WT/TPR/M/434  
13 March 2023 
(23-1818) Page: 1/102 
Trade Policy Review Body  
14 and 16 December 2022   
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
UNITED STATES 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING  
Chairperson: H.E. Mr Ángel Villalobos Rodríguez  
CONTENTS  
 
1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .......................  2 
2  OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES  ...................  4 
3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT  ................................ ................................ ................  9 
4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS  ................................ ................................ ........................  13 
5  REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES  AND ADDITIONAL 
COMMENTS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  92 
6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .......................  101  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: Advance written questions and additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies provided 
by the United  States  are reproduced in document WT/TPR/M/ 434/Add.1  and will be available online 
at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
1.1.  The 15th Trade Policy Review of the United  States  was held on 14 and 16  December  2022. 
The Chairperson, H.E. Mr Ángel  Villalobos  Rodríguez (Mexico) welcomed the delegation of 
the United  States , headed by  H.E. Ms María  Luisa Pagán , Deputy U.S.  Trade Representative and 
Chief of Mission in Geneva ; the rest of the delegation; and the discussant, H.E. Ms Cheryl  K. Spencer 
(Jamaica) . 
1.2.  The Chairperson was pleased that, in addition to physical presence, the meeting also be nefited 
from the Interprefy online connection, allowing for a wider participation of the Membership.  
1.3.  The Chairperson recalled the purpose of TPRs and the main elements of procedures for the 
meeting. The Report by the United  States is contained in document WT/TPR/G/ 434, and that of the 
WTO Secretariat in document WT/TPR/S/ 434. 
1.4.  Questions by the following delegations were submitted in writing before the deadline: Oman ; 
Guatemala ; China ; United  Kingdom ; Chinese  Taipei ; Costa  Rica; Australia; Israel; Argentina; 
Hong Kong,  China;  Singapore; European  Union; Japan; Chile; Uruguay; Russian  Federation; 
Republic of Korea; Colombia; Canada; Dominican  Republic; Philippines; Brunei  Darussalam ; Brazil; 
Switzerland; Thailand; Ukraine; Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia; Mexico; New  Zealand; El  Salvador; and 
Malaysia . The following delegations submitted written questions after the deadline: Norway, 
Honduras, India, Türkiye , Iceland, Kazakhstan , Viet  Nam, Indonesia, and Ecuador.  
1.5.  The Chairperson recalled briefly some elements of the United  States' previous Review and 
developments since then, as well as ident ified some key issues arisen from the advance written 
questions submitted by Members for this TPR.  
1.6.  During the previous TPRB meeting on 17 and 19  December  2018, Members had commend ed 
the United  States for the good performance of its economy stimulated by a pro cyclical fiscal policy. 
They had noted that the United  States was the leading exporter of goods and services that embody 
intellectual property and both a top source and destin ation for foreign direct investment.  
1.7.  The United  States was complimented for being among the main architects of a rules -based 
international trading system. Members highlighted the traditional leadership role of the United  States 
in the WTO.  
1.8.  Members were o f the view that the U .S. trade and investment regime had remained overall 
open and liberal and that nearly 70% of all imports entered duty free. The United  States was 
commended for taking measures to further facilitate trade, and for strongly backing the e ntry into 
force of the WTO  Agreement  on Trade Facilitation.  
1.9.  Amidst this positive assessment, some concerns were raised regarding the active recourse to 
anti-dumping and countervailing measures, as well as their long duration, the use of global safeguard 
measures, and action taken under Section  232, related to U.S. national security, in the form of 
additional tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium products. Members also raised concerns with 
respect to the introduction of new "Buy American" provisions wit h respect to government 
procurement legislation.  
1.10.  While praising the United  States' efforts to reform global agricultural trade, some Members 
reiterated their long -standing  concerns regarding aspects of U.S. agricultural policy.  
1.11.  For th e current  Review, in  their advance written questions, Members expressed interest in 
learning more about the following areas: environmental protection; sanctions; "fast track" authority; 
reauthorization of GSP; position regarding the DSB; fisheries agreement implementation; fo reign 
investment review process; national security; incentives availability; additional tariffs applied on 
imports of steel and aluminium; Section  301 investigations; import tariff quotas; increase in the 
number of AD and CVD investigations; amendments to the regulation on enforcement of trade 
remedies; methodology used for determining and imposing AD and CVD duties; tightening of export 
controls and enforcement; Buy American provisions and waivers; set asides in government 
procurement; protection of geogra phical indications; domestic support in agriculture and fisheries; 
and cabotage restrictions under the Jones Act, among others.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  1.12.  In total, the United  States has received over 1,900  advance written questions from 
40 delegations for this Review, out of which over 1,500  questions from 31  delegations were sent 
within the established deadline. Prior to t he meeting, the United  States already provided written 
replies to most questions submitted within the established deadline.  
1.13.  The meeting was a good opportunity for Members to discuss in greater detail issues of interest 
to them and of systemic importance to the multilateral trading system. It was also an opportune 
moment for the United  States to update the Membership on the impact of COVID -19 on its economy, 
the measures it has taken in response and their outcome. The Chairperson looked forward to a 
fruitful exchange.  
1.14.  The Chairperson closed h is introductory remarks by wishing the United  States  a very 
successful 15th Trade Policy Review.  
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  2  OPENI NG STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED  STATES 
(H.E. MS MARÍA LUISA  PAGÁN) 
2.1.  We are pleased to participate in the 15th Trade Policy Review of the United  States. Thank you 
in particular to my esteemed colleague, Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer, Permanent R epresentative of 
Jamaica, for serving as our discussant. Let me also express our appreciation to Ambassador 
Villalobos for serving as Chair of the TPRB, and for his many contributions to the WTO . 
2.2.  We commend the Secretariat's team for producing an informative Report. Our colleagues in 
Washington appreciated the dynamic series of discussions with Members of the Secretariat's 
TPR Division earlier this year.  
2.3.  The United  States places high value on the T rade Policy Review Mechanism. When used well, 
TPRs promote greater understanding of Members' trade policies and practices. We actively 
participate in other Members' reviews and encourage all Members to remain engaged and committed 
to productive exchanges i n this format.  
2.4.  In this review cycle, we received more than 2,000  questions. The vast majority of Members 
submitted questions that reflect genuine interest in the U.S. trade regime. But it must be said that 
a handful of Members submitted voluminous questio ns that were neither constructive nor 
reasonable. Such an approach undermines the TPR process and limits opportunities for fruitful 
exchange. Because we value the utility of the TPRM, we intend to reflect and seek improvements as 
part of the current reappr aisal and broader WTO reform.  
2.5.  The United  States remains one of the most open and competitive economies in the world. This 
TPR provides a compelling reminder that our trading partners expect – and need – the United  States 
to ensure its economy continues to  thrive.  
2.6.  The United  States is the world's largest single -country importer. In 2020, the United  States 
purchased 17.6 % of goods and services exports from the rest of the world, not including exports 
within the European  Union. 77 countries count the United  States as their first, second, or third 
largest export partner.  
2.7.  U.S. tariffs are among the lowest in the world. The U.S. simple average tariff is 3.4 % on an 
applied basis and 2.3 % on a trade -weighted basis. In 2021, 66 % of all U.S. imports, including those 
under preference programs, entered the United  States duty -free. U.S. service markets also remain 
open to foreign providers. U.S. regulatory processes are transparent, accessible, and open to the 
public, including to non -U.S. citizens.  
2.8.  According to UNCTAD, the United  States continues to attract the largest inward flow of foreign 
direct investment at USD 367.4  billion. Total stock of FDI in 2021 stood at USD 13.6 trillion. We 
attribute these flows to our unmatched diversity, a thriving culture of innovation, and the most 
productive workforce in the world, among other assets. The United  States  is also the world's largest 
investor with FDI outward stock of USD 9.8 trillion.  
2.9.  As these figures underscore, the openness of the U.S. economy to goods, services, and 
investment remains a critical driver of global economic growth, higher living standards, and 
sustainable development.  
2.10.  We are also steadfast in our commitment to provide technical assistance and engage in 
economic cooperation to support sustainable development globally. We do this primarily through the 
U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. Our partnerships are driven by 
host-government priorities. Programs are delivered in a wide variety of formats to suit the need. 
They range from single -country projects to regional trade programs to global facilities that are 
positioned to provide on -demand technical assistance.  
2.11.  I'd like to briefly provide a few examples of pragmatic, effective U.S. partnership program mes. 
The Prosper Africa Initia tive leverages private capital to create economies of scale for firms seeking 
to utilize U.S. preference programs. Since 2019, the initiative has directly supported U.S. -Africa 
trade through more than 280 business -to-business deals worth over USD 22 billion.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  2.12.  The United  States also has a variety of programming to help Members achieve the benefits of 
the Trade Facilitation Agreement. For example, the United  States committed USD 200 million to 
support customs improvements in Guatemala, Honduras, and El  Salvad or, including through the 
creation of a Border Academy. We also provide trade facilitation assistance to 15 countries through 
our West African Trade and Investment Hub in partnership with the Borderless Alliance.  
2.13.  These types of partnerships are yielding co ncrete results. After reviewing documentation 
requirements, seven partner countries streamlined requirement on food products, reducing time and 
costs by an average of 15  hours and nearly USD 42 dollars for each document eliminated. It's a 
savings that adds  up to real benefits, particularly for small traders.  
2.14.  We are also working closely with our African partners to overcome the challenges of the 
pandemic, for instance by helping governments and organizations that procure public health goods 
to digitize their  procurement processes, increase collaboration among national health agencies, and 
mitigate delays at the border for donations. In Sub -Saharan Africa, the United  States distributed 
critical vaccines, including through the U.S. Initiative for Global Vaccine  Access. These are just a few 
examples of our sustained commitment to trade -related technical assistance and capacity -building.  
2.15.  For many decades, the United  States has led by maintaining a fundamentally open economy. 
We played a key role in creating the GA TT and subsequently the WTO, joining other likeminded 
countries to negotiate rules dedicated to openness and transparency, and to fair, market -oriented 
competition, grounded in the rule of law and predicated on values that benefit all.  
2.16.  The system we helpe d build embodies an optimistic vision. Despite different histories and 
challenges,  we understood there was a common goal: to create opportunities for our citizens to 
realize their economic potential.  
2.17.  The world has turned over many times since 1947, and aga in since 1995. We now find 
ourselves in far different circumstances that require careful examination of some long -held 
assumptions.  
2.18.  The Biden -Harris administration firmly believes that working pragmatically with partners in all 
corners of the globe, and a t all levels of development, is necessary to better the lives of our people.  
2.19.  That purpose —bettering the lives of our people —lies at the heart of the WTO and at the root 
of our commitment to this organization. The Marrakesh Declaration and Agreement, on whi ch the 
WTO is founded, begins with the recognition that trade should raise living standards, ensure full 
employment, pursue sustainable development, and protect and preserve the environment.  
2.20.  These objectives are timeless. A WTO that focuses on them deserv es our commitment and 
energy.  
2.21.  We must acknowledge that Members have, at times, lost focus on the WTO's foundational 
objectives. Gains from trade for consumers are elevated while the impact on our producers and 
workers is downplayed. People are workers, not just consumers. To raise livi ng standards in a 
sustainable and inclusive way, meaningful work must be available for all parts of our societies. 
Employment and the social bonds provided by that employment are a foundation for families, 
neighbourhoods , and communities.  
2.22.  Economic models t hat predict overall welfare gains from trade assume a perfectly level playing 
field, but fail to account for how the world actually works. The playing field is not level. Gray areas 
in the rules are easily exploited to the detriment of our workers, our com munities, and our industrial 
development. Liberalization has benefits but also comes with costs; fragmented supply chains 
generate vulnerabilities. De -industrialization decimated some of our manufacturing communities. 
Economic efficiencies helped keep pric es low, but they also encouraged a race to the bottom in 
protecting workers and the environment.  
2.23.  The past three years have revealed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Faced with a 
pandemic that killed millions, we did not always have critical equipme nt and goods when and where 
we needed them. Like others, we depended on production far from our shores, in countries whose 
governments must be accountable to their own people, in the midst of their own crisis response.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  2.24.  The pandemic also led to wider disrup tions in many supply chains. The Biden -Harris 
Administration responded with urgency, establishing the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to 
address immediate bottlenecks and ultimately build a more resilient, globally competitive goods 
movement chain. The  Task Force worked with ports, ocean shippers, trucking companies, and supply 
chain operators to reduce congestion at the ports, expedite intermodal transportation, and reduce 
shipping costs for both imports and exports.  
2.25.  The Russia n Federation 's full -scale invasion of Ukraine is causing unimaginable death and 
destruction in Ukraine. This brutalization of Ukraine's people is barbaric. The Russia n Federation  
continues to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure as winter arrives. Its war against Ukraine has 
also wreaked havoc on critical global supply chains. The United  States will continue to support 
Ukraine's courageous efforts to uphold its territorial integrity and protect its population. Working 
with our partners and allies, the United  States will continue to take all appropriate measures to 
defend the rules -based international order that the Russia n Federation  has so egregiously violated.  
2.26.  In this more challenging era, it is even more important for trade —and the WTO's role in the 
multilateral trading system —to be a force for good. There is a perception that deliberations at the 
WTO do not reflect the lived experiences of regular people, including the insecurity and fragility they 
feel. That must change. For the WTO to be relevant, our work here must help impr ove the lives of 
regular people. Members must be able to work here to tackle global challenges as they arise.  
2.27.  This new, more challenging era requires that we all adapt. The United  States is no exception. 
We are moving forward to adapt our trade policies an d initiatives to the circumstances of today, by 
pursuing fair competition, addressing the climate crisis, protecting our national security, and making 
the trading system more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive.  
2.28.  The Biden -Harris Administration continues to advance a trade policy that stands up for 
workers' rights. We are working across the U.S. Government and with our partners to eradicate 
forced labour  from global supply chains. And we are promoting a broader agenda of fair competition 
to ensure that wor kers compete on the basis of skills and creativity, not exploitative cost advantages. 
We will work with our partners and allies to chart new trade rules that advance decarbonization and 
other critical environmental standards, support sustainable farming, a nd promote sustainable and 
resilient supply chains.  
2.29.  Exploitation of workers and the environment are not the only forms of unfair practices that 
damage our workers, industries, and communities or that provide others with artificial comparative 
advantage. N on-market policies and practices, including industrial targeting, also violate notions of 
fair competition. We continue to work with our partners and allies to address these shared challenges 
and promote a level playing field.  
2.30.  To seriously combat the clima te crisis, there is an urgent need to increase investments in 
clean energy technologies. Many Members agree. In their TPRs, other Members have shared their 
national strategies to address climate change, including steps toward net zero emissions.  
2.31.  The trans portation sector is the highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the 
United  States. We will not meet our Paris commitments and other climate goals without bold action 
to promote major new investments in clean energy technology, especially incentives f or electric 
vehicle production and their adoption. For the United  States, the Inflation Reduction Act and the 
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are key tools to meet these critical objectives. Both laws provide 
incentives to encourage a rapid transition to cle an transport. They ensure we can create more diverse 
and robust supply chains and promote the domestic adoption of clean vehicles.  
2.32.  We are in the early stages of developing the regulations for this program me. We are 
considering input from all stakeholders a s the Department of Treasury moves forward with its public 
process in implementing these credits. Several of our trading partners already have taken advantage 
of the opportunity to participate in our transparent process, and there will be future opportunit ies to 
engage in this process.  
2.33.  In discussions regarding electric vehicle measures, the starting point should be the importance 
of working to achieve our overall climate, supply chain, and related goals in parallel – and to do so WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  in a way that will have sup port from our stakeholders. This includes our shared goal in ensuring we 
achieve the Paris commitments.  
2.34.  The United  States is also moving aggressively to protect its national security in this more 
challenging era. U.S. national security requires that we catalyze long-term growth in the domestic 
semiconductor industry and advance U.S. leadership in R&D.  
2.35.  The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year  2021 authorized semiconductor 
manufacturing and R&D activities. The CHIPS Act of 2022 enhanced this program me and 
appropriated USD 50 billion to the Department of Commerce to implement it. Those entities that 
apply for incentives through the CHIPS program me will be subject to the Act's national security 
limitations. As is clear from the text of the law, the contemplated support is consistent with the WTO 
agreements, including the Subsidies Agreement.  
2.36.  This era of greater challenge and uncertainty also requires that we work differently with our 
partners to build a trading system that is more resilient, sust ainable, and inclusive. In May, the 
United  States launched the Indo -Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) among 14  partners. Our 
collective aim is to develop a modern economic arrangement that delivers broad -based economic 
connectivity, benefits our workers, c ombats climate change, builds resilient supply chains, and levels 
the playing field for our companies. We will advance this vision in the Western Hemisphere as well, 
through the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity.  
2.37.  Adapting to a different era is not a simple or speedy task. It raises difficult and important 
questions for the United  States, for our partners and allies, and for all Members in this room.  
2.38.  In seeking to answer these questions, U.S. engagement is guided by fundamental aspects of 
our rep ublic and of our polity. Being a representative democracy, our government is accountable 
and responsive to the American people. We expect —and respect —the same from other 
representative democracies. We must consider the human component of our economies and justify 
the benefits of our policies to all of our people. If the policies and measures we consider do not 
benefit our people, then we cannot pursue them.  
2.39.  To the extent these policies and measures implicate our national security, the United  States 
will det ermine what is necessary. We will not apologize for this. This is a fundamental attribute of 
sovereignty.  
2.40.  Some will misconstrue my comments today as a call for unilateral and protectionist policies. 
This is incorrect.  
2.41.  The WTO remains a valuable part of h ow we conduct our international economic relations. 
However, the WTO also needs to adapt if it is to retain its value in an ever -changing world.  
2.42.  WTO rules are important, but they are not an end in and of themselves nor are they immutable 
or static. Individ uals adapt to changed circumstances; democratic governments respond to the 
changing needs of our peoples; and the WTO as an institution must similarly evolve.  
2.43.  That is why we sought to play a constructive role in producing outcomes at MC12 we can all 
feel p roud of, and it is why we are committed to reform.  
2.44.  The WTO as an institution is a collection of the membership. So, first and foremost, we must 
all make the effort to engage differently at the WTO —in committees, in negotiations, and in resolving 
disagreeme nts. Let's use every opportunity to engage meaningfully with each other. We don't need 
to agree on everything, but we must agree on one thing – that we will engage more constructively.  
2.45.  We must reform by doing. Many of you have heard me complain how much ti me we waste on 
process – discussing how we are going to discuss something – if we agree it is worth discussing. 
Process is necessary, but it should not be used to prevent willing Members from talking to each 
other. There is a lot of talent and good ideas a mong Members on how to move forward and address 
today's challenges. We must be open to the idea that working in smaller or different configurations 
can pave the way for future advancements that benefit all Members.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  2.46.  The United  States was the first Member to  table a reform proposal five years ago and we 
intend to remain at the forefront of these reform efforts. We will work with any Member that is 
committed, as we are, to the principles and foundational objectives that brought us here many 
decades ago.  
2.47.  Even a s we undertake reforms at the WTO, it is important to acknowledge and support the 
good work that is happening here. This includes efforts to implement our agreements, particularly 
on trade facilitation, TBT, and SPS. The transparency elements are vital and  valuable, and we fully 
support this work.  
2.48.  In closing, I'd like to repeat our appreciation for this opportunity for thoughtful engagement 
with Members during the next few days.  
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  3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT  
3.1.  I extend a warm greeting to my colleague, Ambassa dor Ms María  Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative and Chief of Mission, and Head of Delegation, as well as other members of the U .S. 
delegation.  
3.2.  I am pleased to participate as a discussant in today's 15th Trade Policy Review of the 
United  States of America and convey best wishes to its esteemed delegation for a successful 
meeting.  
3.3.  Members may be aware that the U .S. trade policy review was twice postponed, through no 
fault of their own, but because of circumstances beyond their control. In the first instance, the 
outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic in 2020 was one that none of us anticipated. Second, the 
Review was postponed, to facilitate the convening of the 12th Ministerial Conference in June this 
year, which we can all agree, was also a cr itical event for the WTO, after several postponements due 
to the impact of the pandemic.  
3.4.  Hence, the Government's Report, which includes updates that go beyond the period reflected 
in the Secretariat's Report, should be commended. We also look forward to a ny additional updates 
for the period since June of this year that the U .S. may wish to provide. I also wish to commend the 
Secretariat for preparing its very comprehensive Report, which greatly assists Members' 
understanding of the U nited States ' trade and  trade -related policies.  
3.5.  Your introductory remarks, along with the presentation made by Ambassador  Pagán, have been 
insightful and informative, as they effectively set the stage for our deliberations today.  
3.6.  Allow me to share some additional perspectives,  which I hope will further contribute to 
enriching our deliberations.  
3.7.  With 13.6% of global GDP, the United  States remains the world's largest, and is one of the 
most influential economies. The United  States is a major trading partner to most WTO Members. As 
one of the world's most open trade regimes, the U .S. is the largest importer of merchandise goods 
and services, (representing 17.6% of global imports in 2020), and the second largest exporter of 
merchandise goods and services, which stood at 13.6% of gl obal exports in said year.  
3.8.  In addition, the IMF reports that the U .S. maintains its leadership position as the largest 
recipient of foreign direct investment – a position it has held for several years.  
3.9.  It is, perhaps, well -received that the United  States has also made a major contribution to 
outward investment, including in developing countries as the Government has detailed in its Report.  
3.10.  I am sure that WTO Members welcome the U nited States ' policy of continuous support for the 
integration of Membe rs into the global trading system, through trade, investment, and the provision 
of technical assistance and capacity -building to other WTO Members, in particular, developing 
countries, and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).  
3.11.  Within the WTO, these investment s, particularly through vehicles such as Aid for Trade, the 
activities of WTO ITTC and the trade facilitation facility, have played a significant role in capacity -
building.  
3.12.  In light of the role of the United  States as a major global stakeholder for investment and 
trade, and its continued leadership role as a major trading economy, the international economy is 
heavily impacted by the health of the U .S. economy, as well as its trade policies. It is in that context 
that the far -reaching impact of the CO VID-19 pandemic on the economy of the U .S. must be 
situated.  
3.13.  The United  States was not unscathed by the COVID -19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the 
economy of the U .S. experienced 11 consecutive years of expansion. However, the pandemic 
resulted in histo ric reductions in the output of the United  States. This had far -reaching impacts - 
affecting the Federal Government's budget deficit, inflation, labour productivity and unemployment 
rates.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  3.14.  Notably, the Government reported that U .S. services exports and im ports were more 
significantly affected by the pandemic, than goods exports and imports. This was largely as a 
consequence of the containment measures adopted both nationally and internationally, to curtail the 
outbreak. There were significant reductions in  all major indicators. For example, in 2020, real GDP 
fell by 3.4% and unemployment rates jumped to 14.7%. The U .S. budget deficit also rose to 
USD 3.1 trillion (or 15% of GDP).  
3.15.  It is understandable that the United  States experienced a 15% reduction in ex ports of goods 
and services in 2020, relative to 2018 and 2019, but posted strong recovery by 2021, surpassing 
2018/2019 levels. It is noteworthy that there has been another 20% increase so far in 2022.  
3.16.  We should convey our commendations to the U .S. Government for the COVID -related 
measures that were taken, including those directly related to trade and economic stabilization and 
which coincided with the swift recovery of its economy. There have been concerns, nonetheless, that 
some of the measures ta ken required further thoughts and, indeed, consultations, with the affected 
WTO Members. While COVID -19 presented us with unprecedented challenges, it is also an 
opportunity to reflect on how we respond to these challenges, in the future, in the least trad e 
restrictive manner.  
3.17.  Notwithstanding the generally positive rebound, during the period under review, the U .S. 
trade deficit has widened. Notably, the combined goods and services trade deficit was 33% larger 
in May  2022, compared to the same period in 202 1. It is well noted that slow recovery in export 
markets may have led to the increased deficit. It would not be surprising if other WTO Members are 
experiencing this challenge. This, from my perspective, points to the need for a more balanced global 
econom ic recovery, which the WTO is well placed to facilitate.  
3.18.  The Director  General's Trade Monitoring Exercise would be useful in this regard. The 
United  States, being highly integrated into the global economy, should continue to play its role as a 
key multila teral partner, in that context. This I propose should include the building of capacity to 
assist Members to assess their trade policy . 
3.19.  We are, therefore, heartened by the positive reports that the U .S. is experiencing strong 
economic recovery. We note that  this recovery is driven by increases in consumption and 
investment, as well as the support packages established by the Government, and the easing of 
monetary conditions. For many indicators, the U .S. has even recorded stronger improvements over 
pre-pandem ic levels.  
3.20.  Within this context, I share the following observations of the U nited States ' economic 
performance. In 2021, the U .S. recorded a real GDP growth rate of 5.7%. The U .S. Government also 
reported that as of July  2022, employment was 32,000  higher than the pre -pandemic peak of 
February  2020. The unemployment rate, therefore, fell to 3.5% in July  2022, when compared to the 
14.7% in April  2020 and 3.7% in 2019.  
3.21.  It is important to note that the IMF indicates that as the U .S. continues to grapple with r ecord 
high inflation (driven by higher energy and food prices), this could pose systemic risks for both the 
U.S. and the global economy.  
3.22.  The U nited States' post -COVID -19 trade policy has been guided by its "Build Back Better" 
agenda. This includes: a focu s on placing workers at the centre of trade policy; tackling the 
COVID -19 pandemic; as well as addressing the economic and trade practices of its main trading 
partners. The U .S. believes that promoting an agenda of fair competition will ensure that workers 
are competing based on skills and creativity and eliminate inefficiencies and exploitative practices.  
3.23.  The ramping up of the promotion of the respect for labour rights as part of its engagement 
with trade partners in 2021, through trade agreements, country -specific initiatives, capacity -
building, and technical assistance, is a natural outgrowth of that agenda.  
3.24.  The U .S. is party to several free trade agreements with approximately  20 countries. The issue 
of labour, including forced labour, is prominently featured in these agreements, including the 
United  States -Mexico -Canada Agreement (USMCA), which entered into force in July  2020. Of specific WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  mention is the U nited States' intentio n to develop its first -ever, focused, trade strategy, to combat 
forced labour.  
3.25.  Although the issue of forced labour is a sensitive issue for some WTO Members, it is widely 
understood that this is an emerging issue on which a discussion may be required, inc luding the role 
of the WTO in tackling such an issue.  
3.26.  As it relates to the U .S. tariff regime, this remained largely unchanged, with tariff levels being 
nearly the same as in 2018. Additionally, U .S. preferential tariffs did not change significantly over 
the same period. The Secretariat's Report noted further that during the period under review most of 
the products subject to the import prohibitions or licensing also remained unchanged. This reflects 
the long -standing predictability in the U nites States' trade regime.  
3.27.  It is in that context that I must mention the United  States' provision of non -reciprocal trade 
preferences, such as the Caribbean Basin Initiative, GSP and AGOA, to many developing countries 
and LDCs. These have had a positive impact on their  trade performance, especially for those 
countries that have the United  States as a primary market. These preferences also form a key part 
of post COVID -19 economic recovery strategies of these countries. We have heard their testimonies 
during those meetin gs at the WTO, which considered the extension or renewal of the waivers for 
those preferences regimes.  
3.28.  MC12 showcased the United  States' commitment to the multilateral trading system, with the 
WTO as its core institution. Its active engagement leading up t o, and, at MC12, together with the 
flexibility which it showed on the areas under negotiations, including fisheries subsidies, the TRIPS 
Waiver, WTO Reform, and food security, contributed to the success of the Conference.  
3.29.  To support its ideas of pursuing of a fairer, more sustainable international economic regime, 
the United  States has advanced a robust reform agenda geared at reinforcing the WTO's negotiating 
function and on systemic issues.  
3.30.  The United  States have been very constructive in its advocacy a nd has been opening channels 
for dialogue on these issues, including on Appellate  Body and Dispute Settlement Reform. It has 
sought to deepen its collaboration with trade partners in the WTO, large and small alike, on ideas to 
update and enforce the rules governing global trade. In addition, the U .S. has elaborated proposals 
which focus on promoting transparency; and improving compliance with, and enforcement of 
Members' WTO commitments. Concrete proposals on the reform of the WTO's dispute settlement  
function have also been submitted by the U .S., on which, I am sure, Members look forward to 
continued , open, and inclusive exchanges in the future. As we are aware, the reform of the WTO is 
an area which attracts varying perspectives on approach and visio n.  
3.31.  During the review period, the U .S. continued to be a significant user of the WTO Dispute 
Settlement Mechanism . It actively engaged in numerous actions including those related to 
agricultural market access. We take note that the U .S. also initiated acti ons relating to additional 
duties imposed by certain Members in connection to the U .S. administration's actions under 232 of 
the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The U .S. also continues to be an active user of anti -dumping (AD) 
duties. During the review period , 178  AD investigations were initiated. Moreover, the average 
duration of an AD measure at the end of 2021 was 10.4 years, down from 11 years in 2017. Members 
have raised questions on these practices including the methodology used for determining and 
impos ing AD and CVD duties. We look forward to a productive exchange on this issue during the 
review.  
3.32.  The Secretariat's Report noted that the U nited States' investment regime underwent several 
significant changes, including the passage of a new law and rules th at expanded the types of foreign 
investment subject to examination, and the introduction of new reporting requirements for certain 
types of foreign direct investment. On this issue, some members have raised questions on the impact 
of the national security clause on the foreign investment regime.  
3.33.  The U .S. continues to apply the full range of its trade laws, including Section  301 of the Trade 
Act of 1974 (Trade Act), as amended.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  3.34.  In addition, the U .S. participates in several Joint Statement Initiatives and Str uctured 
Discussions such as Trade and Environmental Sustainability and Electronic Commerce. As regards 
the latter, the U .S. has demonstrated the great importance which it places on electronic commerce 
through its advocacy for ensuring that WTO rules adapt to the increasing digitalization of trade.  
3.35.  In so doing, the U .S. has advanced engagement on digital trade issues across a range of fora. 
They should be commended for their collaboration on the Moratorium on E -commerce and the 1998 
Work Programme. It will be recalled that the U .S. also joined the recently concluded Agreement on 
Services Domestic Regulation.  
3.36.  Of course, we cannot fail to mention the active engagement of the U .S. in the Trade Facilitation 
Committee, including its contributions to the Trade Fa cilitation Agreement Facility. A number of trade 
facilitation measures were still being implemented during the review period, and several others have 
been launched. It has made seven notifications since its ratification of the TFA.  
3.37.  In keeping with its obligations, the U .S. continues to notify Members of its proposed and 
adopted technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in the 
respective WTO Committees.  
3.38.  We commend the contributions of the U .S. across multiple other WTO negotiating fora, 
committees, councils,  and sub -committees, including this Trade Policy Review Body in which the 
U.S. consistently participates.  
3.39.  It is unsurprising that the U .S. has received over 1 ,500 advance written questions from 
over 40 WTO Members  – evidence of the strong interest in this Trade Policy Review exercise. 
Members  were broadly concerned with ( i) fiscal policy issues; ( ii) the trade and investment regime; 
(iii) measures affecting imports and exports ; and ( iv) sectoral policies.  
3.40.  As it concerned U .S. fiscal policy, Members raised questions about the impact of the Inflation 
Reduction Act (IRA) and its compliance with WTO provisions.  
3.41.  In relation to the trade and investment regime, Members requested information about the 
impact or implemen tation of the arrangement on trade on steel and aluminium (low -carbon 
intensity); implementation and impact of sanctions; and the reauthorization of GSP programmes.  
3.42.  Concerns were also raised about the functioning of the Dispute Settlement Body, and the 
non-compliance with DSU rulings, domestic support programmes in agriculture and fisheries, as well 
as foreign operator limitations, among others.  
3.43.  Members were also keen to discuss the impact of the national security clause on the foreign 
investment regime.  
3.44.  The concerns regarding measures affecting imports and exports, relate to the impact and 
implementation of Section  301 tariffs, and their compliance with WTO provisions; information 
regarding the increase in the number of anti-dumping and countervailing dut ies investigations by 
the U .S.; Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) enforcement and its compliance with WTO provisions.  
3.45.  In summary, the reports before us indicate clear signs of progress. The U .S. Government 
continues to demonstrate its commitment to enhanci ng global trade and in particular the functioning 
of the WTO. Notwithstanding this, some challenges remain to be overcome, in order to recover fully 
from the pandemic, as well as new challenges posed by the current geopolitical realities.  
3.46.  It is also antici pated that the outcome of this Review will contribute to efforts to increase the 
benefits to be derived from the U nited States' engagement in international trade and the WTO.  
  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS  
OMAN  
4.1.  It is a great pleasure for the delegation of the Sul tanate of Oman to participate in the 15th Trade 
Policy Review of the United  States. We welcome H.E.  Ambassador María  Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative and Chief of Mission in Geneva, and her distinguished delegation.  
4.2.  I would like to take this opportu nity to thank the WTO Secretariat and the Government of the 
United  States for their detailed and comprehensive Trade Policy Review Reports. I also thank the 
discussant H.E.  Ms Cheryl  Spencer , Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Jamaica.  
4.3.  The Sultanate of Oman and the United  States have enjoyed a long and stable friendship, dating 
back to over 200  years. The two countries formalized their relationship when they signed the "Treaty 
of Amity and Commerce " in 1833 — the first bilateral accord betwe en the U.S. and an 
Arab Gulf State. Oman and the United  States continue to collaborate closely on regional security and 
stability, as well as economic prosperity and trade.  
4.4.  On the commercial front, bilateral trade continues to expand, and as we implement bilateral 
Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and we are looking forward to continuing engagement on trade issues.  
4.5.  Throughout 2021, trade stood at USD 3.2 billion. The United  States  is one of Oman 's top ten 
trading partners. The largest U.S. export categories to O man are automobiles, aircrafts and related 
parts, industrial machines and engines, plastic materials,  and pharmaceuticals.  
4.6.  Oman 's main exports to the United  States are industrial supplies, aluminium , fertilizers, 
jewellery , and oil by -products such as pla stics. In 2021, the U.S. was the second  largest foreign 
direct investor in Oman.  
4.7.  As mentioned in the Secretariat Report, the United  States continues to be an active user of 
anti-dumping (AD) duties and countervailing duties. Oman as a developing country sh ares the 
concerns of the increase of these measures which had affected the developing countries exports 
especially in the recent years.  
4.8.  As an original WTO Member and largest single trading country, the United  States has always 
played a key role in the oper ation of the WTO and participates in all of its major functions,  
4.9.  Oman would like to recall USTR statement in October  2021 about the WTO, confirming 
the United  States' continued commitment to the WTO and recognized its importance.  
4.10.  Oman calls on the United  States to consider that special and differential treatment is a 
fundamental basis in the WTO and should be kept in favour  of developing and least developed 
Members.  
4.11.  We believe that many issues are still under discussion regarding the reform,  and we are 
certain that the United  States will continue to work constructively with other Members to deliver 
results on achievable outcomes at the WTO.  
4.12.  In the end, we would like to thank the delegation of the United  States in advance for their 
replies to our questions on specific aspects about its trade policy. The delegation of Oman wishes 
the delegation of the United  States a very successful 15th Trade Policy Review.  
GUATEMALA  
4.13.  On behalf of Guatemala, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of  the 
United  States, led by the Ambassador to the World Trade Organi zation (WTO) and United  States 
Deputy Trade Representative, Ms  María  Pagán.  
4.14.  We would also like to draw attention to the WTO Secretariat's solid work of investigation and 
analysis, as reflected in the report on the trade policies of the United  States under discussion today. 
The data contained in that report, when viewed as a whole, provide a comprehensive and detailed WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  picture of the macroeconomic situation and of the trade policies bein g implemented by the 
United  States.  
4.15.  We also wish to extend our sincerest thanks to the Ambassador of Jamaica 
Ms Cheryl  K. Spencer, for the highly objective and detailed presentation and analysis she has been 
good enough to share with us today, in her capa city as discussant.  
4.16.  I take this opportunity to stress that Guatemala attaches great importance to its trade 
relations with the United  States, a country which has historically been our main trading partner.  
4.17.  Figures for 2021 show that some 31.35% of Guatema la's exports went to the U.S. market; 
they included, inter alia, articles of clothing, coffee, bananas and a wide range of fruits and 
vegetables, as well as precious and semi -precious metals, sugar and articles of paper or of 
paperboard. In the opposite di rection, some 34.02% of Guatemalan imports came from the 
United  States in the same period. These consisted mainly of manufactured goods such as petroleum 
products, machinery and mechanical appliances, vehicles and transport equipment, prepared animal 
fodde r, plastic products, transmitters and receivers.  
4.18.  Our trade relations with the United  States are based on close ties that have been cemented 
since the 1980s thanks to the implementation of the Caribbean Basin Initiative and thereafter 
through the Central  America-United  States -Dominican  Republic  Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA -DR). 
In that time, the flow of trade with the United  States has increased significantly.  
4.19.  In addition to the important process of liberalization of trade in goods and services generated 
by the CAFTA -DR over the 16 years since it entered into force, the agreement has helped to promote 
investment between our countries, strengthen production linkages, reduce transaction costs and 
expand the range of products available to consumers.  
4.20.  We recognize the considerable efforts made by the United  States and the major successes it 
has achieved during the review period. We highlight the various strategies it implemented to bring 
about a quick and robust recovery after the COVID -19 health crisis. These strategies include the 
implementation of the "Build Back Better" programme, whose objectives include putting workers at 
the centre of trade policy, tackling the COVID -19 pandemic and promoting a sustainable 
environment and climate path.  
4.21.  Another highlight is the recent approach to competition policy, which fosters competition in 
U.S. markets and the vigorous enforcement of antitrust laws.  
4.22.  The United  States is committed to an inclusive and durable trade policy and, to this end, has 
set key objectives within  the Strategic Plan 2022 -26 of the USTR Office and in its National Strategy 
on Gender Equity and Equality.  
4.23.  We welcome the replies to the questions posed by Guatemala during this Review.  
4.24.  We hope to continue strengthening our important trade links and we w ish the United  States 
delegation a successful conclusion to its country's Trade Policy Review . 
CHINA  
4.25.  I would like to start by thanking Ambassador  Pagán and the U .S. delegation for the 
preparation of this TPR. Welcome the colleagues from Washington. My than ks also go to the 
Secretariat for the work they have done, and to the discussant Ambassador  Spencer for her 
comprehensive report.  
4.26.  In today 's world, no one will doubt that the United  States is the most powerful country. It had 
also been a leader of the mult ilateral trading system until recent years. We are expecting the 
United  States to continue to play a leading role commensurate with its power. Just as 
President  Biden put it in his inaugural address, "lead by the power of our example ". WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.27.  Regrettably, we have  to express our deep disappointment today. That is, the United  States 
has failed to follow President Biden 's statement and has gone even further to the opposite direction 
since its last Trade Policy Review . 
4.28.  For the past four years, we had been expecting th e United  States to lead by example of 
safeguarding core principles of the multilateral trading system. But even when with its rhetoric of 
returning to multilateralism, what we saw was "America First " and measures running counter to the 
fundamental principles of multilateral trading system. While chanting for a level playing field, 
the United  States has provided a large amount of discriminatory subsidies to its industries to gain 
predominance. While ur ging other Members to fulfil their transparency obligations, it has deliberately 
evaded the WTO agriculture box limit by way of "box shifting " and notification period splitting.  
4.29.  For the past four years, we had been expecting the United  States to lead by e xample of 
promoting open trade and investment liberalization. But what we saw was an arbitrary protectionist 
together with unilateralism. Over 90  anti-dumping measures initiated by the United  States more 
than 20  years ago still persist. The longest one cou ld date back to the year as early as 1978. With 
Buy American Act, the United  States keeps foreign suppliers outside its government procurement 
market. The export control measures adopted by the United  States deviate alarmingly further from 
the original ten et. What is worse, the U nited States'  foreign investment national security review is 
getting more arbitrary and stringent, resting on no facts.  
4.30.  For the past four years, we had been expecting the United  States to lead by example of 
implementing WTO dispute settlement rulings. But what we saw was a capricious rule -breaker. Even 
with the Panel rulings on its WTO inconsistent Section  301 and Section  232, the United  States 
continues to maintain its high tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration on a large numb er of 
products. The United  States has blocked the selection of Appellate  Body Members for 60  consecutive 
times and has refused to implement WTO dispute settlement rulings on quite a number of cases. On 
the other hand, it has appealed a dozen of cases to a dysfunctional AB. Just a couple of days ago, 
the United  States once again strongly rejected the Panel 's rulings on its Section  232 measures.  
4.31.  For the past four years, we had been expecting the United  States to lead by example of 
safeguarding the predictabil ity of global trade and investment and sustainability of the global supply 
chain. But what we saw was a United  States distorting the market -based global supply chain through 
"decoupling ", "friend -shoring ", building "small yard with high fence " and coercing  key industry 
supply chains to move into the United  States. 1,000  batches of China PV  products have been 
detained by the United  States at its ports since June  2022, though there was high demand in the 
U.S. market. Such act disrupts normal trade flows and threatens the global efforts in addressing 
climate change. Furthermore, the "long-arm jurisdiction " is repeatedly used to coerce other WTO 
Members to abide by American domestic laws.  
4.32.  I will stop here thoug h I can list much more. Just to sum up:  
4.33.  Number  1, the United  States puts "America First " by prevailing its domestic laws over 
international rules and laws of others, disregarding WTO rules and concerns of other Members. 
Clearly, the United  States is a "destroyer to the multilateral trading system ". 
