2017 Trade Policy Agenda

and

2016AnnualReport

ofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates on

the Trade Agreements Program

Office of the United States Trade Representative

FOREWORD

The 2017 Trade Policy Agenda and 2016 Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade 

Agreements Program are submitted to the Congress pursuant to Section 163 of the Trade Act of 1974, as 

amended (19 U.S.C. 2213). Chapter II and Annex II of this document meet the requirements of Sections 

122 and 124 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act with respect to the World Trade Organization. In 

addition, the report also includes an annex listing trade agreements entered into by the United States since 

1984. Goods trade data are for full year 2016. Services data by country are only available through 2015.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for the preparation of this 

report and gratefully acknowledges the contributions of all USTR staff to the writing and production of this 

report and notes, in particular, the contributions of Dorothea E. Cheek, Caper Gooden, Mark C. Jordan, and 

Katherine Standbridge. Thanks are extended to partner Executive Branch agencies, including the 

Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human 

Services, Justice, Labor, State, and Treasury.

March 2017

LIST OF FREQUENTLY USED ACRONYMS

AD................................................................................... Antidumping

AGOA............................................................................. African Growth and Opportunity Act

APEC .............................................................................. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

ASEAN ........................................................................... Association of Southeast Asian Nations

ATC ................................................................................ Agreement on Textiles and Clothing

ATPA.............................................................................. Andean Trade Preferences Act

ATPDEA......................................................................... Andean Trade Promotion & Drug Eradication 

Act

BIA.................................................................................. Built-In Agenda

BIT.................................................................................. Bilateral Investment Treaty

BOP................................................................................. Balance of Payments 

CACM............................................................................. Central American Common Market

CAFTA ........................................................................... Central American Free Trade Area

CARICOM...................................................................... Caribbean Common Market

CBERA ........................................................................... Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act

CBI.................................................................................. Caribbean Basin Initiative

CFTA .............................................................................. Canada Free Trade Agreement

CITEL............................................................................. Telecommunications division of the OAS

COMESA........................................................................ Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa 

CTE................................................................................. Committee on Trade and the Environment

CTG ................................................................................ Council for Trade in Goods

CVD................................................................................ Countervailing Duty

DDA................................................................................ Doha Development Agenda

DOL ................................................................................ Department of Labor

DSB................................................................................. Dispute Settlement Body

EAI.................................................................................. Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative 

DSU ................................................................................ Dispute Settlement Understanding

EU ................................................................................... European Union

EFTA .............................................................................. European Free Trade Association

FTAA.............................................................................. Free Trade Area of the Americas

FOIA .............................................................................. Freedom of Information Act

GATT.............................................................................. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 

GATS.............................................................................. General Agreements on Trade in Services

GDP ................................................................................ Gross Domestic Product

GEC ................................................................................ Global Electronic Commerce

GSP ................................................................................. Generalized System of Preferences

GPA ................................................................................ Government Procurement Agreement

IFI.................................................................................... International Financial Institution

IPR .................................................................................. Intellectual Property Rights 

ITA.................................................................................. Information Technology Agreement 

LDBDC........................................................................... Least-Developed Beneficiary Developing 

Country

MAI................................................................................. Multilateral Agreement on Investment

MEFTA........................................................................... Middle East Free Trade Area

MERCOSUL/MERCOSUR............................................ Southern Common Market

MFA................................................................................ Multifiber Arrangement

MFN................................................................................ Most Favored Nation

MOSS.............................................................................. Market-Oriented, Sector-Selective
MOU ............................................................................... Memorandum of Understanding

MRA ............................................................................... Mutual Recognition Agreement

NAFTA ........................................................................... North American Free Trade Agreement

NEC ................................................................................ National Economic Council

NIS.................................................................................. Newly Independent States

NSC................................................................................. National Security Council

NTR ................................................................................ Normal Trade Relations 

OAS ................................................................................ Organization of American States

OECD.............................................................................. Organization for Economic Cooperation and 

Development

OPIC ............................................................................... Overseas Private Investment Corporation

PNTR .............................................................................. Permanent Normal Trade Relations

ROU................................................................................ Record of Understanding

SACU.............................................................................. Southern African Customs Union

SADC.............................................................................. Southern African Development Community

SME ................................................................................ Small and Medium Size Enterprise

SPS.................................................................................. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

SRM ............................................................................... Specified Risk Material

TAA ................................................................................ Trade Adjustment Assistance

TABD.............................................................................. Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue

TACD.............................................................................. Trans-Atlantic Consumer Dialogue

TAEVD........................................................................... Trans-Atlantic Environment Dialogue

TALD.............................................................................. Trans-Atlantic Labor Dialogue

TBT................................................................................. Technical Barriers to Trade

TEP ................................................................................. Transatlantic Economic Partnership

TIFA................................................................................ Trade & Investment Framework Agreement

TPRG .............................................................................. Trade Policy Review Group

TPP.................................................................................. Trans-Pacific Partnership

TPSC............................................................................... Trade Policy Staff Committee 

TRIMS ............................................................................ Trade Related Investment Measures

TRIPS.............................................................................. Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights

T-TIP............................................................................... Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

UAE ................................................................................ United Arab Emirates

UNCTAD........................................................................ United Nations Conference on Trade & 

Development

UNDP.............................................................................. United Nations Development Program

URAA ............................................................................. Uruguay Round Agreements Act

USDA.............................................................................. U.S. Department of Agriculture 

USITC............................................................................. U.S. International Trade Commission 

USTR .............................................................................. United States Trade Representative 

VRA ............................................................................... Voluntary Restraint Agreement

WAEMU ........................................................................ West African Economic & Monetary Union

WB ................................................................................. World Bank

WTO .............................................................................. World Trade Organization
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. THE PRESIDENT’S TRADE POLICY AGENDA .....................................................................................1

II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ...............................................................................................1

A. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................1

B. WTO NEGOTIATING GROUPS .............................................................................................................2

1. Committee on Agriculture Special Session..............................................................................................2

2. Council for Trade in Services Special Session.........................................................................................3

3. Negotiating Group on Non-Agricultural Market Access...........................................................................4

4. Negotiating Group on Rules..................................................................................................................4

5. Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation ........................................................................................6

6. Dispute Settlement Body Special Session...............................................................................................7

7. Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Special Session ...................................8

8. Committee on Trade and Development Special Session ..........................................................................9

C. WORK PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED IN THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA ...............................11

1. Working Group on Trade, Debt, and Finance .......................................................................................11

2. Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology...........................................................................11

3. Work Program on Electronic Commerce..............................................................................................12

D. GENERAL COUNCIL ACTIVITIES .....................................................................................................13

E. COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS .....................................................................................................14

1. Committee on Agriculture ...................................................................................................................15

2. Committee on Market Access ..............................................................................................................16

3. Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures..................................................18

4. Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures...............................................................................20

5. Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures..........................................................................21

6. Committee on Customs Valuation........................................................................................................26

7. Committee on Rules of Origin .............................................................................................................28

8. Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade ...........................................................................................29

9. Committee on Antidumping Practices ..................................................................................................33

10. Committee on Import Licensing .........................................................................................................36

11. Committee on Safeguards .................................................................................................................37

12. Working Party on State Trading Enterprises.......................................................................................40

F. COUNCIL ON TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ....................41

G. COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES ................................................................................................45

1. Committee on Trade in Financial Services ...........................................................................................45

2. Working Party on Domestic Regulation ...............................................................................................46

3. Working Party on GATS Rules ............................................................................................................47

4. Committee on Specific Commitments ...................................................................................................47

H. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT UNDERSTANDING .....................................................................................47

I. TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY .........................................................................................................95

J. OTHER GENERAL COUNCIL BODIES/ACTIVITIES ...........................................................................97
1. Committee on Trade and Environment .................................................................................................97

2. Committee on Trade and Development.................................................................................................98

4. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration.............................................................................101

5. Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.........................................................................................102

6. Accessions to the World Trade Organization ......................................................................................103

K. PLURILATERAL AGREEMENTS......................................................................................................106

1. Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft.................................................................................................106

2. Committee on Government Procurement............................................................................................108

3. The Information Technology Agreement and the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products

..........................................................................................................................................................111

III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS.........................................115

A. FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS...........................................................................................................115

1. Australia .........................................................................................................................................115

2. Bahrain...........................................................................................................................................115

3. Central America and the Dominican Republic ....................................................................................116

4. Chile...............................................................................................................................................120

5. Colombia ........................................................................................................................................121

6. Israel ..............................................................................................................................................123

7. Jordan ............................................................................................................................................124

8. Republic of Korea ............................................................................................................................125

9. Morocco..........................................................................................................................................127

10. North American Free Trade Agreement............................................................................................128

11. Oman ............................................................................................................................................129

12. Panama.........................................................................................................................................130

13. Peru..............................................................................................................................................131

14. Singapore .....................................................................................................................................133

B. OTHER BILATERAL AND REGIONAL INITIATIVES.......................................................................133

1. The Americas...................................................................................................................................133

2. Europe and the Middle East..............................................................................................................136

3. Japan, Republic of Korea, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.....................................138

4. China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mongolia ........................................................................................141

5. Southeast Asia and the Pacific ..........................................................................................................142

6. Sub-Saharan Africa..........................................................................................................................144

7. South and Central Asia.....................................................................................................................145

IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES............................................................................................................149

A. TRADE AND THE ENVIRONMENT..................................................................................................149

1. Multilateral and Regional Fora.........................................................................................................149

2. Bilateral and Regional Activities .......................................................................................................151

B. TRADE AND LABOR ........................................................................................................................156

1. Bilateral Agreements and Preference Programs .................................................................................157

2. Multilateral and Regional Fora.........................................................................................................161

C. SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESS INITIATIVE ......................................................................161

1. USTR SME-Related Trade Policy Activities........................................................................................161

2. USTR Interagency SME Activities......................................................................................................162

3. USTR’s SME Outreach and Consultations..........................................................................................163
D. ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT ...................................163

1. Trade Committee Work Program.......................................................................................................164

2. Trade Committee Dialogue with Non-OECD Members........................................................................164

3. Other OECD Work Related to Trade .................................................................................................165

