tool l aunched 
in 2011, which helps small businesses take better advantage of ta riff reduction and elimination 
under U.S. trade agreements. The FTA Tariff Tool was expanded to include tariff information on 
textiles and apparel products as well as rules of origin under U. S. FTAs, and  to include new 
regional free trade agreements such a s TPP. USTR and other agencies also created an SME 
Exporter 's Toolkit guide to U.S. Government exporting resources . 
__________