4.34.  Number  2, the United  States has put its own interests above the global common interests, 
bullying other Members to obey by leveraging its economic and technological power. Clearly, 
the United  States is a "unilat eralist and bullying hegemonist ".  
4.35.  Number  3, the United  States applies different standards to others and itself. While demanding 
other Members to enhance disciplines and transparency, the United  States itself is implementing 
large-scale exclusive and discr iminatory industrial policies. Clearly, the United  States is a "double 
standards manipulator ". 
4.36.  Number  4, the United  States is hanging onto the "Cold War " mentality of zero -sum game, 
abusing the concept of "national security " and disrupting the global supply chain by decoupling and 
disconnecting. Clearly, the United  States is a "disturber of the global supply chain ". 
4.37.  Finally, I want to emphasize on three points:  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.38.  First, we are living in a diversified world. Diversity is a treas ure of human civilization. China 
is willing to enhance communication with the United  States, draw upon each other 's experiences and 
achieve win -win cooperation together.  
4.39.  Second, we are living in an interconnected world. Any containment effort is doomed to be 
futile,  and the zero -sum game is bound to fail. China is willing to join hands with the United  States 
to tackle the economic recession and jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change 
and food security.  
4.40.  Third, we are living in a ever -changing world. China is willing to work with the United  States 
in advancing WTO reform, restore fully and well -functioning of the two -tier dispute settlement 
mechanism by 2024, and jointly safeguard a multilateral trading system that is rules -based, 
non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, just and transparent.  
4.41.  China hereby calls upon the United  States to respect the WTO rules that were drafted under 
its own leadership, preserve the authority of the multilateral trading system, and seriously live up 
to its status as an example for all Members. We are expecting the United  States that has lost its 
direction to truly find its way back to the family of multilateralism at an early date.  
4.42.  I wish the 15th TPR of the United  States a full success.  
UNITED  KINGDOM  
4.43.  May I warmly welcome the United  States ' delegation, led by our distinguished colleague 
Ambassador María  Pagán, to their 15th Trade Policy Review.  
4.44.  Let me start with a word about the ties that bind the U nited Kingdom  and the United  States . 
We do  not just sit next to each other here in this room.  Our nations have a deep and unique 
relationship grounded in shared history, values, and ambitions. We do more together than any other 
two countries in the world, with exceptional cooperation at every level of society, culture, defence, 
intelligence, and t he economy.  
4.45.  Our Heads of Government have made clear their commitment to open societies and open 
markets as the best way to deliver tangible benefits to ordinary citizens. And of course, we have 
stood side by side once again in support of our Ukrainian frie nds in their fight for their freedom – 
and ours.  
4.46.  We have worked together to support our businesses trade and ensure our consumers enjoy a 
greater variety and range of products and services. In parallel, the U nited Kingdom  is also 
strengthening ties with in dividual states to deepen our overall trade and investment relationship.  
4.47.  The United States is at the heart of this Organi zation and its leadership is paramount to the 
survival and success of the WTO. As former U .S. Trade Representative and World  Bank, President 
Bob Zoellick , said "It is in the self -interest of the major developed states – and in the global interest 
– to be, with others, architects of the future ". Since the creation of the GATT , 75 years ago last 
month, the U nited States has always had a cru cial role in shaping the global trading system.  
4.48.  We welcome the U nited States recognition that trade can, and indeed should, be a force for 
good. We support President  Biden 's emphasis on democracy and open societies, and we believe that 
free and fair trade lies close to the heart of these. So today I want to say to my U .S. friends that 
the WTO needs the U .S., more than ever. U .S. leadership – visible leadership – is crucial to global 
prosperity and to the effective functioning of the WTO. I urge the U .S. to join us in setting out 
ambition and engagement across all the WTO dossiers.  
4.49.  And we do  not have to look back far to see that e ngaged U .S. is beneficial to this Organization. 
The U .S. played an important role during MC12 in reaching the conclusion of the first stage of the 
fisheries subsidies ' negotiations, for which we should all be thankful. We also appreciate the 
constructive r ole it played in helping to secure agreement on the Ministerial  Declaration on the 
Emergency Response to Food Insecurity.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.50.  One area where the U nited Kingdom  – like many others here this morning - believes we need 
to make more progress is the Dispute Settlem ent System . Without a fully -functioning Dispute 
Settlement System  we are all left unable to fully reali ze the benefits of the agreements we have 
negotiated. We welcome the U nited States'  initiative to convene an informal process on Dispute 
Settlement refor m. 
4.51.  But we must now deliver on our mandate to achieve a fully and well -functioning system as 
soon as possible, and by 2024. To get there, it  is incumbent on all WTO Members to come together 
with focus, urgency, and pragmatism, in order to reach an agreement  on meaningful reform. 
The U.S. has a key role to help find a solution that can command the support of all Members.  
4.52.  Since the last U .S. TPR in 2018, the world has faced some of the biggest challenges of our 
time. We are all still grappling with the economic and health impacts of the COVID -19 pandemic 
which highlights just how important it is to keep trade flowing and supply chains open. A nd our 
future is more than ever endangered by climate change.  
4.53.  COP27 has given us all more to do. We all face the challenge of transitioning to a greener 
economy and ensuring the sustainability of our supply chains. I want to salute 
the Biden  Administration  for its ground -breaking Inflation Reduction Act this past August, and its 
far-sighted environmental provisions. At the same time, U .S. colleagues will know that my 
Government and the Governments of so many of our partners and friends have serious concerns  
about some of the policies in the Act which will inadvertently harm British businesses and impact 
global supply chains in batteries, electric vehicles,  and wider renewables.  
4.54.  It is in all our interests to ensure that we do  not disrupt trading links in key industries that 
are essential for all of us if we want to reach net zero. We are in touch with the U .S. Administration 
about our concerns and I fervently hope a way through can be found. We should all work together 
to ensure that we can achieve our shared ambition for a greener future in a way that preserves the 
multilateral trading system and respects WTO rules.  
4.55.  Let me also emphasi ze that in our advance written questions, we paid particular attention to 
asking the U .S. about procurement barriers, including  Made in America initiatives and Buy American 
policies. We look forward to continuing to work with the U .S. to ensure fair and transparent 
government procurement, through the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and in our 
bilateral engagement.  
4.56.  Let me high light just one of many examples of the recent successes in our bilateral 
relationship supporting businesses and consumers on both sides of the pond.  
4.57.  In early October we saw British lamb shipped to the U .S. for the first time in 25  years after 
we worked tog ether to lift the long -standing U .S. ban on the import of British lamb. This means that 
over 300  million U .S. consumers will now be able to enjoy the U nited Kingdom' s succulent 
world -renowned lamb for the first time in a generation.  
4.58.  And we were pleased to see our U nited States-United Kingdom  Dialogues on the Future of 
Atlantic Trade mentioned in the United  States ' Government Report. The dialogues in Baltimore and 
Aberdeen earlier this year identified a range of collaboration opportunities including digital trade, 
support for SMEs and protecting labour and environmental standards. We look forward to future 
engagemen t with the U .S. on our shared priorities.  
4.59.  More than 80  years ago, our two great nations issued the Atlantic Charter, outlining our joint 
vision for the future of the world. In this Charter, Roosevelt and Churchill promised to respect their 
existing obligat ions and advance the enjoyment by all States, no matter how big or small  of access 
to the trade on equal terms. Today, this promise needs to be upheld more than ever, not just by the 
United States and the United Kingdom , but by all of us who care about our  future.  
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  SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN AND MATSU  
4.60.  On behalf of t he Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, I would 
like to welcome the delegation of the United  States, led by Ambassador  Pagán, to its 15th Trade 
Policy Review. I also wish to thank the discussant, H.E. Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer  of Jamaica, 
for her insightful discussion, and the WTO Secretariat for its excellent Report.  
4.61.  We are pleased to join the Review of a country of first ranking gross domestic product (GDP) 
and the world's largest importer and second largest exporter. The economic strength of the 
United  States is also reflected in its rapid economic rebound in 2021 owing to many supportive 
policies and assistance measures by the Governm ent under the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.62.  We also commend the United  States ' leading role among open economies to pursue a free, 
fair and open economy, based on market principles, strengthened transparency, greener energy, 
and enhanced digital transformation. Its 2021 "Build Back Better" agenda sets a good example for 
many WTO Mem bers, including putting workers at the centre  of trade policy, and promoting a 
sustainable environment and climate path. The United  States also has advanced development in 
customs facilitation, including modernizing its customs procedures and taking initia tives to reduce 
IP violations at the border.  
4.63.  We applaud the United  States ' active participation in the WTO, especially its leading role in 
the informal discussion on the Dispute Settlement reform, which opens the prelude to the WTO 
reform agenda. The U.S. has called for more effective supervision of Members in the implementation 
of their obligations, and for greater transparency and predictability of their trade policies, which we 
support. We also commend that the United  States ' active engagement in the joi nt statement 
initiatives, such as e -commerce and services domestic regulation, in order to make new rules to 
meet the new trading requirements of today and improve the negotiating function of the WTO.  
4.64.  We cherish the opportunities to work with the United  States in the areas of trade facilitation, 
technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) in relevant WTO Committees. 
We also appreciate the United  States ' initiatives for its trade -related capacity -building for developing 
and LDC cou ntries. We stand ready to make joint efforts with the United  States to find ways of 
enhancing the multilateral trading system in the WTO.  
4.65.  One aspect that we would like to see improvement from the United  States is its continuously 
active use of trade remedy  measures as shown in the Report. We urge the United  States to consider 
removing certain prolonged and unnecessary anti -dumping measures.  
4.66.  At the bilateral level, we have long enjoyed close partnership with the United  States in many 
areas of trade, such as innovation, technology, energy, IPR, agriculture, investment , and services. 
We are the United  States' eighth largest trading partner. The United  States is our second  largest 
trading partner, second  largest export and third largest import market. It is also our third largest 
foreign investor and our second  biggest destination for foreign investment. We are also pleased that 
recently we have several large scaled bilateral investment projects, which greatly strengthen our 
economic ties.  
4.67.  We are pleased to cooperate on more initiatives with the United  States with the hope of 
leading the discussion of many new subjects in economic integration and creating a new model of 
fair, free and inclusive trade. We look forward to further strengthening the economic cooperation in 
the future at bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral levels.  
4.68.  We have raised some written questions and would like to thank the United  States for its 
replies.  
4.69.  Finally, we wish the United  States a productive and s uccessful 15th Trade Policy Review . 
COSTA  RICA 
4.70.  Costa  Rica wishes to begin by emphasizing the importance of the United  States' leadership 
and active participation in the WTO. As a founding Member of the Organization and the driving force 
behind the signing of the GATT in the 1940s, its leadership has been instrumental through the years WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  in preserving and strengthening the multilateral trading system. The United  States is the world 's 
largest economy, highly integrated into international markets, and main tradi ng partner of many 
WTO Members, including Costa  Rica. We therefore welcome its interest in strengthening and 
improving the functioning of the multilateral trading system on many fronts, through WTO reform.  
4.71.  Costa  Rica shares the interest of the United  State s in achieving a renewed WTO that continues 
to play a key role in monitoring and surveillance, negotiations and dispute settlement. For this 
reason, we have supported joint proposals in areas such as notifications and transparency. We also 
value its leader ship in the technical exercise of identifying interests in dispute settlement, which will 
soon lead to a more practical process of seeking alternatives so as to make progress in this area. 
Costa  Rica is particularly appreciative of this effort. I myself wa s a member of the Lacarte group 
that negotiated the Dispute Settlement Understanding in the Uruguay Round, into which we built 
flexibilities to accommodate not only the legal requirements, but also the political imperatives, of 
each of the Members. We trus t that this spirit of negotiation will return to the WTO and that we will 
find an outcome that is acceptable to all.  
4.72.  The United  States has long been our main trading partner. In 2021, it absorbed 43% of 
Costa  Rican exports of goods and provided 38% of our  imports, bringing its share of bilateral trade 
in goods to 40%. It also stands out as a destination for more than 50% of Costa  Rican exports of 
services to the world. Likewise, the United  States  remains Costa  Rica's main source of foreign direct 
investmen t. 
4.73.  The economies of Costa  Rica and the United  States are complementary. The relationship has 
been based on shared ideals and values and on the strengthening of an institutional 
framework  that has facilitated communication between their authorities, especially since the 
Dominican  Republic -Central America FTA (CAFTA -DR) entered into force in Costa  Rica, which, in 
addition to strengthening our relationship, has made a major contribution to the greater integration 
of Central American countri es because it applies to all its signatories. Our bilateral agenda has been 
bolstered by a systemic approach based on cooperation and transparency, two key pillars for 
improving trade governance in the region and maximizing growth opportunities in our coun tries. 
4.74.  We look forward to further deepening this relationship through the Americas Partnership for 
Economic Prosperity, in particular by strengthening our supply chains, expanding our regional ties 
and advancing quality infrastructure. Our long -standing tr ade relationship will remain a fundamental 
pillar in expanding the benefits of sustainable, inclusive and responsible trade, by increasing 
collaboration on matters such as customs, trade facilitation, good regulatory practices and non -tariff 
barriers.  
4.75.  Both the Secretariat's and the Government's reports emphasize the strong and rapid recovery 
of the U.S. economy after the COVID pandemic (with growth of 5.7% in 2021), thanks to measures 
taken both regarding health, with the rapid vaccination of its populatio n, and regarding fiscal and 
monetary policy, which led to a noticeable rebound in employment levels. Nonetheless, the increase 
in private consumption expenditure, coupled with supply -chain difficulties and rising energy and food 
prices, have, as in many ot her economies, pushed up inflation. It would be interesting to use this 
exercise to analyse the measures taken by the Government to control this price increase.  
4.76.  The United  States plays a leading role in consensus -building in the WTO, and so we urge it to 
step up its participation in the search for solutions in the agricultural negotiations, especially on 
domestic support and market access. We also recognize its leadership in promoting transparency 
and certainty in the rules on sanitary and phytosanitary mea sures, such as maximum residue limits 
in trade in agricultural products and in other areas, and in concluding the Agreement on Fisheries 
Subsidies.  
4.77.  We concur with the United  States  that it is important to move the multilateral trade agenda 
forward in order  to address current international trade challenges, in particular the conclusion of 
negotiations under the Joint Initiative on Electronic Commerce. We are also pleased that the 
United  States has joined Members as we conclude the negotiations on services do mestic regulation, 
the results of which we hope to incorporate into the WTO in the near future.  
4.78.  Similarly, we welcome the active participation of the United  States in the Trade and 
Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD), which Costa  Rica is honoured to WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  jointly coordinate with Canada. We believe that through the efforts of Members and stakeholders 
and leadership that is respectful of participants' preferences with regard to the process, this dialogue 
has become a public good of the WTO that serves to foster better general understanding of the close 
relationship between trade and environmental sustainability.  
4.79.  I would like to highlight two recent, noteworthy developments in U.S. trade policy:  
• Firstly, its Government report highlights the prioritization of labour issues and topics that 
are important to workers in its trade policy. It states that innovative trade tools have been 
agreed with other trading partners in this area. It would be interesting to learn more about 
these trade tools and  their implementation.  
• Secondly, the Secretariat's report states that fossil fuels constitute 80% of the U.S. domestic 
supply of primary energy. At the same time, the Government's report notes that combat ting 
the climate crisis and promoting sustainable en vironmental practices are top priorities and 
highlights the pursuit of a new generation of trade policies to promote decarbonization. More 
information regarding these would be of great interest.  
4.80.  As part of this Review, Costa  Rica submitted questions to th e United  States, some of which 
we have also raised in this statement. We thank the delegation for their attention and will examine 
their responses in detail.  
AUSTRALIA  
4.81.  Australia is pleased to participate in this 15th Trade Policy Review of the United  State s of 
America and thanks the United  States and the Secretariat for their detailed and comprehensive 
Reports.  
4.82.  The United  States has long been a staunch advocate of a free and fair global trading system. 
From the establishment of the Bretton Woods institution s, U.S. leadership has been indispensable 
in underpinning the development of a multilateral trading system which provides opportunity for all 
Members.  
4.83.  Since its last review in 2018, we have seen the important role that the United  States has 
played in responding to major events that require international cooperation. This includes U .S. 
support for global recovery from the COVID -19 pandemic, such as through the development and 
distribution of COVID -19 vaccines. Australia also welcomed U .S. leadership in penali zing the 
Russia n Federation  for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Russia n Federation 's unilateral, illegal and 
immoral aggression against the people of Ukraine is a gross violation of international law.  
4.84.  U.S. contributions were important to making the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference a major 
success for the Organization on pandemic response, including as a driving force behind the TRIPS 
waiver; fisheries subsidies; WTO reform; and the e -commerce moratorium. Australia also 
appreciates the United  State s' strong contribution to moderni zing the WTO rulebook, including 
through the E -commerce and Services Domestic Regulation Joint Statement Initiatives.  
4.85.  Australia underscores the central role of the WTO Dispute Settlement System in affording 
security and pre dictability to the rules -based multilateral trading system; and enabling smaller and 
middle -sized players in the system effectively to defend their rights. Given the urgency of restoring 
legal enforcement of Members ' WTO rights, we welcome the United  State s' recent efforts to begin 
discussions on dispute settlement reform. Australia wants to see the reform discussion result in a 
fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement System accessible to all Members by 2024, in line with 
the MC12 mandate.  
4.86.  Open marke ts and liberali zed trade are key to achieving a level playing field, while contributing 
to regional and global food security outcomes. Strong U .S. leadership on agriculture has always been 
critical to driving agricultural reform at the WTO and we look to s uch leadership, together with the 
Cairns  Group and other reformers, to resume long -stalled agricultural reform at the WTO. Without 
urgent reform, including to unsustainable levels of farm support, global agricultural policy settings 
will undermine critical  food security and climate mitigation imperatives.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.87.  We welcome U .S. engagement and continued cooperation on multilateral and plurilateral 
efforts related to trade and environmental sustainability at the WTO. We look forward to continued 
cooperation on the important nexus of trade and climate.  
4.88.  The Inflation Reduction Act s ends a strong signal about U .S. commitment to urgent climate 
action. Australia encourages the United  States to ensure implementation and delivery of this 
legislation is conducted in line with its WTO obligations.  
4.89.  Australia welcomes the U .S. initiative to d evelop an Indo -Pacific Economic Framework for 
Prosperity (IPEF) and is pleased to be a founding member. Expanding and deepening regional 
economic cooperation through IPEF supports Australia 's commitment to a secure, stable, peaceful, 
and prosperous Indo -Pacific. Australia looks forward to the United  States ' hosting of APEC in 2023 
and stands ready to assist the United  States to deliver concrete outcomes, including on its host year 
priorities of digital trade, supply chain resilience, labour, state -owned ent erprises, and stakeholder 
engagement.  
4.90.  Australia and the United  States are building on long -standing  links to develop new 
opportunities for trade and investment in some of our most important industries, including tourism, 
green technology, critical minerals , frontier technologies, space, and creative industries. We 
encourage the United  States to continue to support strong trade and investment outcomes, including 
through government procurement opportunities for foreign suppliers. This would help support 
greater innovation, productivity, and job creation in the United  States and for WTO Members.  
4.91.  We look forward to working closely with the United  States and other WTO Members to 
implement MC12 outcomes and progress reform of this important institution to ensure i t remains at 
the core of the multilateral trading system into the future.  
4.92.  Finally, we note that Australia, like the United  States, values greater transparency in the WTO. 
We welcome the US ' active efforts to drive stronger transparency and notification pr ocesses at the 
WTO and improve the functioning of committees. Australia sees Trade Policy Reviews as an 
important existing tool for providing transparency and we wish the United  States a successful Trade 
Policy Review.  
ISRAEL  
4.93.  Israel is pleased to participa te in the United  States 15th Trade Policy Review at the WTO. First, 
we want to warmly welcome the U .S. delegation headed by H.E.  Ambassador Mar ía Pagán. Israel 
would also like to thank you, Ambassador  Spencer  (Jamaica), for your insightful initial remarks. 
Lastly, we thank the Secretariat for the comprehensive and informative Report.  
4.94.  Let me start by mentioning the close economic and trade relations Israel and the United  States 
have had for many years, includi ng a free trade agreement signed in 1985 and which was the first 
FTA the U .S. signed.  
4.95.  The United  States remains the largest single economy in the world and accounts for a 
significant percentage of global trade. The U .S. also remains an important reference  point for trade 
policy, and as is the case for many Members, it is also Israel 's most important single trading partner.  
4.96.  Since the last Trade Policy Review , there have been many developments in the U .S. trade 
policy, and we will not dwell on all of these n ow; instead, we will focus on a few key ones from 
Israel's perspective.  
4.97.  Israel has been following several of the U nited State's trade policies as well as legal initiatives 
including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the CHIPS Act and repeated "Buy America n" legislation. 
We note that the IRA and the CHIPS Act were discussed recently during the CTG Meeting at the 
WTO. Israel remains interested in the impact and implementation of all of these measures.  
4.98.  On the bilateral front, Israeli companies have benefited from solid demand in the U .S. market. 
The U .S. accounts for roughly 26% of the total Israeli exports of goods and 40% of Israel's export 
of business services, a trend that has steadily and exponentially grown since the 1985 FTA, having 
risen by around 540 % since then. Israel 's exports to the U .S. are dominated by precious metals and WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  stones (diamonds), pharmaceuticals, optical and medical instruments, electrical machinery, and 
machinery. In contrast, the U .S. exports to Israel are dominated by precious metal  and stone 
(diamonds), machinery, aircraft, electrical machinery, and optical and medical instruments.  
4.99.  In 2021, U .S. exports to Israel increased by 25.8% comparing to 2020, while Israel's exports 
to the U .S. amounted to USD  16 billion, an increase of 24% in comparison to 2020. While FDI from 
the U .S. amounted to USD 27.6 billion in 2021.  
4.100.   On the multilateral front, U .S. participation and leadership in the WTO has been and 
continues to be vital if we want to ensure the future well -being of this Organization. On transparency, 
Israel is co -sponsoring the U .S. proposal to enhance transparency and improve compliance with 
notification requirements under the WTO  Agreement s, which currently has over 30  co-sponsors. 
Israel also shares the U .S. view regarding the need to improve the committees ' effectiveness and 
efficiency.  
4.101.   On dispute settlement mechanism, Israel welcomes the informal process on dispute 
settlement reform initiated by the U nited States. So far, we  have had beneficial exchange s, and we 
look forward to continuing engagement as we move soon to the third phase of the process. Israel 
believes that finding a balanced and practical solution to this matter is of great importance for the 
continued success of the WTO.  
4.102.   During this TPR e xercise, Israel submitted questions relating to trade and investment, 
overcapacity, supply chain resilience and the CHIPS Act. We look forward to reviewing the replies 
carefully.  
4.103.   Lastly, as we move into a new year, which is expected to be a Ministerial yea r, we are keen 
to see the U .S. leadership across all pending issues so that we can capitalize on the successes of the 
previous Ministerial and deliver outcomes at the next Ministerial.  
4.104.   The U .S. is not only a vital trade and economic partner; Israel and the  U.S. enjoy close ties 
across many other areas, which we value and appreciate, and we look forward to continuing to build 
on these.  
4.105.   We want to note the positive leadership which Ambassador Mar ía Pagán has demonstrated 
during her relatively short time in Ge neva. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with 
her and her team.  
4.106.   We wish the U nited States a very successful TPR and best wishes in the year to come to all 
of you.  
ARGENTINA  
4.107.   We would first like to welcome the U.S. delegation, led by H.E. Ambassador María  L. Pagán, 
Deputy United  States Trade Representative and Head of Mission, and her entire team for their 
commitment and leadership at the WTO.  
4.108.   I also take this opportunity to express our thanks for the reports prepared by the 
United  States and by the Secretariat, as well as the valuable contribution of H.E.  Ambassador 
Cheryl  K. Spencer of Jamaica, which have enabled us to enhance our understanding of the Member 's 
trade practices.  
4.109.   Argentina has very close economic ties with the United  States. For trade in goods and 
services, the United  States is our third largest trading partner. Even so, bilateral trade with the 
United  States  shows a chronic deficit to the detriment of our country.  
4.110.   Between January and October this year, we expor ted nearly USD  5.8 billion worth of goods 
to the United  States and imported more than USD  9.1 billion worth of goods, a significant 
year-on-year increase. In addition, it is worth noting that this year we also witnessed strong growth 
in the exchange of ser vices. Between January and June this year, Argentina's exports of services to 
the United  States  approached USD  2 billion, while imports stood at USD  2.7 billion.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.111.    Argentina and the United  States are currently enjoying an excellent bilateral relationship. 
For example, the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council, which had not met in person 
since 2018, held its third meeting in November to discuss a wide range of economic and trade issues, 
including trade concerns on each side. As a result, both part ies agreed to work together on a road 
map to resolve these concerns and improve their trade relationship. They also explored emerging 
investment opportunities and areas for engagement, including energy transition and digital 
economy, as well as development  finance.  
4.112.   Argentina is concerned about the series of trade defence investigations initiated in recent 
years against products such as biodiesel, natural honey, lemon juice, oil country tubular goods 
(OCTG) and white grape juice concentrate, that are importa nt for our national and regional economy 
and for the productive sectors involved. This is particularly serious for Argentina, which is highly 
dependent on export revenues given its financial difficulties. By a rough estimate, the value of 
Argentina's expor ts with limited access to the U.S. market amounts to almost 45% of the value of 
total Argentina's exports to the U.S. We look forward to working more cooperatively and supporting 
our exporters' efforts to reach agreements with the U.S. industry, as was dul y proposed in the case 
of biodiesel and OCTG.  
4.113.   In agri -food matters, both countries are cooperating on issues of mutual interest, such as 
the sustainable intensification of production, trade that is free of unjustified sanitary or 
environmental barriers, ad option of new technologies, commitment to food security, climate change 
challenges and, finally, strengthening multilateralism. Argentina is particularly interested in 
deepening these ties and advancing cooperation in building local capacity in the area of  fertilizers.  
4.114.   In addition, we note that, on 31  December  2020, the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) expired for all beneficiary countries, the U.S. Congress not having renewed it. We hope that 
the GSP reauthorization bill will be finalized befor e the end of the year and that the new system will 
be beneficial for all parties.  
4.115.   Argentina supports and endorses the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity initiative, 
announced last June by President Biden at the Summit of the Americas in Los  Angel es, as a historic 
new agreement to boost economic recovery in the hemisphere. Argentina is interested in working to 
develop the areas of interest identified in this initiative: reinvigorating regional economic institutions 
and mobilizing investment; making  more resilient energy and food supply chains; updating the basic 
bargain; creating clean energy jobs; and ensuring sustainable and inclusive trade.  
4.116.   Argentina notes the great resilience of the U.S. economy. Owing to the supportive measures 
and policies implemented by U.S. authorities, the economy has been able to cope with the economic 
challenges posed by the COVID -19 pandemic, with the real GDP growth rate rising to 5.7% in 2021.  
4.117.   The United  States, like Argentina, is a Member that works serious ly and constructively with 
the WTO and the rules -based multilateral trading system. Accordingly, we welcome the 
United  States' excellent record of notifications, as well as its active and valuable participation in WTO 
discussions. We have worked with the U nited States on various proposals for an ambitious Fisheries 
Subsidies Agreement , and we look forward to continuing to do so in view of the second wave of 
negotiations on overcapacity and overfishing. We also appreciate the United  States' leadership in 
adopting the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Declaration: Responding to Modern SPS Challenges. We 
will continue to work on advancing joint initiatives on domestic regulation, e -commerce and in the 
Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender.  
4.118.   As part of this trade p olicy review, we have submitted to the United  States a series of 
questions on the reauthorization of the GSP, trade defence measures, and sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures, among other issues. We look forward to receiving the replies, which will be 
duly studied by our authorities in Buenos Aires, and we hope to maintain a fluid bilateral dialogue 
between our delegations.  
4.119.   To conclude, while restating our appreciation of this renewed opportunity to exchange 
information and comments on the trade policies an d practices of the United  States, we would like to 
draw attention once again to the importance of this exercise in transparency from every point of 
view, and to wish the U.S. authorities a successful conclusion to this review.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  HONG  KONG,  CHINA  
4.120.   I would like  to start by welcoming the delegation of the United  States  (the U .S.) led by 
Ambassador María  Pagán. I would also thank Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer  of Jamaica for serving as 
the discussant and the Secretariat for preparing the comprehensive Report.  
4.121.   The U .S. is an important trading partner of many WTO Members including Hong  Kong,  China.  
In 2021, the U .S. was our third  largest merchandise trading partner in the world, our second  largest 
export market and the sixth largest source of imports; our total trade in goods amounted to 
HKD 516.3  billion (US D 66.4 billion) in 2021. The U .S. was also our second largest trading partner 
in services in 2020, with our total bilateral services trade amounted to HK D 178.9  billion 
(USD 23.1 billion). Meanwhile, the U .S. has been enjoying its largest bilateral trade surplus 
worldwide with Hong  Kong,  China.  
4.122.   As the largest economy in the world, the U .S., through its  policies on international trade and 
investment , has substantial impacts on the global economy and the WTO 's work. We appreciate the 
United States' commitment and contribution to the WTO, and along with many other WTO  Members, 
we take the restoration of a binding, two -tier dispute resolution mechanism as a top priority. We 
thank the U nited States'  initiative in le ading informal discussions on reform of the WTO Dispute 
Settlement System since April this year, but we believe this should not prevent us from resolving 
the Appellate  Body impasse early in parallel.  
4.123.   We have the following observations on the U nited States'  trade policy regime.  
4.124.   First, we have grave concerns about the discriminatory treatment by the U .S. against 
Hong Kong, China's  traders in its revised origin marking requirement, which requires that all goods 
with Hong  Kong origin be marked as "made in China ". The U nited States'  unilateral disregard of 
Hong Kong,  China 's status as a separate customs territory and a WTO full Member  on its own is 
unreasonable and unjustified. Such move not only causes undue hardship to Hong  Kong,  China 's 
traders and confuses U .S. consumers, but also undermines the rules -based multilateral trading 
system. We have taken actions in accordance with the W TO dispute settlement procedures and look 
forward to early decision of the dispute panel and resolution of the dispute in accordance with the 
WTO dispute settlement mechanism.  
4.125.   On tariff, we note that the U .S. is still applying non -ad valorem  MFN tariffs f or around 11% 
of its tariff lines and maintaining relatively high tariffs on certain agricultural products, footwear, 
and textiles and clothing. We encourage the U .S. to consider converting the non -ad valorem  rates 
to ad-valorem  ones to enhance the predict ability of its tariff regime, and lower these relatively high 
tariff rates to further liberali ze the relevant product sectors.  
4.126.   Meanwhile, the U .S. has imposed  a global tariff at 25% and 10% on imports of steel and 
aluminium products as a result of the Sect ion 232 investigation . We consider these measures  
unreasonable, unjustified , and inconsistent with the rules of the WTO.  Such measures not only hurt 
the rights and interests of Hong  Kong,  China, among many other WTO Members, but also pose a 
systemic threat to the multilateral trading system. Hong  Kong,  China welcomes the rulings made by 
the panel and urges the U .S. to fulfil its obligations as a WTO Member by withdrawing the erroneous 
measures.  
4.127.   On contingency measures, the U .S. continues to b e an active user of anti -dumping measures. 
We urge the U .S. to exercise restraints and caution in initiating anti -dumping investigations and 
seriously review the necessity of the trade remedy measures, especially those that have been in 
place for long peri ods, to guard against possible abusive use.  
4.128.   As for export control, the U .S. has imposed numerous modifications to its export control 
regime during the review period on national security ground, with some target scopes covering 
Hong Kong,  China, irrespectiv e of our status as a separate customs territory and that we have put 
in place a comprehensive and effective strategic trade control system. We urge the U .S. to withdraw 
such unreasonable export control arrangements on Hong  Kong, China , where the measures a re not 
supported by solid objective evidence.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.129.   In view of the unprecedented challenges to the global economy ahead, multilateral 
cooperation has become more important than ever. We look forward to continuing working with the 
U.S. in various areas of mutual interests in the WTO. Lastly, we thank the U .S. for their answers to 
Hong Kong,  China 's written questions and we are now studying them internally . I wish the U .S. a 
fruitful and successful Trade Policy Review.  
SINGAPORE  
4.130.   Singapore extends a warm welcome to the delegation from the United  States, led by 
Ambassador Mar ía Pagán. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Chair Ambassador 
Ángel Villalobos, the Discussant Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer, as well as the Secretariat for their 
insight ful Reports and statements. Allow me to make three points.  
4.131.   First, as the world 's largest economy since 1871, the U .S. plays an indispensable role in the 
global economy, and has a unique responsibility in supporting the rules -based multilateral trading 
system. As the world 's largest consumer market and a major source of capital and technological 
innovation, the U .S. accounts for almost a quarter of global GDP, one -fifth of global FDI and more 
than a third of global market capitali zation. American companies, such as Walmart and Amazon, are 
among the world 's largest companies and private sector employers. According to the IMF, the U .S. 
continues to be the world 's top destination for foreign direct investments and recorded the largest 
increase of FDI in 2021.  
4.132.   Regionally, the U .S. is a key dialogue partner of ASEAN. In addition to being the largest 
source of FDI for ASEAN, the U .S. is ASEAN 's second largest trading partner with merchandise trade 
amounting to over US D 360 billion in 2021. Singapore welcomes the U nited States'  continued 
engagement in the region, including through the Indo -Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity 
(IPEF), which is a forward -looking initiative that has the potential to deepen the United  States'  
strategic and economic engagement with ASEAN.  
4.133.   Second, Singapore and the U .S. share long -standing , multi -faceted, and robust bilateral 
economic relations, that have generated significant economic benefits for both countries. Singap ore 
is home to nearly  5,500 American companies, and the value of the United  States'  foreign direct 
investments in Singapore amount ed to over US D 294 billion in 2021, on a historical -cost basis, 
making Singapore the U nited States'  largest investment destination in Asia. Singapore 's investments 
in the U .S. and American exports to Singapore support more than a quarter million American j obs. 
The U nited States-Singapore FTA, conceived over a golf game between Singapore 's 
then-Prime  Minister Goh  Chok Tong and then -U.S. President Bill  Clinton on the side-lines of the 
APEC Leaders ' meeting in Brunei  Darussalam  in 2000, remains a high -performing agreement that 
brings substantial and enduring benefits to both our economies. Since its entry into force in 2004, 
bilateral goods and services trade has more than doubled to US D 106 billion in 2021.  
4.134.   Singapore and the U .S. have also expanded collaboration to cover emerging areas such as 
digital trade, mutual recognition of digital standards, and alignment of AI  governance frameworks. 
Singapore is working with the U .S. through the Global Cross -Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) F orum to 
strengthen  and develop a rules -based framework in enabling trusted cross -border data flows. We 
also collaborate closely in cybersecurity, which is another key enabler to grow the digital economy 
ecosystem.  
4.135.   Singapore welcomes the U nited States'  leadership role in the global energy transition, 
through initiatives such as the Net Zero World Initiative, and we are working with the U .S. 
Department of Energy on a Feasibility Study on Regional Energy Connectivity in Southeast Asia. This 
project seeks to es tablish the technical and commercial feasibility of energy connections in the region 
and accelerate the development of cross -border electricity trade. Singapore looks forward to further 
collaboration in projects that support the development of new clean en ergy supply chains and meet 
global energy.  
4.136.   Third, Singapore will continue to work with the U .S. to strengthen the WTO. At an event 
hosted by the Graduate Institute on WTO in October  2021, USTR Katherine  Tai said that the 
Biden -Harris administration "recogn izes the importance of the WTO " and "want it to succeed ". The 
United States'  leadership in the WTO is crucial and Singapore looks forward to working closely with 
the U .S. to strengthen the WTO and the rules -based multilateral trading system. A cornerstone of WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  the multilateral trading system is a "fully and well -functioning dispute settlement mechanism ". For 
small countries, which comprise the vast majority of the WTO 's Membership, a well -functioning, 
two-tier dispute settlement mechanism is of utmost importance.  
4.137.   In this connection, Singapore will continue to play an active role in the informal 
"interest -based " discussions on dispute settlement reforms that has been initiated by the 
United States. We look forward to meaningful discussions that will pave the way to fulfil the MC12 
commitment of having a fully -functioning Dispute Settlement Mechanism by 2024.  
4.138.   In closing and on behalf of Ambassador Tan  Hung  Seng, my delegation would like to 
acknowledge the val uable contributions of Ambassador María  Pagán and her capable team in 
Geneva. We wish the U.S. a successful 15th Trade Policy Review.  
EUROPEAN  UNION  
4.139.   On behalf of the European  Union, I would like first to welcome the delegation of the 
United  States, led by Ambassador Pag án, and thank the WTO Secretariat and the Government of 
the United  States for their respective Reports.  
4.140.   The European  Union and the United  States have the largest bilateral trade and investment 
relationship and enjoy the most integrated econo mic relationship in the world. The E uropean  Union 
and U nited States trade about EUR 1.2 trillion worth of goods and services each year. Together, the 
European  Union-United States trade represent 18% of the world trade in goods and services. It is 
an artery of world trade and creates jobs and growth on both sides of the Atlantic. It is something 
we need to treasure, nurture,  and develop where we can.  
4.141.   I am pleased that following some complicated years, the E uropean Union and the 
United States have been able to improve our trade relations. We found temporary solutions for major 
trade disputes and have started to build a positive bilateral agenda, notably through the Trade and 
Technology Council (TTC).  
4.142.   This partne rship has become even closer following the Russian  Federation's  aggression 
against Ukraine, which sees the E uropean  Union and the U nited States, along with many other WTO 
Members, allied in our unwavering support to Ukraine.  
4.143.   The U .S. has had a defining ro le in shaping the global trading system since the early days of 
the GATT and in developing the rules that underpin international economic relations today. This has 
helped drive much of the enormous growth and increases in prosperity across the world over t he 
last decades to the benefit of all WTO Members including the E uropean  Union and without a doubt 
the U nited States itself.  
4.144.   The actions of the United  States matter, and its trade policy decisions deeply affect its trading 
partners, particularly those whe re strong trade and investment ties imply a particular degree of 
economic integration, such as with the E uropean  Union. 
4.145.   Despite of the success of MC12, the multilateral trading system embodied by the WTO 
continues to need serious reform across its three co re functions – negotiation, monitoring and 
deliberation, and dispute settlement – to ensure that it is up to the challenges of the XXI  century. 
The E uropean  Union counts on the full commitment of the United  States to revitali ze the multilateral 
trading sys tem. We must maintain the positive momentum and ensure that MC13 keeps WTO reform 
on the right track.  
4.146.   The E uropean  Union believes that moderni zing the WTO is the best guardrail against 
fragmentation, and the most direct way for us all to benefit from globa l trade.  
4.147.   We take note from the Government Report that the U .S. "supports a WTO reform agenda 
that reflects the priorities of a worker -centred approach one that protects our planet, supports 
improved labour conditions and living standards, and contributes to shared prosperity ". We welcome 
these intentions, and we invite the U .S. and all Members to pursue these objectives together and 
not separately or at the detriment of other Members. As a key player in the global trading system, WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  we expect the U.S. to be ready to invest political capital in reforming the WTO in a manner that 
reinforces the multilateral rules -based trading system.  
4.148.   We also take note that the U .S. considers that the WTO dispute settlement has not met the 
needs of WTO Members. The European  Union will not engage in this forum on a debate relating to 
WTO dispute settlement reform but it is clear that a functioning and effective dispute settlement 
system is critical for the credibility of the WTO as a rules -based institution. For the E uropean  Union, 
WTO dispute settlement reform is therefore a matter of priority. We treat very seriously the 
commitment, made at MC12, on having a fully and well -functioning system by 2024. In order to 
achieve this objective, clarity is needed as soon as po ssible on the types of reforms that the U .S. is 
seeking. The E uropean  Union will engage with any reform effort as long as it respects the core 
features of the Dispute Settlement System . This includes the right to appeal review before a standing 
adjudicativ e body. We hope and expect the U .S. will be fully invested in this effort.  
4.149.   Despite the shared objectives that I have just mentioned, we continue to have serious 
concerns about the impact of some U .S. policies on trade: there continue to be strong inward -looking 
tendencies in U .S. trade policy, favouring domestic sectoral interests.  
4.150.   The E uropean  Union, along with other WTO Members are for example very concerned about 
the recent adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act.  
4.151.   While we welcome the adoption of the Ac t as a major step in the U nited States'  fight against 
climate change, we have serious concerns with some of its provisions.  
4.152.   Many of the generous subsidies provided for in the Act tilt the playing field in favour of the 
U.S. producers in key technology sec tors including, but not limited to, the automotive sector. Certain 
elements of the legislation - such as those subsidies dependent on the use of domestic goods and 
domestic production – are discriminatory and need to reconcile with U nited States'  WTO oblig ations. 
The Act risks being detrimental to the economic interests and industrial competitiveness of the 
European  Union and of other WTO Members, and risk making the green transition more costly, for 
tax payers and consumers. I hope that the U .S. delegation will remain ready to engage in a frank 
and open discussion on this issue and the impact that this legislation has on the rest of the world.  
4.153.   In this regard allow me to highlight a couple of the key written questions the E uropean  Union 
has submit ted to the United  States.  
4.154.   On the IRA, how will the United  States ensure that the legislation is implemented or modified 
in a way to ensure it remains in compliance with its obligations under the WTO  Agreement s, and 
advances the green transition in the U .S. without distorting the international level playing field for 
its trading partners?  
4.155.   As regards U .S. government procurement, we remain concerned about the limitations 
introduced through the "Buy American" legislation. Indeed, by imposing local content requ irements 
to U.S. government procurement contracts, the "Buy American" rules close the U .S. procurement 
market to certain E uropean  Union exports.  