E. LOCALIZATION BARRIERS TO TRADE ..........................................................................................165

F. TRADE IN SERVICES AGREEMENT.................................................................................................166

V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES..............................................................................................167

A. ENFORCING U.S. TRADE AGREEMENTS........................................................................................167

1. Overview.........................................................................................................................................167

2. WTO Dispute Settlement...................................................................................................................170

3. Other Monitoring and Enforcement Activities.....................................................................................171

4. Monitoring Foreign Standards-related Measures and SPS Barriers .....................................................173

B. U.S. TRADE LAWS............................................................................................................................174

1. Section 301......................................................................................................................................174

2. Special 301......................................................................................................................................176

3. Section 1377 Review of Telecommunications Agreements....................................................................179

4. Antidumping Actions ........................................................................................................................179

5. Countervailing Duty Actions.............................................................................................................180

6. Other Import Practices.....................................................................................................................180

7. Trade Adjustment Assistance.............................................................................................................182

8. United States Preference Programs...................................................................................................183

VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT....................................................................................................191

A. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING.........................................................................................................191

1. The Enhanced Integrated Framework ................................................................................................191

2. U.S. Trade-Related Assistance under the World Trade Organization Framework ..................................191

3. TCB Initiatives for Africa..................................................................................................................192

4. Free Trade Agreements ....................................................................................................................193

5. Standards Alliance ...........................................................................................................................194

B. PUBLIC INPUT AND TRANSPARENCY ...........................................................................................195

1. Transparency Guidelines and Chief Transparency Officer..................................................................195

2. Public Outreach...............................................................................................................................196

3. The Trade Advisory Committee System ..............................................................................................197

3. State and Local Government Relations...............................................................................................200

C. POLICY COORDINATION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT..............................................201

ANNEX I

ANNEX II

ANNEX III

THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY 

AGENDA

I. THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY AGENDA | 1

I. THE PRESIDENT’S TRADE POLICY AGENDA

I. INTRODUCTION

Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 2213(a)(1)(B), we hereby submit the President’s National Trade Policy Agenda 

for 2017. This submission is normally prepared under the direction of the United States Trade 

Representative (USTR). In fact, U.S. law provides that the USTR shall have “primary responsibility for 

developing” United States international trade policy. 19 U.S.C. § 2171(c)(1)(A). U.S. law also provides 

that the USTR shall “act as the principal spokesman of the President on international trade.” 19 U.S.C. § 

2171(c)(1)(E). Accordingly, we intend to submit a more detailed report on the President’s Trade Policy 

Agenda after the Senate has confirmed a USTR, and that USTR has had a full opportunity to participate in 

developing such a report. In the meantime, and in order to comply with the statutory deadline of March 1, 

see 19 U.S.C. § 2213(a), we hereby submit this statement of the trade policy agenda for 2017.1

II. THE TRADE POLICY OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES OF THE UNITED STATES 

FOR 2017, AND REASONS THEREFOR

A. Key Principles and Objectives of the Trump Administration’s Trade Policy

In 2016, voters in both major parties called for a fundamental change in direction of U.S. trade 

policy. The American people grew frustrated with our prior trade policy not because they have ceased to 

believe in free trade and open markets, but because they did not all see clear benefits from international 

trade agreements. President Trump has called for a new approach, and the Trump Administration will 

deliver on that promise.

The overarching purpose of our trade policy – the guiding principle behind all of our actions in this 

key area – will be to expand trade in a way that is freer and fairer for all Americans. Every action we take 

with respect to trade will be designed to increase our economic growth, promote job creation in the United 

States, promote reciprocity with our trading partners, strengthen our manufacturing base and our ability to 

defend ourselves, and expand our agricultural and services industry exports. As a general matter, we believe 

that these goals can be best accomplished by focusing on bilateral negotiations rather than multilateral 

negotiations – and by renegotiating and revising trade agreements when our goals are not being met. 

Finally, we reject the notion that the United States should, for putative geopolitical advantage, turn a blind 

eye to unfair trade practices that disadvantage American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses in 

global markets.

In addition to these basic principles, we will focus on the following key objectives:

 Ensuring that U.S. workers and businesses have a fair opportunity to compete for business – both 

in the domestic U.S. market and in other key markets around the world.

 Breaking down unfair trade barriers in other markets that block U.S. exports, including exports of 

agricultural goods.

 Maintaining a balanced policy that looks out for the interests of all segments of the U.S. economy, 

including manufacturing, agriculture, and services, as well as small businesses and entrepreneurs.

 

1 At this time, the Trump Administration is not proposing legislation with respect to the objectives or 

priorities outlined in this statement. See 19 U.S.C. § 2213(a)(3)(A)(iii).
2 | I. THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY AGENDA

 Ensuring that U.S. owners of intellectual property (IP) have a full and fair opportunity to use and 

profit from their IP.

 Strictly enforcing U.S. trade laws to prevent the U.S. market from being distorted by dumped and/or 

subsidized imports that harm domestic industries and workers.

 Enforcing labor provisions in existing agreements and enforcing the prohibition against the 

importation and sale of goods made with forced labor.

 Resisting efforts by other countries – or Members of international bodies like the World Trade 

Organization (WTO) – to advance interpretations that would weaken the rights and benefits of, or 

increase the obligations under, the various trade agreements to which the United States is a party.

 Updating current trade agreements as necessary to reflect changing times and market conditions.

 Ensuring that United States trade policy contributes to the economic strength and manufacturing 

base necessary to maintain – and improve – our national security.

 Strongly advocating for all U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers, services providers, and businesses, 

large and small – to assure the fairest possible treatment of American interests in the U.S. market 

and in other markets around the world.

B. Top Priorities and Reasons Therefor

To achieve the objectives described above, the Trump Administration has identified four major 

priorities: (1) defend U.S. national sovereignty over trade policy; (2) strictly enforce U.S. trade laws; (3) 

use all possible sources of leverage to encourage other countries to open their markets to U.S. exports of 

goods and services, and provide adequate and effective protection and enforcement of U.S. intellectual 

property rights; and (4) negotiate new and better trade deals with countries in key markets around the world. 

Each of these priorities – and the reasons they are so important – are discussed in greater detail below.

1. Defending Our National Sovereignty Over Trade Policy

In late 1994, Congress approved the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, thereby paving the way for 

the United States’ entry into the WTO. WTO members agreed to provisions to ensure that, if a country lost 

a dispute at the WTO and failed to bring its measure into compliance with WTO rules, to provide 

compensation, or otherwise to reach a mutually satisfactory solution, the complaining countries would have 

the right to be authorized to retaliate by imposing trade sanctions on the losing country.

The anchor for this new dispute settlement system was an agreement known as the Understanding 

on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, often called the Dispute Settlement 

Understanding (DSU). The core provision of the DSU was the express legal requirement that the WTO, 

through its dispute settlement findings and recommendations, could not “add to or diminish the rights or 

obligations” of the United States, or other countries under the WTO agreements. This requirement was so 

critical that it was included not once, but twice in the text of the DSU, once in Article 3 as a specific 

direction to the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body in adopting its recommendations, and once in Article 19 

as a specific direction to WTO panels and the Appellate Body in setting out their findings and 

recommendations to be adopted by the DSB. The Clinton Administration and Congress both made clear 

that this language was essential to winning American support for the DSU.

At the time, the American people were assured that, by the express terms of the DSU itself, this 

dispute settlement process would not alter the terms of what the United States had agreed to in the WTO 
I. THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY AGENDA | 3

Agreements, and what Congress thereafter expressly approved when it passed the Uruguay Round 

Agreements Act. In other words, the United States entered into written agreements that contained rules on 

a range of matter such as trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights, import licensing, sanitary and 

phytosanitary standards, antidumping, technical standards, subsidies and countervailing duties, investment 

measures, and safeguards. The United States also entered into the DSU, which contained a clear and express 

legal limitation that the WTO dispute settlement process could not add to U.S. obligations or diminish U.S. 

rights under those agreements. By insisting on and negotiating the express terms of these agreements, the 

United States established clear and firm parameters for the role of the WTO in regulating trade.

Given this history, it is important to recall also that Congress had made clear that Americans are 

not directly subject to WTO decisions. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act states that, if a WTO dispute 

settlement report “is adverse to the United States, [the U.S. Trade Representative shall] consult with the 

appropriate congressional committees concerning whether to implement the report’s recommendation and, 

if so, the manner of such implementation and the period of time needed for such implementation,” 

confirming that these WTO reports are not binding or self-executing. 19 U.S.C. § 3533(f). The Uruguay 

Round Agreements Act also specifically provides that “No provision of any of the Uruguay Round 

Agreements, nor the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance, that is inconsistent 

with any law of the United States shall have effect.” 19 U.S.C. § 3512(a)(1). In other words, even if a 

WTO dispute settlement panel – or the WTO Appellate Body – rules against the United States, such a ruling 

does not automatically lead to a change in U.S. law or practice. Consistent with these important protections 

and applicable U.S. law, the Trump Administration will aggressively defend American sovereignty over 

matters of trade policy.

2. Strictly Enforcing U.S. Trade Laws

For decades, Congress has maintained a series of laws designed to prevent the U.S. market from 

being distorted by unfair practices such as injuriously dumped or subsidized imports, or by harmful surges 

of imports. These laws have been a critical aspect of the bargain between the U.S. government and 

American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses (large and small) that has long supported the free and 

fair trade system in this country. These laws have also reflected the core principles and legal rights of the 

multilateral trading system since its founding in 1947 with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 

(GATT). It is notable that Article VI of the GATT in the strongest language possible, states that injurious 

dumping “is to be condemned.” Trade remedies are a foundation to the implementation of the WTO 

agreements, and to avoid market distortions, and it is critical that WTO members fully recognize their 

centrality to the international trading system.

Consistent with the strong textual foundation in the GATT and WTO Agreement, Title VII of the 

Tariff Act of 1930 provides the United States with the authority to impose antidumping (AD) and 

countervailing duties (CVD) on imports that are either “dumped” (sold at less than their fair value) or 

subsidized – if such imports cause or threaten material injury to a domestic industry. The AD/CVD laws 

are fully consistent with our WTO obligations – and, indeed, the WTO agreements specifically provide for 

such laws. For decades, domestic producers have had the right to file cases seeking AD and/or CVD relief. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce also has the right to self-initiate such cases if circumstances warrant.

Other long-standing laws address other situations in which government action may be appropriate. 

Under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, the President may impose relief if increasing imports are a 

substantial cause of serious injury to a domestic industry. This “safeguard” provision, used most recently 

by President George W. Bush in response to a harmful surge of steel imports, can be a vital tool for 

industries needing temporary relief from imports to become more competitive. USTR has the authority to 

ask for a safeguard investigation in the appropriate circumstances.

Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes the USTR to take appropriate action in response 

to foreign actions that violate an international trade agreement or are unjustifiable, or unreasonable or 

discriminatory, and burdens or restricts United States commerce. Investigations leading to these important 

actions may be initiated pursuant to requests by private U.S. workers and businesses or a determination by 
4 | I. THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY AGENDA

the USTR. Properly used, section 301 can be a powerful lever to encourage foreign countries to adopt more 

market-friendly policies.

The Trump Administration believes that it is essential to both the United States and the world 

trading system that all U.S. trade laws be strictly and effectively enforced. We strongly support true marketbased competition – and we welcome the partnership of any country that agrees with us. Unfortunately, 

however, large portions of the global economy do not reflect market forces. Important sectors of the global 

economy, and significant markets around the world, have been at times distorted by foreign government 

subsidies, theft of intellectual property, currency manipulation, unfair competitive behavior by state-owned 

enterprises, violations of labor laws, use of forced labor, and numerous other unfair practices.

The Trump Administration will not tolerate unfair trade practices that harm American workers, 

farmers, ranchers, services providers, and other businesses large and small. These practices lower living 

standards for all Americans by distorting U.S. and global markets and preventing resources from being 

allocated in the most efficient manner. These practices distort global efficiencies by preventing developing 

or emerging economies from competing against non-market based rivals that drive them from markets 

before they can even get a foothold. And, when the WTO adopts interpretations of WTO agreements that 

undermine the ability of the United States and other WTO Members to respond effectively to these realworld unfair trade practices with remedies expressly allowed under WTO rules, those interpretations 

undermine confidence in the trading system. None of these outcomes is in the interest of the United States 

or a healthy global economy. Accordingly, the Trump Administration will act aggressively as needed to 

discourage this type of behavior – and encourage true market competition.

3. Using Leverage to Open Foreign Markets

The Trump Administration believes that U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers, services providers, and 

businesses large and small should have a free and fair chance to compete around the world. Such access 

benefits the U.S. economy, as Americans would have larger and more competitive markets in which to sell 

their goods and services. Indeed, exports – of manufactured goods, agricultural products, and services –

are an important and essential aspect of the U.S. economy. Exports already support millions of high-paying 

jobs for American citizens, and the Administration wants to see them grow. At the same time, increased 

market access for American goods and services will also help the global economy, as everyone benefits 

from a system that rewards hard work and innovation.

Unfortunately, U.S. exports face significant barriers in many markets. The causes of market 

obstruction and closure are numerous. In some instances, trading partners maintain high tariffs and other 

non-tariff barriers, which block market access to U.S. goods and agricultural exports. In others, foreign 

producers can benefit from subsidies that give them an unfair advantage over their U.S. competitors. Other 

countries have looked to harm U.S. companies by blocking or unreasonably restricting the flow of digital 

data and services, or through theft of trade secrets. In still others, foreign countries can use technical barriers 

– such as unnecessary regulations on particular items – to limit competition, including in the services sector. 

Concerns have also been raised over currency practices and their impact on the competitiveness of U.S. 

goods and services. These are only a few examples of the tactics that can be used to block or impede the 

competitiveness of U.S. exporters.

For decades, the U.S. government has engaged in efforts to break down such barriers and open 

foreign markets to U.S. competition. The Trump Administration recognizes that such efforts are inherently 

difficult, as foreign governments often have strong political reasons to protect certain industries in their 

home markets. However, the status quo is unsustainable – for too long Americans have lost business to 

other countries, in part because our businesses and workers are not being given a fair opportunity to compete 

abroad.

There are at least two fundamental challenges that we must finally address. The first challenge is 

that the WTO rules, and those of some bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements, are often written with the 

implicit understanding that countries implementing those rules are pursuing free-market principles. In a 

world in which there are several important players in the global economy that do not fully adhere to the 
I. THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY AGENDA | 5

free-market principles in the organization of their economic systems, systematic analysis of such economies 

relative to economic principles must become more acute. Furthermore, the drafting, implementation, and 

application of trading rules must find ways to adjust.

The second challenge is that WTO rules, and those of bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements, 

are often written with the implicit understanding that countries implementing those rules have functional 

legal and regulatory systems that are transparent. In practice, transparent systems are critical to the 

functioning of trade rules because transparency enables stakeholders and governments to understand the 

rules of the road, and prepare effective diplomatic or legal challenges to those rules when they are not in 

conformity with international obligations. Once again, the world in which we find ourselves is one in which 

there are a number of important players whose legal and regulatory systems are not sufficiently transparent. 

These countries make it difficult for the global trading system to hold them accountable. The inability of 

the system to hold those countries accountable in turn leads to a loss of confidence in the system.

It is time for a more aggressive approach. The Trump Administration will use all possible leverage 

to encourage other countries to give U.S. producers fair, reciprocal access to their markets. The purpose of 

this effort is to ensure that more markets are truly open to American goods and services and to enhance, 

rather than restrict, global trade and competition. Such a policy will help grow the global economy by 

breaking down long-standing trade barriers and promoting increased competition.

4. Negotiating New and Better Trade Deals

Since the late 1980’s, the United States has entered into a wide variety of trade deals, including the 

North American Free Trade Agreement, the Uruguay Round Agreements that created the WTO, China’s 

2001 Protocol of Accession to the WTO, and a series of trade agreements. Together, these and other 

agreements have created a framework for globalization that establishes the rules and conditions that govern 

U.S. trade and investment. For years, Americans have been promised that this system would lead to 

stronger economic growth and greater opportunities for U.S. workers and businesses. And, in fact, this 

system has generated substantial benefits to some American workers, farmers, ranchers, services providers, 

and other businesses – particularly in the form of increased export opportunities.

Unfortunately, a review of what has happened since 2000 – the last full year before China joined 

the WTO – shows a period of slowed GDP growth, weak employment growth, and sharp net loss of 

manufacturing employment in the United States. Many factors contribute to this, notably the financial crisis 

of 2008-2009 and the broad impact of automation. But the trade data are striking. Rather than showing 

that the results of this system have lived up to expectations, they portray a very different reality:

 In 2000, the U.S. trade deficit in manufactured goods was $317 billion. Last year, it was $648 

billion – an increase of 100 percent.

 Our trade deficit in goods and services with China soared from $81.9 billion in 2000 to almost $334 

billion in 2015 (the last year for which such data are available), an increase of more than 300 

percent.

 Of course, a rising trade deficit may be consistent with a stronger economy. However, that has not 

been the experience of the typical American household. In 2000, U.S. real median household 

income (in 2015 dollars) was $57,790. In 2015 (the most recent year for which data are available), 

it was $56,516. In fact, despite the recovery since the financial crisis, real median household 

income in the United States remains lower today than it was 16 years ago.

 In January 2000, there were 17,284,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States – a figure roughly 

in line with the total number of U.S. manufacturing jobs going back to the early 1980s. In January 
6 | I. THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY AGENDA

2017, there were only 12,341,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States – a loss of almost 5 

million jobs.

 In the 16 years before China joined the WTO – from 1984 to 2000 – U.S. industrial production 

grew by almost 71 percent. In the period from 2000 to 2016, U.S. industrial production grew by 

less than 9 percent.

These are alarming results. They reflect numerous challenges facing U.S. policy other than trade 

– and the Trump Administration is committed to taking all possible steps to create a more vibrant, and more 

competitive, economy. We intend to work with the Congress to lower taxes, reduce regulations, increase 

funding for infrastructure, and take other steps to stimulate U.S. economic growth. At the same time, these 

figures indicate that while the current global trading system has been great for China, since the turn of the 

century it has not generated the same results for the United States.

There are significant reasons to be concerned with other major agreements as well. For years now, 

the United States has run trade deficits in goods with our trading partners in the North American Free Trade 

Agreement (NAFTA). In 2016, for example, our combined trade deficit in goods with Canada and Mexico 

was more than $74 billion. As long ago as 2008, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton called for the 

United States to renegotiate NAFTA – and to withdraw from NAFTA if such renegotiations were 

unsuccessful.

Further, the largest trade deal implemented during the Obama Administration – our free trade 

agreement with South Korea – has coincided with a dramatic increase in our trade deficit with that country. 

From 2011 (the last full year before the U.S.-Korea FTA went into effect) to 2016, the total value of U.S. 

goods exported to South Korea fell by $1.2 billion. Meanwhile, U.S. imports of goods from South Korea 

grew by more than $13 billion. As a result, our trade deficit in goods with South Korea more than doubled. 

Needless to say, this is not the outcome the American people expected from that agreement.

Plainly, the time has come for a major review of how we approach trade agreements. For decades 

now, the United States has signed one major trade deal after another – and, as shown above, the results have 

often not lived up to expectations. The Trump Administration believes in free and fair trade, and we are 

looking forward to developing deeper trading relationships with international partners who share that belief. 

But, going forward, we will tend to focus on bilateral negotiations, we will hold our trading partners to 

higher standards of fairness, and we will not hesitate to use all possible legal measures in response to trading 

partners that continue to engage in unfair activities.

III. NEXT STEPS

The Trump Administration has already begun making progress on the objectives and priorities 

described above.2 By withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the President sent a clear 

signal that the United States would take a new approach to trade issues, and paved the way for potential 

bilateral talks with the remaining TPP countries. The President has begun his consultations with Congress 

on the ways in which future trade agreements can work for all Americans more effectively than they have 

in the past. The President has also put together a strong team of officials who are committed to defending 

America’s national sovereignty, enforcing U.S. trade laws, and using American leverage to open markets 

for our goods and services. We anticipate more activity on all of these fronts in the near future.