4.156.   On agricultural support, there has been a steep increase in product specific trade distorting 
support since 20 18/19 for key commodities (notably maize and soybeans) which has pushed the 
overall total U .S. Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) very quickly close to its AMS limits. Given the 
trade-distorting nature of this support and the negative effect on internati onal markets, we are 
looking for reassurances that this trend is not going to continue.  
4.157.   So, to conclude, at this moment, it is more important than ever for U .S. to conduct a trade 
policy and work together with its partners in the WTO, notably on the issue of WTO reform in the 
spirit of the WTO rules.  
4.158.   The European  Union looks forward to continuing to work with the United  States in a sense 
of shared responsibility to strengthen the multilateral trading system.  
4.159.   On behalf of the E uropean  Union, I wish the Unite d States a productive 15th Trade Policy 
Review.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  JAPAN  
4.160.   Japan welcomes the distinguished delegation of the United  States, headed by Ambassador 
María  Pagán. Japan also expresses its appreciation to the Government of the United  States and to 
the WTO Secretariat for their respective Reports produced for this review, as well as to the 
discussant, H.E.  Cheryl  Spencer , Ambassador of Jamaica for her insightful illustrations.  
4.161.   First and foremost, Japan acknowledges the significant role  of the United  States in 
international free trade with the largest GDP and volume in import in the world. We appreciate the 
contribution made by the U .S. to the expansion of global trade and investment over many years.  
4.162.   At a time of geopolitical difficulti es, including unlawful aggression to Ukraine by 
the Russia n Federation , the role of the multilateral trade organization has rather become more 
important. We should address current trade -related issues by reforming the WTO and improving its 
functioning, a s entiment that was echoed at the G20 Bali Summit Declaration and the APEC 
Ministerial Meeting both in November this year. Japan expects the U .S. to be at the centre and 
indispensable  in these WTO undertakings.  
4.163.   On WTO  reform, we would like to enhance our co llaboration in efforts to improve its 
functioning, including promoting individual efforts to improve transparency as well as expanding the 
participation of external stakeholders.  
4.164.   With that in mind, Japan welcomes the U nited States-led process and active e ngagement in 
dispute settlement reform, which is the most important element of WTO reform. Japan would also 
like to cooperate with the U .S. towards the early launch of a formal process to restart a full and 
well-functioning Dispute Settlement System by 202 4 that is accessible to all Members.  
4.165.   We thank the United  States for its active contribution to WTO negotiations and discussions 
in the frontier fields, including the JSI on e-commerce and discussions on trade and environment. 
Japan looks forward to continu ing to cooperate with the U .S. in these new rule -making efforts.  
4.166.   Taking this opportunity, I would like to touch upon several specific issues on U .S. trade 
policies.  
4.167.   First, the Inflation Reduction Act. Concerning the tax incentives for electric vehicles, Ja pan 
believes that expanding the EV market, while providing consumers with a variety of choices with 
fair, and domestic and international non -discriminatory incentives, will contribute to reducing C O2 
emissions in the U .S. and across the world. This would work much more effectively than an approach 
applying strictly limiting preferential treatment.  
4.168.   As we see the implications for industries and consistency issues with the WTO  Agreement s 
in the IRA, Japan has submitted publi c comments on the guidance on the IRA and conducted an 
exchange of views with other trade partner governments, including at leaders'  level. We request 
that our interests presented in the comments are fully taken into account.  
4.169.   In 2018, the United  States, c iting security threats, invoked measures under Section  232 of 
the Trade Expansion Act  of 1962 to impose additional tariffs on steel and aluminium products 
imported from Japan and other countries.  
4.170.   The additional tariff measures need to be implemented in a manner to be consistent with 
WTO rules. We recognize that in February this year, the U .S. announced the partial elimination of 
additional tariffs on steel products imported from Japan and the complete elimination of the tariffs 
on derivative products. Howe ver, in pursuit of a complete solution in a way that is consistent with 
the WTO  Agreement s, Japan will continue discussions with the U .S. on this issue.  
4.171.   The import ban based on the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Law came into effect in June 
this year. Th is resulted in prohibiting imports to the U .S. of goods and materials produced wholly or 
partly in the Xinjiang  Uyghur Autonomous Region.  
4.172.   Japan is seriously concerned about the human rights situation in the region and is 
cooperating with the international  community for its universal value. In enforcing this law, we expect WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  the U .S. to work further in closer communications with the private sector, in light of ensuring that 
predictability is firmly in place and avoiding an excessive burden on the sector.  
4.173.   In addition to these, I would like to address some other issues, which we have been 
discussing with the United  States for some time.  
4.174.   With regard to market entry regulations under the Jones Act of 1920, although the U .S. 
provided explanations from the perspec tive of national security at their last TPR to a certain extent, 
Japan will continue to seek further explanations from them, in terms of how the Act contributes to 
national security, and their consideration of and planning for expanding the exemptions and limiting 
them to what is truly necessary for security.  
4.175.   With regard to anti-dumping measures on Japanese products, we reiterate our request to 
the U .S. to make a determination when conducting a sunset review, not simply assuming the 
likelihood of dumping or recurrence of injury, but exhausting careful examination of its existence . 
4.176.   Finally, concerning the Byrd Amendment, we request the U .S. to implement t he DSB 
recommendations fully and to operationalize the policies consistent with the WTO  Agreement   
4.177.   In closing, the United  States has been a flag -bearer of free trade and has contributed to the 
maintenance and strengthening of the multilateral trading syste m for many years. Moving forward, 
Japan, in cooperation with the U .S., is determined to tackle all issues for this global cause.  
4.178.   We wish the delegation of the United  States a successful Trade Policy Review.  
CHILE  
4.179.   Chile would like to extend warm greetings to the delegation of the United  States, led by 
H.E. Ambassador María  Pagán, with whom we hope to continue working to strengthen the 
multilateral trading system, and to the entire team of the U.S. Permanent Mission. We also 
congratulate Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer of Jamaica for her outstanding work as discussant.  
4.180.   Chile takes special interest in this fifteenth review of the United  States ' trade policy. It would 
be difficult to grasp the reality of global trade without considering the important role the 
United  States plays as an engine of global economic growth.  
4.181.   Our countries maintain a fluid, frank and constructive political and commercial dialogue, 
covering all areas of bilateral, regional and global relations. The United  States is a traditional trading 
partn er of Chile, having established itself as the leading market for Chilean exports of services and 
goods, excluding copper.  
4.182.   Our economic and trade relationship is structured around the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 
in force since 1  January  2004, which covers a broad range of areas that include trade in goods, 
services and investment protection. The tariff reduction process for goods was completed on 
1 January  2015, meaning that 100% of trade between the two countries is now tariff -free. 
4.183.   In addition, 1  January of this year marked the eighteenth anniversary of the Agreement 's 
entry into force, with an annual average trade exchange rate of 10.6%. Thus, the FTA between Chile 
and the United  States has become a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship and it s implementation 
and administration have established the United  States as one of Chile's main trading partners, with 
total trade in 2021 amounting to some USD  30,961  million. (During 2021, exports to the 
United  States totalled close to USD  14,933  million a nd imports came to USD  14,972  million). In 
terms of foreign investment, the United  States  is also one of the largest investors in Chile, 
concentrating on technology services, insurance, banking, energy, industry and transportation.  
4.184.   This positive relationship is not only bilateral, but also multilateral: our countries participate 
jointly in various international trade for a such as the Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation forum 
(APEC) and the Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD ). 
4.185.   Within the WTO, the United  States is an active and key player, both in the implementation 
of WTO Agreements and in negotiations. Currently, we are jointly involved in several Joint Statement WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  Initiatives (JSIs), such as Electronic Commerce and Services D omestic Regulation, as well as in the 
Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD).  
4.186.   Our countries agree on the importance of a multilateral trading system that is open, 
transparent, inclusive, non -discriminatory and based on clear  rules. The WTO is called upon to play 
a central role in this system and thus must be efficient and effective.  
4.187.   The reform process, formally launched at MC12, should aim to strengthen this Organization. 
We look forward to working with the United  States  on strengthening the multilateral trading system 
and on a WTO that is more effective in addressing current challenges.  
4.188.   We also reaffirm the importance of overcoming the impasse affecting the Appellate Body, 
and hope that the willingness of the United  States t o engage in informal discussions - in which Chile 
is participating constructively - will soon lead to a successful outcome and thus to a functioning 
dispute settlement system accessible to all Members as soon as possible.  
4.189.   This trade policy review has prov ided information on the comprehensive U.S. response to 
the COVID -19 pandemic through a variety of support measures, supplemented by progress on a 
worker -centred trade policy. These include capacity building and labour rights advocacy, as well as 
efforts to  decarbonize and promote sustainable environmental practices. We highlight here the 
shared interest of both countries in advancing environmental protection, as underlined by our 
delegations in the meetings on the Environmental Chapter of the Chile -US FTA, held in August this 
year. 
4.190.   In other areas, we view with interest the development of e -commerce in the United  States, 
which accounts for 12.5% of its trade in physical goods, the strategies implemented to regulate 
digital services in specific sectors, and it s support for digital transformation.  
4.191.   In addition, we would like to highlight the United  States ' efforts, referred to in the review, 
to promote an equitable, inclusive , and durable trade policy that incorporates the most 
underrepresented actors. In this r egard, we take this opportunity to congratulate the United  States 
on its selection as the host of APEC for 2023 and for the choice of the theme that will guide the 
work, "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All", grounded in the priorities of b eing 
interconnected, innovative and inclusive. We wish it success in this important challenge.  
4.192.   Chile submitted 23  questions in connection with this Trade Policy Review exercise in areas 
such as rules of origin, services, renewable energies, small businesse s and export promotion. We 
are most grateful for the replies to these questions. Lastly, we wish the United  States  a successful 
Trade Policy Review.  
URUGUAY  
4.193.   Uruguay would like to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of the United  States of 
America, led by Ambassador María  Luisa Pagán, on the occasion of the fifteenth  Trade Policy Review. 
We thank Ambassador  Pagán for her presentation, which contained more than one noteworthy  
message. We also thank the Secretariat for its comprehensive report, and Ambassador  
Cheryl  Spencer for her insightful interpretation of the analysis.  
4.194.   The United  States has always been a key partner of Uruguay in terms of trade in goods, 
trade in services, attracting investment and issues such as trade facilitation. This is refl ected in the 
close collaboration within the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council and in 
the recently created Bilateral Inter -ministerial Dialogue, as well as in Uruguay's contribution to and 
willingness to advance the Americas Partnershi p for Economic Prosperity  (APEP).  
4.195.   The United  States is the fourth largest market for our merchandise exports to the world and 
our third largest supplier, with significant bilateral trade amounting to USD  2.57 billion so far 
in 2022. The main export product s include beef and beef products, wood and cellulose, and beverage 
concentrates.  
4.196.   The United  States is also the main market for exports of Uruguayan global services, 
distinguishing itself from other destinations with a relative weight of approximately 70% of foreign WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  sales, this area being of great importance for the national exporting sectors of global services, 
information technologies and audio -visual products. In 2021, sales accounted for 74% in the case 
of information technology services, 69% for corpor ate services and increased significantly for 
audio -visual products with a record USD  60 million (also equivalent to 71% of exports). In terms of 
information and communication technologies, more than 50% of national companies export to the 
United  States . 
4.197.   It is also worth highlighting the importance of U.S. investments in the country, ranking sixth 
in terms of the origin of FDI in Uruguay. There are currently some 230  U.S.-owned companies in the 
country, including large international groups in the ICT industr y, such as IBM, Microsoft, Cognizant, 
New Context, NetSuite, VeriFone and Google, as well as PepsiCo in the food industry.  
4.198.   All these figures demonstrate the strategic importance and potential of our economic and 
commercial links. Thus, taking into account the strong trade partnership, particularly in services, we 
note the importance of continuing to step up joint efforts in key areas such as information 
technologies, biotechnology and renewable energies.  
4.199.   At the multilateral level, we both agree that the WTO  plays a central role in the rules -based 
multilateral trading system. This provides us with the certainty needed to ensure that the 
Agreements in this Organization remain relevant and equal to the task of meeting the global 
challenges facing us.  
4.200.   We are wor king together on the implementation of the commitments made at MC12, the 
"Geneva package", especially on the implementation of the agreement to prevent subsidies for 
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and on all issues related to the fight against  the COVID -19 
coronavirus pandemic.  
4.201.   With regard to the WTO reform process, we trust in the good faith and willingness to ensure 
that the issues relating to the dispute settlement system and in particular the appointment of 
Appellate Body arbitrators will b e resolved by 2024 at the latest, as mandated in paragraph  4 of the 
MC12 Outcome Document.  
4.202.   On another note, we commend the United  States  for its initiatives to improve export 
conditions for small and medium -sized enterprises, especially those led by women and those that 
are owned by persons from minority, indigenous and underserved communities. The WTO is a 
multilateral organization and MSMEs are a global issue. We need the voice and input of the 
United  States within the Informal Group on this issue to prom ote the development of critical mass 
and best practices. We hope we can count on you in the cause of MSMEs at the WTO; to help them 
to trade, to contribute to economic development, and to provide new opportunities and connections 
for businesses in all econ omies.  
4.203.   Lastly, I would like to acknowledge and thank Ambassador María  Luisa Pagán and her team 
for their hard work in coordinating positions and always maintaining a constructive approach in the 
different bodies of this Organization.  
4.204.   Best wishes for a succ essful Trade Policy Review.  
RUSSIAN  FEDERATION  
4.205.   I would like to welcome the delegation of the U nited States  and thank the discussant, 
Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer  (Jamaica), for her thoughtful remarks. We hope that today 's discussion 
will contribute significantly to the transparency of the U.S. trade regime.  
4.206.   For the last few years, the U.S. delegation extensively criticized other WTO Members for not 
providing answe rs to advance written questions. It is more than surprising that now the U.S. 
delegation itself left a large number of questions unanswered, significantly devaluing its own TPR. 
Rules of procedure of this Body do not allow for that, no matter the reason th e delegation under 
review may choose to invent. We find this demonstration by the U.S. of double standards and the 
policy of selective compliance with the WTO rules rather unfortunate.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.207.   Earlier this week Washington announced its refusal to implement the dec isions of the Panel 
in the "steel and aluminium " disputes, which established numerous infringements of fundamental 
WTO obligations. Today the U.S. exercises arbitrariness in its own TPR, deciding which questions are 
to be answered or even reflected in its questions and replies , and which "uncomfortable " ones should 
better remain concealed. The Russia n Federation  has timely submitted around 400  written questions 
regarding different aspects of the U.S. trade policy – none of them are even reflected in the roo m 
document circulated by the Secretariat. My delegation strongly requests that all our questions are 
made available in the room document to the participants of this TPR before its conclusion.  
4.208.   Now back to my main points and I start with two quotes.  
4.209.   "The U.S. has shaped the global trading system decisively since the early days of the GATT, 
leading multilateral liberalization by example and helping to develop the sophisticated rules that 
underwrite international economic relations today. But in suggesting t hat trade wars can have 
winners, the U.S. is putting these achievements at risk ". 
4.210.   "Today, the repercussions of protectionist rhetoric of the U.S., including the use of tariffs 
and other restrictions, are being felt at the heart of this Organization, and mo re generally in global 
growth prospects ". 
4.211.   These were quotes from the statement by the E uropean  Union at the previous TPR of the 
United States four years ago. The E uropean  Union warned us about the negative repercussions of 
the U nited States'  aggressive pro tectionist policy for the global economy and international trade. 
Unfortunately, we can confirm that the E uropean  Union's warning was proven to be right. The 
United States'  trade policy has continuously spiralled  into a vicious cycle of protectionism with 
blatant disregard for the WTO rules.  
4.212.   Some of the Russia n Federation' s key concerns, expressed in the written questions, include 
the following:  
4.213.   Focus of the U.S. trade policy on sanctions instead of conventional instruments. Currently 
the U.S. implements sa nctions against 20  countries or territories, most of them are WTO Members. 
Unilateral sanctions against the Russia n Federation  were adopted in grave violation of international 
law. Namely, the U.S. has:  
• blatantly infringed property rights, having frozen the assets of Russian persons and 
companies;  
• destabilized the ordinary course of trade via limitations on access to currency and 
accompanying bans;  
• deprived the industries, which had commercial ties with their clients in the U nited States , of 
their rights to exercise foreign trade by banning imports and exports of certain products;  
• damaged trade infrastructure by introducing financial and logistical restraints;  
• revoked the Russia n Federation' s MFN trade status and increased tariff rates to 35% on 
more than 570 groups of Russian products worth approximately USD  2.3 billion;  
• qualified the Russia n Federation  as a non -market economy. This decision was obviously 
politically motivated and based on an astonishing misrepresentation and misinterpretation 
of facts. 
4.214.   Aggressive trade policy of the U.S. should be regarded as a threat by countries that consider 
themselves its allies. The U.S. sanctions ' pressure has led to turmoil in energy and food markets 
and has seriously impaired access to these vital goods for dozens of countries and their consumers, 
including businesses and citizens. The only beneficiaries were and still are American corporations, 
whose rate of return, thanks to the sanctions, increased astronomically.  
4.215.   The proposed Clean Competition Act, imposi ng carbon border adjustment on energy 
intensive imports, represents a continuation of the newest history of the U.S. protectionism. The WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  Russian  Federation  joins concerns of other Members regarding this prospective legislation, which, if 
adopted, would affe ct the conditions of competition between imported and domestic products in the 
U.S. 
4.216.   We reiterate our concern over the punitive Section  301 tariffs on Chinese products that 
largely remain in place.  
4.217.   On agricultural support, we are seeking clarifications and reassurances regarding the 
allocation of USD  800 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to drive climate -smart 
agriculture and renewable energy initiatives.  
4.218.   Introduction of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act 2022, which would result in artificial 
protection of the U nited States'  domestic semiconductor industry and China 's economic decoupling 
in the sphere of semiconductor manufacturing, also raises questions.  
4.219.   The Russia n Federation  is concerned about further expansion of investment screening 
procedures  and the respective extension of the powers of the Committee on Foreign Investment in 
the United  States and seeks clarifications in this regard.  
4.220.   Ban on foreign information and communications technologies and services under the pretext 
of protecting critica l infrastructure from undue risks of sabotage is another area of concern.  
4.221.   Finally, the Russia n Federation  would also like to seek clarifications from the U.S. on the 
sectoral arrangement on steel and aluminium  trade.  
4.222.   To conclude, I join other Members in wishing the U.S. a successful Trade Policy Review. And, 
of course, I will be glad if intentions to make the  United States  great again in the WTO will be carried 
out in accordance with the rules of this Organization and in cooperation with the other Members, 
rather than at their expense or at the expense of the entire multilateral trading system.  
REPUBLIC OF KOR EA 
4.223.   I would like to extend a warm welcome to Ambassador Pag án and the delegation of the 
United  States for its 15th Trade Policy Review.  
4.224.   For me, this is my first official engagement in Geneva and I look forward to having a close 
working relationship with the  delegations here. My special thanks also go to Ambassador 
Cheryl  K. Spencer (Jamaica) for her contribution as the discussant today and to the Secretariat for 
its comprehensive and informative Report.  
4.225.   Allow me to start with the remarks on the bilateral rel ations between the Republic of Korea 
and the U.S. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the KORUS  FTA. Bilateral trade led by the 
KORUS  FTA have increased by 67.8% since 2012 and this number is particularly eye -catching to see 
that the trade of our two c ountries with other world has grown by a relatively mere 22.8%.  
4.226.   It is especially noteworthy that while the world trade shrank by 4% over last two years hit 
hard by the pandemic, our bilateral trade has maintained an upward trend by a whopping 25%. 
I believ e that this well demonstrates the robust economic relationship we have with the 
United  States.  
4.227.   In terms of investment, we have been investing in the U .S. three times more than we had 
done before the KORUS  FTA and for the U nited States, two times more vice  versa. These 
developments, while getting the supply chains of our two countries closer in a mutually 
supplementary manner, are contributing to creating jobs and sharpening the industrial 
competitiveness in both economies.  
4.228.   Based on this solid trade relati onship, the Republic of Korea and the U nited States  are 
expanding the scope of cooperation to include areas such as supply chain management, new 
technology, digital trade and climate changes.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.229.   It is particularly positive that we are cooperating in various and complementary 
configurations including bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral fora to further strengthen our bilateral 
relationship and at the same to better cope with global challenges.   
4.230.   The Republic of Korea appreciates the efforts of the U .S. to keep its external openness even 
during the pandemic period and we believe that this came out of the sense of responsibility as one 
of the largest shareholders in global trade. We believe that such efforts by the U nited States, strongly 
backed by many o ther Members of the WTO, have been instrumental in minimizing the setback in 
free trade.  
4.231.   The Republic of Korea also appreciates the policy efforts of the U .S. to deal with the common 
challenges we are facing in the aftermath of the pandemic, climate change  and the inflationary 
pressure. The Republic of Korea views that the recently announced "Inflation Reduction Act ", is an 
important step forward to further accelerate the carbon reduction and curb inflation in both the U .S. 
and the global community and in t his respect,  we are generally in support of the purpose and 
direction of the legislative effort.  
4.232.   However, the Republic of Korea has a concern associated with this legislation and we believe 
that this comes from the status U .S. assumes in global economy. T he U.S. economic and trade policy 
is meant to have considerable impacts on global trade and investment and as a close economic 
partner, the Republic of Korea is to be affected all the more accordingly.  
4.233.   Particularly, the Republic of Korea would like to not e that certain features of the IRA, despite 
the overall positiveness we observe, are creating undue burden on a specific green industry of key 
members including the Republic of Korea and at the same time on our bilateral economic 
relationship. The Republic  of Korea  urges the United  States to continue sincere efforts together to 
work out a mutually satisfactory solutions through bilateral consultations.  
4.234.   Next, the Republic of Korea strongly believes that regaining our confidence and credibility 
on the multila teral trading system with the WTO at its core, is key to ensuring the sustainable growth 
of the global economy. In this respect, the Republic of Korea notes with satisfaction that our two 
countries prioritize the WTO reform in our trade policies and the U .S. has been constructively 
engaging in the discussions to reform the three key functions of the WTO.  
4.235.   The Republic of Korea is of the view that priority areas for this reform discussion are  (1) how 
the WTO can better function at the nexus between the trade and key megatrends such as climate 
change, digitalization and the increasing importance of supply chain management, (2) how to 
accelerate and see tangible outcome in the discussion to restore the dispute settlement function.  
4.236.   Given the role of the U .S. in dealing with these big and important issues, the Republic of 
Korea expects that the U .S. will show its able leadership in close consultations with other Members.  
4.237.   As a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system, the Republic of Korea will closely 
cooperate with other members including the U .S. to reinforce the rules -based and market -oriented 
international trade order.  
4.238.   The Republic of Korea looks forward to keeping close cooperation with the U .S. in dealing 
with our bilateral and global issues. We appreciate the responses from the U .S. to our written 
questions and we will closely review them. I would like to conclude by expressing my sincere 
appreciation to t he U.S. delegation for its hard work and wishing the delegation every success in its 
TPR. 
COLOMBIA  
4.239.   Colombia highly values its historical and strategic partnership with the United  States, which 
spans areas as varied as strengthening democracy, peacebuilding , the fight against drug trafficking 
and terrorism and, of course, promoting bilateral trade, to which end we have a free trade treaty 
that has already been in force for 10 years.  
4.240.   For this trade policy review, Colombia is pleased to note that the U.S. eco nomy is growing 
and that the unemployment rate is at historic lows. Growth in the United  States  is always good news WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  for exporters and producers around the world. In particular, we note its growing strength in services, 
as well as in technology exports prot ected by intellectual property.  
4.241.   Nonetheless, there is concern about the significant and steady rise in U.S. interest rates, 
with immediate repercussions on exchange rates, direct and portfolio investment flows, and 
inflationary pressures in all other coun tries. 
4.242.   While recognizing that trade flows with our primary partner are directly affected by its 
monetary and macroeconomic policies, today we will focus on trade policies alone.  
4.243.   In this regard, we would like to focus on three aspects, on which we have sub mitted 
questions in advance and, again, we look forward to receiving the replies. The first is trade 
facilitation. The second is the increasing use of non -traditional trade remedies. The last is the 
unprecedented levels of subsidies introduced by the Unite d States . We will conclude with a number 
of observations on the future of the multilateral trading system and the role of its main driver, the 
United  States.  
4.244.   As regards trade facilitation, Colombia congratulates the United  States for its progress in this 
area, for being a standard -setter in facilitation measures and for being a very active Member in the 
Trade Facilitation Committee and in the implementation of the Agreement. Colombia appreciates the 
assistance received and hopes that collaboration will cont inue and be stepped up in the future, as 
will discussions on interoperability and mutual recognition of customs and facilitation systems.  
4.245.   Secondly, we note with concern the diligent application of non -traditional trade defence 
measures and increasing restr ictions on imports and exports in multiple sectors. Traditional remedies 
are widely used by the United  States; in our view, this approach is proper and even desirable. There 
is, however, a growing and already recurrent use of non -traditional remedies, base d on domestic 
and non -multilateral provisions such as Sections  232 and 301, and new proposals for environmental 
and labour remedies or adjustments.  
4.246.   Section 232 measures on steel and aluminium, and those applied to the automobile and auto 
parts sector have  had a major impact on Colombia's exports to that market, affecting Colombian 
export diversification initiatives, as these are among the most dynamic and important sectors of 
Colombian industry. In general, there appears to be a growing willingness on the part of our trading 
partner to use unorthodox trade defence measures, with highly damaging consequences for small 
and medium -sized players that have little to do with the policy objectives pursued by these remedies. 
In addition to expressing its concern ab out the increasing use of remedies other than those 
envisaged by this Organization, Colombia considers that unilateral measures are less useful than 
multilateral measures for achieving legitimate public policy objectives.  
4.247.   In that connection, we draw attention to the criteria for exempting certain countries from 
these restrictive measures. Colombia is a strategic security and trade ally; accordingly there are 
questions about the criteria the U.S. has applied to establish the  lists of countries not subject to 
restrictive measures, and whether these criteria are consistent with the multilateral principles of 
non-discrimination and MFN.  
4.248.   Thirdly, we are concerned about the growth of subsidy levels in the United  States in recent 
years. Since 2018, the U.S. has injected large sums into the agricultural sector through the U.S. 
Farm Bill, the two rounds of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the CARES Act, and 
most recently by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), among ot hers. These developments are 
worrying in the light of some of the most important objectives of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, 
in terms of minimizing distortions in international markets, preventing damage to other countries' 
industries, and carefully ob serving the maximum commitment levels under the Aggregate 
Measurement of Support. Specifically, Colombia notes with concern that agricultural subsidies in the 
United  States are already affecting important products for the Colombian economy such as ethanol 
and biodiesel.  
4.249.   On the industrial side, new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) subsidies for cleaner energy and 
production, infrastructure and environmental fuel projects were valued by the U.S. Congressional 
Budget Office at approximately USD  238 billion. Thes e large incentives affect our ability to compete 
and develop a sustainable industrial sector. In services, the race to attract companies, particularly WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  in the e -commerce sector, by the different states and cities of the United  States has led to an 
increase in subsidies, which puts any Colombian company in these sectors at a disadvantage.  
4.250.   One of the objectives of trade rules is to ensure a level playing field and promote 
competitiveness. A middle -income country with limited fiscal space, such as Colombia, can  neither 
compete nor prosper under such unequal conditions.  
4.251.   In this context, we cannot fail to note that the global environmental crisis requires 
multilateral responses, for which there are high expectations of the leadership of large economies 
and major emitters. The U.S. response cannot be based on unilateral and local market -oriented 
measures, as this will only widen gaps.  
4.252.   The United  States has traditionally been a driving force in the multilateral trading system 
and has played a prominent leadership r ole in this Organization. Given the current systemic 
challenges and opportunities, we encourage the United  States to intensify its efforts to improve, 
strengthen and end the impasse within this Organization. We restate our interest in seeing 
constructive i nvolvement by the United  States in improving the multilateral trading system which, 
while not free from complexities and problems, is the best foundation available to all of us, as a 
global public good, for fostering cooperation in the interests of inclusi ve growth and the well -being 
of our peoples. This Organization must help to consolidate growth, economic integration, 
technological progress, poverty reduction, environmental protection , and peace; the role of the 
United  States is critical in this regard.  
4.253.   We wish the U.S. delegation a successful Trade Policy Review . Colombia is open to 
continuing, deepening , and strengthening its strategic trade relationship and wishes to acknowledge 
the excellent working relationship between the two missions in Geneva.  
CANADA  
4.254.   I would like to extend a warm welcome to the U .S. delegation and to my colleague 
H.E. Ambassador Mar ía Pagán and to thank H.E. Ambassador  Cheryl  K. Spencer (Jamaica) and the 
Secretariat for the preparatory work for today 's Trade Policy Review .  
4.255.   As we celebrate the  75th anniversary of the GATT, we look back to when 23  countries, 
including Canada and the Unites  States, signed a temporary agreement that would simultaneously 
boost and regulate world trade, and would last for almost 50  years before being  succeeded by the 
WTO. Multilateralism has been a cornerstone of foreign policy for both Canada and the United  States 
and, as founding members of the GATT, multilateralism has been the very foundation of our trade 
policy. I preface my remarks with this his torical reference to highlight what remains at stake at the 
WTO today: the preservation of the essential tenets of the multilateral trading system. The 
challenges we faced in the post -war context are different to those we face today, but the need for 
trade cooperation in the face of crises and geopolitical tensions remains. The prosperous path ahead 
will require us to continue to champion rules -based approaches, and to work as boldly today as we 
did in 1947, to strengthen the rules -based multilateral tradin g system.  
4.256.   We would like to acknowledge the critical leadership role that the United  States has 
historically played in the development and maintenance of a rules -based multilateral trading system. 
As we welcome the opportunity provided by this Trade Policy  Review to highlight the many significant 
contributions to the WTO made by the United  States, we must also share our general and specific 
concerns regarding those U.S . trade policies that have affected the functioning of the WTO, and the 
rules-based tradin g system more broadly, in a negative way.  
4.257.   Given the integrated nature of Canada 's economic relationship with the United  States, we 
are acutely aware that legislative and policy actions can greatly affect trade between our countries.  
4.258.   As an example, we note that policies and legislation, such as Buy America and elements of 
the Inflation Reduction Act, that favour domestic content and production over those of trading 
partners, present both competitiveness challenges and challenges to the multilateral trade sys tem.  
4.259.   Despite occasional irritants, we recognize and welcome the U.S. efforts and engagement 
across various areas of WTO work. Canada applauds the continuous and proactive participation of WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  the United  States in the committee work of the WTO. We recognize th e initiative taken by the 
United  States to advance discussions and make them as substantive as possible.  
4.260.   Canada also appreciates the United  States ' continued efforts ensure that its transparency 
commitments to WTO Members are fulfilled and for its efforts  to improve and enhance the WTO 's 
monitoring function through constructive proposals.  
4.261.   We also recognize the constructive and positive role of the United  States in helping reach 
the outcomes delivered at the 12th Ministerial Conference, particularly the Ag reement on Fisheries 
Subsidies. We will continue to work with likeminded partners like the United  States to advance 
flexible approaches to negotiations, including through the Joint Statement Initiatives. The most 
recent example of the JSI on services domes tic regulation reflects an important example for 
plurilateral initiatives going forward.  
4.262.   On dispute settlement, it is important to note that the United  States is the most frequent 
user and has benefit ed significantly from the system. We recognize that the  United  States has 
expressed concerns regarding the functioning of the Appellate  Body and note that Members have 
engaged in a number of discussions since 2019 aimed at addressing these concerns. We welcome 
the U.S. initiation of a process on DS reform last  spring and recall our Ministerial commitment to 
have a well and fully -functioning DS system accessible to all by 2024. Reaching this shared objective 
will require continued focused and pragmatic engagement from all Members.  
4.263.   Canada will continue to work with the United  States and other WTO Members to strengthen 
the multilateral rules -based trading system that the United  States has championed for decades, 
while opposing actions that create uncertainty, deter investments and endanger jobs. We call upon  
the United  States to remain engaged in the creation and promotion of improved international trade 
and investment rules that will support growth in the United  States, Canada and around the world.  
4.264.   We appreciate the opportunity for this exchange of views on  all aspects of U.S . trade policy. 
We wish the delegation the utmost success during this review process.  
DOMINICAN  REPUBLIC  
4.265.   The delegation of the Dominican  Republic congratulates the United  States on the 
presentation of the Trade Policy Review. The period under review is extraordinary given the events 
that affected the global economy. For precisely this reason, it is an opportune moment to be able 
discuss in detail the trade policies of the United  States economy.  
4.266.   The United  States, like the rest of the worl d, suffered the consequences of the COVID -19 
pandemic. The U.S. economy is now solidly in recovery thanks to the vaccination programme and 
the expansion of monetary and fiscal policies. However, the recovery is still producing the strongest 
inflationary pr essures in four decades.  
4.267.   In response to this situation, monetary policy is currently normalizing after an extended 
period of expansion. In a recent statement, James Bullard, the President of the Federal Reserve 
Bank of St. Louis, discussed scenarios based  on Taylor rule calculations using data for the 
United  States. The results indicate that U.S. monetary policy is still "behind the curve", even using 
the most conservative scenario derived from the Taylor rule as a benchmark.  
4.268.   Therefore, the Federal Reserv e authorities are likely to continue to raise their policy rate 
through 2023. We understand that the Federal Reserve authorities are implementing the right 
policies: loss of credibility in the ability to control inflation would affect macroeconomic stabili ty, and 
that is a necessary condition for enjoying the benefits from international trade.  
4.269.   I would like to note that trade and cooperation relations between the Dominican  Republic 
and the United  States are of great importance to our country. Exchanges inclu de the areas of trade 
in goods, tourism, investments, and remittances. More than 2  million Dominicans, or persons of 
Dominican origin, reside in the United  States. We also estimate that more than 250,000  U.S. citizens 
reside in the Dominican  Republic. Rela tions between the two countries are growing stronger every 
day. WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.270.   We wish the United  States a successful conclusion to this Trade Policy Review and 
congratulate the U.S. delegation on its efforts.  
PHILIPPINES  
4.271.   The Philippines warmly welcomes and congratulates the delegation of the United  States led 
by Ambassador María  L. Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief of Mission to the WTO 
on their 15th Trade Policy Review. We also thank Ambassador H.E.  Cheryl  K. Spencer  of Jamaica for 
her insig htful comments as discussant, and the WTO Secretariat for its comprehensive Report.  
4.272.   We also associate with the ASEAN statement to be delivered by Cambodia recognizing the 
valuable economic partnership between ASEAN member States and the United  States. The ASEAN 
acknowledges the U nited States'  remarkable efforts in effectively responding to the COVID -19 
pandemic, its contributions to the international community in this regard, and its active engagement 
in the multilateral trading system. The U .S. is ASEAN 's second largest trading partner, and the 
largest source of foreign direct investment. We also recognize the impact of U .S. trade and 
investment policy on the region 's economic development, and we continue to work on promoting 
cooperation between the ASEAN a nd the U .S. 
4.273.   The Philippines enjoys long -standing  bilateral relations, specifically a strong trade 
relationship, with the U nited States, based on our historical and cultural linkages dating over 
a 100 years. The 1989 bilateral Trade and Investment Framework  Agreement (TIFA), serves as a 
valuable mechanism for the expansion of trade and investment relations between our two countries 
where regular discussions are held to further strengthen our economic partnership. More recently, 
we are also working closely wi th the U .S. on the Indo -Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) which will 
promote resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness for 
our economies.  
4.274.   In 2021, the U .S. was ranked as the Philippines ' third major trading partner in the world with 
total bilateral trade amounting to USD  19.6 billion. Among the Philippine top exports to the U .S. are 
semi-conductor devices, storage units, integrated circuits and ignition wiring sets. Further, the 
Philippines has consistently been a top beneficiary of the U .S. Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) and a significant source of imports for U .S. manufacturers and consumers. We also look 
forward to the renewal of the same GSP scheme.  
4.275.   As noted in both Reports by the Se cretariat and the U nited States, the outbreak of the 
COVID -19 pandemic adversely affected the U .S. economy, ending its 11  consecutive years of 
positive growth when its real GDP contracted by 3.4% in 2020. We note that the U .S. implemented 
a massive stimulu s package focused on addressing the pandemic. The Reports also underscored the 
core policy priorities of the current administration which are centred  on equity and inclusivity.  
4.276.   The Philippines further notes that since the last trade policy review in 2018, the focus of the 
U.S. trade policy has deepened towards addressing the COVID -19 pandemic and restoring the 
economy, putting workers at the centre , and sustainable practices among others.  
4.277.   As a firm supporter of the multilateral trading system and an active  Member of the WTO, the 
United  States has been involved and engaged in the negotiations taking place in the WTO, and led 
to results in MC12, such as concluding the fisheries subsidies agreement, and delivering on services 
domestic regulation. We would welc ome further results -oriented engagement as we tackle the 
e-commerce initiative and continue our negotiations in agriculture reform, food security and the 
fisheries subsidies.  
4.278.   We look forward to working with the U .S. specially towards WTO reform agenda, co ntributing 
to shared prosperity, protection of the environment, and more specifically, restoration of the two -tier 
dispute settlement system by 2024, and enhancement of transparency and improved compliance 
under WTO  Agreement s. 
4.279.   We note the significant deve lopments in the economic policies of the United  States, and we 
appreciate the opportunity to learn more about these policies through this Trade Policy Review. Our 
delegation has submitted advance written questions and we thank the delegation of the 
United  States for its timely responses.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.280.   In closing, the Philippines looks forward to further enhancing our mutually beneficial 
economic relations with the United  States.  
BRUNEI  DARUSSALAM  
4.281.   Brunei  Darussalam associates itself with the ASEAN statement to be delivered by Cambodia, 
and joins in welcoming the delegation from the United  States led by H .E. Ambassador 
María L. Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief of Mission Geneva.  
4.282.   We commend the Government of the United  States for their efforts in pr eparing for 
their 15th Trade Policy Review , and also thank the WTO Secretariat for their clear and comprehensive 
Report. We would also like to express our appreciation to the discussant H .E. Ambassador 
Cheryl  Spencer of Jamaica for the insightful overview of both Reports under consideration.  
4.283.   Brunei  Darussalam and the United  States established diplomatic relations on 10  March  1984, 
and we have a strong, long -standing, bilateral relationship with the United  States that covers many 
areas of cooperation from d efence, investment, education , and people -to-people exchanges.  
4.284.   Brunei  Darussalam enjoys good trade and economic relations with the United  States with 
bilateral trade remains in the U nited States'  favour and stands at B ND 335.9  million in 2021 where 
most o f our imports are on machinery, transport equipment, optical instruments, chemicals and 
mineral products.  
4.285.   As our countries work to achieve a more sustainable growth post COVID -19, 
Brunei  Darussalam sees the potential to increase our bilateral cooperation across many sectors 
including through the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). In this regard, 
we are pleased that the U.S. investors in Brunei  Darussalam are actively contributing to the country 's 
economic development par ticularly in the oil and gas sector.   
4.286.   Brunei  Darussalam and the United  States are closely linked through ASEAN, as the 
United  States is one of ASEAN 's Dialogue Partners, through which we have maintained robust 
economic cooperation including the ASEAN -U.S. TIFA and E3 Work Plan, amongst others. Most 
recently, our leaders also established the ASEAN -U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the 
10th ASEAN -U.S. Summit in November  2022 to further step -up our cooperation for the future 
prosperity and security of our people by working together in strengthening our economic ties and 
connectivity as well as promoting maritime cooperation and advancing efforts to achieve the UN 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  
4.287.   Brunei  Darussalam also values our engagement with the United  States in the various 
multilateral for a including APEC. We look forward the United  States ' APEC chairmanship next year 
and express our commitment to work with the United  States and other APEC Economies on the 
United States'  thematic priorities.  
4.288.   In addition, Brunei  Darussalam is pleased to be part of the new U.S. -led Indo -Pacific 
Economic Framework (IPEF) launched in May this year to promote engagement and collaboration on 
areas of mutual interest including structural reforms, resilient infrastruc tures and producing quality 
manpower.  
4.289.   As firm supporters of the multilateral trading system and of the WTO, Brunei  Darussalam 
appreciates the United  States ' active engagement in this Organization, including the U.S. -led 
informal dispute settlement reform discussions that are taking place currently. We hope these efforts 
would help towards addressing the current impasse in the dispute settlement function and we look 
forward for it to be formalized.   
4.290.   Brunei  Darussalam has submitted several questions in rela tions to the Reports by the 
United  States and the Secretariat and we thank them for their responses.  
4.291.   Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to wish the United  States a successful 
15th Trade Policy Review.  
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  SWITZERLAND  
4.292.   I would like to start by extending a warm welcome to the entire United  States ' delegation. 
And I also wish to thank the discussant for his concise introduction. Both the introductory remarks 
and the outstanding report by the Secretariat provide us with clarity in a matter in which  one is 
easily overwhelmed by the volume of information.  
4.293.   Claiming that the U .S. is an important trading partner for Switzerland is an understatement. 
The US (in 2021) is Switzerland 's largest export market and its most important partner worldwide 
when it c omes to trade in goods. Dominant sectors and products in our trade relationship include 
chemicals and pharmaceuticals, precision instruments and watches, as well as machinery and 
electronics.  