 

2 According to 19 U.S.C. § 2213(a)(3)(A)(iv), the President should report on “the progress that was made 

during the preceding year in achieving” the trade policy objectives and priorities discussed above. Since the Trump 

Administration did not take office until January 20, 2017, our statement is limited to progress since that date.
I. THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TRADE POLICY AGENDA | 7

IV. CONCLUSION

For more than 20 years, the United States government has been committed to trade policies that 

emphasized multilateral and other agreements designed to promote incremental change in foreign trade 

practices, as well as deference to international dispute settlement mechanisms. The hope was that such a 

system could obtain better treatment for U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. Instead, we find 

that in too many instances, Americans have been put at an unfair disadvantage in global markets. Under 

these circumstances, it is time for a new trade policy that defends American sovereignty, enforces U.S. 

trade laws, uses American leverage to open markets abroad, and negotiates new trade agreements that are 

fairer and more effective both for the United States and for the world trading system, particularly those 

countries committed to a market-based economy. The Trump Administration is committed to this policy 

to increase the wages of American workers; give our farmers, ranchers, services providers, and agricultural 

businesses a better chance to grow their exports; strengthen American competitiveness in both goods and 

services; and provide all Americans with a better and fairer chance to improve their standard of living.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

ON THE

TRADE AGREEMENTS PROGRAM

II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 1

II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

A. Introduction

This chapter outlines the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2016 – particularly relating to 

implementing the results of the Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali and Tenth Ministerial Conference in 

Nairobi and the work anticipated in 2017. This chapter also details work of WTO Standing Committees 

and their subsidiary bodies, provides an overview of the implementation and enforcement of the WTO 

Agreement, and discusses accessions of new Members to this rules-based organization. The focus of this

chapter is on actions taken by the Obama Administration during 2016. Going forward, and as discussed in 

the President’s Trade Agenda in Chapter I, the Trump Administration will provide more details regarding 

its policies with respect to the WTO.

The WTO provides a forum for enforcing U.S. rights under the various WTO agreements to ensure that the 

United States receives the full benefits of WTO membership. On a day-to-day basis, the WTO operates 

through its more than 20 standing committees (not including numerous additional working groups, working 

parties, and negotiating bodies). These groups meet regularly to permit WTO Members to exchange views, 

work to resolve questions of Members’ compliance with commitments, and develop initiatives aimed at 

systemic improvements. 

The Doha Development Agenda (DDA), launched in November 2001, was the ninth round of multilateral 

trade negotiations since the end of World War II. At the WTO’s Eighth Ministerial Conference in Geneva, 

Switzerland in December 2011, there was a consensus among Ministers that the DDA was at an impasse, 

with “significantly different perspectives on possible results.” The agreed summary for the Ministerial 

Conference noted that “Members need to more fully explore different negotiating approaches,” and 

reiterated previous ministerial guidance that, where progress can be achieved on specific elements of the 

DDA, provisional or definitive agreements might be reached before all elements of the negotiating agenda 

are fully resolved. 

During the course of 2012 and 2013, Members with this guidance worked collectively to complete at the 

WTO’s Ninth Ministerial Conference in December 2013 a “Bali Package,” which included, in the form of 

the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the first new multilateral agreement in the nearly 20 year history 

of the WTO. The TFA is designed to ensure that all WTO Members apply a variety of trade facilitating 

customs and related measures that promise to substantially decrease the costs associated with trading and 

increase the value and volume of global trade creating opportunities for U.S. manufacturers, farmers, 

workers, and logistics and information firms. The Bali Package also included important results on 

agriculture, such as decisions on food security, tariff-rate quota administration, export competition, and 

development, including a new Monitoring Mechanism to allow experience based reviews of the 

implementation and operation of special and differential treatment provisions in WTO agreements. WTO 

Members agreed on November 27, 2014 to three decisions that support the implementation of the Bali 

package, one each on the TFA, public stockholding for food security and the post-Bali work program. 

At the WTO’s Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2015, Ministers collectively 

acknowledged that there was no consensus to reaffirm the DDA’s mandates. As a result, the WTO initiated 

a move away from the DDA architecture, which had proven over time to be imbalanced and unable to keep 

up with changing global trading trends, such as the increased role of large emerging economies. Ministers 

also agreed in Nairobi to important results on agriculture, particularly a Ministerial Decision to end export 

subsidies and discipline other forms of export competition, and on least developed countries. From Nairobi 

to the end of 2016, WTO Members exchanged views on how to move ahead with unresolved Doha issues, 
2 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

even if not under the DDA architecture, and on taking up new issues in the WTO. During the course of 

2016, a group of WTO Members announced their intention to advance negotiations on the crucial Doha 

issue of fisheries subsidies through efforts to conclude a plurilateral WTO agreement, without prejudice to 

continuing initiatives to advance negotiations multilaterally. WTO Members also focused attention on the 

new issues of digital trade and the needs of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). 

Members also shared views on how to move forward with pending agriculture issues, and the United States 

emphasized the importance of developing updated information on current trade and policies on agricultural 

trade before exchanging views on new approaches that might offer prospects for future successful 

negotiations. 

Beyond WTO negotiations, the United States and other WTO Members in 2016 renewed their focus on the 

day-to-day work of the WTO’s standing committees and other bodies. These bodies are supposed to 

promote transparency in WTO Members’ trade policies, and they provided a fora for monitoring and 

resisting market-distorting pressures. Through discussions in these fora, Members sought detailed 

information on individual Members’ trade policy actions and collectively considered them in light of WTO 

rules and their impact on individual Members and the trading system as a whole. The discussions enabled 

Members to assess their trade-related actions and policies in light of concerns that other Members raised 

and to consider and address those concerns in domestic policymaking. The United States also took 

advantage of opportunities in standing committees to consider how implementation of existing WTO 

provisions can be enhanced and to discuss areas that may hold potential for developing future rules.

B. WTO Negotiating Groups

1. Committee on Agriculture Special Session 

Status

WTO Members agreed to initiate negotiations for continuing the agricultural trade reform process one year 

before the end of the Uruguay Round implementation period, i.e., by the end of 1999. Talks in the Special 

Session of the Committee on Agriculture began in early 2000 under the original mandate of Article 20 of 

the Agreement on Agriculture (Agriculture Agreement). At the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in 

Doha, Qatar in November 2001, the agriculture negotiations became part of the single undertaking, and 

negotiations in the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture were conducted under the mandate 

agreed upon at Doha, which called for: “substantial improvements in market access; reductions of, with a 

view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic 

support.” This mandate, which called for ambitious results in three areas (so called “pillars), was 

augmented with specific provisions for agriculture in the framework agreed by the General Council on 

August 1, 2004, and at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in December 2005. However, at the WTO’s 

Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2015, Members acknowledged in the 

Ministerial Declaration that there was no consensus to reaffirm Doha mandates. Since then, Members have 

been reflecting on what is next for the agriculture negotiations in the WTO. The Nairobi Ministerial 

package included a new decision adopted by WTO Ministers related to export competition, in which 

Members agreed to the elimination of all forms of export subsidies, as well as new disciplines on export 

financing and international food aid. The package also included decisions on public stockholding for food 

security purposes, which Members reaffirmed their commitment to negotiate, and a special safeguard 

mechanism, which Members agreed to continue to negotiate as part of a broader market access package. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 3

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the United States led the effort to approach the agriculture negotiations with a focus on new 

approaches to the three pillars (market access, domestic support, and export competition). There has been 

an effort to increase transparency with respect to which trade distortions are the most prevalent in today’s 

global agricultural trade, and what approaches countries might realistically use to work together to address 

these trade distorting measures. The Chairs of the Agriculture Negotiations held negotiations in formal and 

informal settings to assess Members’ views on substantive issues on the agriculture negotiations. The 

United States continued to urge Members to approach the overall agriculture negotiations on the basis of a 

realistic assessment of possibilities for progress. Throughout 2016, U.S. negotiators undertook discussions 

at various levels (technical and political) and in various formats (bilateral and small group) to determine 

Members’ views on new approaches and look for ways to move the negotiations forward, in line with U.S. 

interests and priorities.

Prospects for 2017

A major focus in 2017 will be discussions about the future direction of multilateral agricultural 

liberalization in the lead up to the WTO’s Eleventh Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina at 

the end of the year, drawing on lessons learned from the Doha negotiations and new developments in and 

approaches to international agricultural trade since the Nairobi Ministerial.

2. Council for Trade in Services Special Session

Status

The Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services (CTS-SS) was formed in 2000 pursuant to the 

Uruguay Round mandate of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) to undertake new multisectoral services negotiations. The Doha Declaration of November 2001 recognized the work already 

undertaken in the services negotiations and set deadlines for initial market access requests and offers. The 

services negotiations thus became one of the core market access pillars of the Doha Round, along with 

agriculture and nonagricultural goods. However, at the WTO’s Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, 

Kenya in December 2015, Members acknowledged in the Ministerial Declaration that there was no 

consensus to reaffirm Doha mandates. Since then, Members have been reflecting on what is next for the 

services negotiations in the WTO. 

Major Issues in 2016

The CTS-SS met on a few occasions during 2016 to consider possibilities for advancing negotiations on 

services. No viable options were identified. 

Prospects for 2017

The United States will continue to pursue new ideas and approaches to promote free and fair trade in 

services. 
4 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

3. Negotiating Group on Non-Agricultural Market Access 

Status

The U.S. Government’s longstanding objective in WTO Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) 

negotiations – which cover manufactures, mining, fuels, and fish products – has been to obtain a balanced 

market access package that provides new export opportunities for U.S. businesses through the liberalization 

of global tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Trade in industrial goods accounts for more than 90 percent of 

world merchandise trade3and more than 90 percent of total U.S. goods exports. Meanwhile, 52 percent of 

developing economies countries' merchandise exports went to other "developing economies" in 2015 - up 

from 41 percent in 2005. So at least for merchandise trade as a whole, developing economies now buy the 

majority of developing economy exports.4 Therefore, there is a substantial interest in improving market 

access conditions among developing countries, which also results in greater market access for U.S. 

business. Yet, many emerging economies still charge very high tariffs on imported industrial goods, with 

ceiling tariff rates exceeding 150 percent in some cases. 

The NAMA negotiations have remained at an impasse since the WTO’s Eighth Ministerial Conference in 

Geneva in 2011. Without significant market-opening commitments from advanced developing economies, 

it is clear that there is little prospect for achieving robust trade liberalization for industrial goods on a 

multilateral basis. This reality contributed to the result at the WTO’s Tenth Ministerial Conference in 

Nairobi, Kenya in December 2015, when Members acknowledged in the Ministerial Declaration that there 

was no consensus to reaffirm the Doha mandates. 

Major Issues in 2016

There were a few informal meetings of the Negotiating Group on Market Access in 2016 but no new 

substantive discussions occurred related to either the tariff or nontariff elements of the NAMA negotiations. 

Prospects for 2017

In 2017, the United States intends to work with other WTO Members to pursue fresh and credible 

approaches to meaningful multilateral trade liberalization.

4. Negotiating Group on Rules 

Status

At the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001, Ministers agreed to negotiations aimed at clarifying and 

improving disciplines under the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (the 

Antidumping Agreement) and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (the SCM 

Agreement), while preserving the basic concepts, principles, and effectiveness of these Agreements and 

their instruments and objectives. Ministers directed that the negotiations take into account the needs of 

developing and least developed country Members. The Doha Round mandate also called for clarified and 

improved WTO disciplines on fisheries subsidies.

The Negotiating Group on Rules (the Rules Group) has based its work primarily on written submissions 

from Members, organizing its work in the following categories: (1) the antidumping remedy, often 

 

3 WTO, International Trade Statistics 2016.

4 WTO World Trade Statistical Review 2016
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 5

including procedural and domestic industry injury issues potentially applicable to the countervailing duty 

remedy; (2) subsidies and the countervailing duty remedy, including fisheries subsidies; and (3) regional 

trade agreements (RTAs). Over the past years, Members have considered draft texts for antidumping, 

subsidies, including disciplines on fisheries subsidies, and countervailing measures, yet no consensus was 

reached. The most recent Chairman’s report was issued in 2011.5

The Doha Declaration also directed the Rules Group to clarify and improve disciplines and procedures 

governing RTAs under the existing WTO provisions. To that end, the General Council in December 2006 

adopted a decision for the provisional application of the “Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade 

Agreements” to improve the transparency of RTAs. A total of 238 RTAs have been considered under the 

Transparency Mechanism since then. Pursuant to its mandate, in the past, the Rules Group has explored 

the establishment of further standards governing the relationship of RTAs to the global trading system. 

However, such discussions failed to produce common ground on how to clarify or improve existing RTA 

rules and have not been further pursued in the Rules Group.

Major Issues in 2016

The Rules Group met informally in March, May, June, November, and December 2016. The purpose of 

the March and May meetings was largely to provide an opportunity for the Chair to provide transparency 

reporting regarding his consultations with Members on the way-forward for the Rules Group following the 

WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2015 (MC10), where no agreement was reached among 

Ministers to continue the Doha mandates. The Chair reported that while delegations expressed diverging 

views on whether and how to continue to engage on the various Rules issues in a post-MC10 environment, 

a large number of delegations stressed the importance of work on fisheries subsidies and of moving away 

from old linkages and stalemates between the Rules pillars. The June meeting was focused on a fisheries 

subsidies paper presented by New Zealand and a group of co-sponsors, which posed several question to 

Members in an effort to re-engage the negotiating group on the substance of a discipline for fisheries 

subsidies. The November meeting was focused on another transparency report by the Chair following a 

series of Member consultations, as well as a preliminary review of a fisheries subsidies paper presented by 

the European Union. The December meeting consisted of a dedicated session on fisheries subsidies, with 

focus on proposals from the ACP group, Peru/Argentina and a group of co-sponsors, and the European 

Union. 

In September 2016, the United States joined 12 other Members to launch a plurilateral initiative to negotiate 

fisheries subsidies disciplines, with the goal of delivering an ambitious, high-standard agreement for MC11. Throughout the remainder of 2016, the plurilateral group met four times in order to organize its work 

and discuss the scope of the negotiations. 

Prospects for 2017

In 2017, the United States will continue to focus on preserving the effectiveness of trade remedy rules, 

improving transparency and due process in trade remedy proceedings, and strengthening existing subsidies 

rules in a post-Doha environment. The United States will continue to support stronger disciplines and 

greater transparency in the WTO with respect to fisheries subsidies.

On RTAs, the United States will continue to advocate for increased transparency and strong substantive 

standards. The Transparency Mechanism will continue to be applied in the consideration of additional 

RTAs.

 

5 TN/RL/W/252, TN/RL/253, TN/RL/W/254, all dated April 21, 2011. 
6 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

5. Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation

Status

In 2013, Members concluded negotiations on the WTO TFA on December 6 at the Ninth WTO Ministerial 

Conference in Bali. This agreement establishes transparent and predictable multilateral trade rules under 

the WTO that should reduce opaque customs and border procedures and unwarranted delays at the border 

that can add costs that are the equivalent of significant tariffs and are the types of nontariff barriers that 

U.S. and other exporters most frequently cite as barriers to trade. 

Members established a Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation (PCTF) at the Ninth Ministerial 

Conference. The PCTF subsumed the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation and was established to 

conduct the legal review of the TFA, accept Category A notifications from developing country Members 

(that is, commitments that will be implemented upon entry into force of the agreement without a transition 

period), and draft a Protocol to amend the WTO Agreement to insert the TFA into Annex 1A of the 

Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement). Inserting the TFA 

into Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement allows it to enter into force once two-thirds of WTO Members 

notify the WTO of their acceptance. The PCTF completed the legal review in July 2014, and Members 

reached agreement on the Protocol text, which they adopted on 27 November 2014. In 2015, the PCTF 

reviewed Members’ efforts to notify their acceptance and implement the TFA.

For many Members, the TFA will bring improved transparency and an enhanced rules-based approach to 

border regimes, and will be an important element of broader ongoing domestic strategies to increase 

economic output and attract greater investment. There is also the possibility that the TFA will squarely 

address factors holding back increased regional integration and south-south trade. Implementation of the 

TFA should also bring particular benefits to small and medium-sized businesses, enabling them to increase 

participation in the global trading system.

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the PCTF met primarily to receive developing country Members’ notifications of Category A 

commitments, as well as review progress made and Members’ experiences with their acceptance of the 

Protocol. The PCTF met in March, June, and November 2016. During these meetings, a number of 

Members reported on their experiences in carrying out domestic reforms needed to meet the commitments 

under the TFA, their efforts to secure ratification under their domestic acceptance processes, and any 

challenges they faced. The discussions revealed that Members are actively taking steps to complete their 

respective domestic acceptance processes, thereby enabling them to notify their acceptance of the TFA 

Protocol to the WTO. Many developing country Members recognize that they and their exporters have an 

interest in seeking implementation by their neighbors of the TFA commitments. 

The United States submitted its letter of acceptance to the WTO on January 23, 2015. As of December 31, 

2016, 103 WTO Members had notified their acceptance of the TFA. In addition to the United States, 

acceptances have been submitted by: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, 

Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, El Salvador, EU (on 

behalf of its 28 Member States), Gabon, Georgia, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, China, Iceland, 

India, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, 

Macau, China, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Burma 

(Myanmar), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, 

Russian Federation, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, 

Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 7

Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vietnam, and 

Zambia. 

Substantial capacity building assistance is provided for trade facilitation. As part of this, over the course 

of the negotiations and since the Bali Ministerial, the WTO and multilateral and bilateral assistance 

organizations like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have undertaken training 

programs with developing country Members to help them assess their individual situations regarding 

capacity and make progress in implementing the provisions of the TFA. Further, to meet its commitment 

to help developing countries and LDCs implement the TFA, the United States, along with four other donors, 

announced the launch of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) during the 2015 WTO 

Ministerial Conference in Kenya. The GATF is a new multi-donor model of assistance that partners with 

the private sector to support rapid and full implementation of the TFA. In addition to support provided by 

the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, the partnership is supported by a 

Secretariat created by the World Economic Forum, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the Center 

for International Private Enterprise, and by private sector representatives and others who are contributing 

their expertise and resources for this mission. 

Prospects for 2017

In 2017, WTO Members will continue to undertake necessary steps to complete their respective domestic 

acceptance processes, thereby enabling them to accept the TFA Protocol. The PCTF will continue to accept 

Category A notifications and convene for Members to share experiences in implementation of the TFA. 

There will also be a focus on ensuring that developing country Members seeking to obtain technical 

assistance to implement fully provisions of the TFA are matched with donors and that technical assistance 

projects are prioritized and funded. 

6. Dispute Settlement Body Special Session

Status

Following the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001, the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) established 

the Special Session of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB-SS) to fulfill the Ministerial mandate found in 

paragraph 30 of the Doha Declaration, which provides: “We agree to negotiations on improvements and 

clarifications of the Dispute Settlement Understanding. The negotiations should be based on the work done 

thus far, as well as any additional proposals by Members, and aim to agree on improvements and 

clarifications not later than May 2003, at which time we will take steps to ensure that the results enter into 

force as soon as possible thereafter.” In July 2003, the General Council decided that: (1) the timeframe for 

conclusion of the negotiations on clarifications and improvements of the Understanding on Rules and 

Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) be extended by one year (i.e., to aim to conclude 

the work by May 2004 at the latest); (2) this continued work will build on the work done to date, and take 

into account proposals put forward by Members as well as the text put forward by the Chair of the DSBSS; and (3) the first meeting of the DSB-SS when it resumed its work be devoted to a discussion of 

conceptual ideas. Due to complexities in negotiations, deadlines were not met. In August 2004, the General 

Council decided that Members should continue work toward clarification and improvement of the DSU, 

without establishing a deadline, and these negotiations have continued since.