4.294.   In terms of direct investments, Switzerland is the seven th most  important investor in the 
U.S. and among the top  three  for R&D investments. From the Swiss perspective, the U .S. is the first 
destination for foreign direct investment with close to CHF 300 billion in 2020, counting for more 
than 20% of Switzerland 's tota l FDI.  
4.295.   On the institutional side, Switzerland and the U .S. maintain a close dialogue since 2006 
within a bilateral Trade and Investment Forum, where main discussion topics include intellectual 
property rights, trade facilitation, mutual recognition of bio products, and the Privacy Shield. 
Individual company cases are also discussed in this format. In addition, together with our EFTA 
partners, we established in 2013 a Trade Policy Dialogue with the USTR. The next meeting of this 
Trade Policy Dialogue will ta ke place in two days, on 16  December.  
4.296.   Switzerland and the U .S. share strong common values in all fields. When it comes to trade 
in particular, we both believe in market economies and free trade. And we trust that maintaining a 
competitive and open economy , together with government support measures and a well -crafted 
monetary policy, helped the U .S. economy experience a swift rebound of its GDP in 2021.  
4.297.   Our shared values map into a very close cooperation in international fora, including here in 
Geneva at th e WTO where we both advocate for open markets and engage to improve the functioning 
of the Organization.  
4.298.   Historically, the U .S. have been instrumental in shaping the multilateral trading system and 
played a leading role in many negotiations that led to mea ningful agreements and decisions in this 
house. Today, we cannot but encourage the U .S. to take a similar role in the current and future 
negotiations and promote ambition in the broad sense. This will be particularly important in the WTO 
reform process and  in the restoration of a fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement Mechanism 
by 2024. In the same vein, while recognizing the U .S. participation in several plurilateral agreements 
(including ITA  I and II, GPA, and Trade in civil aircraft) and in some of the joint statement initiatives 
(such as domestic regulation, e -commerce , and TESSD), we wish to encourage the U .S. to join the 
remaining JSIs, namely on MSMEs and investment facilitation for development.  
4.299.   The contribution of the U .S. to the multilateral trading system is also reflected in the 
monitoring work of the WTO. And in this context, we commend the exemplary notification record of 
the U nited States. Similarly, we welcome the U .S. historically low average bound and applied tariffs, 
and the fact that it has not significantly changed since the last TPR of the U nited States. 
4.300.   Some might remember that at the time, in 2018, we expressed  concerns, that the 
United States, a traditional free -trader and a bedrock of open markets, suddenly resorted to 
unconventional ways and means. In particular, regarding the additional duties imposed by the U .S. 
on certain steel and aluminium  products, we n ote that the Panel Report circulated last week in four 
dispute settlement proceedings concerning these measures, including the one initiated by 
Switzerland, concluded that the additional duties imposed by the U .S. are contrary to the GATT. This 
confirms us  in our conviction that Members of our Organization should always try to address their 
concerns through cooperation and dialogue, rather than by imposing trade restrictive measures.  
4.301.   We read the Secretariat and the Government 's Reports with great interest. And this careful 
reading is reflected in the large number of questions we posed to the U nited States. Specifically, the WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  chapter on e -commerce attracted our whole attention in light of the ongoing process and given the 
fact that both Switzerland and the U .S. are actively participating in this negotiation.  
4.302.   Additionally, we asked questions on a number of other trade domains of particular interest 
for Switzerland and its companies. These include worker -centred  trade policy, RTAs, tariffs, the 
increase of anti -dumping and countervailing measures investigations, competition policy, 
government procurement as well as trade and the environment. We thank the U .S. for their detailed 
responses to our many questions.  
4.303.   In conclusion, let me reassure that Switzerland will continue to engage – with the U .S. and 
others – to promote a well -functioning World Trade Organization as well as open markets for the 
benefit of our people.  
4.304.   We wish the U .S. constructive and fruitful exchanges during this Trade Policy Review . 
THAILAND  
4.305.   Thailand would like to associate itself with the ASEAN statement to be delivered by 
Ambassador Kemvichet  Long of Cambodia.  
4.306.   We also thank the Ambassador Mar ía Pagán for her Report as well as Ambassador 
Cheryl  Spencer from Jamaica for her very candid and objective assessment of the United  States ' 
trade policies and, of course, I would like to thank the Secretariat for the Report as well.  
4.307.   Thailand and the United  States have had a l ong economic and trade relation in addition to 
other dimensions. The Treaty of Amity, which is our first bilateral agreement, was signed in 1833. 
We are, therefore, almost reaching our 200 -year anniversary of our long collaboration.  
4.308.   Currently, the United  States is the most important in trading partner of Thailand. For the 
past five years, our bilateral trade averaged about USD  48 billion, representing an increase of 11% 
during the last review period from 2018. In 2021, the United  States is Thailand 's third largest trading 
partner and Thailand is the United  States ' 19th trading partner in the world.  
4.309.   I would also like to say that Thailand is the largest beneficiary of the United  States ' GSP 
scheme, amounting to USD  3.8 billion in 2020. Thailand, therefor e, highly appreciates the 
continuation of the GSP scheme by the Government of the United  States.  
4.310.   Apart from the Treaty of Amity which was first signed in 1833 and updated in 1966 which 
provides the most important and solid foundations upon our bilateral tr ade and investment which 
has continued to this day, Thailand and the United  States also collaborate in many other fora, three 
of which I would like to highlight.  
4.311.   The first one is Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between Thailand and 
the Uni ted States that was signed in 2002. Also, the United  States is a very active member and 
supporter of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC meeting which has just been concluded 
in Thailand in November this year. We take note the United  States ' intention to continue the APEC 
meeting next year on the similar issues on which we have reached an agreement in Thailand last 
month, namely climate change, sustainability, digital economy, and SME s, among others. We are 
looking forward to continuing to work cl osely with the United  States during the next APEC year. 
Moreover, I would also like to highlight the ongoing discussion under the Indo -Pacific Economic 
Forum or IPEF which is another forum whereby Thailand, the United  States, and other countries in 
the reg ion are engaging together to discuss issues on the environment, labour, good governance, 
taxation, digital economy, and supply chain resilience. All this points to the close relation between 
Thailand and the United  States which we highly appreciate.  
4.312.   Havin g said that, given the close tie between Thailand and the United  States, we cannot help 
but to take note on the concerns on the United  States ' trade policies in the past few years. This 
includes the Build Back Better Agenda as well as other measures that f ollowed. Most recently, we 
have seen the latest development in the new laws of the United  States such as the Inflation 
Reduction Act and Chips Act of 2022. All this is a worrying sign and suggests, in our view, that the 
United  States ' trade policies are he avily influenced by domestic concerns from industries. We hope WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  that the United  States will continue to be an active player in the open and fair trade regime in years 
to come and we hope that the current trend will not develop to an even further worrying di rection 
for many countries including Thailand.  
4.313.   At the WTO, Thailand takes note with great satisfaction that Thailand and the United  States 
have been collaborating in many areas, including transparency where Thailand is a co -sponsor on 
"the United  States’ proposal to enhance transparency and improve compliance with notification 
requirements under WTO agreements ". We hope to continue working with the United  States on other 
issues such as JSIs and digital economy, etc. However, I must highlight that we hope that the 
United States will have a positive contribution on agriculture as well as on the current impasse over 
the Dispute Settlement Mechanism and the Appellate  Body.  
4.314.   In closing, Thailand appreciates the opportunity to participate in the 15th TPR of  the 
United  States today. We would also express our sincere thanks to Ambassador Mar ía Pagán as well 
as Mr  David  Bisbee for positive working environment between our two delegations. We have received 
the replies from the United  States to our questions and w e are thankful for that. I wish the 
United  States every success in its 15th Trade Policy Review.  
UKRAINE  
4.315.   On behalf of Ukraine, I would like to warmly welcome the delegation of the United  States led 
by Ambassador María  Luisa Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Represe ntative. We would also like to thank 
the WTO Secretariat and the Government of the United  States for their respective Reports.  
4.316.   Ukraine welcomes the opportunity to participate in the 15th Trade Policy Review of the 
United  States that exemplifies the openness and competitiveness of the U.S. economy and offers us 
an excellent opportunity to find out more about key developments in its trade regime since the 
previous Review in 2019.  
4.317.   In the light of the drastic changes of the economic and trade environment  during the review 
period, which resulted in the break of more than 10 consecutive years of growth of the U.S. economy, 
we would like to praise its strong recovery in 2021 and to express hope for further positive outlook.  
4.318.   Ukraine highly commends the U.S. f or its contribution in tackling complex global challenges, 
caused by the COVID -19 pandemic, the Russia n Federation' s unprovoked and unjustified war of 
aggression against Ukraine, supply chain shortages and environmental concerns.  
4.319.   In particular, we are extr emely grateful to the U.S. for its firm position on Ukraine 's 
sovereignty and territorial integrity, for the continued condemnation of the Russia n Federation' s 
invasion, for its unprecedented comprehensive economic, military, humanitarian , and financial 
support of Ukraine and for all contribution to the efforts to end this war.  
4.320.   Traditionally, the United  States is among the top  10 trading partners of Ukraine (eighth 
in 2021 worldwide) and it ranks first in the volume of Ukraine 's trade with the Americas.  
4.321.   Our goods and services turnover were continuously increasing in 2019 -2021 (from 
USD 6.1 billion to USD  7.7 billion – by 27 .1%) with metallurgical products, machinery, chemicals 
and other industrial goods, as well as agricultural products being the leading cat egories of products 
traded.  
4.322.   The disastrous repercussions of the R ussian Federation' s war have led to the huge decrease 
in our bilateral trade. During the past nine months of the current year, the volume of our bilateral 
trade in goods contracted by 32 .3% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 
USD 2.4 billion (exports fell by 40 .6%, imports – by 28 .3%). 
4.323.   Despite the war and ongoing challenges, we continue to develop our trade and economic 
relationships and the Ukraine – the U.S. Trade and Invest ment Cooperation Agreement (TICA) is an 
extremely important tool in this regard.  
4.324.   We are confident that the arrangements, reached during our Trade and Investment Council 
meeting this year, will provide an additional impetus for more dynamic interaction on w ide range of WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  issues of our bilateral partnership in the economic and trade spheres, including updating the 
abovementioned Agreement to support Ukraine 's efforts to establish a more transparent and 
predictable business environment.  
4.325.   We would like to confirm our strong willingness for further joint work within the framework 
of this Council to take systemic measures aimed at improvement of the investment climate in 
Ukraine, including corporate governance, public procurement, deregulatio n, privatization, 
intellectual property, labour  legislation.  
4.326.   Ukraine values the U.S. engagement in the WTO, its efforts to enforce the rules governing 
the global trade and we share common goal of a fairer, more sustainable international economic and 
trade regime that is based on partnership and global cooperation.  
4.327.   We are sincerely grateful to the U.S. for standing with Ukraine in tackling trade -related 
challenges, posed by illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, and for its solidarity with the people of 
Ukraine expressed at various WTO meetings, including in the joint statements, circulated in support 
of Ukraine in the WTO.  
4.328.   Ukraine also highly appreciates contribution and assistance provided by the United  States in 
the field of trade capacity -building, bo th its contribution in the WTO as well as technical assistance 
with implementing the WTO Membership commitments given to Ukraine through the U.S. Agency 
for International Development (USAID).  
4.329.   We would also like to recognize the U.S. efforts to bolster supp ly chain resiliency, to promote 
open and predictable agricultural trade, to fight hunger crisis and supply chain shocks, caused by 
the R ussian Federation' s war.  
4.330.   It is worth mentioning that the United  States, being the world 's largest agricultural exporter,  
shows strong commitment to global food security and international responsibility.  
4.331.   In this regard, we reiterate our gratitude to the United  States for its readiness to participate 
in President Zelensky 's initiative "Grain from Ukraine ", to supply Ukrainia n wheat to the countries in 
Africa and Asia where people need it the most. We are happy that many countries have supported 
this initiative and, taking this opportunity, we invite other WTO Members to join "Grain from 
Ukraine ". 
4.332.   The assistance of the America n agencies in creating the basis for sustainable economic 
recovery and long -term reconstruction of Ukraine is also outstanding. We look forward to developing 
cooperation in these areas as well.  
4.333.   Given the importance of this TPR exercise, we read the U.S. Go vernment Report with great 
interest and note its focusing on a worker -centred  U.S. trade policy. Ukraine raised some questions 
to the U.S. in this field.  
4.334.   As Ukraine benefit ed from U.S. preferences under the Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) that expi red in December  2020, we also posed questions about its possible renewal.  
4.335.   Besides, we asked the U.S. to share its view on key issues of the WTO reform and experience 
of cooperation with stakeholders in the process of preparation to the WTO Members ' trade p olicy 
reviews, considering that the United  States places high value on this mechanism and actively 
engages in all TPRs.  
4.336.   Other questions of our interest concern particularities of excise taxes imposition, 
standardization, support programs in agriculture, an ti-dumping  measures, supervision over 
non-bank financial institutions, etc.  
4.337.   Ukraine once again highly appreciates cooperation with the U.S. and wishes the delegation 
of the U.S. a very successful Trade Policy Review.  
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  KINGDOM OF SAUDI  ARABIA  
4.338.   The Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia is pleased to take part in the 15th Trade Policy Review of the 
United  States and wishes to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of the United  States headed 
by H.E. Ambassador Pagán whom we appreciate her active role and her deleg ation in the WTO 
negotiations and other activities at large.  
4.339.   We welcome the Secretariat and Government Reports, and we thank the discussant 
H.E. Ms Cheryl  Spencer , Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the WTO for her 
insightful comments.  
4.340.   After the expansion of the real GDP of the United  States in 2018 and 2019 by 2.9% and 
2.3%, it contracted by 3.4% in 2020 due to the COVID -19 pandemic. To boost the economy, the 
Government of the United  States initiated support packages including the easing  of monetary 
conditions, the "Build Back Better" agenda and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which led to 
a real GDP growth rate of 5.7% in 2021.  
4.341.   The Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia and the United  States have a strong trade relationship which 
is supported by t heir shared membership in the G20. Trade exchange between the two countries 
exceeded USD 30 billion in 2021.  
4.342.   We have submitted some questions to the United  States and we will be happy to receive the 
United  States ' replies to these questions.  
4.343.   The United  States is an important and influential player in the global economy, and it is an 
active participant in WTO councils and bodies. However, the Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia encourages 
the United  States' efforts to find solutions to the impasse of the Appellate  Body.  
4.344.   To conclude, I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of the United  States to the WTO 
for the cooperation between our two missions.  
NEW ZEALAND  
4.345.   New Zealand welcomes this opportunity to participate in the 15th Trade Policy Review of the 
United  States. I would like to extend my thanks to the Secretariat and the United  States 
Government, and Ambassador Spencer for her contributions as a discussant.  
4.346.   New Zealand and the U .S. have a deep and long -standing economic partnership. The U .S. is 
our third largest individual trading partner with balanced two -way trade in goods and services, as 
well as a strong investment relationship.  
4.347.   The U .S. is also a valued Member of the international trade architecture. As the largest global 
economy, U .S. engagement is k ey to the success of the WTO and the rules -based international trade 
system more broadly.  
4.348.   We are experiencing a global economic outlook that is increasingly pessimistic, with countries 
facing strong headwinds.  
4.349.   In this context, New  Zealand continues to prio ritize the maintenance of an agreed system of 
international trade rules based on high standards and enduring principles.  
4.350.   We therefore welcome the U nited States'  expression in its Trade Policy Report of a continued 
commitment to the WTO and intention to "work within the WTO to encourage a race to the top and 
confront global challenges as they arise ".  
4.351.   It is essential that our global rules for trade are efficient a nd effective. We appreciate the 
transparency of the U nited States'  Government Report on concerns in the global trading system, 
and its accompanying commitment to appropriate WTO reform. We encourage all Members, including 
the United  States, to continue in this spirit and to maintain trade policies consistent with WTO rules.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.352.   In light of the direction from Ministers at MC12, we also look forward to working with the 
U.S. to ensure we have a fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement System acces sible to all 
Members by 2024. This system will be essential to helping resolve disputes when they arise, and 
safeguarding the prosperity of all WTO Members under the rules we have agreed.  
4.353.   As well as WTO reform, constructive U .S. engagement is essential to  advancing WTO 
negotiations.  
4.354.   We welcome U .S. participation in efforts to update WTO rules, including through its active 
participation in the joint statement initiatives for services domestic regulation and e -commerce.  
4.355.   We also appreciate ongoing cooperation  with the U .S. on fisheries subsidies reform. We 
welcomed the U .S. joining other WTO Members to reach agreement on the WTO  Agreement  on 
Fisheries Subsidies in June of this year, and wish to highlight the close cooperation required to 
achieve this historic achievement.  
4.356.   We take note of the U nited States'  comments in its report reaffirming its commitment to 
ensuring meaningful disciplines on subsidies that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity, a 
commitment shared by New  Zealand.  
4.357.   It is now essential that we work together to ensure the Agreement delivers credible and 
constructive outcomes.  
4.358.   Another area that would benefit from the leadership of the United  States are efforts to reform 
and eliminate the use of environmentally harmful and inefficient fossil fue l subsidies.  
4.359.   The U .S. is already actively engaged in this work in the G20 and APEC and we encourage 
their consideration of joining the WTO Ministerial Statement on Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform.  
4.360.   Apart from U .S. engagement in the WTO, actions taken by the U .S. domestically can also 
have a significant impact on international trade.  
4.361.   The agricultural sector in the U .S. continues to utili ze market and trade distorting support. 
New Zealand would welcome additional efforts from the United  States to reduce these forms of 
support, which have negative impacts on global markets and the environment. This would send a 
strong positive signal to others increasingly utili zing these forms of support.  
4.362.   We also note that in the period under review, the United  States pas sed the Inflation 
Reduction Act, which is expected to increase U .S. production of green technologies like solar power 
equipment, batteries,  and electric vehicles. New  Zealand welcomes this historic U .S. investment in 
climate action and climate technologies . 
4.363.   While we share the U nited States'  desire to increase urgently the production and deployment 
of decarboni zing technologies, all WTO Members should pursue this objective in a manner that 
maintains and supports the agreed system of international trade rules .  
4.364.   In this regard, New  Zealand strongly believes that trade and environmental sustainability 
can be mutually supportive.  
4.365.   I would like to close by reiterating a message from the opening section of the U .S. 
Government Report, and I quote "The U .S. recognises  that trade can – and should – be a force for 
good… We remain committed to upholding a fair and open global trading system ". 
4.366.   New Zealand looks forward to working with the United  States, and all Members who value a 
rules-based, fair and open international t rade system, to ensure that the this system remains the 
force for good we need it to be.  
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  EL SALVADOR  
4.367.   On behalf of the Government of El  Salvador, I wish to join previous speakers in extending 
warm greetings to the distinguished delegation of the United  States, headed by Ambassador 
María  Pagán, the officials visiting us from the capital, and their outstanding team in Geneva, on the 
occasion of the fifteenth  Trade Policy Review.  
4.368.   Allow us to thank both the Government of the United  States and the WTO Secretariat for the 
preparation and submission of the detailed Reports for the current review - which will surely be of 
great use - highlighting the economic and trade developments in the United  States  for the relevant 
period, especially in post -pandemic t imes.  
4.369.   The reports for this review illustrate the negative effects of the pandemic not only on small 
countries, but also on countries with the largest economies in the world. It is also evident that 
developed countries such as the United  States  are more res ilient and able to overcome crises more 
quickly.  
4.370.   Likewise, we thank Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer of Jamaica for her important comments 
and reflections, which will contribute to enriching the discussions in this review.  
4.371.   Relations between the United  States a nd El  Salvador remain strong in all areas. The 
United  States is El  Salvador 's main extra -regional trading partner. Our trade relations are governed 
by the DR -CAFTA, which entered into force for both countries in 2006.  
4.372.   Over the years, as a result of the pre ferences of this Agreement, the United  States has 
established itself as the main destination for Salvadoran exports and we are certain that these will 
continue to increase as we endeavour to diversify our exportable supply to the United  States.  
4.373.   Furthermore, the United  States remains among the countries providing the most Aid for 
Trade to El  Salvador, most notably in the form of technical assistance and cooperation projects on 
trade facilitation. El  Salvador has also been a beneficiary of cooperat ion under the auspices of the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation.  
4.374.   Turning to the multilateral framework, El  Salvador shares the vision of the United  States to 
continue supporting and strengthening the multilateral trading system and promoting the WTO's 
regular work, its negotiating agenda and the preeminent issues that will contribute to the relevance 
and continuity of the Organization.  
4.375.   Thus, we would also like to take this opportunity to urge the United  States to work with the 
rest of the Membership to ensur e the continuation and proper functioning of the Dispute Settlement 
Body and Appellate Body, as one of the fundamental pillars of this Organization.  
4.376.   In an unstable international environment, as we all strive to overcome the pandemic, 
El Salvador, a Member that is a staunch supporter of the multilateral trading system, calls on the 
United  States, the world's largest economy, to continue demonstrating leadership and work for the 
WTO's future.  
4.377.   In conclusion, I wish the U.S. delegation every success in its fift eenth  Trade Policy Review 
and thank them for their responses to the questions we submitted.  
MALAYSIA  
4.378.   At the outset, allow me to warmly welcome H .E. Ambassador Mar ía Pagán, Deputy U.S. 
Trade Representative and Chief of Mission Geneva, and her delegations to its 15th Trade Policy 
Review.  
4.379.   Our appreciation goes to the U .S. Government and the WTO Secretariat for the 
comprehensive review Reports.  
4.380.   We would also like to thank Ambassador Chery l Spencer from Jamaica for her valuable 
remarks and assessment of the U .S. trade policy development since its last Review in 2018.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.381.   The U .S. has been traditionally a close trade and economic partner of Malaysia. In 2021, the 
U.S. was Malaysia 's third larges t trading partner, with a total trade of USD  52.37  billion. The E&E 
(electrical and electronics) sector remains the biggest component of our trade with the 
United States. 
4.382.   The U .S. is also an important source of Malaysia 's foreign investment. For the period  of 1980 
to 2021, more than 1,200 investment projects in manufacturing sector worth USD  33.9 billion were 
recorded, mainly in E&E, machinery & equipment, chemical & chemical products and petroleum 
products. These projects have generated almost 300,000 empl oyment opportunities for the people 
in Malaysia.  
4.383.   At the regional level, Malaysia and the U .S. have been working closely through the ASEAN 
Plus and Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) platforms to encourage greater trade and 
investment facilitation in the region. On this note, we look forward to contributing constructively 
during the US  APEC 2023 hosting year.  
4.384.   In addition, Malaysia 's participation in the Indo -Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity 
(IPEF), reflects Malaysia 's openness and readiness to involve in any platform that we believe will 
lead to a resilient and sustainable regional economy.  
4.385.   At the multilateral front, Malaysia recogni zes and appreciates the U .S. active role in the WTO 
towards the success of MC12, mainly in issues rel ated to TRIP S Ministerial Decision, WTO response 
to pandemics, WTO reform and fisheries subsidies. Malaysia also values the U .S. contribution in the 
Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce.  
4.386.   For this current Review, Malaysia has submitted written question s on areas such as energy 
policies, investment regime, government procurement, incentives, as well as environmental and 
forest policies.  
4.387.   Last but not least, we look forward to continue working together with the U .S. to improve 
the functioning of the WTO an d to ensure that the principles of the multilateral trading system are 
upheld.  
4.388.   We wish the U .S. delegation a productive and successful 15th Trade Policy Review.  
BRAZIL  
4.389.   First of all, let me join others in extending a warm welcome to the U .S. delegation led by 
Ambassador María  Pagán, and also to the U .S. team based here in Geneva. I thank the U .S. and the 
WTO Secretariat for their Reports, the discussant, Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer, for her insightful 
analysis, and you, Chair, for your opening comments.  
4.390.   The U .S. continues to be a key partner for Brazil, bilaterally as well as in fora such as the 
WTO and the G20. It is the main destination for Brazilian exports of manufactured products, and 
also a traditional investor in the Brazilian market, where some U .S. companies have been operating 
for more than 100  years. Brazilian firms, on their part, are also increasing their investments in the 
United States . 
4.391.   In 2021, the flow of trade in goods between our two countries reached a record 
USD 70.5 billion, showing not only a post -pandemic recovery but also an increase to unprecedented 
levels. In the same year, the U .S. was the second largest destination of Brazilian exports, and also 
the second largest supplier of our imports.  
4.392.   The main items exported by Brazil to the U .S. were semi -finished iron and steel products, 
oil, and aircraft. The main items imported by Brazil from the U .S. were oil fuels, natural gas , and 
non-electric engines.  
4.393.   Turning to investments, according to data compiled by the Brazilian Central Bank, the s tock 
of direct investment of U .S. origin in Brazil amounted to USD  123 billion in 2020. The stock of direct 
investment from Brazil in the U .S. increased from USD  1.6 billion in 2000 to USD  45.2 billion WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  in 2019. Estimates by U .S. entities indicate that thes e Brazilian investments sustain almost 
100,000  direct jobs in the United  States.  
4.394.   These vigorous economic ties have been strengthened  by the recent conclusion of some 
bilateral instruments.  
4.395.   In February  2022, the Brazil -U.S. Protocol Relating to Trade Rules and Transparency entered 
into force. This Protocol, which was signed in October  2020, modernizes the 2011 Agreement on 
Trade and Economic Cooperation (ATEC) and will further facilitate trade, at the same time increasing 
transparency and predictability in t he application of trade rules between the two countries.  
4.396.   In 2022, Brazilian and U .S. customs authorities signed an Authorized Economic Operator 
Mutual Recognition Arrangement, which will simplify customs procedures for accredited companies.  
4.397.   Brazil acknowle dges that the U .S. maintains an overall open trade regime. The Secretariat 's 
Report indicates that the simple tariff average remains at 4.8%, with 38.4% of the tariff lines being 
duty-free. 
4.398.   There are, unfortunately, some exceptions to this pattern.  
4.399.   Agriculture continues to be one of them. Besides the persistence of tariff peaks falling on 
agricultural products and of several agricultural goods being subject to quota limitations, there are 
protracted SPS negotiations unduly harming Brazilian exports. Furthermore, Brazil notes with 
concern the adoption of ad hoc , potentially distortive domestic support programs since the last TPR, 
some of which appear to remain operational. Brazil acknowledges that the COVID -19 pandemic 
affected all WTO Members. However , many of them, including Brazil, found less distortive ways to 
mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic on their domestic agricultural sectors.  
4.400.   Another area of concern for Brazil is the maintenance of quotas and surcharges on the import 
of steel and aluminium  products, on the grounds of a justification based on national security. We 
hope these measures may be reviewed or terminated within a reasonable timeframe, bearing in 
mind the complementarities of our steel and coal industries and the potential e conomic benefits of 
not applying them, such as alleviating supply -side inflationary pressures and ensuring resilience in 
global supply chains reliant on steel and aluminium . 
4.401.   Brazil has also been following with concern the adoption and implementation of the  Inflation 
Reduction Act, which includes a set of assembly and content requirements for electric vehicle tax 
credits. As we understand this measure, an electric vehicle must undergo final assembly in 
North  America in order to qualify for a tax credit. More over, the battery of the vehicle would be 
required to have at least 50% North  American content by 2024, and 100% by 2028. We submitted 
a series of questions on these content requirements.  
4.402.   The U .S. has been historically a main driver and supporter of the mu ltilateral trading system, 
both in the GATT and the WTO. Brazil appreciates the U .S. commitment to "upholding a fair and 
open global trading system - one that follows through on our partners longstanding commitment to 
conduct economic relations with a view  to raising standards of living, ensuring full employment, and 
promoting sustainable development " (TPR Report by the United  States ). 
4.403.   Brazil and the U .S. share the desire for meaningful reform of the WTO, and our delegations 
have been working closely togeth er in order to achieve that goal. In Brazil 's view, Members need to 
revive the negotiating pillar of the WTO and find ways to enable more flexible approaches to 
negotiations in the Organization.  
4.404.   As for many other Members, a critical priority for Brazil is dispute settlement. It has been 
practically three years since the Appellate  Body became non -operational. As a result, Members ' 
access to a functioning Dispute Settlement System in the WTO continues to be impeded.  
4.405.   Speaking at an event last October, USTR Kat herine  Tai noted that "the credibility of a trading 
system, whether it's regional or multilateral, really goes to whether or not the rules are enforceable. 
Otherwise, the rules are just words on a page. (...) [No] matter how high you dial the standards, no  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  matter how modern the rules that you've brought in, if you can't enforce them, then really it's not 
worth very much ". 
4.406.   In our view, these are words to which we can all subscribe. Without a functioning dispute 
settlement system, the credibility and the value of the WTO rules is severely compromised.  
4.407.   Brazil has been actively engaging in the ongoing informal discussions on dispute settlement 
reform, and we appreciate the U .S. initiative and efforts in this regard. As the current phase of this 
exercise is c oming to an end, we count on genuine engagement on the part of the U .S. as we seek 
to transition to text -based negotiations that enable Members to have a fully and well -functioning 
dispute settlement system accessible to all Members by 2024.  
4.408.   Let me conclud e, by thanking the U .S. delegation for the answers to Brazil 's questions, which 
were forwarded to capital for examination and follow -up. We wish the United  States a very successful 
Trade Policy Review.  
NORWAY  
4.409.   The U.S. is Norway 's most important trading par tner outside of Europe. And the U.S. is one 
of the largest foreign direct investors in Norway. American and Norwegian companies work together 
every day to find smart and sustainable solutions in advanced fields such as health care, energy, 
transportation, and defence , to name a few.  
4.410.   Bilateral trade and economic activity between our two countries are based on shared 
democratic and free market values, creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.  
4.411.   The U .S. is the largest economy on the planet. Borrowing from the tune "New York , New 
York", for business it 's still very much "if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere ". On the 
trade policy side, we still look to you for leadership.  
4.412.   MC12 was a success. Moving forward we need to work on WTO reform on all t hree pillars. 
That will require courage  and innovation.  
4.413.   The U .S. has taken a leadership role in the WTO on transparency and notifications, we 
welcome and support these efforts. The U .S. has been very active in the Trade Facilitation Committee 
with its ent husiastic support for implementation of the TF Agreement as well as looking ahead for 
improvements of the Agreement itself. The U .S. has for many years voiced the need for more 
interactive and constructive discussions in WTO bodies, creating a seed for the ongoing reform 
discussions about the deliberative function. Generally, your engagement throughout the work of the 
WTO benefits the Organization.  
4.414.   We were therefore more than pleased when the U .S. finally, this year, was willing to engage 
on dispute settlement. These discussions now need to focus on the most important issues, in a 
setting under the auspices of the DSB, with the objectiv e to find a solution by 2024. A 
well-functioning 2 -tier DS system is beneficial for all Members. If the agreements on which it rules 
are found lacking, this needs to be addressed through negotiations.  
4.415.   We appreciate the engagement of the United  States on th e important issue of disciplines for 
fisheries subsidies and the important role you played at MC12. We welcome the US participation in 
the Trade and Environment Structured Discussions (TESSD) and engagement on important issues 
regarding trade, climate and environment. We are also pleased to work with the U .S. in the electronic 
commerce discussions.  
4.416.   Norway shares the U nited States'  view that trade is an indispensable tool in addressing the 
climate crisis. We are pleased to see that the U .S. takes an active part in plurilateral and multilateral 
processes, including in the WTO, and TESSD and the OECD, to ensure green growth and sustainable 
development.  
4.417.   Both Norway and the U .S. have set bold climate targets and have industries ready and able 
to become leaders in the green transition. The U .S. has just adopted ambitious clean energy policies WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  at an historic level through the Inflation Reduction Act. Our interests are clearly aligned in several 
areas; offshore wind, zero emission transportation, batteries, and min erals, to name just a few.  
4.418.   International trade and cooperation allow for the best ideas, technologies, and solutions to 
be shared across the world. Policies that support the energy transition should work towards reducing 
barriers to trade and strengthenin g the transition to a low -carbon economy. By building sustainable 
and resilient supply chains together we are best positioned to solve the climate issues in the most 
efficient way.  Therefore, we have concerns about the distortive and discriminatory domesti c content 
and production requirements in the IRA.  
4.419.   We urge the U .S. to implement these in line with its WTO obligations. We are deeply 
concerned about the damaging effects of increased protectionism, unilateral measures, and 
escalating trade tensions. Such  measures threaten to undermine the rules -based multilateral trading 
system anchored in the WTO, and most importantly threaten to undermine global economic growth 
and economic stability. The dispute settlement panel has recently ruled that the U nited States' 
additional tariffs on steel and aluminium  are inconsistent with the U nited States'  WTO obligations. 
We urge the U .S. to remove these tariffs.  
4.420.   A final bilateral point , Norway and the U.S. enjoy a close relationship in seafood trade, and 
we both have a common responsibility for ensuring sustainable management of marine resources. 
It is our understanding that the U.S. is considering expanding the scope of the Seafood Impo rt 
Monitoring Program (SIMP). SIMP is a risk -based traceability program me with report requirements 
for imports of seafood species groups to prevent seafood from illegal, unreported, and unregulated 
fisheries from entering the U.S. market. However, if SIMP is intended to be a risk -based, an eventual 
process of expanding the scope of the program me should also be used to remove from the 
traceability program me species that do not represent such risks, such as Atlantic cod.  
4.421.   In times of turbulence upholding the multilateral system is more important than ever. We 
wish the U .S. a successful Trade Policy Review , and we look forward to working closely with the U .S. 
in "making the WTO great again ". 
HONDURAS  
4.422.   On behalf of the State of Honduras, we welcome and congratula te the United  States 
authorities on the occasion of their fifteenth  Trade Policy Review and extend warm greetings to the 
entire team, led by their Head of Delegation, our colleague and friend H.E.  María  Pagán, Deputy 
United  States Trade Representative and Head of Mission in Geneva, and thank them for their 
statement and Report.  
4.423.   We extend our thanks to you, Chair, for your leadership and guidance; to the discussant 
Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer for her valuable contribution; and to the Secretariat for the qualit y of 
its analysis.  
4.424.   The strong relationship that has existed for decades between the United  States and Honduras 
is at a historically important moment. This has led to stronger ties economically, politically, and in 
trade, education, cooperation , and other a reas. 
4.425.   Our country considers the United  States to be a friend, an extremely important ally with 
which we have held meaningful strategic dialogues that are driving forward joint priorities in areas 
such as economic recovery, good governance promotion, reinforcement of human rights protections, 
diversification of agricultural production, improvement of food security and environmental 
protection.  
4.426.   Currently, the United  States is our main trading partner. In 2022, we exported more than 
USD 1.6 billion and imported around USD  3.9 billion, giving us a negative trade balance of 
USD 2.3 billion.  
4.427.   The United  States received 32.6% of our exports, notably bananas, coffee, and precious 
metals, and we imported 33.8% from the United  States, particularly fuels, soyabean meal and corn. 
As to the origin of imported fuels, the United  States is the main supplier of refined petroleum 
products, with a share of 75.5%.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.428.   In 2021, the amount of U.S. foreign direct investment in Honduras was around 
USD 120 billion and more than 200  U.S. companies are currently operating in Honduras.  
4.429.   Within the framework of our trade relationship, which is governed by the 
Dominican  Republic -Central America -United  States  Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA -DR), we have 
collaborated on issues relating to the implementation and administration of the Agreement in order 
to facilitate trade and enhance opportunities for small and medium -sized enterprises; we have also 
addressed trade -related labour and environmental issues and strengthen implementation of the 
Agreement.  
4.430.   Furthermore, in terms of cooperation, we must note that, since 1961, the United  States 
Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided more than USD  3 billion in economic 
assistance to Honduras. The U.S. has devel oped plans to help Honduras overcome the social and 
economic effects of the COVID -19 pandemic through the continued provision of vaccines and medical 
equipment, including specific efforts to get students back into the classroom. There are also various 
projects to further the country's socio -economic development.  
4.431.   As to the Reports under consideration, we note that the U.S. maintains one of the most open 
trade regimes in the world and further note that a new target for net greenhouse gas emissions 
across the entire U.S. economy was announced in April 2021, with emissions to be reduced by 50% 
to 52% from 2005 levels by 2030, and the intention is to reach net zero emissions no later 
than 2050.  
4.432.   As regards competition policy, we note the "whole -of-government" appr oach to fostering 
competition in U.S. markets and to vigorously enforcing antitrust laws.  
4.433.   The review reports also make clear that the United  States is one of the main producers and 
exporters of goods and services that incorporate intellectual property, whi ch, according to estimates, 
is present in some 60% of its goods exports, and IP -intensive industries account for over one third 
of its GDP.  
4.434.   In other areas, we note efforts to bridge the digital divide in services, through the 
establishment of the Committee  for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United  States 
Telecommunications Services Sector, and a growing interest among policymakers in the security 
and protection of telecommunications infrastructure.  
4.435.   According to the OECD, the fixed -broadband  penetration in the United  States has 
consistently remained above the OECD average rate.  
4.436.   Our country, like the United  States, is and will remain committed to upholding a fair and 
open multilateral trading system that honours the commitment to maintain econ omic relations that 
will raise living standards, ensure full employment , and promote sustainable development.  
4.437.   Lastly, Honduras congratulates the United  States on its notable and significant achievements 
during the review period and for its active participa tion, and, as always, wishes it every success.  
INDIA  
4.438.   It is a great pleasure to be part of the 15th Trade Policy Review of the United  States today. 
At the outset, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of the United  States led 
by H.E.  Ambassador María  Luisa Pagán, Deputy U.S.  Trade Representative and Chief of Mission 
Geneva. My delegation would like to commend the Government of the United  States and the WTO 
Secretariat for their comprehensive Reports. I would also like to thank the disc ussant, 
H.E. Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer  (Jamaica) for her insightful remarks.  
4.439.   India and the United  States enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership, covering 
almost all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of  interest s 
on a range of issues and vibrant people -to-people contacts . Regular exchanges at the leadership 
level have been an integral element of expanding these bilateral engagements , including the last 
one at the recently concluded G20 Summit in Bali . WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.440.   India-US cooperation has witnessed intense engagement under various  bilateral dialog ue 
mechanism in a wide range of areas, including defence, security, health, trade, economic, science  
and technology,  energy , and people -to-people ties . During the COVID -19 pa ndemic , both sides 
worked together to strengthen supply chain of essential items such as medicines , exchange best 
practices on COVID -19 management , and expand cooperation on development of therapeutic s and 
vaccines to counter  COVID -19. 
4.441.   The rapidly expanding trade and commercial linkages form an important component of the 
multifaceted partnership between India and the United  States.  The United  States is India's largest 
trading partner in goods and services . India-US trade has been on a constant upwar d trajectory  over 
the last few years . The bilateral trade in goods and services reached  USD 159 billion  during 2021 . 
The U.S. was also the second largest source of foreign direct investment into India with in flows of 
USD 13.82  billion in 2021 .The U .S. is also one of the top five investment destination s for Indian F DI. 
4.442.   We are pleased to note from the Secretariat's Report that  the economy of the United  States 
experienced a rapid rebound in 2021, registering a real GDP growth rate of 5.7% after the setback  
it received  in 2020  due to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.443.   We also note that during the review period a number of significant changes to the U .S. 
investment  regime has been effected . The US has also pursued new ways to modernize its custom s 
procedures, including s everal pilot projects to facilitate movement  of trade. 
4.444.    We also note that the tariffs on agricultural products  still remain more than double the 
average for non-agricultural products . The United  States continues to enjoy high  AMS entitlements  
with non product -specific caps and high -developed per capita domestic support, non-ad valorem  
specific tariff system , and highest entitlement of SSG . The agricultural subsid ies per farmers , per 
annum  is much higher as compared to that in developing countries.  We lo ok forward to engaging 
with the delegation of the US on how to address these issues as part of the wider discussion on 
agriculture reforms . 
4.445.   We also note that , the United  States continues to be an active user of  anti-dumping duties, 
and between 2018 and 202 1, 178  investigations were initiated.  
4.446.   We have raised a number of questions for th is TPR  and we look forward to reviewing the 
responses provided by the United  States .  
4.447.   While we continue to work closely at the Government and business level, we would also like 
to highlight maybe a couple of concerns , on the trade side,  which are undermining the vast potential 
for our trade and investment relations . 
4.448.   Number one, India is one of the largest exporters of shrimp  to the United  States , the U.S. 
FDA testing requirements and other measures place considerable burden on our exporters , the ban 
on wild caught  shrimp has significantly impacted our  exporters . 
4.449.   We have also regularly highlighted the issues affecting the export of Indian agricultural 
produ cts due to onerous requirements , testing and complex SPS requirements.  We hope that the 
U.S. will continue to  work with its partners on bilateral market access issues for mutual benefit.  
4.450.   Finally, I wish to state that India attaches special importance to its deep and diverse 
relationship with the U nited States, which both sides define as an enduring partnership in 
the 21st century . We wish the delegation of the United  States and successful TPR.  
TÜRKIYE  
4.451.   We welcome the delegation of the United  States headed by Ambassador Mar ía L. Pagán, 
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief of Mission in Geneva.  
4.452.   We thank the Secretariat and the Government of the United  States for their Reports as well 
as discussant Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer of Jamaica for h er invaluable remarks.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.453.   The United  States is one of the main architects and driving forces of the multilateral trading 
system.  
4.454.   In the Government Report, it is stated that the United  States is committed to the WTO and 
recognizes trade as a key pillar to rais e standards of living and promote fair competition and 
sustainable development.  
4.455.   As the largest economy and importer of the world and one of the most open trade regimes, 
it is only natural that membership has high expectations of the United  States. That is why the role 
and leadership of the United  States is critical to preserve and further advance international trade.  