Major Issues in 2016

The DSB-SS met six times during 2016. In previous phases of the review of the DSU, Members had 

engaged in a general discussion of the issues. Following that general discussion, Members tabled proposals 
8 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

to clarify or improve the DSU. Members then reviewed each proposal submitted and requested 

explanations and posed questions to the Member(s) making the proposal. Members also had an opportunity 

to discuss each issue raised by the various proposals. The Chair of the review issued a Chair’s text in July 

2008 “to take stock of” the work to date and to provide a basis for its continuation. In 2016, delegations 

continued to engage on the basis of the comments received in the previous phase, seeking to advance the 

work on their proposals.

The United States has advocated two proposals, both of which are reflected in the Chair’s text. One would 

expand transparency and public access to dispute settlement proceedings. The proposal would open WTO 

dispute settlement proceedings to the public as the norm and give greater public access to submissions and 

panel reports. In addition to open hearings, public submissions and early public release of panel reports, 

the U.S. proposal calls on WTO Members to consider rules for “amicus curiae” submissions – submissions 

by nonparties to a dispute. WTO rules currently allow such submissions but do not provide guidelines on 

how they are to be considered. Guidelines would provide a clearer roadmap for handling such submissions.

In addition, the United States and Chile submitted a proposal to help improve the effectiveness of the WTO 

dispute settlement system in resolving trade disputes among Members. The joint proposal contained 

specifications aimed at giving parties to a dispute more control over the process and greater flexibility to 

settle disputes. Under the present dispute settlement system, parties are encouraged to resolve their 

disputes, but do not always have all the tools with which to do so. As part of this proposal, the United 

States has also proposed guidance for WTO Members to provide to WTO adjudicative bodies in particular 

areas where important questions have arisen in the course of various disputes.

Prospects for 2017

In 2017, Members will continue to work to complete the review of the DSU. Members will be meeting a 

number of times over the course of 2017.

7. Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Special 

Session

Status

The Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Council) Special Session 

met briefly two times in 2016 in order for the Chairman of the Special Session to provide an update to the 

Membership on the results of Chair-led consultations with individual Members. The status had not changed 

since the previous year’s reporting: there was no consensus among Members to continue engaging in this 

negotiation until progress was first made in other areas.

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the United States and a group of other Members continued to maintain their common position that 

the establishment of a multilateral system for notification and registration of geographical indications for 

wines and spirits must: be voluntary; have no legal effects for non-participating members; be simple and 

transparent; respect different systems of protection of geographical indications (GIs); respect the principle 

of territoriality; preserve the balance of the Uruguay Round; and, consistent with the mandate, be limited 

to the protection of wines and spirits. The United States and this group of Members (the Joint Proposal 

group) continued to maintain that the mandate of the TRIPS Council Special Session is clearly limited to 

the establishment of a system of notification and registration of GIs for wines and spirits and that 

discussions cannot move forward on any other basis. The United States, together with Argentina, Australia, 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 9

Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, 

Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Paraguay, South Africa, and the Separate Customs 

Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu support the Joint Proposal under which Members would 

voluntarily notify the WTO of their GIs for wines and spirits for incorporation into a registration system. 

During 2011, Israel formally became a cosponsor of the Joint Proposal.

The EU, together with a number of other Members, continued to support their alternative proposal for a 

binding, multilateral system for the notification and registration of GIs for all products, not only wines and 

spirits, which all Members would be required to use. The effect of this proposal would be to expand the 

scope of the negotiations to all GI products and to propose that any GI notified to the EU’s proposed register 

would benefit from a presumption of eligibility for protection as a GI in other WTO Members. Although 

a third proposal, from Hong Kong, China remains on the table, this proposal has received little support. 

Prospects for 2017

If discussions resume, in light of the failure in Nairobi to reaffirm the DDA, Members will discuss whether 

negotiations are limited to GIs for wines and spirits (the position of the Joint Proposal proponents, based 

on the unambiguous text of Article 23.4 of the TRIPS Agreement) or whether these negotiations should be 

extended to cover GIs for goods other than wines and spirits (the position of the EU and certain other WTO 

members). The United States will continue to aggressively oppose expanding negotiations, will continue 

to pursue additional support for the Joint Proposal in the coming year, and will seek a more flexible and 

pragmatic approach from supporters of the EU proposal.

8. Committee on Trade and Development Special Session

Status

The Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD-SS) was established by the TNC 

in February 2002, to review all WTO special and differential (S&D) with a view to improving them. Under 

existing S&D provisions, Members provide developing country Members with technical assistance and 

transitional arrangements toward implementation of WTO agreements. S&D provisions also enable 

Members to provide developing country Members with better-than-MFN access to markets. 

As part of the S&D review, developing country Members submitted a total of 88 Agreement-Specific 

Proposals (ASPs). Thirty-eight of these proposals were referred to other negotiating groups and WTO 

bodies for consideration (Category II proposals). Members reached an “in principle” agreement on draft 

decisions for 28 of the remaining proposals at the 2003 Cancun Ministerial Conference (Cancun 28). While 

these proposals were supposed to be a part of a larger package of agreements, they were never adopted due 

to the breakdown of the ministerial negotiations. 

At the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, Members reached agreement on five ASPs: access to WTO 

waivers; coherence; duty-free and quota-free treatment (DFQF) for LDC Members; Trade-Related 

Investment Measures (TRIMS); and flexibility for LDC Members that have difficulty implementing their 

WTO obligations. The decisions on these proposals are contained in Annex F of the Hong Kong Ministerial 

Declaration. Ministers at Hong Kong also instructed the CTD-SS to expeditiously complete the review of 

the outstanding ASPs and report to the General Council, with clear recommendations for a decision. With 

respect to the 38 Category II proposals, Ministers instructed the CTD-SS to continue to coordinate its efforts 

with relevant bodies to ensure that work was concluded and recommendations for a decision made to the 

General Council. Ministers also mandated the CTD-SS to resume work on all outstanding issues, including 
10 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

a proposal submitted in 2002 by the African Group to negotiate a Monitoring Mechanism for effective 

monitoring of S&D provisions.

Following the Hong Kong Ministerial, the CTD-SS conducted a thorough “accounting” of the remaining 

ASPs, working in conjunction with the relevant Chairs of the negotiating groups and Committees to which 

they had been referred, but consensus could not be reach on any of them. However, discussions continued 

on certain proposals that were revised and some of the Chairs of the negotiating bodies indicated that a 

number of the issues raised in the proposals formed an integral part of the ongoing negotiations. 

At the Eighth Ministerial Conference in December 2011, Ministers agreed to expedite work to finalize the 

Monitoring Mechanism and to take stock of the Cancun 28 proposals. Members reached agreement on the 

establishment of the Monitoring Mechanism, and adopted the corresponding text at the Ninth Ministerial 

in December 2013. As a result, regular meetings of the newly established Monitoring Mechanisms now 

take place in dedicated sessions of the Committee on Trade and Development. By contrast, Members did 

not reach convergence on the Cancun 28 ASPs, despite intensive engagement in 2013. 

In July 2015, the G90 submitted new textual proposals on 25 S&D provisions. The CTD-SS worked 

intensively on these proposals during the fall of 2015. After numerous Members expressed concerns about 

the proposals, the discussion moved into small group meetings and began focusing on the text. On the basis 

of these discussions, the G90 tabled 16 revised proposals in the lead up to MC10 in Nairobi. However, 

Members were not able to reach convergence on the revised proposals, based in part, on major disagreement 

over whether the proposals should apply to all developing countries. 

Major Issues in 2016

The CTD-SS met once in 2016, in July, to receive the Chair’s briefing on her consultations with Members 

on possible ways forward. The Chair’s view was that Members needed more time to reflect before work 

could be restarted in the CTD-SS, in part because of the lack of support for resuming work on the 25 ASPs. 

The Chair also reported divergent views among Members on whether to discuss differentiation and whether 

to utilize the Monitoring Mechanism. The short discussion among Members laid bare strong disagreements 

regarding prospects for work in the CTD-SS without a real change in approach.

Prospects for 2017

The United States continues to view with optimism the potential for constructive discussion and work in 

the Committee on Trade and Development’s Monitoring Mechanism. The Mechanism, which was 

mandated to cover all S&D provisions contained in all multilateral WTO agreements and Ministerial and 

General Council Decisions, presents a useful forum for Members to raise concerns with the implementation 

of existing S&D provisions, as well as successes. Further, the Mechanism is not precluded from making 

recommendations to relevant WTO bodies, including recommendations that propose the initiation of 

negotiations aimed at improving the S&D provision.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 11

C. Work Programs Established in the Doha Development Agenda

1. Working Group on Trade, Debt, and Finance

Status

Ministers at the 2001 Doha Ministerial Conference established the mandate for the Working Group on 

Trade, Debt, and Finance (WGTDF). Ministers instructed the WGTDF to examine the relationship between 

trade, debt, and finance and to examine and make recommendations on possible steps, within the mandate 

and competence of the WTO, to enhance the capacity of the multilateral trading system to contribute to a 

durable solution to the problem of external indebtedness of developing and least-developed country 

Members. Ministers further instructed the WGTDF to consider possible steps to strengthen the coherence 

of international trade and financial policies, with a view to safeguarding the multilateral trading system 

from the effects of financial and monetary instability.

Major Issues in 2016

The WGTDF met twice in 2016: on May 31 and October 20. Both meetings focused on trade finance 

issues, with a paper from the WTO Director General on “Trade Finance and SMEs” serving as the focal 

point of discussion. This paper, which was generally welcomed by Members of the Working Group, 

outlined the Director General’s views on how the WTO might work with multilateral development banks 

and other partners to (1) enhance existing trade finance facilitation programs, with a view to reducing gaps 

in trade finance; and (2) foster dialogue with regulators; and (3) monitor trade finance gaps. During the 

October meeting, the Working Group focused on the difficulties that MSMEs face in obtaining access to 

trade finance. The WTO Secretariat also provided an update on the Director General’s ongoing interaction 

with the heads of partner institutions regarding global trade finance issues and challenges. Bearing in mind 

that the WTO is not itself mandated as a trade finance institution, Members expressed support for the 

Director General’s advocacy for a greater institutional focus on the trade finance needs of MSMEs. 

During 2016, the WGTDF did not pursue its examination, reflected in previous years, of issues related to 

exchange rates and trade, due to an absence of relevant submissions from Members. 

On November 11, 2016, the Working Group adopted its annual report for submission to the General 

Council.

Prospects for 2017

WGTDF Members are expected to maintain a principal focus on the trade finance aspects of the group’s 

mandate during the course of 2017. The particular relevance of trade finance to the integration of MSMEs 

in global trade appears to be of ongoing interest to a broad range of Members. 

2. Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology

Status

During the 2001 Doha Ministerial Conference, WTO Ministers agreed to an “examination . . . of the 

relationship between trade and transfer of technology, and of any possible recommendations on steps that 

might be taken within the mandate of the WTO to increase flows of technology to developing countries.” 

To fulfill that mandate, the TNC established the Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology 

(WGTTT), under the auspices of the General Council, and tasked the WGTTT to report on its progress to 
12 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

the 2003 Ministerial Conference at Cancun. At that meeting, Ministers extended the time period for the 

WGTTT’s examination. WTO Ministers further continued this work during the 2005 Hong Kong 

Ministerial Conference. During the 2013 Ministerial Conference in Bali, WTO Ministers noted that the 

working group “has covered a number of issues and has helped to enhance Members' understanding of the 

complex issues that encompass the nexus between trade and transfer of technology.” However, they also 

observed that more work remains to be done, and directed “that the Working Group should continue its 

work in order to fully achieve the mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.” 

Major Issues in 2016

The WGTTT met in March, June, and November of 2016. WTO Members continued their consideration 

of the relationship between trade and transfer of technology on the basis of submissions by WTO Members. 

In June, Chinese Taipei made a presentation on a technology transfer project they had undertaken in St. 

Lucia to improve disease prevention for banana crops. Discussion in the WGTTT also focused on a 2008 

proposal by India, Pakistan, and the Philippines for steps WTO Members could take to support transfer of 

technology, including enhancements to the WTO web site. 

Prospects for 2017

No WGTTT meetings have been scheduled yet for 2017, and the status and future focus of the working 

group is not clear at this time.

3. Work Program on Electronic Commerce

Status

Pursuant to the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, Members continue to work on ways to advance 

the Work Program on Electronic Commerce. At the 2015 Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, 

Ministers agreed to extend once again, until the next Ministerial Conference, the current practice of not 

imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions. In addition, they agreed to continue the Work 

Program.

Major Issues in 2016

A number of WTO Members submitted discussion papers to CTS addressing various issues related to 

electronic commerce. The United States contributed a paper offering a range of proposals, including 

proposals to ensure cross-border information flows and to prohibit localization requirements.

Prospects for 2017

The United States will continue to work with other Members to maintain a liberal trade environment for 

electronically traded goods and services, seeking to ensure that trade rules are appropriate and fair with 

respect to the digital economy. As in the past, the General Council will continue to assess the Work 

Program’s progress and consider any recommendations, including with respect to the status of the customs 

duties moratorium on electronic transmissions.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 13

D. General Council Activities

The WTO General Council is the highest level decision-making body in the WTO that meets on a regular 

basis during the year. It exercises all of the authority of the Ministerial Conference, which is required to 

meet no less than once every two years.

Only the Ministerial Conference and the General Council have the authority to adopt authoritative 

interpretations of the WTO Agreements, submit amendments to the WTO Agreement for consideration by 

Members, and grant waivers of obligations. The General Council or the Ministerial Conference must 

approve the terms for all accessions to the WTO. Technically, both the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) 

and the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) are General Council meetings that are convened for the purpose 

of discharging the responsibilities of the DSB and TPRB, respectively.

Four major bodies report directly to the General Council: the Council for Trade in Goods, the Council for 

Trade in Services, the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, and the Trade 

Negotiations Committee. In addition, the Committee on Trade and Environment, the Committee on Trade 

and Development, the Committee on Balance of Payments Restrictions, the Committee on Budget, Finance 

and Administration, and the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements report directly to the General 

Council. The Working Groups established at the First Ministerial Conference in Singapore in 1996 to 

examine investment, trade and competition policy, and transparency in government procurement also report 

directly to the General Council, although these groups have been inactive since the Cancun Ministerial 

Conference in 2003. A number of subsidiary bodies report to the General Council through the Council for 

Trade in Goods or the Council for Trade in Services. The Doha Ministerial Declaration approved a number 

of new work programs and working groups with mandates to report to the General Council, such as the 

Working Group on Trade, Debt, and Finance and the Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology.

The General Council uses both formal and informal processes to conduct the business of the 

WTO. Informal groupings, which generally include the United States, play an important role in consensus 

building. Throughout 2016, the Chairman of the General Council, together with the WTO Director General, 

conducted informal consultations with large groupings comprising the Heads of Delegation of the entire 

WTO Membership and as well as a wide variety of smaller groupings of WTO Members at various levels. 

The Chairman and Director General convened these consultations with a view to resolving outstanding 

issues on the General Council’s agenda. 

Major Issues in 2016

Activities of the General Council in 2016 included:

Implementation of the Bali and Nairobi Outcomes: The General Council discussed the status of 

implementation in each area agreed at the Ninth and Tenth WTO Ministerials in Bali and Nairobi in 

December 2013 and 2015, respectively. 

Work begun under the Doha Work Program: The General Council continued its discussions, first 

established under the Doha agenda, related to small economies, LDCs, Aid for Trade, and the development 

assistance aspects of cotton and e-commerce. 

WTO Accessions: A new chairman was named by the General Council to lead discussions on Algeria’s 

accession to the WTO. 
14 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Waivers of Obligations: The General Council adopted decisions concerning the introduction of 

Harmonized System 2002, 2007, and 2012 nomenclature changes into WTO schedules of tariff concessions 

as well as U.S. waivers specific to trade preferences for Nepal and the Pacific Islands. The General Council 

also reviewed a number of previously agreed waivers, including the U.S. waiver related to the Caribbean 

Basin Economic Recovery Act. Annex II of this report contains a detailed list of Article IX waivers 

currently in force.

Trade Restrictions: Russia’s trade restrictions against the Ukraine were discussed by WTO Members in 

the General Council. The United States also raised the African Union levy proposal and the need for it to 

be implemented in a transparent and WTO consistent manner.

Prospects for 2017

In addition to its management of the WTO and oversight of implementation of the WTO Agreement, the 

General Council will have detailed discussions throughout the year to implement the decisions taken at 

MC10 in Nairobi as well as prepare for MC11 in Buenos Aires in December 2017.

E. Council for Trade in Goods 

Status

The WTO Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) oversees the activities of 12 committees (Agriculture, 

Antidumping Practices, Customs Valuation, Import Licensing, Information Technology, Market Access, 

Rules of Origin, Safeguards, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, 

Technical Barriers to Trade, and Trade-Related Investment Measures) and the Working Party on State 

Trading Enterprises.

The CTG is the central oversight body in the WTO for all agreements related to trade in goods and the 

forum for discussing issues and decisions that may ultimately require the attention of the General Council 

for resolution or a higher-level discussion, and for putting issues in a broader context of the rules and 

disciplines that apply to trade in goods. For example, the CTG considers the use of the waiver provisions 

under Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement and in 2016 gave initial approval to waivers for trade 

preferences, including those that the United States granted to the Former Trust Territories of the Pacific and 

Nepal.

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016 the CTG held three formal meetings, in April, July, and November. The CTG devoted its attention 

primarily to providing formal approval of decisions and recommendations proposed by its subsidiary 

bodies. The CTG also served as a forum for raising concerns regarding actions that individual Members 

had taken with respect to the operation of goods-related WTO agreements. In 2016, this included extensive 

discussions initiated by the United States and other WTO Members on Indonesia’s policies restricting 

imports and exports; the Russian Federation’s trade restricting measures; Nigeria’s import restrictions, 

bans, and local content requirements; Ecuador’s measures restricting imports; Pakistan’s discriminatory 

taxes; and India’s import restricting measures, among other serious market access issues. In addition, three 

other major issues were discussed in the CTG in 2016:

Waivers: In light of the introduction of Harmonized System (HS) 2002, 2007, and 2012 changes to the 

Schedules of Tariff Concessions, the CTG approved three collective requests for extensions of waivers 

related to the implementation of the Harmonized Tariff System. The CTG forwarded these approvals to 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 15

the General Council for adoption. The CTG also considered and approved requests by the United States 

relating to the Former Trust Territory of the Pacific and a new preference program for Nepal. The CTG 

continued to consider, but did not approve, a waiver request from Jordan relating to export subsidies.

EU Enlargement: In accordance with procedures under Article XXVIII:3 of the GATT 1994, the CTG 

considered and approved the EU’s requests to extend the time period for the withdrawal of concessions 

regarding the 2013 enlargement to include Croatia. 

EAEU Enlargement: In accordance with procedures under Article XXVIII:3 of the GATT 1994, the CTG 

considered and approved Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic’s requests to extend the time period for the 

withdrawal of concessions regarding their respective accessions to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). 

Prospects for 2017

The CTG will continue to be the focal point for discussing agreements in the WTO dealing with trade in 

goods. Waiver requests and goods-specific market access concerns are likely to continue to be prominent 

issues on the CTG agenda. 

1. Committee on Agriculture 

Status

The WTO Committee on Agriculture oversees the implementation of the Agriculture Agreement and 

provides a forum for Members to consult on matters related to provisions of the Agreement. In many cases, 

the Agriculture Committee resolves problems of implementation, permitting Members to avoid invoking 

dispute settlement procedures. The Agriculture Committee also has responsibility for monitoring the 

possible negative effects of agricultural reform on least developed countries (LDC) and net food importing 

developing country (NFIDC) Members.

Since its inception, the Agriculture Committee has proven to be a vital instrument for the United States to 

monitor and enforce the agricultural trade commitments undertaken by Members in the Uruguay Round. 

Under the Agriculture Agreement, Members agreed to provide annual notifications of progress in meeting 

their commitments in agriculture, and the Agriculture Committee has met frequently to review the 

notifications and monitor activities of Members to ensure that trading partners honor their commitments.

Major Issues in 2016

The Agriculture Committee held four formal meetings, in March, June, September, and November 2016, 

to review progress on the implementation of commitments negotiated in the Uruguay Round. At the 

meetings, Members undertook reviews based on notifications by Members in the areas of market access, 

domestic support, export subsidies, export prohibitions and restrictions, and general matters relevant to the 

implementation of commitments.