4.456.   Therefore, economic and trade cooperation is one of the main driving forces of our bilateral 
positive agenda.  
4.457.   Last year, our trade volume reac hed a record level – almost USD 30 billion.  
4.458.   We expect our bilateral trade to break a new record this year. We believe that the 
USD 100 billion bilateral trade target is achievable.  
4.459.   Investment flows are also increasing in both directions.  
4.460.   During the pandemic, Türkiye has emerged as a reliable and significant partner in global 
supply chains and demonstrated that it can be a safe and sustainable hub for U.S. businesses.  
4.461.   We believe that we have extensive potential for cooperation in the energ y sector and food 
security. We are committed to speed up our joint efforts to further increase our bilateral trade and 
investments.  
4.462.   The GSP program me of the United  States is worth mentioning in this context due to the role 
it plays in advancing the economy  of beneficiary developing countries. Among others, the GSP also 
provides an opportunity for SMEs, which are at the core of economic activities in these countries, to 
compete in the U .S. market.  
4.463.   In this context, we believe that during the next renewal of t he authorization in granting GSP 
benefits, U .S. will make available identical treatment to all similarly situated beneficiary countries.  
4.464.   We have no doubt that maintaining Türkiye in the GSP program me will lead to mutually 
beneficial results for both countr ies' economic interests.  
4.465.   We are also observing that the U .S. is an active user of trade remedies and invite them to 
exercise caution in initiating and maintaining anti -dumping and countervailing duties especially for 
those that are in force for more than d ecades.  
4.466.   Türkiye firmly believes that the smooth operation of the multilateral trading system requires 
avoidance of the implementation of unilateral protective trade practices by WTO Members.  
4.467.   In this regard, we consider that the additional duties imposed by  the United  States with 
respect to importation of aluminium and steel products constitute a clear violation of the WTO 
obligations of this country.  
4.468.   Accordingly, the WTO Panel authorized to resolve the DS564 Dispute,  which was filed by 
Türkiye, has decided that the additional duties imposed by the United  States are inconsistent with 
the WTO Law.  
4.469.   Without going into details, let us also note that the Panel also decided that exemptions from 
the duties granted to steel and aluminium products from certain countri es were inconsistent with 
the requirement of most -favoured -nation treatment under Article  I:1 of the GATT  1994. WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.470.   As the inconsistency of measures taken by the United  States has been evidently confirmed 
by WTO Panels, Türkiye expects that the additional duti es at issue will soon be abolished without 
further undermining the well -functioning of the multilateral trading system.  
4.471.   However, official statements made by the United  States following the circulation of Panel 
Report has raised concerns with respect to the  implementation of the Panel 's recommendation by 
the United  States.  
4.472.   Furthermore, mentioning the intention of not to implement the decision and criticizing the 
dispute settlement mechanism create doubts in terms of commitment to the multilateral trading 
system in general and the dispute settlement mechanism in particular.  
4.473.   This issue has once again caused confusion among WTO Members with regard to functioning 
of the dispute settlement mechanism along with its main constituents.  
4.474.   Türkiye considers that this systemic and structural approach may have impact and may 
eventually undermine trust in the multilateral trading system.  
4.475.   Making Appellate  Body up and running again with its two -tier and binding character is our 
priority in the WTO reform process. We recognize the importance of informal discussions initiated 
by the United  States  and hope that they will prepare the ground for a solution as early as possible.  
4.476.   We believe that free, open and fair multilateral trade is a significant component of 
internation al cooperation and prosperity.  
4.477.   It is with this belief that we would like to have a brief comment on the Inflation Reduction 
Act. It goes without saying that combatting the climate crisis is a goal that Türkiye shares with the 
United  States. That said, we b elieve the trade tools we utilize to achieve this objective should be 
very carefully designed to be in line with the WTO rules and principles, and not to distort trade.  
4.478.   Moving on, we would like to enhance our cooperation on concrete areas where our interes ts 
converge and resolve our differences in a constructive and forward -looking manner.  
4.479.   In conclusion, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Pagan and her 
able team for the preparation for this review, as well as their contributions to W TO activities.  
4.480.   We wish the United  States a successful Trade Policy Review . 
ICELAND  
4.481.   Iceland welcomes the delegation of the United  States, led by Ambassador Pag án, to this 
Trade Policy Review today. We express appreciation to the WTO Secretariat and the U .S. for the 
reports prepared, as well as to the discussant, Ambassador Spencer, for the excellent framing of the 
issues for our discussion today.  
4.482.   Iceland and the U .S. enjoy a long and prosperous bilateral relation and share common values 
and interests in man y fields ranging from security and defence to human rights and the respect for 
the international rule -based order.  
4.483.   In terms of bilateral trade in goods and services, the U .S. is by far our most important trading 
partner outside of Europe. As with all close  partners there is the occasional friction and disagreement, 
and Iceland has submitted few questions in that regard. We look forward to reviewing the answers, 
but I will mention few in my intervention.  
4.484.   Iceland appreciates the firm commitment of the U .S. to the multilateral trading system and 
efforts to engage actively towards a solution where needed such as with the current dispute 
settlement process led by the U nited States. Given the importance of a well -functioning dispute 
settlement system to the multil ateral trading system and acknowledging that reform takes time, 
Iceland encourages the U .S. to consider in the meantime to join others in supporting the proposal 
on the Appellate  Body appointments.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.485.   Iceland is concerned over unilateral import restrictions s temming from the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act. While acknowledging the U .S. goal of protecting marine mammals from being harmed 
or killed by fisheries activities we both believe the that the provisions are substantially too 
far-reaching and that rules in  this regard should be the responsibility of the international system, be 
it here at the WTO or at the regional level.  
4.486.   Iceland shares the concerns of many others over the impact of certain provisions of the new 
Inflation Reduction Act. We are in particular concerned that tax credits for electric cars made in the 
U.S. will distort competition, upset supply chains and be incompatible with WTO rules.  
4.487.   Finally, as one of the Co -Chairs of the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, Iceland 
welcomes the active participation of the United  States in the working group and the firm commitment 
of the U .S. to economic empowerment of women.  
4.488.   In the spirit of supporting relevant data gathering in this field, Iceland always submits in 
advance written questions on particip ation of women in the economy of Member States in relations 
with their TPR. We welcome the replies from the U .S. as the answers will contribute to our work in 
gathering best practices in the promotion of gender -equality within trade.  
4.489.   Iceland appreciates Un ited States active engagement in WTO and their continued support 
for the multilateral trading system. We wish the delegation of the U .S. every success for their Trade 
Policy Review.  
KAZAKHSTAN  
4.490.   Kazakhstan warmly welcomes the delegation of the United  States,  led by Ambassador 
María  Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief of Mission in Geneva. We express our 
gratitude to the Government of the United  States for the informative Report and statement. We also 
thank Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer (Jamaica) for her insightful remarks as a discussant, and the 
WTO Secretariat for its comprehensive Report.  
4.491.   Kazakhstan enjoys strong bilateral cooperation with the United  States and attaches high 
importance to further deepening economic and trade relations. In Janua ry-October 2022, the 
bilateral merchandise trade between Kazakhstan and the United  States increased by 30%, despite 
the uncertainties in the global trading environment and constituted USD  2.3 billion.  
4.492.   Aside from trade, the United  States is the second large st investor in the economy of 
Kazakhstan, U.S. companies invested almost USD  60 billion into Kazakhstan's economy during the 
past 30  years. More than 560  enterprises with U.S. capital successfully operate in Kazakhstan, 
contributing to sustainable economic  growth of my country, including leading companies such as 
Chevron, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, JP Morgan Chase, City Bank, among others.  
4.493.   During the visit of President  Tokayev to the United  States, 3  months ago, 7  new bilateral 
projects and agreements were signed. The agreements reached on the joint implementation of 
investment projects, including localization of production of medical equipment and vaccines, transfer 
of technologies, electricity generation, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions using th e latest 
technologies, among others.  
4.494.   I also would like to mention the positive role played by the United  States -Central Asia Trade 
and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which is one of the key vehicles for trade and 
investment facilitation between the  region and the United  States. TIFA activities mostly focused on 
customs administration, investment policy, technical regulations and standards, sanitary measures, 
and government procurement system.  
4.495.   We commend the United  States for its strong and resilien t economic performance despite 
the challenges in the global economy and for implementing an ambitious reform agenda over the 
period under the review. Particularly, we note strong focus on the United  States customs and border 
protection strategy 2025, aimed  at adopting digital and technological innovations to reduce trade 
compliance burden, simplifying trade interactions through its integrated account management and 
billing, improving customer experience across trade interaction and so forth.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.496.   We also welcom e the ongoing comprehensive reforms initiated by the United  States under 
the Rescue Plan 2021 to address economic challenges caused by the COVID -19 pandemic and 
broadly tackling medical supply chains resilience.  
4.497.   From the multilateral trading perspective, w e appreciate the implementation by the U.S. 
Government over a series of trade facilitation measures and pursuing modernization of its customs 
procedures, such as development of a single window, reduction of intellectual property rights 
violations at the bo rder and addressing specific customs related COVID -19 issues.  
4.498.   The United  States has always been a key and invaluable contributor to the WTO as the 
world's largest economy, we believe that the United  States will continue to lead in strengthening the 
rules-based multilateral trading system.  
4.499.   We also would like to acknowledge the challenges and concerns with respect to the Dispute 
Settlement System, including those related to the Appellate  Body, and recognize the importance and 
urgency of addressing those challenges with a view to having a full and well -functioning Dispute 
Settlement System accessible to all Members by 2024. In this regard, we welcome the U.S. initiative 
to convene an informal process on dispute settlement reform.  
4.500.   On the bilateral front, we  would like to take this opportunity to express our strong belief that 
the U.S. Government will renew the GSP with Kazakhstan as part of our strong economic trade 
partnership.  
4.501.   We also would like to support other Members and echo their statements that the protectionist 
import duties applied for steel and aluminium products will be addressed in a constructive manner 
in the near future  
4.502.   For this Review, Kazakhstan has submitted a series of questions covering the policies and 
measures of our interests, includin g trade remedies and intellectual property rights. We are looking 
forward to receiving the United  States responses to our questions and we will study them with great 
interest.  
4.503.   In conclusion, we would like to congratulate the delegation of the United  States  and the WTO 
Secretariat for the hard work and efforts that went into preparation of this TPR. We would also like 
to express our appreciation to Ambassador María  Pagán and her team in Geneva. We wish the 
delegation of the United  States every success for th e 15th Trade Policy Review . 
VIET NAM 
4.504.   On behalf of Viet  Nam's delegation, I wish to extend our warm welcome to the distinguished 
delegation from the United  States led by H .E. Ambassador María  L. Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative and Chief of Mission G eneva, Head of Delegation, to her 15th Trade Policy Review. 
We would like to express our appreciation to the Administration of the United  States and the WTO 
Secretariat for the preparation of comprehensive reports for this Review. We also would like to tha nk 
the discussant, H.E. Ambassador  Cheryl  K. Spencer  of Jamaica for insightful observations and 
introduction.  
4.505.   Viet Nam associates itself with the joint ASEAN statement to be delivered by Cambodia.  
4.506.   This 15th Trade Policy Review of the United  States has, once again, allowed Members to take 
a closer look at the economic, trade, and investment policies of the world's single largest trader, and 
a key Member of the WTO.  
4.507.   We are encouraged to learn that despite the impact of the C OVID -19 that cause the U.S. 
real GDP to decline 3.4% in 2020, it increased 5.7% in 2021 and forecasted to be 1.4% for 2022. 
The strong economic recovery has been primarily driven by increases in consumption and 
investment.  
4.508.   Viet Nam welcomes the United  States' contributions to advancing t he rules -based 
multilateral trading system, including the success of MC12 and its efforts to contribute to WTO WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  reforms in all three pillars. Viet  Nam commends the U .S. for her active leadership and engagement 
in many areas of the WTO, including TFA impleme ntation.  
4.509.   Bilateral trade between Viet  Nam and the United  States continues to witness impressive 
growth. The U .S. remains one of the top trading partners of, and one of the top investors in our 
country. Last year, despite being heavily impacted by the C OVID-19 pandemic and supply chain 
disruptions, imports and exports between the two countries still reached USD 111.5  billion, an 
increase of nearly USD 21 billion compared to 2020, by this, the United  States is the second trading 
partner of Viet  Nam to reach the USD 100 billion mark. With regard to investment, the United  States 
is among the top 10 foreign investors in Viet  Nam with total accumulated capital of USD 11 billion. 
In addition, Viet  Nam welcomes the positive progress that the two sides have made rec ently in 
resolving bilateral trade disputes on some products such as timber, catfish and honey. These positive 
results would be the basis for further promoting the Viet  Nam – U.S. trade relationship more 
sustainably. Based on both sides ' relationship, we a re confident that our two countries will continue 
to promote extensive and deeper cooperation, not only in bilateral economic and trade relations but 
also in many fields.  
4.510.   Before this review, we have sent a list of questions to the U.S. for better understan ding of 
its regulations and we are looking forward to receiving the responses in due course.  
4.511.   In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank H .E. Ambassador María  L. Pagán, 
Mr David  Bisbee , Deputy Permanent Representative and their team at the Mission for the preparation 
of this review as well as their active contribution and engagement in WTO activities. I wish the 
United  States a successful Trade Policy Review.  
INDONESIA  
4.512.   At the outset, Ind onesia fully associates itself with the statement delivered by  Cambodia on 
behalf of ASEAN.  
4.513.   Indonesia joins other WTO Members in welcoming Ambassador María  Pagán,  Deputy U.S. 
Trade Representative and Chief of Mission Geneva, and the members  of the delegati on from the 
United  States. We are pleased to participate in the  15th Trade Policy Review of the United  States and 
thank the United  States  Government for its comprehensive Report and statement. I would also like 
to thank the discussant Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer from Jamaica, as well as the  TPRB Chair, 
Ambassador Ángel  Villalobos of Mexico and the Secretariat for their  insightful Reports and 
perspectives.  
4.514.   Indonesia acknowledges and highly appreciates the historical contribution of the  
United  States in upho lding and strengthening the multilateral trading system  since the founding of 
the GATT. In this context, Indonesia shares the view of the  Secretariat that the United  States has 
played a key role in the operation of the  WTO, participating in all of its functions, such as committee 
work, negotiations,  and disputes, including the United  States initiative to discuss WTO dispute  
settlement system reform through informal meetings.  
4.515.   The United  States has the world's largest economy and is deeply integrated into  global 
markets. In addition, the United  States ranks first in services trade and  second in merchandise trade.  
4.516.   Indonesia is interested in the direction of the United  States' trade and partnership  policies, 
which the U .S. Administration put in place its "Bu ild Back Better" agenda in  2021, including placing 
workers at the centre  of trade policy, promoting a  sustainable environment and climate path, and 
addressing major trading  partners' economic trade practices through a comprehensive strategy.  
4.517.   The United  States is Indonesia's main bilateral trade partner. Historically it has been the 
second destination for exports of Indonesian goods to the world, as well  as the top five supplier of 
imports to Indonesia. Bilateral trade between our two  countries has been vibr ant and on the rise 
over the past five  years, with a  trending rate of 10.63%. We are committed to further expanding 
trade through  our Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.  
4.518.   Taking this opportunity, I would like to reiterate a few points that we look for ward to 
receiving the United  States ' productive and positive responses.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.519.   First, with regard to the implementation of new measures prohibiting and  restricting 
32 categories of goods, Indonesia encourages the United  States to  ensure that the measures are 
consistent with the provisions of GATT Article  XI:I concerning Quantitative Restrictions, especially 
bearing in mind that these  measures can change at any time.  
4.520.   In terms of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the U .S. Government has  
approved the extension of facilities for Indonesia in November  2020. Two years  after the decision, 
Congress has yet to authorize the extension. In this regard,  Indonesia requests clarification from 
the U .S. regarding the main reasons for the  delay.  
4.521.   Furthermore, in rela tion to our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated  3 October  2014, 
we would like to reaffirm the United  States' commitment to  intensify negotiations through an action 
plan on IPR to achieve improved  protection and enforcement of IPR rights in Indonesia in  order to 
support  Indonesia's exclusion from the Priority Watch List/Watch List in Special 301  Reports.  
4.522.   Finally, as I mentioned previously, Indonesia appreciates the informal meeting in  Geneva to 
discuss the WTO dispute settlement system reform initiated b y the United  States. We are expecting 
that the outcome of these discussion will lead to  the restoration of the two -tier dispute settlement 
system, with the functioning of  the Appellate  Body. Through this initiative, Indonesia reiterates its 
commitment  to work with the United  States and all Members to engage constructively to find a  
permanent solution, in order to have a well -functioning WTO dispute settlement  system.  
4.523.   Indonesia has also submitted questions on import policies, anti -dumping,  countervailing, and 
safeguard measures, as well as the telecommunications  sector. Indonesia expects clarification and 
response from the U .S. Government  regarding these matters.  
4.524.   Indonesia would like to once again highlight the United  States efforts to  contribute to a more 
open, transparent, and efficient overall trading  environment. Let me conclude by expressing my 
appreciation once again to the  U.S. delegation for its hard work and wishing the delegation a 
successful TPR.  
ECUADOR  
4.525.   I thank Ambassador Mar ía Pagán, Deputy U .S. Trade Representative and Head of the 
American  Mission to the WTO, for her presentation. My appreciation goes also to Ambassador 
Cheryl  Spencer, discussant of this periodic Review, for her relevant comments. Let me also greet 
the United States delegation that has joined us in the room, both those delegates from Washington 
and those who are part of the Permanent Mission.  
4.526.   We have taken note of the Report prepared for this exercise by the United  States, as well as 
the analysis prepared by the WTO Secretariat. I would like to add a few comments to the questions 
my country has put to the U.S. delegation in writing.  
4.527.   Ecuador shares with the  United  States and other WTO Members the need to strengthen the 
multilateral trading system. The equation which says that increasing, barrier -free trade among all 
States, especially the countries with the smallest share of global trade, benefits us all still holds true.  
4.528.   We trust that the United  States , as a founding country of our Organization and its 
predeces sor, GATT, will continue to show its leadership in the future in pursuit of our common goals 
in the current world situation.  
4.529.   These intentions were reaffirmed at the last Ministerial Conference. I cite here some that are 
especially relevant to Ecuador: (1)  to advance the agriculture negotiations in a comprehensive and 
ultimately effective manner; (2)  to foster food security and the continuous provision of goods and 
services in order to continue to deal with the pandemic, especially in the developing world; ( 3) to 
contribute to the advancement of the trade and environment agenda, which is more necessary than 
ever in this second decade of the 21st century, especially with regard to specific challenges, such as 
the ongoing work on fisheries subsidies and efforts  to tackle plastic pollution from a trade 
perspective. The U.S. contribution will continue to be welcome and necessary to further these 
common goals.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.530.   Strengthening our global trading system requires a more efficient, more functional WTO. It 
is imperative t hat we all work for a WTO reform that meets the interests and expectations of all 
Members, both major economic actors such as the United  States and countries with a smaller share 
of world trade, especially developing countries.  
4.531.   A crucial part of that reform is undoubtedly the prompt re -establishment of the whole trade 
dispute settlement pillar. We appreciate the efforts of the United  States to promote an informal 
discussion that has allowed many points of view to be expressed. We hope that these and ot her 
elements will lead to the adoption of formal decisions that will consolidate the mechanism, with its 
two bodies active and functioning.  
4.532.   The United  States is Ecuador's main trading partner. My country trusts in further 
strengthening our bilateral relati onship under WTO rules and the instruments agreed between our 
two countries, including the 2020 Protocol on Trade Rules and Transparency. We hope that this 
instrument, and any additional instruments that may supplement it, will serve to cement a mutually 
beneficial trade relationship that reflects the excellent state of our extensive bilateral relations.  
4.533.   Bilateral trade ties could be further strengthened by restoring the Generalized System of 
Preferences. We add our voice to that of other countries that con sider the GSP mechanism, though 
voluntary and dependent on the decision of Congress, to be an important factor in promoting access 
to the U.S. market for products from developing countries, especially under new product lines, that 
multiply the exportable s upply and jobs, often for the benefit of vulnerable populations.  
4.534.   At the regional level, Ecuador welcomes the launch of the Americas Partnership for Economic 
Prosperity, presented by President  Biden at the Summit of the Americas in Los  Angeles last June. 
We consider the ambitious goals to be very timely, as the nations in our hemisphere are struggling 
to overcome the negative impact of COVID -19 on their economies.  
4.535.   We trust that the same spirit of cooperation will govern the dialogue between the 
United  States  and its trading partners in other regions of the world on the impact of its anti -inflation 
policies on other States. Unintended consequences can affect developing nations or global objectives 
such as the fight against climate change or the global transiti on to clean energy.  
4.536.   Lastly, my country is watching with interest and high expectations the adoption of the 
Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, adopted during the recent Summit in Los  Angeles. 
Among the various lines of cooperation, we note with i nterest those pertaining to trade promotion 
in a region which, overall, produces 30% of global GDP and has relations both with the Atlantic and 
with the Pacific Basin.  
4.537.   I concur with the other delegations that anticipate a successful conclusion to The Trade  Policy 
Review of the United  States. This is an opportunity, moreover, to initiate or consolidate the dialogue 
on possible disagreements. In an increasingly fragmented world that shows a worrying trend towards 
polarization, the virtues of dialogue and coop eration must be harnessed with political will and a 
pragmatic approach.  
MAURITIUS  
4.538.   Mauritius would like to warmly welcome the delegation from the United  States of America, 
led by Ambassador María  Pagán.  
4.539.   We thank the Secretariat and the U.S. Government for t heir Reports, and also thank 
Ambassador Spencer for her insightful remarks on the Reports.  
4.540.   The United  States remains the largest economy in the world and in the top tier of 
international trade representing 8.1% global merchandise export and 13.5 % of globa l merchandise 
trade. It is also the leading exporter and importer of services with impressive annual growth rates 
in the sector.  
4.541.   We note that despite the pandemic, the U.S. tariff regime remained about the same as 
in 2018 at overall average rate of 4.8% an d we welcome this effort.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.542.   We take good note of the implementation of President Biden 's Build Back Better 
comprehensive agenda, including the American Rescue Plan. We note that the United  States growth 
slowed over the last two years. We are, however, confid ent that the plan to help strengthen the U .S. 
economy, boost manufacturing, innovation and competitiveness will restore growth rates to higher 
levels.  
4.543.   The U .S. growth has always been premised on its international trade resilience and the 
Mauritius delegati on would like to acknowledge the efforts of the U nited States  to broaden growth 
perspectives through international trade. In this regard, we welcome the engagement of the 
United States towards preserving an open, rules -based multilateral trading system, wi th the WTO at 
its core.  
4.544.   In these difficult times marked by the COVID -19 pandemic and geopolitical instability there 
is a need for big players to act as torchbearers to reinforce the trading system and deliver on the 
Sustainable Development Goals.  
4.545.   As we start preparing for the 13th Ministerial Conference, we look to U .S. leadership and its 
contribution to finding the balance between the needs of the developing countries, especially the 
more vulnerable ones, and the developed countries. Reform of the WTO s hould be premised on an 
outcome that benefits all Members.  
4.546.   The developmental priorities of LDCs and developing countries must remain key in our 
discussions including Special and Differential Treatment. We seek a timely delivery on the issue of 
therapeutics  and diagnostics for the real benefits that they will bring and for preserving the credibility 
of the multilateral trade system . 
4.547.   We welcome the U nited States'  recent initiatives aimed at restoring the functionality of the 
dispute settlement system which would anchor stability in the multilateral trade system.  
4.548.   At the same time, we must also seize the opportunity of MC13 to address the existing 
imbalances in the system, including the excessive use of subsidies, especially in agriculture. The 
Fisheries Subsidies Agreement will remain incomplete as long as we do not deal with overcapacity 
and overfishing and special and differential treatment, and we look forward to  engaging with the 
U.S. and other Members on this.  
4.549.   We are, indeed, pleased that trade is a centrepiece of the U .S.-Africa Leaders Summit being 
held in Washington  DC as we speak.  
4.550.   We recall U .S. Vice President Kamala  Harris who, when announcing the Summit sa id: "Our 
administration 's goal is to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development 
across the continent, to expand capital flows, and to promote the vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship 
and innovation that is so prevalent across Africa ". 
4.551.   Indeed, the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), in operation since 1  January  2021, 
represents a market of 1.3  billion people with a GDP of USD 3.4 trillion. It is a market which 
ambitions to move beyond basic commodity exports and imports to the manufacturing of high -value 
goods and industriali zation including digital industriali zation.  
4.552.   We thus hope to see under the AGOA a revitalized Africa -U.S. relationship which,  
• firstly, bolsters African economic development through two -way trade and inves tments in 
countries across the African continent;  
• secondly, supports the African drive for successful implementation of the AfCFTA; and  
• thirdly, cataly zes U.S.-Africa public -private partnerships, particularly in building, good and 
reliable hard and soft infrastructure which is a prerequisite for connectivity and enhancing 
the free movement of goods and services across Africa 's borders.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.553.   With the above in mind, we commend the U.S . for looking at sub -Saharan Africa from a 
broader perspective and to seek new ways, beyond AGOA tariff preferences, to expand Africa -U.S. 
economic relations.  
4.554.   As an AGOA beneficiary country, Mauritius looks forward to in depth discussions with the 
U.S. with a view to securing a long -term extension of AGOA which would provide predicta bility to 
the trading relationship between the U.S . and Africa.  
4.555.   Importantly for Mauritius, taking into account the fact that AGOA involves non -reciprocal 
preferences and that some countries risk graduation due to the high -income per capita status, we 
strongly encourage that a solution be found to avoid trade disruption in these countries.  
4.556.   In conclusion let me say that Mauritius highly values its bilateral relationship with the U .S. 
and looks forward to working closely with the U.S . and other Member States in reinforcing the 
multilateral trading system that serves everyone.  
4.557.   I take this opportunity to commend the tireless efforts and the proactive approach of 
Ambassador Mar ía Pagán and her team as we work with them constructively in finding common 
landing ground on various issues of interest.  
4.558.   We wish the U.S. a very successful Trade Policy Review . 
SRI LANKA  
4.559.   Sri Lanka delegation welcomes the delegation of the U nited States led by Amb assador 
María  Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief of US Mission to the WTO in Geneva. We 
thank the WTO Secretariat and the Government of the U nited States , for their comprehensive 
Reports, and appreciate Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer of Jamaica o n her insightful analysis as the 
discussant.  
4.560.   We appreciate active participation of the delegation of United  States in regular activities of 
the WTO, and negotiations on new trade -related topics, and placing its great importance to the 
smooth functioning o f a rules -based multilateral trading system. Moreover, the United  State is a 
party to regional and bilateral trade agreements with its trading partners, within and outside the 
region.  
4.561.   We noted the U.S. Administration placed "Build Back Better" agenda in it s core focus in 2021, 
which includes several steps to tackle different aspects of the economy, such as, COVID -19 
pandemic, placement of workers in its trade policy, promoting a sustainable environment and climate 
path, maintaining equitable economic growth , and maintaining a comprehensive strategy to address 
main trading partners' economic trade practices.  
4.562.   It is notable during the review period; the U.S. investment regime underwent several 
significant changes on national security grounds, and the U.S. Custo ms and Border Protection 
pursued new ways to modernize its customs procedures to facilitate legitimate trade.  
4.563.   The United  States  has taken several steps to develop technical regulations to ensure, that 
imported goods are treated no less favourably  than like  domestic products, and the U nited States  
had made several amendments to its IP legislation.  
4.564.   Also, we noted a considerable number of ad hoc support has been given to agricultural 
producers during the review period, and the U nited States  maintains verification or monitoring 
programs that require additional procedures upon importation of seafood.  
4.565.   When we consider the bilateral trade relations between Sri  Lanka and the United  States, 
Sri Lanka 's export to the U .S. has gradually increased du ring last five years, except in 2020, while 
Sri Lanka 's imports from the U .S. shows a declining trend after 2017.  
4.566.   It is with great appreciation we point out that the U nited States  remains the number one 
export destination of Sri  Lanka. Sri  Lanka 's total e xports to the U .S. market has recorded a 23% 
growth in 2021, compared to 2020. Sri  Lanka 's exports of apparel, rubber -based products, WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  machinery components, activated carbon, precious and semiprecious stones, tea, etc., have 
increased substantially to the U nited States  in 2021. The U .S. has become the dominant export 
market for apparel products from Sri  Lanka over many years. The U nited States  was the sixth main 
import partner of Sri  Lanka in 2021.  
4.567.   The U.S. GSP scheme provides tariff concessions for Sri  Lankan exports, and Sri  Lanka 's 
exports to the U.S. market has increased by 16% in 2021, compared to 2020 under the GSP scheme.  
4.568.   In terms of growing demand patterns in the U.S. market, and considering sustainable supply 
capacities of Sri  Lanka, we have identifi ed products, such as, rubber gloves, babies ' garments, black 
tea, precious and semi-precious stones, cinnamon and pepper, tuna fish, coconut oil, desiccated 
coconut, bicycles and tricycles, food preparations, which can be further promoted in the U .S. marke t. 
4.569.   The U .S.-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), signed in 2002 in 
Washington  D.C. The TIFA Joint Council meetings provide a forum for a trade policy dialogue, 
spanning across a wide range of areas of mutual interest such as market access, investment, IP 
rights, capacity -building, technical cooperation, labour relations and livelihood improvement. 
The 13th Session of the Joint Council meeting was held in 2019 in Colombo.  
4.570.   During that session, the US side expressed its willingn ess to offer cooperation in several 
areas, including improvement of Sri  Lanka 's ranking in the "Ease of Doing Business Index "; digital 
economy sector development; Sri  Lanka 's compliance with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement; 
economic empowerment of wom en and upgrading and supporting SMEs in selected sectors; 
establishment of a one -stop service centre and enabling environment for MSMEs; technology transfer 
in IP rights and start-ups in technology driven companies.  
4.571.   Sri Lanka received US D 499 million FDI f rom the U nited States  during 2005 -2020 period, 
and the U .S. considers as one of the top markets in terms of arrival of tourists to Sri  Lanka.  
4.572.   With appreciation we would like to reveal that the U .S. Government has provided 
approximately US D 240 million in a ssistance and loans towards Sri  Lanka, during the last five 
months. Additionally, USAID supports Sri  Lanka in several projects. In the context of economic 
growth, USAID promotes inclusive, market -driven growth and resilience to economic shocks and 
stresses . USAID supports Sri  Lanka 's economic recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic, and the 2022 
economic crises, through activities, such as promoting trade and investment, strengthening the 
workforce, and improving the business climate for SMEs.  
4.573.   In early this mo nth, Foreign Minister of Sri  Lanka paid an official visit to Washington D.C. 
and met the U.S . Secretary of State and during those meetings, the U.S. side assured to work with 
Sri Lanka and support towards the economic stability of the country.  
4.574.   Sri Lanka believes that there could be many more potential areas to strengthen the bilateral 
relations between the two countries, and we look forward to exploring those opportunities along with 
our U .S. partners.  
4.575.   In conclusion, my delegation appreciates the Un ited States'  highly valued contribution to the 
multilateral trading system and its active engagement in the negotiations. The dynamic role played 
by Ambassador María  Pagán and her highly able team in Geneva in proactively engaging in ongoing 
activities of WTO, is highly commendable. We sincerely wish the U nited States  a very constructive 
and fruitful exchange of its 15th Trade Policy Review . 
JAMAICA  
4.576.   Jamaica congratulates the United  States on its 15th Trade Policy Review and extends a warm 
welcome to H .E. María Pagán, U .S. Chief of Mission and Head of Delegation, and other senior officials 
in the U .S. delegation. We thank the U .S. team for its thorough country Report.  
4.577.   We also appreciate the efforts made by you Chair, our discussant, and the Secretariat to 
facilitate today 's discussions, the last for 2022.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.578.   We align ourselves with the statement delivered on behalf of CARICOM Member States in 
Geneva.  
4.579.   Jamaica and the U .S. share deep historical ties and common values that have endured since 
the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962. Jamaica has maintained a very close relationship 
with the U .S. over the years that has enabled us to work very closely on several issue s and provide 
important mutual benefits.  
4.580.   We especially value the long -standing  and mutually beneficial bilateral trade relationship 
that has existed since the 1960s. The U .S. remains Jamaica 's main trading partner, accounting for 
just over 40 % of Jamaica 's total merchandise trade. This trade relationship with the U .S. is governed 
by the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which comprises the Caribbean Economic Recovery Act 
(CBERA) of 1984 of indefinite duration, and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) of 
2000, which has been extended through to 2030.  
4.581.   The extension of the CBTPA preferences for another 10  years and the renewal of the WTO 
waiver for the CBERA represents an important affirmation of the commitment of the U .S. to economic 
development  and facilitating the stabilization and economic resilience of the economies in the 
Caribbean region. This is especially critical in the wake of the devastating impact of the COVID -19 
pandemic, which had an adverse impact on external demand for Jamaica 's goods and services as 
reflected in a reduction of merchandise exports from Jamaica to the U .S. market. The continuation 
of the CBERA/CBTPA preferences forms a key part of Jamaica 's post -COVID -19 economic recovery 
strategy.  
4.582.   Jamaica has made use of the CBERA to diversify its exports to the U .S. and has managed to 
develop an export niche in the U .S. market. Our increasing exports of non -traditional products to 
the U .S. is an example of this. While the CBERA continues to generate important benefits for 
Jamaica, particularly in terms of exports to the U .S., it is important to note that the U .S. has 
unrestricted access to the Jamaican market. Jamaica is among the few countries in the world with 
which the U .S. has a positive trade balance.  
4.583.   There has also been an ex pansion of trade and investment flows between Jamaica and the 
US with a significant level of U .S. investment in Jamaica in several areas, including business 
processing outsourcing (BPOs), financial services, transportation, mining, manufacturing, ICT, and 
real estate services.  
4.584.   Several national, regional, and multilateral consultative mechanisms and initiatives, such as 
the Jamaica -U.S. Strategic Dialogue, Growth in the Americas Initiative, exist within which to hold 
discussions on issues of mutual interest in trade and investment and enhance bilateral cooperation 
in a range of areas.  
4.585.   We, nevertheless, recognize that the U .S. has faced s ignificant challenges in maintaining its 
dominance as one of the world 's most influential economies. The COVID -19 pandemic, persistent 
high levels of inflation, as well as current geopolitical realities pose significant threats to its economic 
stability an d growth. We note positively from both reports that although the U nited States'  economy 
was adversely impacted by the pandemic, it is currently experiencing strong recovery. The pandemic 
had stymied its eleven -year growth trajectory. However, the Governmen t's swift implementation of 
several policy measures, contributed to the turnaround of sector losses, and created the enabling 
environment for economic improvements, which will augur well for partner countries.  
4.586.   We are aware that some measures adopted to al leviate the effects of the COVID -19 
pandemic may have resulted in challenges to global supply chains, and the export performance of 
WTO Members, especially developing and least developed countries particularly in services. It is 
good therefore that one of the major outcomes of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), provided 
guidance on how WTO Members should work collectively to respond to future emergencies such the 
pandemic.  
4.587.   We, nonetheless, convey our appreciation to the U .S. Government for its invalua ble support, 
through the supply of critical COVID -19 vaccines and other equipment, to Jamaica 's national 
COVID -19 response.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.588.   Jamaica appreciates the U nited States'  leadership role and determination to uphold the 
rules-based multilateral trading system, thro ugh its active participation in the work of the WTO. We 
note that the US has been actively involved as well as playing a leadership role in, inter alia, the 
discussions on WTO reform; fisheries subsidies; agriculture; and note the indications given by the 
Administration to resolving the impasse faced by the dispute settlement mechanism, especially the 
Appellate  Body. Its thrust to deepen global economic integration beyond the WTO through, inter alia, 
increased bilateral, regional, and inter-regional trade, including under its 14  free trade agreements, 
is worth noting.  
4.589.   We value the support and continued importance that the U .S. attributes to the integration 
of developing and least developed Members into the multilateral trading system, and for engaging 
with them on all issues in the WTO. We commend Ambassador  Pagán, Mr  David  Bisbee , and other 
members of the team for their active engagement. Notably, the U nited States'  delegation 
engagement with developing country groups such as the ACP i n the lead up to MC12 was effective 
in overcoming divergences on various issues such as fisheries subsidies, especially as it concerned 
IUU fishing, the SPS Declaration, WTO reform and WTO 's response to the pandemic. Jamaica stands 
ready to continue its en gagement with the U .S. delegation on issues of mutual interest, as well as 
the implementation of the outcomes of MC12.  
4.590.   Jamaica would like to acknowledge the U nited States'  ongoing support through its various 
trade-related technical and capacity -building in itiatives, tariff preference programs, and the WTO 's 
Aid for trade initiatives. This assistance has enabled Members, especially developing and least 
developed countries, to prepare for negotiations, increase their trade as well as implement the 
provisions of many WTO  Agreement s. The U nited States'  assistance has also been provided to those 
countries seeking to accede to the WTO. These actions are tangible demonstrations of the 
United States'  commitment to ensuring that the multilateral system benefits the w hole Membership 
and should be supported.  
4.591.   In conclusion, Jamaica welcomes all actions taken by the U .S. to enhance international trade. 
We look forward to a constructive exchange of views on all aspects of the United  States'  trade policy 
and wish the deleg ation the utmost success during its 15th Trade Policy Review.  
PARAGUAY  
4.592.   Paraguay would like to extend a cordial welcome to the United  States delegation, especially 
to Ambassador María  L. Pagán, as Head of Delegation. We would also like to thank you for conducting 
this review and Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer of Jamaica for her discussant statement, as well as the 
Secretariat for drafting the comprehensive report.  
4.593.   The partnership between the United  States and Paraguay is based on a long history of 
cooperation, shared principles, common interests, an important bilateral trade relationship, and 
mutual respect between our governments and peoples.  
4.594.   As the Secretariat's Report rightly points out, the period under review was challenging as a 
result of the COVID -19 pandemic. In 2020, after a period of stable economic growth and following 
11 consecutive years of expansion, real GDP contracted by 3.4%. However, the economy bounced 
back rapidly in 2021, thanks to the aid measures adopted by the U.S. Government.  
4.595.   We commend the United  States for introducing various support programmes to respond to 
the pandemic, including the donation of vaccines to net importing countries such as ours. 
The United  States was one of the first to help Paraguay, with a first batch of  1 million coronavirus 
vaccines, which brought temporary relief while global production volume increased.  
4.596.   In the period covered by this review, the United  States remained the seventh largest 
destination market for Paraguay's exports, accounting for 2% of ou r total exports and 7.7% of 
imports, meaning Paraguay runs a trade deficit with the U.S.  
4.597.   Our countries share priorities and interests, including sustainable agriculture and food 
security through sustainable intensification, as well as science and biotechno logy-based agricultural 
policies. Paraguay is a member of the Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security 
and Resource Conservation.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.598.   In this respect, we would like to highlight the progress made in the process for authorizing 
beef export s from Paraguay to the United  States. Paraguay has taken all the necessary steps to 
meet the standards required by the United  States Department of Agriculture to access the U.S. 
market as soon as possible and we hope this will soon become a reality.  
4.599.   We not e that there is still potential to expand trade in agricultural products, processed 
agricultural products and industrial products, including sugar.  
4.600.   For this reason we must express our concern at the redistribution of the USAQ033 sugar 
quota in terms of cou ntry allocations. Sugar is of great economic and social importance to Paraguay, 
since sugarcane is among the main crops and the sugar chain employs some 100,000  people. 
Moreover, sugarcane production is an activity carried out mostly by small and medium -sized 
producers. The  United  States is the destination for 60% of our exports and Paraguay could supply 
more if it had an allocation that reflected its production capacity.  
4.601.   Likewise, we reiterate our interest in a retroactive renewal of the Generalized System  of 
Preferences (GSP), which expired in 2020.  
4.602.   We continue to work on strengthening trade -related intellectual property rights. In this 
respect, we would like to highlight the implementation of a Work Plan in this area, one that includes 
an important compon ent of cooperation, with the common goal of removing Paraguay from the 
Special 301 Report Watch List.  
4.603.   With regard to trade facilitation, we would like to thank the United  States for its support in 
implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement, through the Trade -Facilitating Agricultural Systems 
and Technology (T -FAST) project.  
4.604.   Within the specific scope of the WTO, Paraguay works very closely with the United  States, 
including in the negotiations for further liberalization of agricultural products. We would l ike to 
highlight, in this respect, the shared interest in advancing the market access negotiations, this being 
an absolute priority issue for our delegations.  
4.605.   We have a common vision for promoting global food security, to which end trade is a vehicle, 
not an obstacle. However, we express our concern at the substantial increase in Amber Box spending 
to levels very close to the authorized maximums, and urge the United  States to implement reform 
and reduction policies, with a view to facilitating the negotiati ons. 
4.606.   We appreciate our joint work in the consultations on paragraph  6 of the Bali Decision and in 
the monitoring and transparency work carried out at the regular sessions of the Agriculture 
Committee, as well as in the transparency initiative launched by t he Council for Trade in Goods in 
relation to notifications.  
4.607.   We are working together on maximum residue limits and we sponsored the Ministerial 
Declaration on SPS measures adopted last June.  
4.608.   Lastly, we would like to thank the United  States delegation for it s contribution to discussions 
on other issues, including e -commerce, services domestic regulation, investment facilitation for 
development, women's economic empowerment and MSMEs, initiatives in which we participate 
because these issues are key to response s to the challenges of the 21st century.  
4.609.   I would like to reiterate my delegation's readiness to continue working on the necessary 
reform of the WTO and restoring the Appellate Body, so as to have a multilateral trading system 
based on clear, predictable an d transparent rules, and to restate the need for special and differential 
treatment for landlocked developing Members.  
4.610.   On behalf of my delegation, I wish to congratulate the United  States delegation once again, 
with a special mention to the delegates of th e Permanent Mission in Geneva, for their unfailing active 
participation. Happy holidays to you all.  
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  TUNISI A 
4.611.   My delegation is pleased to participate in the fifteenth Review of United  States ' 
trade policies  and practices and welcomes the United  States delegation, led by 
H.E. Ambassador  María  Luisa Pagán, whom we thank for the comprehensive briefing on her 
country's economic situation and trade policy.  
4.612.   I also wish to thank  H.E. Ambassador Cher yl K. Spencer (Jamaica) for the pertinent remarks 
she made in her presentation, and to congratulate the Secretariat on the thorough Report it has 
submitted to us for this review.  
4.613.   During the review period, which was severely impacted by the pandemic, the Un ited States 
maintained its position as the leading player in the global economy.  
4.614.   As the world's top importer and one of the main producers and exporters of goods and 
services, in particular as the world's largest exporter of agricultural products and large st investor, 
the United  States' trade policies continue to have a major impact on world trade.  
4.615.   The U.S. economy was not spared by the pandemic, as evidenced by the 3.4% contraction 
in GDP in 2020 after 11 consecutive years of expansion. However it confirme d its resilience with a 
rapid return to growth in 2021, thanks in particular to the drastic support measures put in place by 
the Government and an easing of monetary conditions, leading real GDP growth to reach 5.7% that 
year. 
4.616.   As an original WTO Member, th e United  States continues to defend an open, liberal, 
rules-based multilateral trading system. In this respect, we welcome the constructive role it played 
recently at MC12, particularly in the negotiations on fisheries subsidies and the TRIPS waiver, leadi ng 
to successful outcomes in these two areas. We urge the United  States to continue to show leadership 
in order to reach global, effective solutions with regard to fisheries sustainability and equitable access 
to therapeutics and diagnostics, and to lead t he fight against future pandemics.  
4.617.   We also highlight the robust reform agenda championed by the United  States  and trust that 
the United  States  will contribute constructively to defending the interests of all Members, including 
least-developed and developin g countries, in strengthening a trading system that is beneficial for all 
and building more diversified, more resilient economies.  
4.618.   At the bilateral level, Tunisia -U.S. relations date back to the 18th century, with the first 
bilateral "Friendship, Trade and Shipping" agreement signed on 27  August  1797.  
4.619.   After Tunisia's independence, the United  States  was the first major power to recognize our 
country's sovereignty, on 17  May 1956.  
4.620.   Historically, Tunisia -U.S. relations have been marked by centuries of friendship and fruitful 
cooperation. This cooperation has been strengthened since the 2011 Tunisian revolution, in defence 
of the democratic transition in Tunisia, within the framework of the Strategic Partnership launched 
by the two countries  in 2014.  
4.621.   Over the period 2011 -21, economic and financial cooperation between Tunisia and the 
United  States expanded significantly, as demonstrated most clearly by the establishment of the 
Tunisian -U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC), which has accelerated  trade and financial 
cooperation between the two countries.  
4.622.   The Committee's work has centred on facilitating the entry of Tunisian products into the U.S. 
market, strengthening Tunisia's economic and diplomatic role in Africa and driving cooperation in 
the area of infrastructure and communications.  
4.623.   Tunisia also benefits from the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which grants 
it tax exemptions for a list of products exported to the U.S. market, including olive oil, dates and 
handicraft products. Tunisia is now the 13th largest source of imports of agricultural products to the 
United  States.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.624.   The two countries are likewise fully committed to concluding a free trade agreement. In this 
respect, the mechanism of the joint Trade and Investment  Council under the TIFA provides an 
important framework for advancing discussions and promoting economic cooperation.  
4.625.   In February  2020, the United  States chose Tunisia as the platform for launching 
Prosper  Africa, a regional programme aimed at promoting in vestment and trade between African 
countries and the United  States by connecting investors in different areas of trade. This initiative 
symbolizes the United  States' new vision of cooperation with the African continent, with the focus 
placed on development . Tunisia is currently engaged in 11  Prosper Africa deals, worth an estimated 
USD 479 million.  
4.626.   At the same time, the United  States  of America continues to provide financial support to 
Tunisia, having allocated aid totalling USD  197 million during 2021. Our  hope, at this stage, is that 
the staff -level agreement on economic reforms concluded last November between Tunisia and the 
International Monetary Fund will boost the financial support from our U.S. partners.  
4.627.   It should be emphasized that our two countries are determined to further strengthen their 
traditional cooperation in all fields, including agriculture and new technologies, and to capitalize on 
political and economic achievements and existing institutional frameworks, particularly through the 
United  States Agency for International Development (USAID).  
4.628.   Lastly, I wish to congratulate Ambassador  Pagán and her team, and wish the United  States 
delegation a successful Trade Policy Review . 
SOUTH  AFRICA  
4.629.   We would like to join the delegations that preceded us in congratulating the delegation of 
the U nited States  led by H.E.  Ambassador Mar ía Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief 
of Mission Geneva. We thank the U.S. and the Secretariat for their detailed Reports. We also thank 
H.E. Ms  Cheryl  Spencer ( Jamaica) for her insightful observations as a discussant.  
4.630.   As the world's largest economy, the U.S. economy is highly integrated in the global economy. 
We also agree with the U .S. that trade is not an end in and of itself but should be about people and 
achieving the goals of the Marrakesh Agreement. Given the size of the U .S. economy and linkages, 
any developments in U.S. policies and trade measures have a significant impact on all WTO Members, 
especially for developing countries.  
4.631.   The period of this 15th Review was marked by both growth and declines. During this period, 
the economy of the U.S. continued to expand, with a GDP growth of 2.9% and 2.3% in 2018 
and 2019 respectively. However, as noted by both reports, with the onset of the COVID -19 
pandemic, G DP declined by 3.4% in 2020, before increasing by 5.7% in 2021. The strong economic 
recovery has been primarily driven by increases in consumption and investment. Going forward, the 
outlook has remained positive forecasted to be 1.4%, 1.8%, and 2.0% for 20 22, 2023, and 2024, 
respectively.  
4.632.   In terms of bilateral relations, S outh Africa and the U.S. enjoy strong and growing relations 
supported by investments and increasing trade flows on both sides. Between 2011 and 2021, 
South Africa's exports grew steadily from US D 5.6 billion to US D 12.7 billion. The trade balance in 
goods increased from a surplus of USD 1.2 billion in 2017 to USD 6.5 billion in 2021, in S outh Africa's 
favour.   
4.633.   With respect to investment, the U.S. is a significant investor in S outh Africa with more 
than 600 companies who also use South Africa as a regional headquarters. Bilateral foreign direct 
investment between S outh Africa and the U.S. stood at US D 11.2 billion in 2017, peaked at 
USD 12.2 billion in 2018 and slightly declined to US D 11.7 billion 2021. There are approximately 22 
South African  companies currently investing in the U .S.  
4.634.   Our relations are further characteri zed by a multi -faceted strategic partnership. The U .S. 
leadership in the WTO in preparation for MC12, as well as its strategic engagement with Africa, 
including through the recently held U .S.-Africa Summit is welcomed. S outh Africa also qualifies for 
preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Op portunity Act (AGOA) as well as the U.S. WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  Generali zed System of Preference (GSP) trade preference programme. Both countries signed an 
amended Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in 2012 to increase opportunities for 
bilateral trade and investmen t and optimize the business climate. As part of the Southern  African 
Customs Union (SACU), S outh Africa signed onto the Trade, Investment and Development 
Cooperative Agreement (TIDCA) in 2008.  
4.635.   It should be noted however, that while there is a positive con tributions of AGOA to African 
countries, there are some challenges that hinder the reali zation of its full potential. These challenges 
include but are not limited to restrictive rules of origin  (RoO), SPS requirements, lack of regional 
value chains, lack o f diversification in composition of exports, and uncertainty about the future of 
AGOA which contribute to the underutili zation of AGOA. As host of AGOA Forum 2023, S outh Africa 
will focus on addressing these challenges and advocate for an extension of AGOA  beyond 2025.  
4.636.   While we continue to work closely with the U .S. at various levels, we wish to highlight some 
concerns, which negatively impact our trade and investment relations.  
4.637.   The U.S. has undertaken some adjustments to its trade policy by adopting poli cies that are 
intended to protect its national security and strengthen its economy. We are concerned about the 
potential spread of unilateral and trade restricting measures under the banner of national security.  
4.638.   We deeply regret the Section  232 measures o n steel and aluminium applied by the U .S. 
since 2018 citing national security concerns. These have significant implications on our trade. Trade 
data reveals a significant decline in the volumes of steel and aluminium exported to the U.S. since 
the restrict ions. Between 2018 (1.2  billion tons) and 2019 (614  million tons), S outh African  steel 
export volumes dropped by 549  million tons and further dropped by 160  million tons in 2020. To 
date, S outh Africa has experienced a decline of over 709  million tons of s teel exports to the U.S. 
due to the restrictions.  We therefore call for the exclusion of S outh Africa products from the 
Section  232 measures on steel and aluminium.  
4.639.   On 17  February  2019, the U.S. completed a Section  232 investigation to determine the 
effects on the national security of imports of automobiles, including cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks, 
and automotive parts on the basis that such imports had reduced auto -related jobs and research 
and development (R&D) activities in the U nited States'  domestic market.  
4.640.   South Africa believes that steel, aluminium, autos, and auto parts from S outh Africa are not 
a threat to U.S. national security, but rather have contributed to U.S. industries and job creation. 
While we recogni ze the importance of the nati onal security exception, it has been generally 
understood to provide a narrow exception for genuinely essential security measures, in order to 
guard against the imposition of trade barriers for commercial or political purposes under the guise 
of national s ecurity.  
4.641.   We note the implementation of "Buy American" provisions, Inflation Reduction Act and the 
various initiatives to address supply -chain disruptions. These raise a need for a multilateral 
discussion on the need to rebalance trade rules to provide poli cy space for industriali zation and 
structural transformation in a balanced manner.  
4.642.   In view of the above, we would appreciate the following –  
• List all of the changes in import tariff treatment on iron and steel products since the last TPR 
of the U.S. If production of this list is not possible, kindly explain why.  
• List all of the Federal public procurement measures, including those frequently referred to 
as "Buy America " measures, announced or implemented since the last TPR of the U.S.  
• What share of U.S. imports of iron and steel products are covered by measures implemented 
since the last TPR of the U.S. that are affected by import restrictions?  
• List of all trade policy measures on imports of automobiles and related supply chains 
implemented by the U .S. since the last Trade Policy Review.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.643.   The tariff profile of the U.S. remains diverse and complex with significant tariff peaks, 
particularly in agricultural products, footwear, leather, and textiles, which are of interest to 
developing countries including S outh Africa. We would encourage the U.S. to streamline its tariff 
structures to facilitate exports of developing countries.  
4.644.   In the Agreement on Agriculture , the U.S. has huge flexibilities, which include high aggregate 
measures of support (AMS) entitlements w ith no product specific caps, high level of domestic 
support, non -ad valorem  specific tariff system and highest entitlement of special safeguard (SSG). 
In addition, the agricultural subsidies of U.S. per farmer per annum is also much higher compared 
to that of developing countries. Agriculture reform remains crucial in addressing these asymmetries 
and we encourage the US to engage constructively as agriculture is one sector where Africa 's 
potential remains untapped.  
4.645.   We hope the U.S will investigate all these issues to meaningfully address them. S outh Africa 
stands ready to engage o n these issues for mutual benefit.  
4.646.   We take note that the U.S. is committed to the WTO and supports reform, including reform 
of the DSS.  
4.647.   The MTS is facing challenges that require the cooperation of all Members, collectively, and 
in a problem -solving mode, to overcome difficulties and strengthen the rules -based trade system in 
a balanced manner. Addressing the dysfunctionality of the DSS and preserving an effective, 
independent, and two -tier Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM) is urgent. S outh Africa will wor k 
with the U.S. and all Members to moderni ze the WTO through constructive engagement and 
negotiation with a view to promote multilateralism.  
4.648.   We appreciate the opportunity for this constructive exchange of views on aspects of U.S. 
trade policy and wish the  U.S. a successful TPR.  
ANGOLA  
4.649.   The Angola delegation to the WTO would like to sincerely congratulate the U nited States  on 
its 15th Trade Policy Review public presentation and discussion, postponed at the end of 2019 due 
to the irruption of the COVID -19 pan demic crisis, thus discontinuing the habitual biennial review that 
has been so important for international trade evaluation due to the leading economic weight of the 
dynamic American economy.  
4.650.   We have perused the 39 -page official  Report from the U nited States to acknowledge a very 
proficient and authoritative document highlighting economic and trade achievements, trends, and 
main facts for the period under review, from October  2018 to June  2022, marked by the onset of 
the COVID -19 global crisis and, more re cently, the almost one -year long the crisis in Ukraine, 
generating dramatic trade dysfunctions, much slower global growth, and hideous socio -economic 
consequences for the LDC and other developing countries. Angola overtly regrets the recessive 
impacts of t he pandemic crisis in the U .S. economy, around negative 3.4% of the GDP in 2020, but 
also records the solid economic recovery to date that has been primarily driven by increases in 
consumption and investment, including additional spending and discretionary  tax cuts exceeding 
25% of the U .S. GDP, a process difficult to cope in most world countries, stressing the resilience, 
financial and innovative advantages of the U .S. economy.  
4.651.   The Angola delegation is particularly pleased to acknowledge in the U .S. official Report the 
priority assigned to rebuilding a global trading system based on fairness, inclusivity, growth, and 
sustainability able to face the complex global challenges: the pandemic and post -pandemic response, 
the supply chain shortages, and the ongoing increasing environmental concerns . We are also 
especially supportive of the U .S. social perspective of international trade as a global process in which 
it is crucial to realize fair competition to ensure that workers are competing on the basis of skills and 
creativity, not exploitative co st advantages or chaotic labour  migration from the depauperated South 
to the industrial and rich North. Angola is also pleased to read the U .S. commitment through the 
WTO to chart new trade rules that do more to advance decarbonization and other critical 
environmental standards, goals that we expect to include the urgent compensation of LDC countries 
already ravaged by climate change.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.652.   Despite not being explicitly referred to in the trade Review Report, sufficient suggestions 
hander WTO Appellate  Body, have already been pledged for the profound revision and update within 
a more extensive process of modernization of our common Organization that still stands as the only 
global effective transnational body for international trade. Nonetheless, Angola invites the  U.S. to 
unblock the AB's present ambiguous situation through a provisional settlement clearly engaged in a 
reform framework. The WTO reform will be a long -term and ongoing process, and consensus w ill not  
be easy to achieve; therefore, it cannot become a r ecurrent argument to unsolved, even tentatively, 
the AB functioning.  
4.653.   The U .S. has the largest economy in the world and plays a crucial role in international trade. 
The delegation of Angola would like to invite the American Government, public and private 
institutions, companies, and entrepreneurs to do even more to liberate the African economy from 
its traditional dysfunctions and build -up a novel compromise towards sustainable development and 
progress of living standards. The U .S. has some bilateral agreem ents, still very few, with African 
countries, engagements with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other regional 
organizations and has launched through USAID the very promising Prosper Africa program me. These 
are essential cooperation ste ps, but they are not enough. Africa needs from the US AID, cooperation, 
not paternalism, investment not charity.  
4.654.   The Angola delegation is also grateful for the exhaustive report from the WTO Secretariat, 
with highlighting econometric and statistics 9  charts , 77 tables, 10  boxes, and 13  appendix tables. 
The voluminous text thoroughly reviews the economic U .S. environment in the last four years, trade 
and investment regimes, trade policies, and measures by sectors, including detailed reviews of 
agriculture, mi ning, energy, manufacturing, services, and technologies. The Secretariat Report 
plainly proves that the U .S. economy is highly integrated with the rest of the world but still lacks to 
share some reciprocal trade advantages. In the period under review, the U .S. only signed 14  free 
trade agreements (FTAs) covering trade with 20 countries. Still, most LDC and devel oping countries 
are not part of these significative associative processes. We are sure that the current President, 
Government, and U .S. administration will revise its commitments and investments with developing 
countries.  
4.655.   Dear Chair, Dear Head of the Dele gation of the U nited States , Angola is the third -largest 
trading partner of the United  States in sub -Saharan Africa, mainly because of our petroleum exports 
that reached USD 1.09 billion  in 2021, tripling the volumes of 2020 affected by the pandemic crisis . 
In contrast, our imports from the U nited States, mainly in machinery, iron, and steel products, were 
valued last year, according to the UN COMTRADE, at around USD 453 million, not including any 
trading in services. Therefore, considerable room exists to improve our bilateral trade, investments, 
and cooperation relations. Angola is a consolidated democracy, enjoying long -term political and 
social stability, has a young and dynamic growing population, and has been engaged in the last 
years to firmly eradica te corruption from political, economic, and trade fields. Our country can be a 
significant hub for U .S. investments in Africa and a recipient of strategic technological and digital 
transfers able to enhance the continent's role in the global labour  and tra de markets. Angola is open 
to discussing and realizing a robust trade agreement with the U .S. 
4.656.   Dear Chair, discussant, and Head of the U .S. delegation, we are thankful for your courtesy, 
and we strongly recommend the U nited States'  Trade Policy Review with the utmost supportive 
appreciation.  
CAMBODIA  ON BEHALF OF ASEAN  
4.657.   Cambodia is delivering this statement on behalf of ASEAN. ASEAN warmly welcomes the 
delegation from the U.S led by H .E. Ambassador María  L. Pagán, Deputy U .S. Trade Representative 
and Chief of Mission Geneva, Head of Delegation to their 15th Trade Policy Review. We commend the 
Government of the U.S . and the WTO Secretariat for preparing such comprehensive Reports. We 
also appreciate the overview by the discussa nt, H.E. Ambassador Ms. Cheryl  K. Spencer , which 
provides a useful summary of the matters under review.  
4.658.   ASEAN -U.S. relations have been moving forward well and significantly growth since the first 
ASEAN -U.S. Dialogue Partnership in Manila in 1977. Over the years, the ASEAN -U.S. relations have 
evolved and expanded to cover a wide range of areas across all the three pillars, that is 
political -security, economic, and social -cultural cooperation.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.659.   This year marked the 45th anniversary of ASEAN -U.S. Dialogue Relat ions. In 
November  2022, ASEAN welcome President Joe  Biden to the region for the 10th annual ASEAN -U.S. 
Summit which was held in Cambodia with a successful conclusion whereby the ASEAN and U .S. 
leaders announced the establishment of "ASEAN -U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership ", 
thereby elevating ASEAN -U.S. relations to a new height.  
4.660.   The cooperation betw een ASEAN and the U .S. is guided by fundamental principles in 
promoting an open, inclusive, and rules -based regional architecture, in which ASEAN is central, 
alongside partners who share these goals. ASEAN and the U .S. also reaffirmed the close collaborati on 
under ASEAN 's political -security, economic, and socio -cultural pillars, and its priorities for 
cooperation, including trade and investment; maritime cooperation; environmental protection and 
climate change; digital development and cybersecurity; energy transition; smart cities; public 
health; good governance and human rights; human capital development; people -to-people ties; 
trans-national crime, counter -terrorism; supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); 
combatting illegal, unreported, a nd unregulated (IUU) fishing; supporting the Initiative for ASEAN 
Integration (IAI) and Narrowing the Development Gap; and achieving the UN Sustainable 
Development Goals.  
4.661.   The U.S. is an important trading partner of ASEAN. Despite the disruptions caused by  the 
COVID -19 pandemic and global instability, economic relations between ASEAN member States and 
the U .S. have remained positive. In terms of trade, according to ASEAN statistics, the total two -way 
merchandise trade reached USD  364 billion in 2021 represe nting an increase of 17.9 % year-on-year. 
In terms of investment, the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the U .S. into ASEAN was 
at USD  40 billion, or an increase of 41.1 % year-on-year. The U .S. is ASEAN 's second largest trading 
partner, and the largest source of foreign direct investments with a 23.0 % share of total inflows, 
mainly to financial and insurance services, and manufacturing sectors.  
4.662.   ASEAN acknowledges and appreciates the recent announcement of the U .S. administration 's 
intention to allocate USD  102 million in new initiatives to expand the ASEAN -U.S. Strategic 
Partnership in addition to the USD  150 million commitment at the 2022 ASEAN -U.S. Special Summit 
in Washington in May  2022 in programs for ASEAN. These commitments combined wi th over 
USD 800 million requested in fiscal year 2023 for bilateral programs in ASEAN member States, over 
USD 12 billion in development, economic, health, and security assistance since 2002, and over 
USD 1.4 billion in humanitarian assistance, including li fe-saving disaster assistance, emergency food 
aid, and support to refugees throughout Southeast Asia over the same period of time, will support 
the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo -Pacific (AOIP) and reflect the Biden -Harris 
Administration 's deep commitment to ASEAN 's central role in the Indo -Pacific region.  
4.663.   Moreover, ASEAN further recognizes the important contributions of the U .S. to the 
international community, and its active engagement in the multilateral trading system, particularly 
in the WTO negotiations and the works of the various committees. ASEAN also acknowledges the 
United States'  outstanding efforts in effectively respo nding to the COVID -19 pandemic and the role 
it has played in international cooperation in this domain, especially for the assistance the U .S. has 
provided to developing countries and least developed countries.  
4.664.   ASEAN -U.S. relations have been solidified by building upon areas of mutual interest and 
comparative advantages on both sides through promoting an open, inclusive, and rules -based 
regional architecture and the centrality of ASEAN. The partnership between the two part ies continues 
to strengthen mutual trust and respect, relations and deepen interdependence for mutual benefits.  
4.665.   Lastly, we congratulate the U .S. on their many achievements and look forward to deepening 
cooperation with H.E. Ambassador María  L. Pagán and th e team at the Geneva Mission.  
4.666.   ASEAN Group wish the U .S. every success in their 15th Trade Policy Review.  
CAMBODIA  
4.667.   At the outset, Cambodia associates itself with the ASEAN statement.  
4.668.   My delegation congratulates the United  States on maintaining its econom ic growth and 
resilience since its last review, especially during the C OVID -19 pandemic. We also acknowledge the WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  essential role that the U.S. has been playing in and contributing to the WTO Multilateral Trading 
System and the global trade.  
4.669.   Bilaterally, sin ce the establishment of Cambodia -U.S. diplomatic relation in 1950, Cambodia 
and the U.S. has enjoyed a strong and highly complementary economic relationship through evolving 
bilateral and regional integration initiatives such as the ASEAN -U.S. dialogue mec hanism.  
4.670.   The U.S. is the second largest export destination for Cambodia. In strengthening our bilateral 
trade and economic relation, Cambodia and the U.S. have established a number of initiatives to 
promote greater trade and investment flows in both countr ies and providing a forum to address 
bilateral trade and investment issues.  
4.671.   In terms of trade, bilaterally, Cambodia -U.S. trade in 2021 has increased by 42.4% to reach 
USD 7,845.71  million compared to US D 5,509.60  million in 2020 and expecting to increase  in 2022. 
However, inflow the U.S. FDI to Cambodia remains minimal which was only about USD 9.7 million 
in 2021 and that increasing FDI from the U.S. is highly encouraged especially in the blue and green 
sector, digital and technology transfer, R&D, and other critical sectors.  
4.672.   We would also to reiterate our appreciation and thanks to the U.S. for it s supports to the 
Least -Developed Countries (LDCs) including Cambodia through granting the GSP scheme and 
providing trade -related assistance as well as capacity buildings within the Enhanced Integrated 
Frameworks (EIFs), Aid for Trade, bilateral assistance , and other forms of development assistance 
through USAID and international institutions.  
4.673.   To the extent possible, firstly, our delegation would like to commend the U.S. to further 
simplify and facilitate the export interests from LDCs including addressing the challenges of NTMs to 
ensure the fundamental preamble of the U nited States'  trade preferences and commitment to 
support development of the LDCs. Secondly, we would also urge the U.S. certainly maintain export 
interest of the LDCs to name a few agricult ural products including rice, garment -footwear, and 
travelling goods in the GSP scheme in which these sectors provided essential support to the 
employments and impactful to the vulnerable beneficiaries as well as development broadly. Finally, 
we would also  like to reiterate our request to the U.S. delegate to generously support the LDCs ' 
agenda and proposals at the WTO to a successful conclusion in an inclusive and sustainable manner 
to Leave No One Behind.   
4.674.   Finally,  we commit to working closely with the U .S. especially delegation of the U .S. in 
Geneva to strengthen our good cooperation for economic prosperity and sustainable development. 
We wish the U.S. a successful conclusion of its 15th Trade Policy Review.  
KENYA  
4.675.   I join other delegates in conveying a wa rm welcome to the delegation of the United  States 
of America, led by Ambassador María  L. Pagán, the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief of 
Mission here in Geneva, to its 15th Trade Policy Review .  
4.676.   The United  States has the largest GDP in the world, of which trade made up 24% -28% 
between 2018 and 2021. The economy is dominated by the services sector, with the share of services 
in GDP, excluding government services, rising from 68.1% in 2017 to 68.7% in 2020 and 2021. In 
terms of global trade, the U.S.  is the world 's largest agricultural exporter, and a top producer and 
exporter of goods and services that embody intellectual property (IP), with an estimated 60% IP 
component in goods exports. It is worth noting that IP -intensive industries account for ov er one 
third of U.S. GDP.  
4.677.   Despite the negative effect of the COVID -19 pandemic on most of its economic sectors during 
the review period, the U.S. has worked towards a strong recovery since 2021, partly as a response 
to the different economic packages put in place in 2020 and 2021 to bolster the economy, equivalent 
to about 25% of its GDP. Kenya commends the U.S. Administration 's "Build Back Better" agenda, 
which encompasses a worker -centric trade policy, tackling the COVID -19 pandemic, promoting a 
sustaina ble environment and climate path, promoting equitable economic growth around the world, 
and addressing main trading partners' economic trade practices through a comprehensive strategy.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.678.   The U.S. is a significant trading partner for Kenya. In 2021, the U.S. was Kenya 's third 
leading export destination accounting for 8.05% of Kenya 's export share. Kenya 's total commodity 
exports to the U.S. were valued at USD  543.2  million. The U.S. had the fifth largest share of Kenya 's 
commodity imports with 4.09% impor t share. Kenya was ranked 109th in the United  States' goods 
export market in 2021. The U.S. exports to Kenya were valued at USD  801.8  million, with an average 
annual growth of 4% per annum between 2017 to 2021. The leading goods exports from the U.S. 
to Ke nya were mineral fuels, mineral oils and their products at USD  68 million followed by 
pharmaceutical products at USD  24.8 million.  
4.679.   Kenya enjoys preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(AGOA), with approximately 70% of Kenya 's exports to the U.S. traded under AGOA, 28% of exports 
accessing the U.S. market on an MFN basis and minimal exports under GSP. Approximately 85% of 
Kenya 's exports under AGOA are textiles and apparel, with Kenya becoming the largest garment 
exporter und er AGOA in 2021. Besides garments, macadamia nuts exports recorded a strong 
performance at USD  62 million, with Kenya supplying 36% of the US 's global imports in this tariff 
line in 2021.  
4.680.   Domestically, Kenya is a beneficiary of USAID initiatives targeting micro, small and medium 
enterprise s (MSMEs). A case in point is the Kenya Small Business Development Centres (SBDCs) 
programme which was launched in May  2021 in collaboration with County Governments and a local 
university. The project seeks to build linkag es between Kenyan and American SMEs to transfer best 
practices and proven models from the U.S. SBDCs to Kenya 's county -based businesses and tailor 
MSME support to local business needs.  
4.681.   In a bid to deepen bilateral trade relations, the Governments of Kenya and the U.S. 
established a Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) in 2018. Thereafter, in July  2022, our 
two countries undertook to further strengthen our engagement by launching a Strategic Trade and 
Investment Partnership, which is in the preliminary dialogue stage.  
4.682.   Kenya remains East  Africa 's most prolific business, financial, and transportation hub, 
with 80% of East  Africa 's trade flowing through the Mombasa Port. The U.S. private sector interest 
in Kenya is robust, with numerous American companies engaged in Kenya, especially in the 
technology, consumer services, banking, and finance sectors. A notably increasing number of 
American companies have established their regional or Africa -wide headquarters in Nairobi.  
4.683.   Kenya looks forward to a more fruitful trade relationship with the U.S. and wishes the 
American delegation a successful Trade Policy Review . 
KYRGYZ  REPUBLIC  
4.684.   The Kyrgyz  Republic is pleased to welcome the delegation of the United  States of America 
led by H.E. Ms María  Pagán  to the 15th Trade Policy Review of the United  States.  
4.685.   We welcome the WTO Secretariat and the U .S. Government Reports and appreciate the 
opportunity to gain a clearer sense of the changes to the U .S. trade and investment policies since 
its last fourteenth review in 2018. We would also like to thank the discussant, H.E.  Ambassador 
Cheryl  Spencer for her insightful comments.  
4.686.   The history of the bilateral relations between the U .S. and the Kyrgyz  Republic starts 
from 1991, when the U .S. as one  of the first countries recognized the independence of the 
Kyrgyz  Republic.  
4.687.   The Kyrgyz  Republic and the United  States enjoy a partnership across range of issues based 
on shared values and principles. It is worth to note, that despite of geographical distance, our 
countries established resilient and stable framework of cooperation in trade -economic, political and 
cultural spheres.  
4.688.   Our Governments regularly consult with each other on issues of mutual importance, and 
both recognize the value  of continued cooperation on issues such as international trade. In 
March  2021, our two Governments met as part of the U.S. -Central Asia Trade and Investment WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  Framework Agreement (TIFA) meetings. We discussed ways to work toward enhancing regional 
trade and  deepening our bilateral trade relationship.  
4.689.   Dear WTO Members, Trade and economic relations between the Kyrgyz  Republic and the 
United  States are regulated by the WTO  Agreement  and both countries enjoy the most favoured 
nation treatment in trade. The legal framework between the two countries is based on almost 
20 agreements where the most important are the followings: on investment promotion signed in 
Washington on May  1992; On promotion and mutual protection of investment of 19 January  1993. 
The basis  for the development of bilateral relations is the Memorandum of Understanding between 
the Governments of the Kyrgyz  Republic and the United  States dated 26 August  1992. In 1998, the 
U.S. Congress adopted the law on granting the withdrawal of the amendment  of Jackson -Vanik.  
4.690.   The Kyrgyz  Republic and the United  States work together to develop and strengthen 
cooperation within the framework of such multilateral platforms as the UN, OSCE, C5 + 1, TIFA, 
WTO and others.  
4.691.   The intention of the United  States to move t owards barrier -free trade system along with 
granting the status of the GSP to the Kyrgyz  Republic opened unique opportunities for domestic 
producers of the Kyrgyz  Republic to export products from the Kyrgyz  Republic to the U .S. market in 
compliance with sa nitary, phytosanitary, and technical requirements of the U .S. 
4.692.   We firmly believe that the granting of GSP status by the U .S. to the Kyrgyz  Republic  has 
positive effects on our country 's perspectives to expand export destinations of the Kyrgyz goods.  
4.693.   Accordi ng to the Report it is noted that the GSP Program me is currently expired. If you could 
please share the approximate dates when it will be resumed.  
4.694.   The United  States is among the 10 largest trading partners of the Kyrgyz  Republic . In order 
to develop and st rengthen cooperation between the business circles of the two countries, the 
American -Kyrgyz Business Council has been operating since 2016, the founders of which are such 
large American companies as General Electric, AGCO , and Baker Mckenzie LLP.  
4.695.   Foreign trade turnover according to the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz  Republic 
with the United  States in 2021 was USD 105,566 million  (export – 4,511; import – 101,155) which 
is 1.46% of the overall trade of the Kyrgyz  Republic. This demonst rates a decline of 16 .4%.   
4.696.   The main export goods from the Kyrgyz  Republic  to the United  States during the last decade 
are: inorganic chemicals, leather goods, natural and artificial, carpets and carpets, knitted and textile 
clothing, finished textiles, di fferent devices and appliances and others.  
4.697.   Import – cars, planes, pharmaceuticals, machinery equipment, spare parts for automobiles, 
meat, earthmoving machines , and others.  
4.698.   Besides the trading of goods, the service s sector  has also further potential for gr owth. 
Therefore, we suggest expansion of tourism sector and widen cooperation in services sector.  
4.699.   We also believe there is much potential in deepening our cooperation in investments, 
manufacture, and agriculture spheres.  
4.700.   The United  States provides various  forms of technical and foreign assistance to help the 
Kyrgyz  Government and economic operators in the Kyrgyz  Republic to further develop the economy 
and take advantage of trade opportunities. Under the TIFA working groups, the U.S. Department of 
Commerce' s Commercial Law Development Program  has provided the Kyrgyz  Republic with 
assistance on customs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, standards, and intellectual property 
rights. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) assists the Kyrgyz Gov ernment in 
the implementation of its economic policy reform agenda to promote business development, 
economic growth, and job creation. USAID is working in the areas of energy and agricultural trade, 
among others.  
4.701.   We also would like to express our apprecia tion for continued assistance with implementing 
the WTO membership commitments.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.702.   Coming back to the report we would like to thank the United  Stated for their remained 
commitment to upholding a fair and open global trading system. We were also impressed by t he 
"Build back better " agenda which puts workers at the centre  of trade policy, tackling the COVID -19 
pandemic, promoting a sustainable environment and climate path, promoting equitable economic 
growth around the world, and addressing main trading partners ' economic trade practices through 
a comprehensive strategy.  
4.703.   Smoothly coming to the logical end of my statement, I would like to emphasize that the 
United  States is a valued partner of the Kyrgyz  Republic, and that our cooperation in the WTO is an 
importa nt element of our partnership. We look forward to working closely with the U nited States  at 
the WTO and wish the successful 15th Trade Policy Review to the delegation of the United  States.  
PAKISTAN  
4.704.   We wish a warm welcome to the U .S. delegation team here in Geneva and from the U .S. led 
by H.E. Ambassador María  Pagán, at this 15th Trade Policy Review of the United  States of America.  
4.705.   We wish to thank H .E. Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer  for her insightful remarks and analysis 
for the discussi ons at this Trade Police Review . 
4.706.   Our thanks to the Secretariat for their tremendous work in preparing for this Review.  
4.707.   During the period under review, the United  States has continued its expansion and had the 
longest growth ever recorded before the pandemi c hit, but the economy recovered quickly due to 
swift and targeted measures.  
4.708.   We wish to commend the U .S. Government for having steered through the pandemic allowing 
it to bounce back rapidly and stronger, partly due to government support. Being a global tr ade 
leader, the U .S. economy plays a vital role into the world economy because of its size and its 
interconnectedness. Hence, the recovery in U .S. often signals a recovery globally.  
4.709.   The United  States is one of Pakistan 's major trading partners, with a trad e volume of more 
than USD 10.5 billion in the FY 2021 -22. There are untapped opportunities to further expand trade 
and investment, and as indicated in our recent Trade Policy Review , Pakistan strives to foster an 
enabling trade environment to increase trade and investment. In this connection, I would like to 
state that Pakistan, hit by floods after the C OVID -19, is finding the track back to stability a touch 
harder than others & it shall be of valuable support if United  States considers the approvals of 
importing irradiated mango fruits from Pakistan, which ha s already been under consideration for 
some time.  
4.710.   We appreciate the various support provided by the U .S. to advance our development. 
Pakistan is a beneficiary of the U .S. development assistance through the Country Development 
Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) fo r five years (2018 -2023). Furthermore, we laud the United  States 
support to Pakistan 's relief operation in the aftermath of one of Pakistan 's worst floodings ever 
recorded.  
4.711.   Pakistan was also a beneficiary of the U .S. GSP scheme which expired in 2020. This scheme 
has had a positive impact on our development, while providing cheap and diversified quality products 
to U.S. consumers; we encourage the U .S. to consider its continuation and expansion.  
4.712.   Pakistan notes with appreciation the U .S. indication of the pos itive steps taken by Pakistan 
to implement its intellectual property rights protection. Having signed the Madrid Treaty  for the 
International Registration of Marks and having made improvements in domestics IP laws; Pakistan 
looks forward graduating from th e watchlist of "Special 301 " report.  
4.713.   We would further like to commend the U .S. for its historical commitments to uphold an open 
global trading system. We note the U .S. trade policy 's restructuration to put workers as its main 
beneficiary and hope that this  will positively impact both the U .S. economy and that of its trading 
partners.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.714.   We applaud the U .S. efforts and commitments to address the environmental challenges and 
especially for its net zero emissions no later than 2050 and while pursuing this important policy we 
hope that the U .S. will commit to one of its core values of fairness and inclusivity.  
4.715.   Pakistan commends the leading role of the U .S. at the multilateral level at the WTO, and 
believe the U .S. Mission, led by H .E. Ambassador Pagán, will continue making a significant 
contribution to the work of the WTO. We have been contributing to the U .S. led DSB reform 
consultations and would continue to engage.  
4.716.   In the e nd, we wish the U .S. every success for its Trade Policy Review and for its ambitious 
objectives to reduce inequality, to raise the standards of living, to ensure full employment, and to 
promoting sustainable development not just in the U.S.  but globally.  
BARBADOS1 
4.717.   Barbados extends a warm welcome to Ambassador María  Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative and Chief of Mission in Geneva, as well as the other members of the United  States 
delegation, to this their country 's 15th WTO Trade Policy Review. We thank the United  States for its 
continued commitment to the WTO and the multilateral trading system (MTS) and for engaging with 
all of us - including small vulnerable economies like Barbados.   
4.718.   Thank you Ambassador  Pagán, and discussant Ambassador Cheryl  Spencer (Jamaica), for 
your opening statements, and the WTO team for the preparation of the Secretariat Report.  
4.719.   The last two years were marked by a series of global crises, particularly the hea lth and 
economic crises which emanated from the COVID -19 pandemic. The United  States was impacted by 
the lockdowns, border closures and restrictions on trade, as all of us were. After an impressive 
11 consecutive years of growth, the United  States economy retracted by 3.4 % in 2020, before 
rebounding by 5.7 % in 2021.  This impressive growth came at a time when other countries were 
still reeling from the effects of the pandemic and  was in part due to the investing of an early vaccine 
rollout, coupled with fiscal and monetary policy support in 2020 and 2021, which took the form of 
economic stimulus packages amounting to approximately 25 % of the country 's GDP.   
4.720.   We recogni ze that the United  States is currently transitioning to a trade policy agenda aimed 
at pursuing its Build Back Better agenda, which among other things is aimed at tackling the 
COVID -19 pandemic and restoring the economy; placing workers at the centre of trade policy; and 
repositioning on a sustainable environment and climate path. We commend this.  
4.721.   As an island nation on the frontline of the climate crisis, we welcome the United  States ' 
ambitious reengagement on climate issues and in principle, their commitment to acce lerating 
decarboni zation and promoting sustainable environmental practices. We have therefore taken note 
of their intention to pursue a new generation of trade policies aimed at supporting the level of 
decarboni zation necessary to limit the increase in glo bal temperature to 1.5  degrees Celsius. We 
would be keen to follow and take lessons learned from the U nited States'  approach as we also look 
at ways to incentivize a more circular economy approach to production and consumption, especially 
amongst our small  businesses.  
4.722.   We welcome the United  States continued advocacy for meaningful WTO reform and its 
leadership on the reform of the Dispute Settlement System : these are two critical pathways to 
ensuring the WTO is fit for purpose.  
4.723.   The country 's advancement of  discussions on transparency within the various 
WTO Agreement s; and active participation in the Organization's various negotiating fora, particularly 
as it relates to fisheries subsidies and agriculture negotiations is to be commended. We welcome its 
continued recognition of the importance) of special and differential treatment (S&DT for countries 
like Barbados and its support for the Aid for Trade agenda.  
 
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  4.724.   At the bilateral level, Barbados and the United  States share strong historical, geographic and 
strate gic ties. We see these only growing in importance.  
4.725.   In terms of our trade relationship, the United  States continues to be Barbados ' main trading 
partner with a significant portion of our exports to the United  States benefiting from preferences 
through the C aribbean Basin Initiative, the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and 
the and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA). While the volume of preferential exports 
from Barbados to the United  States have fluctuated since 2016, preferential  exports have remained 
above half of all goods going to the United  States, thereby reinforcing the importance of the CBI to 
Barbados. We want to continue exploring how we can fully exploit all of the flexibilities under these 
programmes.  
4.726.   Before closing, Barbados aligns with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the CARICOM 
Group. And wishes the United  States a successful conclusion to its 15th Trade Policy Review.  
PANAM A 
4.727.   I would like to congratulate H.E. Ambassador María  Pagán, Permanent Rep resentative of the 
United  States to the WTO, and her entire delegation for their outstanding preparation. I would also 
like to congratulate H.E. Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer, Permanent Representative of Jamaica and 
discussant for this fifteenth Review. In addition, we thank the Secretariat for preparing the relevant 
Reports.  
4.728.   This fifteenth review of U.S. trade policies offers us a valuable opportunity to analyse the 
actions of one of our most influential Members.  
4.729.   Since they established formal diplomatic rel ations in 1903, Panama and the United  States 
have maintained strong ties of friendship and cooperation at the bilateral, regional and multilateral 
levels, particularly in the field of trade. The United  States has been one of Panama's main trading 
partners ever since.  
4.730.   According to Panama Canal statistics, the United  States is one of the top  10 users of this 
interoceanic waterway. Moreover, on 28  June 2007, Panama and the United  States signed a Trade 
Promotion Agreement, which entered into force on 31  October  2012, aimed at improving the balance 
of trade between the two countries.  
4.731.   However, according to Panama's National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), the 
United  States ran a trade surplus with Panama of more than USD  2.8 billion. In 2021, Panama 
exported the equivalent of just USD  130.4  million to the United  States.  
4.732.   This trade also includes substantial financial services, insurance, air and sea transport, and 
tourism components. As Panama is a dollarized country, there are strong links between our  banks 
and financial institutions. Since 2011, Panama has exchanged tax information with the United  States 
under the tax information exchange agreement (TIEA).  
4.733.   The United  States continues to promote a number of reform programmes, focusing on 
strengthening the WTO's negotiating role, systemic issues and transparency. It has also been active 
in making proposals in the fisheries subsidies and agriculture negotiations,  as well as in its 
participation in the Joint Statement Initiatives and in the different WTO c ommittees . Given how 
important it is to have up -to-date information for negotiations, we urge the United  States to update 
its notifications.  
4.734.   We recognize the efforts the United  States has made to notify its proposed and adopted 
technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to the respective 
WTO Committees. The U.S. also notified certain amendments to intellectual property legislation, 
including changes aimed at modernizing copyright -related issues.  
4.735.   During the period u nder review, the  United  States has made a number of changes to its 
legislation. For example, it has passed a new law and rules expanding the types of foreign investment 
subject to examination and has introduced new reporting requirements, which we hope wil l not be 
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  4.736.   We welcome the fact that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is modernizing its customs 
procedures through various projects to facilitate the movement of legitimate trade securely, 
specifically in matters relating to COVID -19. 
4.737.   As regards competition policy, the United  States recently adopted a "whole -of-government" 
approach to fostering competition in U.S. markets and to vigorously enforcing antitrust laws.  
4.738.   We will be following the discussion during this review carefully and I reit erate Panama's 
readiness to continue strengthening ties of cooperation with the United  States at the bilateral, 
regional and multilateral levels, with a view to promoting trade and investment. We wish the 
United  States success in its fifteenth Trade Policy  Review.  
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ON BEHALF OF THE OECS  
4.739.   We wish to welcome Ambassador Mar ía Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief 
of Mission in Geneva , and her team. We also wish to thank Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer , 
Permanent Representative of Jam aica to the WTO and the discuss ant for this 15th Review.  
4.740.   I make this statement on behalf of the WTO members of the Organi sation of Eastern 
Caribbean States . We also associate with the statements  on behalf of CARICOM and the ACP Group. 
We are very pleased to participate in this , the 15th Trade Policy Review of  the United  States, we 
thank both the WTO Secretariat  and the U .S. for their reports, especially bearing in mind the very 
trying  circumstances  of the past two years.  
4.741.   The U .S. has long been a supporter of multilateralism, indeed , the United  States, which is 
engaged outward -looking and constructive, is a bonus for all multilateral endeavours , including with 
respect to the multilateral trading system.  
4.742.   This Review is coming at an unprecedented time for both the United  States and the rest of 
the world, the  lingering  effects of the COVID -19 pandemic, rampant inflation, the war in Ukraine , 
food insecurity, high o il prices , and disrupted supply chai ns have created and /or worsened adverse  
economic conditions around the world, especially for the most vulnerable . It is in this context that 
we must commend the United  States for playing an active role and a leading role in areas such as 
the development an d distribution of vaccines , which help many countries , especially in the 
developing world , to open up their economy is much faster than would have been the case without 
such tangible support.  
4.743.   OECS countries have historically deep ties with the United  States, and t he United  States  also 
continues to be the single largest trade and investment partner for OECS  WTO Members . OECS WTO 
Members benefit from the Caribbean  Basin Initiative (CBI) in effect since 1984, as part of the 
Caribbean Basin  on Economic Recovery A ct (CBERA).  through the CB I, OECS WTO Members are 
eligible for duty free access to the US market for a wide range of goods.  
4.744.   As the U .S. has noted in its Report, the trade benefits of CBI have helped beneficiary 
countries and dependan t territories in the region diversify their exports.  Of course, there is still much 
room for sectoral and export diversification across the board, but we certainly appreciate the 
contribution of the CBI to our efforts . CBI benefits have also contributed po sitively  to our economic 
growth.  
4.745.   While the majority of O ECS WTO Members  are also beneficiaries under the U .S. GSP scheme , 
Antigua and Barbuda and Saint  Kitts and Nevis  are not eligible due to the ir high-income 
classification. This is a systemic issue which  OECS countries, at the highest level, continue to be 
concerned about . It is therefore important to reiterate that income criteria do not provide an accurate 
depiction  of the true state of a country's economy, nor its development status . 
4.746.   OECS WTO Members are  also party to the U .S.-Caribbean Community CARICOM Trade and 
Investment Framework Agreement, which helps to drive and strengthen trade and investment ties 
between CARICOM and the United  States , since it serves as a mechanism for both sides  to develop 
practical strategies on a wide range of trade, investment , and economic cooperation issues . This is 
essential to spur  economic development a nd diversification in our region and to contribute to 
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  4.747.   Of cour se, like other WTO Members, we look forward to  hearing the U .S. responses to 
concerns raised in areas such as U .S. domestic support for its agriculture and fisheries sectors, U .S. 
anti-dumping, countervailing , and safeguard measures,  and the compatibility of certain U .S. fiscal 
policy instruments, such as , the Inflation Reduction Act, with its WTO obligations . 
4.748.   High on the agenda of the OEC S is also finding a resolution to the current challenges in the 
Dispute Settlement System. OECS  WTO Members  have been constructive and active  in the 
United States' convened informal discussions on dispute settlement matters . We certainly welcome 
the U nited States' engagement on such  important issues and we stand ready to further our 
engagement  through a multilateral structure, as we aim for an appropriate response to the mandate 
in Paragraph  4 of the outcome document of the MC12. 
4.749.   It would be remiss of us  to mention dispute settlement matters without urging the U .S. to 
fully comply with the ruling of the  Appel late Body in the case DS285,  concerning U .S. measures 
affecting the cross -border supply of gambling and betting services in which an O ECS WTO Member , 
Antigua and Barbuda, was a complainant . 
4.750.   Finally, we once again take this opportunity to thank the United  States for all its efforts . We 
look forward to the U nited State' continued , active , and constructive engagement in the work of the 
WTO. We wish the U nited States  a successful Trade Policy Review.  
CUBA  
4.751.   First of all, I would like to welcome Ambassador María  Pagán and her team. And the 
esteemed Ambassador, Cheryl  K. Spencer, whom we thank for her opening statements, to which we 
paid close attention. We h ave also studied carefully the reports submitted on the occasion of this 
review.  
4.752.   The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the 
United  States against Cuba, for almost six decades, is the most prolonged and implacable syste m of 
unilateral, coercive measures ever applied against a country throughout history. In the period since 
the previous Trade Policy Review of the United  States to date, the blockade against Cuba has been 
tightened both bilaterally and multilaterally throug h the widening scope of its extraterritorial 
implications. The extraterritorial impact, of the blockade also damages the sovereignty of the 
Members of this Organization, subjects Members' nationals to the decisions of U.S. courts under 
Title III of the Hel ms-Burton  Act, violates the rights of their businesspeople, persecutes and 
penalizes lawful commercial transactions that adhere to the rules of international trade between 
persons that are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United  States , and denies ac cess to its ports 
for ships from third countries that have docked in Cuba. It is therefore fallacious to claim that the 
economic, commercial , and financial blockade imposed by the United  States on Cuba is a bilateral 
issue that should not be discussed in m ultilateral for a, as the United  States ' representatives have 
argued in this chamber in response to questions raised during earlier reviews of U.S. trade policies.  
4.753.   The blockade violates international law and the right of the Cuban people to development. 
The vote in favour of the resolution titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and 
financial embargo imposed by the United  States of America against Cuba", which the United Nations 
General Assembly has adopted for three consecutive decades, most re cently last November, is the 
expression of the will of the majority of the international community against this policy.  
4.754.   The blockade also harms the interests of U.S. companies wishing to do business with Cuban 
entities on normal terms, especially its expor ters of agricultural products. The United  States 
Government imposes, by law, conditions that place such exporters at a disadvantage compared to 
their competitors from other countries, by barring them from offering financing facilities and obliging 
them to require advance payment for their sales to Cuba.  
4.755.   The United  States  has also continued to target traditional trading partners from other 
countries, by imposing tariff measures on various products solely on the grounds of national security. 
Meanwhile, it ins ists that other Members must honour their commitments under the WTO 
Agreements. This is the same argument used to perpetuate the web of laws underpinning the 
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  4.756.   The United  States continues to sponsor a draft decision on procedures to enhance 
transparency and improve compliance with notification requirements under WTO Agreements. Has 
the United  States Government submitted detailed notifications to the various WTO bodies on t he 
whole web of regulations that underpin the blockade against Cuba from its inception to the present 
day, including the 1992 Torricelli Act and the Helms -Burton Act, signed into law on 12  March  1996, 
or the harsher measures adopted during the Administration of Donald Trump, which are still in force?  
4.757.   If we look more closely at the United  States Government's compliance with its notification 
obligations in respect of the measures related to its blockade against Cuba and other countries, a 
sustaine d pattern of non -compliance with its obligations as a WTO Member becomes apparent.  
4.758.   The newly intensified blockade remains at the core of United  States policy towards Cuba. As 
we have demanded for more than six decades, Cuba calls on the United  States to end, once and for 
all, its discriminatory and unjustified policy of blockade against Cuba and, in its place, restore fair 
and balanced trade with our country, in accordance with WTO rules and regulations.  
NEPAL  
4.759.   My delegation warmly welcomes the U .S. delega tion led by H .E. Ambassador 
María Luisa Pagán and commends her for the insightful highlights of the 15th Trade Policy Review of 
the United  States.   
4.760.   We thank H .E. Ms Cheryl  K. Spencer , Ambassador of Jamaica as discussant of the Review.  
4.761.   My delegation thank s the Government of the U .S. and the WTO Secretariat for the valuable 
Reports.  
4.762.   The United  States being the global leader on several fronts including trade, my delegation 
highly values the U .S. continued commitment to and active participation in the multilateral trading 
system.  
4.763.   We also commend the U .S. openness to international trade and its integration into the global 
economy.  
4.764.   We are pleased to take good note of the real GDP increase in 2021 following an efficient 
recovery from the COVID -19 pandemic as a result of timely adoption of necessary support measures 
by the U .S. Government.  
4.765.   The U .S. Government 's initiatives in reforming trade and investment regimes with a 
particular focus on worker -centred trade policy remain praiseworthy.  
4.766.   The reform initiatives have understandably contributed towards simplifying regulations, 
increasing transparency, encouraging trade and improving the business climate via regulatory, 
institutional mechanism such as President 's Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiation, 
and Policy Advisory Committee along with Rapid Response Mechanism.  
4.767.   We also take good note of the U .S. trade agenda on (i)  worker -centred trade policy; 
(ii) implementation of trade agreements;  (iii) accelerating decarbonization and promoting 
sustainable environmental practices; and (iv)  combatting the COVID -19 pandemic through 
production and donation of COVID -19 vaccine.  
4.768.   Let me turn to the bilateral front.  Nepal and the U .S. have been enjoying cordial relations 
ever since we established diplomatic relations in 1947.  
4.769.   The U .S. is one of the first countries to extend development assistance to Nepal. Various 
sectors benefiting from this development  assistance include transport, communication, public  health, 
malaria eradication, agriculture, forestry, and energy. Nepal expresses sincere appreciation to the 
U.S. Government for being an important and reliable development partner in Nepal 's over 
seven -decade development endeavours.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.770.   In the area of invest ment, the U .S. is among the largest investors in Nepal. Similarly, the 
U.S. remains one of the largest sources of visitors in Nepal. The growing number of Nepali students 
and Nepali diaspora in the U .S. has expanded people -to-people relations.  
4.771.    On trade front, the U .S. is an important trading partner of Nepal. Nepal is benefiting from 
the provision of Nepal Trade Preference Program NTPP under the Trade Facilitation and Trade 
Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA) on 77 - 8-digit tariff lines. This provi sion is for until 
31 December  2025.  
4.772.    My delegation highly appreciates the U .S. for this provision and request for its continuation 
for few more years in view of the critical need for sustaining Nepal 's graduation from LDC status in 
2026 especially in the a ftermath of the pandemic and global food and fuel crises.  
4.773.   Based on the primary data, Nepal has imported from the U .S. goods worth of NPR 35 billion 
in 2021 while it has exported to the U .S. goods amounted to NPR 15.6 billion in the same year.  
4.774.   The trade da ta shows a significant trade gap in Nepal 's bilateral trade with the U .S. However, 
this can also be an opportunity for further collaboration and cooperation on reducing the gap by 
further exploring and exploiting trade potentials for mutual benefit.  
4.775.   In th e context of Nepal 's targets for meeting LDC graduation by 2026, SDGs and 
middle -income country by 2030, my delegation underlines the importance of the U .S. enhanced 
support to Nepal in the areas of agriculture and agro -business, joint venture in industrie s and 
hydropower, trade, tourism, ICT , and transfer of technology.  
4.776.   Nepal looks forward to strengthening its relations with the U .S. in the days ahead.  
4.777.   My delegation wishes a successful Trade Policy Review of the United  States.  
JORDAN  
4.778.   We would like to join other delegations in thanking and congratulating the U.S. delegation 
headed by H .E. Ambassador María  Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for the efforts exerted 
in the preparation of the Trade Policy Review and Report.  
4.779.   Our appreciation is also ext ended to the discussant for his introductory remarks, and the 
secretariat for the comprehensive Report.  
4.780.   The Report s provide valuable information for the period under review and reveal positive 
indicators in many aspects, highlight the solidarity and resil ience of U.S. economic and trade policy 
towards global trade openness and economic growth, which is translated in the active and continuous 
engagement of the United  States in negotiations within the WTO framework, and other international 
areas.  
4.781.   The long -standing  and deeply -rooted relationship between Jordan and the United  States 
witnessed many milestones, one of the most notable and vivid example is the bilateral free trade 
agreement between Jordan and the U.S. FTA which entered into force in the year 2001.  The FTA 
contributed to the growth of bilateral trade to about six folds as compared to its size at the time of 
entry into force of the FTA. Trade exchange between Jordan and United  States today exceeds 
USD 3.6 billion in 2021.  
4.782.   Our bilateral relations were  cemented by continuous U.S. Government support directed 
towards economic development at a bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.  
4.783.   The Government of Jordan further appreciates U.S. support especially during international 
or regional political and economic crises. This support assisted Jordan in its efforts to sustain its 
economy and trade, to meet the needs of refugees, and to meaningfully assist in the recovery from 
the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.784.   Jordan attaches great importance to its rela tions with the U.S. and is confident of them 
holding further promising opportunities ahead for both countries.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.785.   Finally, Jordan congratulates again the U .S. Government and the business society for their 
efforts and valuable contribution in the world trade h and in hand with other trading partners. We 
wish the United  States a fruitful and successful Trade Policy Review.  
BANGLADESH  
4.786.   At the outset, Bangladesh delegation welcomes Ambassador María  Pagán , Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative and Chief of Mission in Geneva as Head of delegation  and thanks her for her 
presentation at the 15th TPR. We also thank Ambassador H.E. Ms Cheryl  K. Spencer of Jamaica , for 
the insightful discussion s and thoughtful commen ts. Our sincere appreciation goes to the 
Government of the Uni ted States  and the WTO  Secretariat for the comprehensive  Reports . 
4.787.   This 15th Trade Policy Review of the U nited States , taking place following the COVID -19 
pandemic, covers a period of great inter national economic instability. As an open economy with 
strong ties with the international community, the U nited States  has also been hit by adverse effects 
of COVID -19, supply chain disruptions and other shocks.  
4.788.   After a period of stable economic growth in 2018 and 2019, the real GDP of the U.S. 
contracted by 3.4% in 2020 after 11  consecutive years of expansion. It is encouraging to see that 
prudent macro -economic policies and measures adopted by the country have r esulted in impressive 
economic growth and remarkable improvement in almost all ind exes within a short period. Since the 
last TPR, relatively strong economic fundamentals and solid buffers to external shocks, have helped 
the country maintain macroeconomic s tability. The economy experienced a rapid rebound in 2021, 
aided by the support packages put in place by the Government and by an easing of monetary 
conditions.  
4.789.   We view the U .S. as a firm supporter of the multilateral trading system, actively engaged at 
the WTO and took leadership roles in various WTO activities. Bangladesh welcomes the 
United  States'  trade policy priority on multilateral, non -discriminatory rules complemented by a goal 
of continuous expansion and deepening of trade relations through regio nal and bilateral approaches. 
We expect more U .S. leadership in reducing gaps in the level of development between nations, and 
to promoting the further integration of developing and least developed countries into the global 
economy.  
4.790.   Bilateral trade between  the U .S. and Bangladesh was over US D 10 billion in 2021. Our total 
apparel exports to  the United  States  was USD 4.29 billion in 2010 and which reached about 
USD 7.30 billion during 2021. While Bangladesh seeks to improve labour safety, it has also investe d 
heavily on green factories. RMG industry now has 155  green factories with certification from the U .S. 
Green Building Council 's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Seven 
out of the top  10 LEED certified factories worldwide are in  Bangladesh.  
4.791.   But Bangladeshi exports face high levels of tariff in entering the U .S. market. About 88 % of 
exports from Bangladesh to the United  States is RMG products which have been facing around 15 % 
weighted average tariff, much higher than other compet itors, mostly less than 10%. U.S. tariff 
regime did not change significantly during the review period and the simple average tariff rate 
remains low at 4.8% overall in 2021. These higher tariff rates applied on Bangladesh 's RMG need to 
be rationalized. How ever, Bangladeshi products are not getting GSP facilities since 2013.  
4.792.   The increase of wage in some countries and the safety improvement in our RMG sector in 
the recent years resulted in buyers ' boosted confidence in Bangladesh apparels, and the U .S. buyers  
are increasingly leaning toward Bangladesh to source the merchandise. U .S. based brands and 
importers can avail the opportunity of low -cost, but quality Bangladeshi apparels produced from U .S. 
Cotton. This can be done by invoking Article  9.2(a) of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement which 
allows goods for outward processing may be reimported with total or partial exemption from import 
duties and taxes and granting GSP facilities to the Banglad eshi products for the mutual benefits.  
4.793.   Bangladesh offers investor friendly and congenial climate for the foreign investors. Almost 
all the sectors allowed foreign investment without any capping. Bangladesh is a signatory to 
Multilateral Investment Guarant ee Agency (MIGA), Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
(OPIC). To ease the investors from paying double tax Bangladesh has signed Avoidance of Double 
Taxation Treaty (DTT) with many countries including the U nited States  for promotion and protection WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  of investment. The Government of Bangladesh has taken initiative to establish 100  economic 
zones  (EZ) in the country to create structured and balanced investment. Investors from the U .S. 
may consider establishing EZ as zone developer or to set up industries wi thin the already developed 
EZs as unit investor. The U .S. may also take the opportunity to develop sector specific special EZs 
in energy and petrochemicals ; ship building and recycling ; IT; tourism ; apparel and textiles ; 
agro-processing ; etc.  
4.794.   To conclude,  Bangladesh delegation wishes a productive and successful TPR of the 
United States . Our delegation will continue to work closely with the U .S. delegation to strengthen 
the multilateral trading system while we strive to enhance our bilateral trade and inves tment .  
NIGERIA  
4.795.   Nigeria wishes to congratulate the entire delegation of United  States for the conduct of its 
15th Trade Policy Review exercise. We commend the Head of the Delegation, Ambassador 
María  L. Pagán , Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Chief of Mission Geneva, with other Members 
of her team for their determination and dedication for this important exercise. We also thank the 
discussant, Ambassador Cheryl Spencer of Jamaica for her insightful analysi s and comments. We 
commend the WTO Secretariat and the Government of the United  States for the comprehensive 
Reports.  
4.796.   At bilateral level, Nigeria and the United  States have over the years experienced very strong 
economic, cultural and political ties, via a  number of trade and economic cooperation arrangement 
which include Trade and Investment Framework Agreement; Bi -National Commission, and 
Commercial Investment Dialogue. Nigeria is also beneficiary of Africa Growth and Opportunity Act 
(AGOA) which is the c ornerstone of U .S.-Africa preferential engagement on trade and investment. 
Nigeria appreciates the contribution of AGOA to Africa ' development in promoting export of several 
products including textile and apparel, leather products, agro -processing products  from the 
sub-Saharan African countries to the United  States. We look forward to an enduring partnership 
between the United  States, Nigeria, ECOWAS as well as entire Africa.  
4.797.   Nigeria notes that the United  States trade policy is very important to the entire Membership 
of the WTO, being the biggest trading partner of many of the WTO Members, including Nigeria and 
as a major player, the trade policies and practices of the United  States have direct impacts on the 
economies of most of the WTO Members. It is inter esting to note that the macro -economic policies 
during the period under review have actively supported United  States economy in stimulating 
economic growth, particularly to recover from the extreme recession brought upon by trade 
distortions associated wit h the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.798.   We commend the Government of the United  States for the courage and resilience towards 
global response to the COVID -19 pandemic which has placed tremendous strain on peoples' health 
and livelihoods around the world, to address the pandemic, at home and abroad. These efforts 
include COVID -19 vaccine donations through COVAX and other fora, investment in vaccine 
production and delivery infrastructure in underserved regions and working with trading partners to 
facilitate the  flow of goods, leveraging the critical role of digital trade and digitally supported services 
in meeting the challenges of the pandemic and supporting economic resilience across the globe.  
4.799.   It is interesting to note that the outlook for the entire 2022 rem ains positive despite the 
global challenges. As captured in the U .S. Government report, U.S. real GDP growth is forecasted to 
be 1.4%, 1.8%, and 2.0% for 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively. The strong economic recovery 
to date has been primarily driven by increases in consumption and investment. However, 
pandemic -induced changes in behaviour led to relatively more demand for goods than services, both 
domestically produced and imported. Nigeria is pleased with the U.S. fiscal support measures which 
directly supported firms and workers as well as state and local governments.  
4.800.   We note the United  States ' commitment towards the preservation and strengthening of the 
role of the WTO to be well -functioning Organization rule -based system through the WTO reform 
agenda . The reform agenda which includes restoring efficacy to the negotiating arm and promoting 
transparency; improving compliance with and enforcement of Members' WTO commitments; and 
equipping the Organization to effectively address the unfair practices of no n-market economies, 
including WTO's dispute settlement function.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.801.   We applaud United  States Government 's Trade -Related Capacity -Building Initiatives, aim at 
the widest participation among developing and least developed countries; and, ultimately, ensuring 
that the benefits of open and transparent trade regimes are realized, being facilitated through the 
WTO-Related U.S. Trade -Related Assistance. We look forward to continuous collaboration in that 
regard.  
4.802.   In conclusion, Nigeria would like to acknowledge the ef fort of the United  States Government 
once again for different fiscal policies and programmes to stimulate economic growth and sustainable 
development especially post pandemic recovery. It is equally gratifying to note how United  States 
places an importance  to the promotion of the multilateral trading system. It is our expectation that 
the U .S. would continue to provide the necessary leadership along with other major players toward 
the successful implementation of the MC12 Geneva package and resuscitation of  the DSB and an 
anticipated WTO reform exercise.  
4.803.   On this note, we wish delegation of United  States a successful 15th Trade Policy Review.  
GEORGIA  
4.804.   At the outset, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the U.S. delegation led by 
H.E. Ambassador Pag án and  thank them and the WTO Secretariat for the preparatory work they 
have carried out for this Trade Policy Review .  
4.805.   We would also like to thank the discussant for her insightful remarks and observations.  
4.806.   This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the 
United  States. The United  States has been a key strategic ally and a valued partner of Georgia since 
the very beginning of our regained independence and we greatly appreciate its significant 
contribution in strengthening Georgia 's democracy, security, defence  capabilities and economic 
growth throughout these three decades.  
4.807.   The strength of our bilateral relationship is asserted in the U.S. -Georgia Charter on Strategic 
Partnership. A robust strategi c cooperation, based on our shared values and common interests, is 
demonstrated through very close and solid partnership between our countries across diverse 
spectrum of realms.  
4.808.   Georgia acknowledges the important leadership role the United  States, as the l argest single 
economy, plays in the development and further strengthening of a rules -based multilateral trading 
system. We would hereby applaud the U .S. Government for its unwavering support and commitment 
to the core values and principles underpinning the  multilateral trading system and for its active and 
constructive engagement in ongoing multilateral and plurilateral negotiations under the auspices of 
the WTO.  
4.809.   We would also like to use this opportunity and commend the United  States for its exemplary 
notification record under various WTO bodies during the review period, namely in areas like: 
agriculture, GATS, trade remedies, SPS, TBT, trade facilitation, rules of origin, subsidies, state 
trading, IPRs, import licensing, etc.  
4.810.   As we have mentioned, Georgia  and the United  States enjoy robust, wide ranging and 
mutually beneficial bilateral relations. The bilateral trade has been steadily growing between our two 
countries during the review period except for a slight downturn trend caused by the global C OVID -19 
pandemic in 2020.  
4.811.   The U.S. is Georgia 's fifth largest trading partner, with total trade amounted to 
USD 984 million in 10 months of 2022, which represents a 45% increase. Georgia 's total export to 
U.S. market has grown by 71% and amounted to USD 258.8  million, while the import from the 
United  Stated has increased by 38% constituting USD 725.3  million. So, the United  States 
represents Georgia 's seven th largest export market and the fourth biggest source of imports.  
4.812.   We are pleased that since the 1990 s, first OPIC and now DFC investments in Georgia have 
been made in a great diversity of sectors, among them – infrastructure, education, tourism, WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and others. Additionally, hundreds of U.S. companies 
successfully operat e within the business -friendly environment in Georgia.  
4.813.   Nowadays, the Russia n Federation' s unjustified war against Ukraine has far -reaching 
negative consequences in many vital areas across the globe, primarily in economy, trade, energy 
and food security. H ence, in these challenging circumstances, we would welcome broader U.S. 
engagement in projects of regional importance in Georgia and thus, increased U.S. presence in this 
strategically significant region.  
4.814.   Georgia stands ready to further enhance our strateg ic partnership with the United  States 
through various measures including but not limited to further intensifying high -level political 
dialogue, security cooperation as well as bolstering our trade, investment,  and economic ties. 
Georgia is and will remain the close and reliable partner of the United  States.  
4.815.   Furthermore, we look forward to further cooperation with the United  States on all fronts – 
bilaterally or multilaterally – to pursue our shared goal of a fair, open and predictable global 
economy.  
4.816.   Finally, we would like to wish the U .S. delegation the fruitful discussions and a successful 
Trade Policy Review . 
PERU 
4.817.   Peru welcomes Ambassador María  Pagán, Permanent Representative of the United  States to 
the WTO, and all her delegation. Peru also echoes the th anks expressed by other delegations for the 
report on the macroeconomic performance and trade policy regime of the U.S. for its fifteenth  Trade 
Policy Review. Likewise, we thank the Secretariat for the Report provided to Members, and 
Ambassador Spencer for  her judicious and timely comments as discussant.  
4.818.   Peru welcomes the United  States' renewed commitment to international trade and to the 
task of making it fairer and more inclusive, so that we can all reap the benefits from it for the 
development and prospe rity of our peoples.  
4.819.   Allow me to talk briefly about Peru's trade relationship with the United  States, our 
second -largest trading partner in the world.  
4.820.   In 2021, our bilateral trade recovered to pre -pandemic levels, topping USD  16 billion.  
4.821.   That same year, Pe ru's exports to the United  States grew by 16%, thanks to increased sales 
of textiles and clothing, as well as some agricultural products such as strawberries, blueberries and 
avocados. Our imports from the United  States  in that year grew by 43%, due to increased purchases 
of fuels and agricultural goods such as yellow corn and wheat.  
4.822.   This promising dynamic has been accompanied by close political and cultural ties, built on 
long-standing bilateral relations, our cooperati on, and shared economic interests.  
4.823.   The importance of our economic relationship is reflected in the free trade agreement between 
Peru and the United  States that has been in force since 2009, and has set the stage for the 
development and growth of trade betw een our peoples.  
4.824.   For Peru, this free trade agreement establishes clear ground rules, with a transparent, 
predictable framework that helps maintain and foster orderly bilateral trade and serves the national 
interests of both parties. It also sends a positiv e signal to investors, helping to kindle their interest 
in new initiatives in our markets.  
4.825.   Peru takes note of various points contained in the Reports included in the present review. 
One we wish to highlight in a positive way is the effort made by Customs a nd Border Protection to 
modernize its customs procedures, including further developments made to its single window 
application.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.826.   Turning to the multilateral system, we appreciate that this review has provided a framework 
for the United  States to renew its c ommitment to the stability and soundness of the multilateral 
trading system, which can only be maintained and strengthened if all Members undertake to comply 
with the obligations to which they have committed.  
4.827.   We welcome the active role and efforts of the U nited States in this forum and are confident 
that it is ready to take on its role, in keeping with the size of its economy and its capacities, with 
the responsibilities that this entails within the international trading system.  
4.828.   We appreciate the United  States' willingness to engage in dialogue and its notable 
participation in the negotiations on various aspects of this Organization's agenda. We therefore 
encourage the U.S. to continue these efforts in the run -up to the next Ministerial Conference.  
4.829.   Having ra ised these important points, it only remains for me to thank the United  States 
delegation for this exercise and to wish it a successful Trade Policy Review.  
MOROCCO  
4.830.   The delegation of Morocco wishes a very warm welcome to the honourable delegation of the 
United  States of America, led by H.E.  Ambassador María  Pagán, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative 
and Chief of Mission in Geneva. We t hank both, the Government of the U .S. and the Secretariat , for 
their insightful and detailed Reports, as well as H.E.  Ambassa dor Cheryl  K. Spencer (Jamaica)  for 
her com ments as a discuss ant. 
4.831.   Morocco and the United  States have a long history of  working together bilaterally and 
regionally. As you may know, Morocco was the first country to recognize the newly independent 
United  States  opening its ports to American ships by decree of Sultan  Mohammed  III in 1777.  
Morocco formally recognized the United  States by signing a treaty of peace and friendship in 1786 , 
a document  that remains the longest unbroken  relationship in U .S. history following  the American 
Congress.  
4.832.   Nowadays, more than  150 U.S. companies operate in Morocco , particularly in renewable 
energy, infrastructure, aviatio n, and environmental technology sectors.  
4.833.   In 2006, Morocco entered into force  free trade agreement with the U .S., since  its entry  into 
force Moroccan exports to the U .S. have more than doubled , and the United States' exports to 
Morocco have more than quadrupled. The  period between  2006 and 2021 shows  a positive trend  in 
bilateral commercial relations . Since  2006, year of entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement, 
commercial exchanges  between  Morocco and the U .S. have known  a clear evolution by reaching 
USD 4.35 billion in 2021 against only USD  1.17 billion in 2006. The year 2022 saw the volume of 
trade with the United  States  reach  USD 3.3 billion  with around USD 700 million for  exports, and  
USD 2.6 billion for imports.  
4.834.   As for American direct investment in Morocco, this has increased significantly in the period  
between 2015  and 2018, while between 2020 and 2021 they have fallen following the fallout of the 
international socio -economic  and geopolitical situation.  
4.835.   Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that  following the historical recognition by the 
United  States of America of Morocco's sovereignty over the Saharan provinces  in 2020, a 
considerable amount of investment in Morocco and Sub -Saharan Africa has been allocated and will 
be provided  by the U .S. International Development Finance Corporation  with Moroccan partners.  
4.836.   Morocco is committed  to play an important role in the U .S.-Africa relationship, as emphasized 
by the Moroccan Chief of Government in the Africa -U.S. Summit held in Washington DC this  week, 
Morocco makes  its experience and expertise available to strengthen the economic and commercial 
partnership between its  African  continent and the United  States.  
4.837.   In short, the assessment of the cooperation between Morocco and the United  States qualifies 
as positive , an observation , which is justified by the development of several projects in various 
sectors of activity for investment and strengthening  of Morocco 's role as economic hub . on the 
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  4.838.   In the other hand, Morocco appreciates and supports the  U.S. commitment to the m ultilateral 
trading system,  mainly by launching frank and constructive dialogue on the DSB reform. Moreover, 
we are looking forward to a more constructive  engagement from the U .S. to improve the multilateral 
trading system functioning  and to reform it as necessary, in order to make it more inclusive , more 
equitable , more transparent,  and sustainable development -oriented.  
4.839.   Lastly, Morocco wishes a  successful and fruitful TPR to the United  States.  
REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA  
4.840.   Let me also star by joining others in  welcoming H .E. María Págan , Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative and Chief of Mission in Geneva, and the entire delegation to this Trade Policy 
Transp arency Exercise.  I would also like to greet and welcome the discuss ant, Ambassador 
Cheryl  K. Spencer , for the insightful introductory  remarks, as well as her work and efforts during 
this exercise.  I would also like to extend my delegation's appreciation to  the Secretariat for their 
efforts in drafting such a complex  and lengthy Report . 
4.841.   As a general remark and stated in the Secretariat  Report, I am pleased to note that the U .S. 
economy is among the most internationally integrated worldwide given its production of  value added 
and competitive products and services . As many other Member s stated in the first day of this review , 
with almost 14 % of global GDP, the United  States  remain s the world's largest and is one of the most  
influential econom ies, and is a major trading partner to most WTO Members.  
4.842.   Furthermore , the Republic of Moldova notes  with appreciation  the United  States ' efforts  to 
support M SMEs  focused on  strengthen export c apacities of MSMEs sector and their 
internationalization,  as well as new policies to cope with  climate change, improve ecological 
environment protection , and promote sustainable development.  
4.843.   Also, w e are commending the participation in JSIs within the WTO, particularly noticing the 
active participation in discussions on international rules for digital trade and the free flow  of data 
and challenges of regulatory  differences . 
4.844.   On the bilateral cooperation level, Moldova -U.S. bilateral relations are currently regulated by 
almost 62  bilateral treaties or arrangements , memorand a or amendments  and declarations, in 
various fields, the main one of the economic nature is the one on mutual protection and promotion 
of the investments and  avoidance of doub le taxation,  as well as the unilateral trade preferences 
offered by the U.S. through GSP . Given the recent importance of preferences granted to the Republic 
of Moldova through GSP, the Republic of Moldova hopes that the U .S. will consider extending this 
regime as it previously did  in similar situation.  
4.845.   Currently, I have to say that U.S. ranks on the 16th place among the Republic of Moldova 's 
top trading partners, and it has improved our trade, registering  a positively increase over the last 
review , for example, for the period or the statistics for Januar y-September  2023 shows that we had 
an increase of around 34% in our bilateral trade compared  the previous year.  With 60% for exp orts 
and 28% when it comes to imports . Still, is there is a huge potential to this because when we look 
at, not in percentage but at the value of th ese exports and of the trade, there is much to work on, 
and we still consider this is a modest bilateral trade and economic relation  and there is a significant 
potential for  further development. A ccording to some of our assessment s, the Republic of Moldova 
has a great exp orts potential on the U .S. market when it comes to agricultural products, such as 
wine or fresh  grapes , apple  juices , sunflower seeds, and so on.  
4.846.   These improved trade flows, particularly in fresh apples , for example,  or grapes,  would  be 
of great help to our farmers which currently are facing major challenges, being several affected by 
the war in Ukraine.  
4.847.   Another aspect on the investment side, there are currently 3 51 American enterprises active 
in the Republic of Moldova, and we are pl eased to see an increasing trend of U .S. direct investment 
in the Republic of  Moldova, but still there is a strong feeling  that much more could be done, U.S. 
ranks now 15 among  main investors in the Republic of Moldova.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.848.   On another note , similar to  many other Members in this house, U .S. remains among the 
major donors for the Republic of Moldova, and the Republic of Moldova highly appreciates and 
welcomes the assistance offered d uring all these years by U .S. through  different development 
partners, and notably  the p rogram mes targeted and directed to our trade development . I would 
particularly like to refer to one of the projects that concerns the support given by the USA ID in the 
develop ment of IT industry in the Repu blic of Moldova, that has registered quite an increase lately . 
4.849.   I would also like to refer to the support that was granted again via  the USAID to the 
development of e -commerce  in the Republic of Moldova, so we have been having  several 
program mes developed i n the country with the support of the United  States, so the digitalization of 
the national economy and the development of e -commerce, both internal and external  is a priority 
of our country, and in this context, the support was very much needed and appreci ated. 
4.850.   On a different note, also related to our cooperation and trade, I have referred already to our 
interest to benefit or to have an extending of the regime of the GSP, and I would like to draw 
particular ly the  attention of the  U.S. delegation  on the importance for the Republic of Moldova now 
to have an increased trade when it comes to food and agricultural products as they have been in 
particular affected by the war in Ukraine.  The Republic of Moldova has lost important  markets , 
eastern  market s, not only the Ukrainian market but other countries from eastern  side including the 
Russian  Federation and  Belarus, for  example, which were about our top exported products from 
when we talk about agriculture products, for example, 100% of our apples  were going to the almost 
100% depended  on the Russian market . Equally farmers transporters,  all our supply chains , have 
been affected by this wa r, and it is not only the agri -food sector, but also construction , wood 
processing , metal  processing and another  fields of our economy.  
4.851.   Bearing that in mind, considering the new realities, the Republic of Moldova would hardly 
appreciate U.S. further support in overcoming the current economic situation, and as I have already 
indicated  through the extension of GSP scheme.  
4.852.   To conclude, on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Moldova, I would like to 
congratulate the U .S. delegation for th e conclusion and for the conduction  of this TPR . 
EGYPT  
4.853.   At the outset, allow me at the outset to join previous speakers in congratulating the 
delegation of the United  States of America, led by H.E. María  Luisa Pagán , Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative and Chi ef of Mission in Geneva , and her team, on the successful completion of the 
15th Trade Policy Review and the hard work done on this exercise . 
4.854.   We would also like to express our appreciation to the U .S. Administration, as well as the 
WTO Secretariat for the comprehensive Reports . We thank H.E. Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer 
(Jamaica) for her useful and insightful remarks and observations on her capacity as discussant.  
4.855.   The U.S. is a major economy and a key player in the multilateral trading sy stem. The U .S. 
is among the world's largest agricultural exporters, the top producer and exporter of goods and 
services , that embody  intellectual property, the largest insurance  market in the world ; and one of 
the world's largest healthcare sectors . It is also a key player in e -commerce and digital economy 
worldwide. These facts compounded  with a highly integrated  economy with the rest of the world,  
make the U .S. one of the key actors that impacts and directs  the global economy and international 
trade. 
4.856.   On the bilateral level, we share excellent relations and strategic partnership with the U .S. on 
all levels . On the economic and trade side, the U .S. is one of Egypt's largest  trading partners, with 
trade flows, volume -exceeding USD  9 billion  in 2021. Furthermore, Egyptian exports  to the U.S. 
have raised by 10.6% in the first quarter of 2022. Our imports from the U .S. have increased by 
22.8% compared to the same period last year. The U .S. is also among the top six investors in Egypt, 
with total  investments amounting  to USD 4.5 billion .  
4.857.   In addition, Egypt has benefited from U .S. funding for C OVID -19 response, which reached 
nearly USD 22 million this year.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.858.   Furthermore , we would like to indicate that the fifth round  of the Trade and Investment 
Framework Agreement  (TIFA)  between E gypt and the U .S. was concluded earlier this month, in 
Cairo-Egypt, this work framework is one of the main mechanisms aiming at fostering bilateral 
economic  and trade relations  between both countries . The round discussed  several issues of common 
interest, such as access of Egyptian agriculture products to American markets, li fting the ban on 
shipping goods, opening new shipping r outes on Egypt air flights headed to the U .S. In addition to 
renewing the work of the  GSP. T he discussions also stressed the need to  enhance cooperation on 
several other issues, such as taxes, customs, food  security, intellectual property, and information 
communication technology.  
4.859.   The fi fth round of T IFA has built  on the outcomes of the fruitful meeting held between the 
leaders of the two countries on the margin of COP2 7, held last November  in Sharm El -Sheikh, Egypt , 
where the two leaders agreed on the need to advance cooperation , to accelerate international efforts 
to combat climate change , and to find solutions to global  challenges related to economic and food 
and insecurity.  
4.860.   On another note, we look forward to further engaging bilaterally with the U .S. delegation on 
several issues of concern,  which may have implications on our exports ac cess to the American 
markets, such as the changes made on the U .S. GSP; the U .S. aluminium  import monitoring  and 
analysis  system, the U .S. support provided to increase American -made fertilizer production  under 
the fertilizer  product expansion programme, the U .S. Department of Energy's funding program me 
to support electric vehicle technologies,  the expansion of the scope of Section  232, steel and 
aluminium tariffs to cover  the derivatives of these products . We look forward to ha ndling these 
issues in light of the cordial r elations between our countries . 
4.861.   On the multilateral level, we welcome the initiative led by the United  States to reform the 
Dispute Settlement Mechanism. W e are engaging actively in the process  to reflect the co ncerns of 
developing countries, especially from the African continent, and in a way that would address 
systematic obstacles that render  the system inaccessible to the majority of our nations , while 
emphasiz ing the importance of the restoration of the Appel late Body.  
4.862.   Finally, we wish the delegation of the United  States a  successful 15th Trade Policy Review.  
CAMEROON ON BEHALF OF THE AFRICAN GROUP  
4.863.   I am making this statement on behalf of the Ambassador of Cameroon, coordinator of the 
African Group.  
4.864.   The African  Group is pleased to take part in this fifteenth Trade Policy Review of the 
United  States.  
4.865.   We would like to congratulate the United  States delegation, through 
H.E. Ambassador  María  Pagán, for the efforts made in relation to this fifteenth Trade Poli cy Review. 
We commend the United  States' active and significant commitment to the multilateral trading system 
since the WTO was established in 1995. We also thank the WTO Secretariat for its Report and the 
discussant, H.E. Miss  Cheryl  K. Spencer of Jamaica . 
4.866.   Based on the information contained in the two Trade Policy Review Reports, we are pleased 
to note that over the review period, which runs from October  2018 to June  2022, a period marked 
by the COVID -19 pandemic, with historic drops in global output, the United  States recovery has 
outpaced that of many other developed countries, thanks to early and rapid vaccine rollout and 
significant fiscal and monetary policy support. Trade (exports and imports of goods and services) 
made up between 24% and 28% of U.S. GDP. In 2020, U.S. real GDP contracted by 3.4%, after 
11 consecutive years of growth. Thanks to the support measures put in place by the U.S. 
Government and by an easing of monetary conditions, the United  States  economy experienced a 
rapid rebound in 2021,  recording real GDP growth of 5.7%.  
4.867.   We congratulate the United  States Government on its reforms, which have led to efficient 
control of the effects of the global health crisis. We note that the United  States has an economy that 
is very open to the world an d highly integrated into the multilateral system. It is a party to 14 free 
trade agreements covering trade with 20  countries. The main development during the review period WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  was the conclusion and implementation of the revised agreement with Canada and Mexic o, the 
United  States -Mexico -Canada Agreement, which entered into force in July  2020.  
4.868.   Some amendments were also made to the free trade agreements with the Republic of Korea 
and Morocco with regard to unilateral preferences. The GSP program me expired in December  2020 
and as of March  2022 had not been renewed. The renewal of ethical preferences under the Caribbean 
Basin Trade Partnership Act was extended until 2030. Other agreements involving trade issues were 
concluded during the review period , with Japan, China, and the European  Union, covering a range 
of products or subjects.  
4.869.   The African  Group welcomes the talks initiated in December  2021 between United  States  
Trade Representative Tai and the Secretary -General of the African Continental Free Trade Area 
(AfCFTA) on important issues concerning trade cooperation between the United  States  and Africa, 
specifically the means to support regional value chains across Africa, attract positive investment on 
the continent and improve living conditions for  African populations and workers.  
4.870.   We therefore welcome the U.S. Government's technical assistance for the AfCFTA and the 
support of the United  States Agency for International Development and that of Prosper Africa for the 
AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth . 
4.871.   Through its support for implementation of the AfCFTA, the United  States, a major partner 
for Africa, understands more clearly that this free trade area offers real opportunities for African 
countries to respond to the current emergencies and challenges o f world trade and production. And 
that this free trade zone has the potential to help create value added on the continent, with all the 
benefits this would bring in terms of economic diversification, higher incomes and better jobs.  
4.872.   We would like to point o ut that this strong support is in keeping with the aspirations we have 
often expressed here at the WTO. The African Group hopes for greater support from the 
United  States along these lines in order to foster convergence and conclude the long -stalled trade 
negotiations on the development and agricultural reform that Africa so desires. It would also reduce 
the imbalance that exists between the different countries and allow our continent to better integrate 
into world trade.  
4.873.   This situation is a wake -up call for all of us, given the urgent need for fiscal reform and 
structural transformation on the African continent, in line with Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. 
The recently concluded U.S. -Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C., which was attended by 
several of our Heads of State, is further proof of our two sides' willingness to work together to allow 
African products greater access to the U.S. market through wider access to initiatives such as the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).  
4.874.   Our main goa l, therefore, is to achieve outcomes in all the topics to be discussed at MC13, 
with the assistance of the United  States. The information provided on the occasion of this review 
has shown the willingness of this great trading partner to work in this direct ion and for the reform 
of the multilateral trading system. Like the previous speakers, we wish the United  States delegation 
a very successful Trade Policy Review.  
BAHAMAS ON BEHALF OF THE CARICOM GROUP  
4.875.   This statement is made on behalf of the CARICOM Group.  
4.876.   We wish to congratulate the United  States on this the occasion of its 15th Trade Policy 
Review. We are grateful to the U .S., in particular Ambassador Pagán, her team here in Geneva, as 
well as the team at the USTR for all their efforts in the Report which  has been presented to us. We 
must also applaud the efforts of the WTO Secretariat for its comprehensive Report.  
4.877.   The U .S. and CARICOM are neighbours with a long history of generally good relations. The 
U.S. has been one of our region 's most important trad ing partners and for all of CARICOM combined, 
the U .S. remains our largest export market. For example, exports by CARICOM to the United  States 
in 2020 and 2021 accounted for 30 % and 36.2 %, respectively, of its exports to the world, and 
imports from the U.S . into CARICOM amounted to 36.9 % and 34.4 % of CARICOM 's imports from all 
sources.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  4.878.   It is also important to note that the U .S. is one of our single largest source markets for 
tourism, we rely heavily on the U .S. for inward foreign direct investment (FDI) an d we also trade a 
large number of services with the U .S., including professional services, business process outsourcing 
and financial services among others.  
4.879.   We are very pleased to see that after the economic fallout from the C OVID -19 pandemic, 
that the U .S. was able to make a swift rebound. Nonetheless, we are mindful of the economic 
headwinds ahead, fuelled by record high inflation, the war in Ukraine and energy volatility.  
4.880.   CARICOM attaches great importance to the unilateral preferences under the Caribb ean Basin 
Initiative (CBI) , Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), and the Caribbean Basin Trade 
Partnership Act (CBTPA); and to the additional preferences for Haiti on certain textile imports under 
quota granted under the HOPE I/II and HELP Acts.  
4.881.   In 2020, CARICOM beneficiaries gave full support to, and welcomed the renewal of the WTO 
waiver for CBI to 30  September  2030. We are grateful to the U .S. for having made this request and 
we are also grateful to the wider WTO Membership for its continued s upport of these kinds of 
provisions.  
4.882.   We note the findings in the WTO Secretaria t's Report that "preferential imports under the 
CBTPA doubled over the period, albeit from a small base, attributed to increases in crude petroleum 
imports largely from Guyana and that CBERA beneficiaries tend to be small economies and small 
exporters, often constrained by infrastructure issues, and thus trade under CBERA has remained 
relatively constant with limited export diversification ".  
4.883.   Notwithstanding the Secretariat 's findings regarding limited export diversification, the 
Community in pursuance of its strategic objective of building economic resilience, continues to assign 
priority to the preferential trade relationship with the United  States as a platform for building 
competitiveness and spurring investment.  
4.884.   As noted before, the CARICOM -U.S. relationship is vital for the region. This is reflected keenly 
in the area of financial services, where the region largely relies on the U nited States'  financial 
architecture, even fo r trade and commercial relationships with countries other than the U .S.  
4.885.   In fact, the financial services sector, and specifically banking, continues to be a vital sector 
for the development of CARICOM economies. Given the important role of this sector in t he 
Community 's growth and development, the increasing curtailment of correspondent banking 
relations (CBRs) by U .S. financial institutions, largely in response to regulatory pressures, threatens 
the CARICOM 's economic stability and its capacity to remain i ntegrated in the global financial, trade 
and economic systems.  
4.886.   These de-risking measures disrupt the access of CARICOM States to the global payments 
and financial system, significantly impair the viability of a number of critical domestic financial and 
banking services including money transfer businesses, thereby potentially undermining financial 
stability and inclusion as well as economic growth. We look forward to deeper dialogue with the U .S. 
on how these issues can be amicably resolved.  
4.887.   CARICOM has a strong desire to intensify its engagement with the U .S., including through 
appropriate fora such as under the CARICOM -U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement 
(TIFA), including the Trade and Investment Council (TIC), as a framework for dialogue and 
advancing trade and investment cooperation between CARICOM and the U .S.  
4.888.   We are pleased with the outcomes from the Summit of Americas held this past June. In 
particular, the U.S – Caribbean Partnership PACC2030 to establish a framework to elevate 
cooperation and support to Caribbean countries in climate adaption, energy, security, resilience, and 
an agreement to support agriculture initiatives.  
4.889.   In closing, we encourage the U .S. to continue to play a constructive and leadership role 
across all areas  of the WTO 's work. We look forward to working with the U .S. on critical issues, such 
as WTO Reform, including the restoration of the full functioning of the WTO 's two -tiered dispute 
settlement system.  We wish the U .S. a successful Trade Policy Review . WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  5  REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNIT ED STATES  AND ADDITIONAL 
COMMENTS  
5.1.  Thank you for joining again today for the continuation of this 15th Trade Policy Review of the 
United  States. We appreciated that more than 60  Members offered observations.  
5.2.  I enjoyed seeing many of you last night at our reception. I realize that one colleague in 
particular may have been disappointed that we were not able to enjoy "succulent world -renowned 
lamb, washed down by California zinfandel". We'll keep that in mind for s ome other occasion.  
5.3.  This morning I'd like to respond briefly to several themes that we heard on Wednesday.  
5.4.  We were encouraged to hear many Members from across the development spectrum support 
the core objectives of the multilateral trading system – that trade should raise living standards. 
ensure full employment, pursue sustainable development, and protect and preserve the 
environment. There is nothing easy about achieving these objectives, but with our mutual 
commitment to meaningful and constructiv e engagement, we can do better here, for all of our 
people.  
5.5.  Many Members spoke about the importance of our GSP program me to the development and 
advancement of their economies, and they asked about its renewal. As many of you know, the legal 
authority to re authorize GSP lies in the U.S. Congress, which is currently deliberating on when and 
how it will update and renew the program me. I can tell you that the Office of the United  States Trade 
Representative continues to support Congress' efforts to reauthorize the GSP program me. 
5.6.  Several of our African partners called for deepening our economic relationships, bilaterally and 
regionally. The United  States strongly supports the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade 
Area (AfCFTA), which include promoting economic policies to reduce poverty as well as regional 
economic integration through trade. This week, during the U.S. -Africa Leaders' Summit, 
United  States Trade Representative Tai and AfCFTA Secretary General Mene signed a Memorandum 
of Understanding on Cooperation for Trade and Investment Between the AfCFTA Secretariat and the 
United  States. The MOU establishes an annual high -level engagement and quarterly meetings of 
technical working groups. Our shared objective is to deepen the relationship between th e 
United  States, the AfCFTA Secretariat, AfCFTA member States, and related stakeholders.  
5.7.  Several partners also mentioned the importance of AGOA. I would note that this week, 
Ambassador Tai hosted trade ministers from sub -Saharan Africa for the AGOA Ministe rial. She 
reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to expanding trade and investment with the continent. She also 
stated our interest in improving AGOA, including how we can increase utilization rates, particularly 
among smaller and less -developed countries. Our sha red objective is to translate AGOA's 
opportunities into concrete benefits for African people in all segments of society.  
5.8.  Some of our LDC partners in particular have noted the importance of industrialization for their 
sustainable development. We share your  goal. We recognize it is challenging to find realistic paths 
toward industrialization, and that the path is made more difficult by unfair trading practices of some 
Members. We remain committed to finding ways to partner with you, even if the answers are  not 
obvious or easy.  
5.9.  We appreciated many Members' recognition of our strong record on transparency, which is a 
mark of trustworthiness and a fundamental expression of our commitment to fair play, to 
constructive engagement with partners large and small, an d to the objectives of the multilateral 
trading system.  
5.10.  We heard wide support for our deep and productive involvement in various joint statement 
initiatives. Today, I'm pleased to announce that the United  States  will begin to participate in the JSI 
on MSME s. 
5.11.  We were gratified to hear many Members welcome our record of leadership and continued 
strong interest in WTO reform, across all pillars of the organization. We heard many Members 
express appreciation for the discussions we are hosting on dispute settlem ent reform. We do not 
prejudge what a reformed system would look like, and we likewise ask other Members to approach WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  these conversations with an open mind. We believe that working collectively toward a system that 
meets the needs of all Members provides th e greatest chance of achieving durable, lasting reform. 
We look forward to advancing these important  conversations.  
5.12.  Several Members noted their concern that U.S. domestic support in agriculture had increased 
in recent years, primarily due to the Market Fa cilitation Program and the Coronavirus Food Assistance 
Program. I would like to note that the food assistance program me was a temporary program me 
designed to minimize the negative economic impacts of COVID -19 on U.S. agriculture, while the 
market access pr ogram me was a temporary program me designed to help assist producers with 
meeting the additional costs associated with disrupted markets for commodities targeted by 
retaliatory tariffs. In both cases, a specific amount of funding was authorized for these pr ograms. 
That funding is no longer available and as previously stated, both programs are no longer in effect.  
5.13.  A number of Members raised concerns about the continued usage of U.S. trade remedy 
procedures. I would like to make a few brief observations. Firs t, our system is petitioner -led, not 
government -led. Therefore, an increase or decrease in petitioners' requests is not determined by 
the government. Second, the size of the U.S. market, coupled with relatively low tariffs, make us a 
more attractive target  for others to dump their goods on our market. Third, a few Members continue 
to confound U.S. trade remedies with a deeper and more worrying problem that the remedies aim 
to address – namely, injurious dumping and subsidization by others. It is important t o maintain 
some perspective. While the United  States accounted for nearly 20 % of all initiated anti -dumping  
investigations from July  2019 to July  2022, 25 % of all such investigations —one quarter —were 
initiated in response to trade from one Member - China.  
5.14.  Several Members commented on the United  States' position on the essential security 
exception in Article  XXI(b) of the GATT  1994. One Member even said —witho ut irony —that we are 
abusing the concept of national security, disregarding WTO rules, and destroying the multilateral 
trading system. But I wish to remind Members: the negotiating history of Article  XXI(b) confirms 
the drafters intended this provision to be self -judging, and that the available remedy for such 
measures is a non -violation claim.  
5.15.  As I said in my opening statement, we do  not need to agree with each other on everything. 
But it is in our collective interest to forge a WTO fit for the times. To t hat end, the United  States will 
work with any Member that is committed, as we are, to the principles and foundational objectives 
that brought us here many decades ago.  
5.16.  The United  States approaches the end of this Review with sincere appreciation for the se rious 
engagement of most Members during this week, and we are grateful for the role of the Secretariat, 
the Chair, and our discussant in shepherding us through this process.  
5.17.  I must confess that the discussion about "destroyers" during the meeting on Wednes day 
reminded me of a band I used to listen to during my college years – George Thorogood and the 
Delaware Destroyers. One of their hits was "Bad to the Bone", which seems to fit with the theme of 
someone's intervention on Wednesday. They also had a mean re ndition of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You 
Love?" Don't worry, not asking. By the way, I just found out they are going on tour next year.  
5.18.  On that note, as Puerto  Rico's own José  Feliciano would say, "feliz navidad, prospero año y 
felicidad" , I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.'  
DISCUSSANT  
5.19.  I would like to use this opportunity to thank Ambassador Mar ía Pagán, Head of Delegation 
and her team for their hard work and constructive engagement during this Review.  
5.20.  I also thank Ambassador Pagá n for her very detailed intervention which outlined the actions 
that are being undertaken by the U .S. at the domestic level. Her intervention detailed new 
developments, as well as addressed critical issues raised in the Secretariat's Report and the 
discuss ions during the TPR.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  5.21.  Given the significance and importance of the United  States' economy to global trade and the 
multilateral trading system, it is unsurprising that its 15th Trade Policy Review was characterized by 
a high level of interest and participation of Members.  
5.22.  I wish to thank Members for the questions posed, the concerns raised, and the commendations 
conveyed in their statements to the U .S. delegation.  
5.23.  As you would have heard, there were over 65  Members delivering interventions, and mor e 
than 2 ,000 questions posed to the U .S.  
5.24.  It is anticipated that the United  States will continue to engage with Members through various 
mechanisms, bilaterally and multilaterally as a follow -up to any outstanding questions.  
5.25.  It is clear, from my perspective , that there was wide acknowledgement of the United  States' 
positive progress in recovery from the impact of the pandemic based on the statements made, which 
cited the data presented in both the reports of the Government and the Secretariat.  
5.26.  It is also evi dent that the WTO's Membership values the importance of the United  States as a 
prominent stakeholder in the multilateral trading system.  
5.27.  It was noted that many interventions pointed to and emphasized the role of the United  States 
in contributing to the dev elopment and strengthening of the WTO, particularly since the 
United  States is a major trading partner for most WTO Members.  
5.28.  It is commendable that so many delegations used their interventions to highlight the active 
participation of the United  States on a wide array of issues in the various WTO Bodies, negotiating 
groups and in the Joint Statement Initiatives.  
5.29.  Several Members highlighted their close historical relationship with the U .S., and the various 
initiatives upon which they engaged with the United  States at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral 
levels, spanning not only trade and economic domains, but areas such as climate change and 
security.  
5.30.  There was widespread acknowledgement of the United  States' active involvement in 
discussions on issues such as fisheries subsidies, agriculture, e -commerce, SPS, WTO reform and 
the TRIP S waiver, to name a few. The U .S. was commended for its constructive engagement during 
MC12, which facilitated several of the positive outcomes which we re agreed.  
5.31.  Members also expressed appreciation for the significant contribution of the U .S. to supporting 
the integration of developing countries and LDCs into the global trading system through its provision 
of trade preferences and trade -related technical  and capacity -building assistance, such as Aid for 
Trade and in Trade Facilitation.  
5.32.  Specifically, it is important to acknowledge the indications by many members of their 
appreciation to the U .S., for its support to their national COVID -19 response through the provision 
of vaccines and other equipment.  
5.33.  Some Members noted that the thrust of the U nited States' trade policies and action was guided 
by its "Build Back Better" agenda, which placed workers at the centre of trade policy, as well as 
sought to address the COVID -19 pandemic, while promoting a sustainable environment and climate 
change. This includes the U .S. efforts and commitments to addressing the environmental challenges 
and especially for its net zero emissions no later than 2050.  
5.34.  The U .S. was called on to consider that special and differential treatment is a fundamental 
principle in the WTO and should be preserved in favour of developing and least developed Members. 
The U .S. was also urged to avoid the use of per capita income as a criterion as it does not reflect 
accurately a country's level of development and vulnerabilities.  
5.35.  During the review, there were some concerns raised over what is labelled as unilateral 
approaches, which some Members indicated resembled protectionism.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  5.36.  The Buy America /Made in America initiative is an example of such policies which, in this case, 
was regarded by some Members as hindering access to the U nited States ' procurement market.  
5.37.  Other areas in which concerns were raised related to the Inflation Reduction Act; th e foreign 
investment security review; the Section  232 measures on steel and aluminium, the U .S. 301 tariffs, 
the application of economic sanctions, regulations that result in de -risking and de -banking policies 
by banks, which affect some developing countri es and the increase in the use of Anti -dumping and 
Countervailing duties and their adverse impact of these on trade.  
5.38.  The Review further highlights a perception that there is a lapse on the part of the United  States 
in the implementation of WTO dispute set tlement rulings, which those Members indicated could 
undermine the multilateral trading system.  
5.39.  Still on the matter of disputes, while noting positively the informal discussions which are being 
led by the United  States on dispute settlement matters, severa l Members invited the U .S. to act with 
urgency on the full functioning of the Dispute Settlement System .  
5.40.  Given the concerns raised, one may logically conclude that the United  States will need to 
continue its dialogue with concerned Members to provide clar ity on these issues as soon as possible, 
and preferably before the next Review is due.  
5.41.  Perhaps, the United  States may be of the view that resolving some of these issues may merit 
broader discussions. If that is the case, I have drawn the conclusion, based  on Members' 
interventions, that Members are open to having dialogue on issues that require broader engagement.  
5.42.  More broadly, it was abundantly clear that Members look forward to further strengthen their 
economic cooperation and trade with the U .S. in the  future.  
5.43.  It was also clear that Members appreciated the constructive spirit with which the U .S. 
delegation engages in discussions in Geneva. These are traits that are positive for the WTO.  
5.44.  In conclusion, I was privileged to have participated as a discussant in the 15th Trade Policy 
Review of the United  States.  
5.45.  I commend the delegation led by Ambassador  Pagán, on what I perceive to be a successful 
review exercise. I wish to underscore our jo int efforts to ensure that the multilateral trading system 
remains free, fair, transparent, inclusive, and equitable, and that the WTO is strengthened and 
adequately equipped to face today 's and other emerging challenges. I further wish to acknowledge 
the support rendered as well as from the WTO Secretariat team.  
5.46.  I thank all Members for their participation, as well as you, Chairman, Ambassador 
Ángel  Villalobos  Rodrίguez of Mexico, for the able way in which you steered these meetings and for 
your insightful  remarks and guidance throughout this Review.  
EUROPEAN  UNION  
5.47.  Let me start by expressing our appreciation to Ambassador  Pagán and the United  States ' 
delegation for the replies to the European  Union's questions . The U.S., we understand  received over 
2,000 questions of which 78 from the European  Union . We hope that the follow -up questions that 
we have submitted on government procurement and subsidies will be  continued to be answered in 
this spirit.  
5.48.  The fact that the U.S. is the largest economy in the world, and a main trading partner for 
many WTO M embers was clearly reflected by the numerous statements  and the interest shown  in 
this Review, i ncluding by the E uropean  Union. The defining role of the United  States has had in  
shaping the global trading system has been widely recognized by WTO Membership, and has raised 
higher expectations from most of WTO Members on the prominent role that the United  States should 
play within  this Organization . 
5.49.  The European  Union once again ap preciate s the change of ton e, compared to the last two U .S. 
TPR in 2018 and the positive bilateral trade agenda, which has replaced several years of disputes . WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  5.50.  We salute Ambassador's Pagán d eclared commitment to the WTO and to the multilatera l 
trading system and look forward to working with this positive multilateral spirit with the 
United  States and the rest of the Membership going forward towards MC 13. 
5.51.  Nevertheless, I would like to point a number of concerns that are shared widely across the 
Membership . 
5.52.  First of all, there is an almost unanimous call on the U .S. to play a constructive  role in restoring 
the Dispute Settlement System  with a functioning Appellate  Body. Many M embers noted that a  
rules-based system cannot properly function without the capacity to see the rules enforced. We 
understand  that the United  States favours  a reform of the WTO, including  its Dispute Settlement 
Mechanism . We hope and expect that the U .S. will be fully and co nstructively invested  in this effort , 
so that we can have a fully function system by 2 024.  
5.53.  Second, most Members are concerned about the discriminatory aspects of the IRA and its 
compatibility with  WTO rules. While it was greatly appreciated that the US consulted its trading 
partners before the definition of the IRA implementing rules, we regret that the IRA was adopted 
without a formal  consultation , not even with the likeminded countries. And that the green tr ansition 
that the Act promises to facilitate shall be in our view at the detriment of close trading partners such 
as the European  Union. The United  States  did not offer the sought  replies on the widely spread 
concerns around the IRA (appealing )(?) to the r etrospective character of a trade policy review . The 
EU respectively notes that the IRA was conceived and discussed during the period under review and 
reflect s an idea of t rade policy in line with last year's U .S. trade initiatives . We will encourage the 
United States to provide complete and transparent replies in order to achieve the goals of this review 
in a responsible and effective manner .  
5.54.  Similarly, the European  Union remains concerned with the implementation of Infrastructure 
Investment Jobs Act and the guidance to the U nited States' contracting authority on compatibility of 
the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act with the Agreement on Government Procurement;  in their 
reply U.S. refers to the guidance of the Act which shall apply in a manner consistent with the 
obligations of the United  States in the  international agreements . Nevertheless, the E uropean  Union 
notes a de facto complexity for a procurement entity  to determine whether the GPA "By American " 
provisio ns would apply on a given case.   
5.55.  The E uropean  Union calls on  the United  States to  continue to fulfil the expectations of the 
Membership as one of the f ounding  Members  of the GATT and the rules -based multilateral trading 
system,  and to do so both by observing fully its  WTO obligations in law and in spirit, as well as by 
contributing constructively  to a collective effort to reform the multilateral trading system . 
5.56.  In conclusion, I would like to express once more the European  Union 's appreciation  to the 
whole delegation of the United  States for their participation and valuable  contributions for this Trade 
Policy Review.  
CHINA  
5.57.  At the first Session, China was pleased to hear that the United  States reiterated its 
commitment to the WTO a nd the multilateral trading system. China also shared the same view with 
the US that we are facing a more challenging era, and the trade policies of Members, as well as the 
WTO itself, need adapting to keep pace with the time. However, the U.S. statement i s full of the 
signals of "America First", which makes us worried.  
5.58.  Less than 24 hours after Ambassador Pag án's statement of U .S. commitment to the 
multilateral trading system, our worries were once again confirmed. 36 Chinese entities were added 
to the U.S.  export control "black list". The U.S. has once again disregarded WTO rules and ignored 
its multilateral obligations. This is a typical practice of market distortion and economic bullying. 
China firmly opposes this extremely lunatic and completely irration al move. And we have every 
reason to believe that what the U .S. does is not in line with what it advocates.  
5.59.  Now let 's come back to this TPR.  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  5.60.  First, the U.S. says it is "pursuing fair competition" by formulating environmental rules and 
protecting workers' rights. We believe that one of the basic obligations of WTO Members is not to 
pursue their policy goals by violating the WTO rules. The U .S. has recently detained a large number 
of Chinese photovoltaic products at the port, which seriously disrupted the normal trade of 
photovoltaic products between China and the U .S., and violates rules of both the market and the 
WTO.  
5.61.  Second, the U .S. says that the Inflation Reduction Act is a key policy tool in addressing critical 
climate change objectives, and that all stakeholders can participate in this open and transparent 
process. What needs to be emphasized is that many subsidy policies of the IRA are inco nsistent with 
the WTO rules, and no matter what the procedures are, they cannot conceal the nature of 
incompatibility with the WTO disciplines. Furthermore, as The Economist pointed out, these subsidy 
policies will just make electric vehicles more expensiv e and low -quality, affecting the realization of 
emission reduction goals.  
5.62.  Third, the United  States has repeatedly emphasized that only absolute technological 
leadership could ensure its national security. China would like to ask, if the U .S. logic is follo wed, 
how will the national security be guaranteed for those Members who are unable to maintain 
technological leadership?  
5.63.  The United  States has just shared its unique understanding of Article  21 of GATT. It should 
be said that this understanding has been r ejected by multiple WTO panel rulings and will be rejected 
in the future. It is very ironic in the multilateral trading system to impose one Member's 
understanding of the Agreement on all other Members.  
5.64.  China is also shocked and regretful to learn that the  U.S. "will not even apologize for " the 
policies and measures implicating national security.  
5.65.  Fourth, the U .S. said it would make the trading system more resilient, sustainable,  and 
inclusive. However, the United  States is attempting to separate China from the chips, electronic 
vehicles, biotechnology and bio -manufacturing industries through export controls, discriminatory 
subsidies and stringent investment reviews, and those policies have caused serious disruption and 
segmentation of the global industrial a nd supply chains. Is this the more resilient, sustainable,  and 
inclusive trading system pursued by the United  States?  
5.66.  I would also like to express China 's thanks on the replies from the U .S. to China 's written 
questions. But after closer scrutiny, we foun d: 
5.67.  First, with regard to questions relating to export control, we are stunned that the U .S. used 
"copy" and "paste" to provide identical answers to more than 40 questions, simply stating that its 
export control practices are in line with its domestic laws and WTO obligations. We are wondering 
how the practices of constant overgeneralizing the national security, measures of long -arm 
jurisdiction, and various coercion of interfering in other Members' trade management laws, could be 
consistent with WTO obligations? We urge the U .S. side to respond specifically to those questions.  
5.68.  Second, regarding the compliance of measures related to the Inflation Reduction Act and the 
Chips Act, the U .S. argued that the Trade Policy Review are retrospective exercises a nd refused to 
elaborate on the details of implementation next step. China would like to ask: whether WTO Members 
have the right to question the US how to implement laws and measures that violate WTO rules in a 
manner consistent with WTO rules?  
5.69.  The original  intention of the TPR is to clear up doubts and improve the predictability of trade 
policies. However, by answering questions with irrelevant information, the U .S. clearly has no 
sincerity in fulfilling its transparency obligations, which will damage the a uthority of the multilateral 
trading system.  
5.70.  Regarding the issue of restoring the fully and well -functioning Dispute Settlement Mechanism 
that Members are generally concerned about, the United  States pointed out in its Government Report 
that "for many yea rs, WTO dispute settlement has not met the needs of WTO Members, including 
the United  States ". China can't help but ask, that is the U .S. ultimate goal of reforming the Dispute 
Settlement Mechanism ? Is it to ensure that "the U .S. always wins the case"?  WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  5.71.  Finally, China would like to emphasize that "Power invariably means both responsibility and 
danger". It is hoped that the United  States will take responsibility through its own power and truly 
make trade a "force for good" instead of the other way around.  
BRAZIL 
5.72.  I would simply like to commend the U .S. for its TPR , I believe this has been  a very productive 
and useful exercise for all of us . As we said on the first day, our capital is reviewing the answers 
that the U .S. has provided to our questions, and we will promptly submit any follow -up questions 
that Brazil might have . 
5.73.  We look forward to continuing the very positive engagement and collaboration between our 
delegations here in Geneva in areas such as WTO reform, SPS  measures , and agriculture . 
5.74.  More broadly, and to conclude, Brazil counts on the U nited States' leadership as the WTO 
seeks to reaffirm its relevance in a world that is and we will continue to be faced with multiple 
challenges.  
RUSSIAN  FEDERATION  
5.75.  On Wednesd ay, we have once again heard political mantras and allegations against my 
country from a handful of Members, including the Member under Review. I have commented on such 
interventions on multiple occasions and will not indulge in this again. I will just rei terate that 
repeating them over and over will not make them true or relevant to the work of this Organization. 
Back to the topic of this meeting.  
5.76.  While listening to Ambassador Pag án's introductory remarks during the first day of this TPR 
we could  not help but notice a glaring disparity between the United  States'  declarations and actions. 
In fact, the U.S. is doing the opposite of what it claims.  
5.77.  Take this TPR as an example. On Wednesday the U.S. claimed that "WTO transparency 
elements are vital and valuable ". Trade Policy Review is a transparency exercise at its core, as is 
clearly stated in Annex  3 of the Marrakesh Agreement, establishing the TPR M. Nevertheless, the 
U.S. undermines this mechanism by not answering and even trying to hide a large number of 
advance written questions that they deemed uncomfortable. Such approach, when a Member 
explicitly indicates its intention not to answer questions , not only blatantly violates the WTO rules, 
but sets a dangerous precedent for future TPRs. Several years ago through our collective inaction 
we allowed the U .S. to effectively dismantle the WTO Dispute Settlement System . If we remain 
silent, TPRM will be next in line.  
5.78.  This approach by the U.S. perfectly fits the alarming claim that – I quote: "WTO rules are 
important, but they are not an end in and of themselves, nor are they immutable ". Judging by its 
recent actions, i t became clear that Washington no longer feels bound by the WTO rules and applies 
a policy of selective compliance with them. I just mentioned a specific example in relation to this 
TPR. There are many others, which were previously mentioned by my delegati on and other Members.  
5.79.  The U.S. stated that "to the extent [trade] policies and measures implicate our national 
security, the United  States will determine what is necessary. We will not apologize for this. This is a 
fundamental attribute of sovereignty ". And Ambassador Pag án reiterated this position today. Nobody 
disputes that sovereign States are free to take necessary actions for the protection of its essential 
security interests. But security exceptions should  not serve as an escape clause from the WTO ru les 
and obligations, which seems to be the case when everything is considered as a potential threat.  
5.80.  We would like to remind once again the WTO Membership that mixing politics with trade and 
economics is extremely dangerous for all Members and the MTS. Ac tions speak louder than words. 
We invite the U.S. to prove its adherence to its WTO commitments and return to constructive 
cooperation.  
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  JAPAN  
5.81.  First of all, we thank the United  States delegation led by Ambassador Mar ía Pagán for 
providing us with an excel lent oral explanation as well as written responses regarding our  concerns 
and questions . We would also like to express our appreciation for the helpful remarks and comments 
from the dis cussant , Ambassador Cheryl  K. Spencer . 
5.82.  Japan ha s carefully read the answers prepared  thoroughly  by the  United  States to our written 
questions and has submitted follow -up questions in written form . 
5.83.  We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the tremendous efforts, the 
United  States ' delegation  has made to respond to our concerns sincerely  and in such a short period 
of time . We are looking forward to receiving answers to our questions in due course . 
5.84.  To conclude my remarks , Japan would like to reiterate our willingness to continue to work 
closely  and deepen collaboration with the United  States as the standard bearer  of free trade, as well 
as with other Members  to continue to promote a rules -based multilateral t rading  system and to 
ensure its full implementation through the WTO. 
CHAD ON BEHALF OF T HE COTTON 4 COUNTRIES  
5.85.  On behalf of the member countries of the sectoral initiative for cotton and all African 
cotton -producing/exporting countries, Chad congratulates the United  States on this fifteenth Trade 
Policy Review of the United  States of America.  
5.86.  The C4 thank and congratulate the United  States delegation, the Permanent Representative 
and her entire team for the constructive role they have played in safeguarding the multilateral 
trading system. We also appreciate the commitment of the United  States to supporting the efforts 
of the most vulnerable countries, in particular the least developed countries, to create favourable 
conditions for their development and reintegration into world trade, in accordance with the rules of 
multilateral trade. It  is true that the United  States  is a major global economy and is highly integrated 
at the global level, and indeed we welcome the United  States' exercise in transparency as regards 
notifications, in particular the latest notification on cotton.  
5.87.  And what d o we see when we look at the figures from the latest notifications on cotton? We 
see that the United  States  granted USD  1,050  million of support to cotton farmers in the 2020 -21 
season. In percentage terms, that is 18.5% of the value of production, which p oses problems for us 
because, as you know, cotton is a strategic sector that accounts for more than 40% of the 
C4 countries' export revenue and up to 70% of agricultural export revenue. These figures 
demonstrate the size and importance of the cotton trade for our countries. We are counting on the 
flexibility and leadership of the United  States to negotiate specific capping arrangements and the 
phasing out of all forms of trade -distorting support in the cotton sector.  
5.88.  We hope that, with flexibility on the p art of the U.S., together we will achieve positive 
outcomes on cotton by the next WTO Ministerial Conference. The C4 reiterate their commitment to 
working towards strengthening the multilateral trading system through measurable outcomes that 
will ultimatel y have a significant impact on the living conditions of millions of people in Africa who 
are unable to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that international trade has to offer  
UNITED  KINGDOM  
5.89.  The United  Kingdom would just like to join others in thanking the U.S. for their engagement 
with this TPR, a really important exercise in transparency. We  have really welcome d all the efforts 
of the Ambassador and your team for this  week. 
5.90.  On a note of lamb , as someone with a proud Welsh history which many will know is  where 
the finest lamb is from  in the U nited Kingdom . I am particularly delighted to this burgeoning love -in 
for British lamb  and encourage all other Members to try it as well . 
5.91.  I will not repeat our statement from Wednesday, we have raised questions on aspects of U .S. 
policy on trade and including some concerns and we have been grateful for your engagement on WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  that, and I know that will continue . We have been very grateful for your responses  this week, and 
we do have a few follow -ups which yo u will have shortly . 
5.92.  I think, to me at least, a key theme  this week has been a call from many Members to have 
more U.S. here and more  leadership. We look forward to that, and I think you have acknowledged 
you have heard that  loud and  clear, and I think it was very well outlined by our marvellous  discuss ant 
as well earlier . 
5.93.  Finally, I just wanted to ad d on the TPR itself, which we talk a lot about th is being important 
transparency measures , but I  know that you and your team have been doing quite a lot in this area 
to think about how these works . So, I hope this has given you some food thought  this week. We 
look forward to what comes out of that . So, thanks again and congratulations on you r Review.  
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  6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
6.1.  The United  States' 15th Trade Policy Review has provided an important and unique opportunity 
to examine and better understand the full range of U.S. trade policies and practices since its last 
Review in 2018. Developme nts in U.S. trade and related polices have been significant during the 
review period and this examination has been timely given the continued economic recovery from 
the COVID -19 pandemic and the current geopolitical situation that continues to impose chall enges. 
The Review has been conducted with the active participation of the U.S. delegation, headed by 
H.E. Ambassador María  Luisa Pagán, Deputy U .S.Trade  Representative, the insightful comments 
provided by our discussant, H.E.  Ambassador M s Cheryl  K. Spencer, Permanent Representative of 
Jamaica to the WTO, and 66  delegations. I would like to thank them all for their contribution to this 
exercise.  
6.2.  Members s tressed that the importance of the United  States to world trade and economic 
prosperity could not be underestimated. As the world's largest single -country importer, the 
United  States accounted for about 17.6% of global imports of goods and services, and 13 .6% of 
exports in 2021. Many Members stated that the United  States was one of their top trading partners, 
and often their main export market. A similar situation presented itself with respect to foreign direct 
investment (FDI) in which the United  States wa s a leading provider and recipient.  
6.3.  Despite the tendencies to revert to protectionist measures during times of crises, the 
United  States was complimented for keeping trade and investment channels open during the 
COVID -19 pandemic. Its ability to recover q uickly or lead the economic recovery was appreciated as 
this had knock -on effects on many other economies. While real GDP growth had reached 5.7% 
in 2021, high inflation had thereafter ensued and remained a concern. Some Members also 
commented on U.S. mone tary policies and their impact on trade.  
6.4.  Over the two -day meeting there were numerous statements recognizing U.S. leadership in the 
multilateral trading system and many reiterated the importance for this to continue. The 
United  States had a defining role i n shaping the global trading system and further leadership in its 
ongoing reform was crucial. Members recognized that the United  States had played a critical role in 
securing important outcomes at MC12. Its record on notifications and participation in all the various 
WTO fora was appreciated, including in several Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs). Several Members 
suggested further engagement by the United  States in all JSIs. The majority of Members noted that 
the impasse with respect to the Appellate  Body was jeopardizing the judicial function of the WTO 
and they were hopeful that the United  States would lead the reform efforts so that a fully functional 
dispute settlement system would be operational by 2024.  
6.5.  Some Members observed that U.S. trade policy ha d moved to a worker -centric trade approach 
during the review period through its "Build Back Better" agenda. Addressing areas such as social 
and environmental issues through trade policy was part of this agenda and it was hoped this would 
benefit trading pa rtners as well as the United  States. Members emphasized the importance of 
keeping open, transparent, and non -discriminatory trade policies, as well as of supporting capacity -
building and development initiatives that were of particular importance to develop ing countries.  
6.6.  Many Members appreciated the fact that United  States' tariffs remained low with a simple 
average of 4.8% and were essentially unchanged from the previous Review. Other Members 
commented on their long -standing preferential arrangements that w ere an important vehicle for 
expanding bilateral and regional trade with the United  States. Further, many developing countries 
raised the importance of unilateral preferences, in particular the Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP), Caribbean Basin Initi ative (CBI), and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and 
requested the renewal of the lapsed GSP programme. Recent U.S. initiatives in certain regions, for 
example, the Indo -Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and the Americas Partn ership 
for Economic Prosperity (APEP) were appreciated as important trade initiatives by those partners 
concerned.  
6.7.  Members expressed varying degrees of concern regarding recently adopted trade policies and 
measures, as well as long -standing  legislation and  instruments that determine the effective access 
of trading partners to the U.S. market, including maritime transport restrictions, investment 
screening, and export controls. They noted that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included several 
important elem ents such as the need to lower inflation and accelerate carbon reduction, but also WT/TPR/M/434 • United States  
 
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  raised concerns regarding subsidies and the treatment of domestic versus foreign entities. Members 
hoped to engage more with the United  States in this important area. The is sue of subsidies extended 
beyond the IRA to other areas including agriculture and fisheries. Trade distorting support, ad hoc  
measures, a high aggregate measurement of support " amber box ", and box shifting were some of 
the issues mentioned in respect of ag riculture.  
6.8.  Many participants pointed out that the United  States remained a significant user of trade 
remedies. Although anti -dumping duties, counter -vailing measures and safeguards remained 
legitimate trade instruments, their prolonged usage under sunset reviews and the use of certain 
methodologies drew concerns by many Members. The resort to other trade remedies, such as 
Section  232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section  301 of the Trade Act of 1974, were also 
raised as concerns by several Members. The direction taken in the area of government procurement 
due to Buy American policies as well as Made in America initiatives was worrying to some Members.  
6.9.  During the discussions, adapting to the new world realities was recognized as an important 
theme, both for the United  States' trade policies but also systemically for the WTO. Addressing issues 
related to climate change, sustainable supply chains, environmental standards, and digital and 
technological developments was important, and the United  States had shown it stood ready to take 
on these challenges.  
6.10.  It is clear that the U.S. delegation places a high value on the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
and the multilateral trading system with its engagement over the two -day meeting and its ability to 
respond to a very high number of advance written questions. With a large number of questions 
submitted within the established deadline, as well as after the deadline or in follow -up, the 
United  States has received well over 2,000 written questions in total. This reflects the importance 
of the United  States in the multilateral trading system and the interest of Members in engaging with 
the United  States on its trade and related policies.  
6.11.  The above points are some of the key issues that emerged in our discussi on over the past 
days. I hope that the U.S. delegation will consider and further reflect on these issues and on the 
many constructive comments that it received during the Review. Members look forward to receiving 
answers to outstanding and follow -up questi ons within the customary one month . 
 
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