In total, 206 notifications were subject to review during 2016. The United States participated actively in 

the review process and raised specific issues concerning the operation of Members’ agricultural 

policies. For example, the United States regularly raised points with respect to domestic support in many 

Members, including Afghanistan, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Georgia, India, the Russian Federation, South 

Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. The United States used the review process to 

question Canada’s dairy and wine policies; India’s price support policies; Brazil’s Program for Product 

Flow (PEP – Prêmio para Escoamento do Produto) and Program for Producer-paid Equalization Subsidy 
16 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

(PEPRO – Prêmio de Equalização pago ao Produtor) for rice, wheat, and corn; Costa Rica’s rice support 

program; India’s Export Assistance programs; Moldova’s poultry tariffs; Thailand’s rice policies; and 

Turkey’s wheat flour export policies under the Turkish Grain Board. The United States raised questions 

with respect to tariff-rate-quota fill issues with China, Guatemala, and Switzerland. The United States also 

raised questions regarding Canada’s export subsidy notifications for butter, and questioned missing 

information in Afghanistan’s export subsidy notification tables. Finally, the United States raised questions 

with the Russian Federation’s food aid notification to ensure it was consistent with WTO practices, and 

encouraged countries including China and Turkey to bring their notifications up to date.

During 2016, the Agriculture Committee addressed a number of other issues related to the implementation 

of the Agriculture Agreement, such as: (1) convening the third annual dedicated discussion on export 

competition, as follow-up to the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial outcomes; and (2) exchanging views on 

approaches to strengthening Committee work relating to transparency.

Prospects for 2017

The United States will continue to make full use of the Agriculture Committee to promote transparency 

through timely notification by Members and to enhance surveillance of Uruguay Round commitments as 

they relate to export subsidies, market access, domestic support, and trade-distorting practices of WTO 

Members. The United States will also work with other Members as the Agriculture Committee continues 

to implement Bali and Nairobi Ministerial decisions. In addition, the United States will continue to work 

closely with the Agriculture Committee Chair and Secretariat to find ways to improve the timeliness and 

completeness of notifications and to increase the effectiveness of the Committee overall.

The Agriculture Committee will continue to monitor and analyze the impact of Measures Concerning the 

Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Program on LDCs and NFIDCs in accordance with the Agriculture 

Agreement. The Committee agreed to hold regular meetings in March, June, September, and November of 

2017.

2. Committee on Market Access

Status

In January 1995, WTO Members established the Committee on Market Access (MA Committee), which is 

responsible for the implementation of concessions related to tariffs and non-tariff measures that are not 

explicitly covered by another WTO body, as well as for verification of new concessions on market access 

in the goods area. The Committee reports to the WTO Council on Trade in Goods.

Major Issues in 2016

The MA Committee held two formal meetings in April and October 2016, and four informal sessions or 

consultations, to discuss the following topics: (1) ongoing and future work on WTO Members’ tariff 

schedules to reflect changes to the HS tariff nomenclature and any other tariff modifications; (2) the WTO 

Integrated Data Base (IDB) and Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database; (3) Member notifications 

of quantitative restrictions; and (4) other market access issues and specific trade concerns as raised by 

Members. 

Updates to the HS nomenclature: The MA Committee examines issues related to the transposition and 

renegotiation of the schedules of Members that adopted the HS in the years following its introduction on 

January 1, 1988. Since then, the World Customs Organization has amended the HS tariff classification 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 17

system relating to tariff nomenclature in 1996, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017. Using agreed examination 

procedures, WTO Members have the right to object to modifications in another Member’s tariff schedule 

that result from changes in the HS nomenclature, if such modifications affect the Member’s bound tariff 

commitments. Members may pursue unresolved objections under Article XXVIII of GATT 1994. Given 

the technical nature of this work, these reviews are often time-consuming, but this is an important aspect of 

enforcing WTO Members’ trade commitments. 

In 2016, the MA Committee continued its work concerning the introduction and verification of HS2002 

changes to Members’ WTO tariff schedules. Throughout the year, the United States worked closely with 

other Members and the WTO Secretariat to ensure that all Members’ bound tariff commitments are properly 

reflected in their updated schedule. To date, the HS2002 files for 127 Members – including the United 

States – have been certified, with only four files outstanding.

Multilateral review of tariff schedules under the HS2007 procedures continued at informal Committee 

meetings throughout 2016. The multilateral verification process in the Committee will be ongoing through 

2017. The U.S. 2007 transposition file was circulated for multilateral review and approved by the 

Committee during the first half of 2015.

With respect to the HS2012 nomenclature changes, the General Council approved procedures (WT/L/831) 

in 2011 to introduce those changes to schedules of concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules 

(CTS) database. However, that work will not commence for some time in the Committee since it is in the 

midst of updating Members’ bound commitments into HS2007 nomenclature. This lag can create 

difficulties in determining whether Members’ MFN duties – which were applied in HS2012 nomenclature 

beginning January 1, 2012 – are consistent with their WTO bound commitments. The United States was 

the first WTO Member to submit its tariff schedule in HS2012 nomenclature to the WTO Secretariat in 

September 2012. In preparation for the HS2017 nomenclature changes, the Committee adopted a decision 

(G/MA/W/124, G/MA/W/124/CORR.1) regarding the introduction of HS2017 changes into Members’ 

schedules of concessions.

Integrated Data Base (IDB): Members are required to notify information on annual tariffs and trade data, 

linked at the level of tariff lines, to the IDB as a result of a General Council Decision adopted in July 1997. 

On the tariff side, the IDB contains MFN current bound duties and MFN current applied duties. Additional 

information covering preferential duties is also included if provided by Members. On the trade side, it 

contains value and quantity data on imports by country of origin by tariff line. The WTO Secretariat 

periodically reports on the status of Member submissions to the IDB, the most recent of which can be found 

in WTO document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.43 and 44. The United States notifies this data in a timely fashion 

every year. However, several other WTO Members are not up to date in their submissions. The public can 

access tariff and trade data notified to the IDB through the WTO’s Tariff Online Analysis (TAO) facility 

at https://tariffanalysis.wto.org. 

Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database: The MA Committee continued work on implementing an 

electronic structure for tariff and trade data. The CTS database includes tariff bindings for each WTO 

Member that reflect its Uruguay Round tariff concessions, HS 1996, 2002, and 2007 amendments to tariff 

nomenclature and bindings, and any other Member rectifications/modifications to its WTO schedule (e.g., 

participation in the Information Technology Agreement). The database also includes agricultural support 

tables. 

Notification Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions (QRs): On December 1, 1995, the Council for Trade 

in Goods adopted a revised Decision on Notification Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions. On 3 July 

2012, the Council for Trade in Goods adopted a Decision on Notification Procedures for Quantitative 

Restrictions (G/L/59/Rev.1), which provides that WTO Members should make complete notifications of 
18 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

the quantitative restrictions (QRs), which they maintain at two-year intervals thereafter, and shall notify 

changes to their QRs when these changes occur.

Under the revised notification procedures for quantitative restrictions, the Committee continued to examine 

the quantitative restrictions notifications submitted by Members (G/MA/QR/4). The United States mostly 

recently notified its quantitative restrictions for the 2016-2018 cycle. In 2016, the United States raised 

questions with respect to measures on encryption devices in the Russian Federation’s 2014-2016 QR 

notification, reiterated questions on export restrictions on raw materials in China’s notifications, and urged 

Brazil to submit a revised QR notification given the existence of non-notified measures that would appear 

to qualify as quantitative restrictions.

Other Market Access Issues: Working with other Members, the United States raised strong concerns in the 

Committee regarding India’s decision to impose import tariffs on certain telecommunication products 

covered under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), as well as India’s tariff increases in a number 

of sectors that impact U.S. exports to India. The United States also raised concerns that Oman’s increase 

of a specific tariff on agriculture products may result in Oman exceeding its WTO bindings for such 

products.

Prospects for 2017

The ongoing work program of the MA Committee, while highly technical, aims to ensure that all WTO 

Members are honoring and implementing their WTO market access commitments, and that their schedules 

of tariff commitments are up to date and available in electronic spreadsheet format. The Committee will 

continue its work to finalize Members’ amended schedules based on the HS2002 amendments, continue 

work on the transposition of Members’ tariff schedules to HS2007 nomenclature, and begin work on 2012

schedules. 

3. Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Status

The Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Committee) provides 

a forum for review of the implementation and administration of the Agreement on the Application of 

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement), consultation on Members’ existing and 

proposed SPS measures, technical assistance, other informational exchanges, and the participation of the 

international standard setting bodies recognized in the SPS Agreement. These international standard setting 

bodies are: for food safety, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex); for animal health, the World 

Organization for Animal Health (OIE); and for plant health, the International Plant Protection Convention 

(IPPC).

The SPS Committee also discusses and provides guidelines on specific provisions of the SPS 

Agreement. These discussions provide an opportunity to develop procedures to assist Members in meeting 

specific SPS obligations. For example, the SPS Committee has issued procedures or guidelines regarding: 

notification of SPS measures; the “consistency” provision of Article 5.5 of the SPS Agreement; 

equivalence; transparency regarding the provisions for S&D; and regionalization. Participation in the SPS 

Committee, which operates by consensus, is open to all WTO Members. Governments negotiating 

accession to the WTO may attend Committee meetings as observers. In addition, representatives from a 

number of international organizations attend Committee meetings as observers on an ad hoc meeting-bymeeting basis, including: the Food and Agriculture Organization; the World Health Organization; Codex; 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 19

the IPPC; the OIE; the International Trade Center; the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on 

Agriculture; and the World Bank.

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the SPS Committee held meetings in March, June, and October. In these meetings, Members 

exchanged views regarding the implementation of SPS Agreement provisions with respect to risk 

assessment, transparency, and use of international standards, equivalence, and regionalization.

The United States views these exchanges as useful, as they facilitate ongoing familiarity with the provisions 

of the SPS Agreement and increased recognition of the value of the SPS Committee as a forum for Members 

to discuss SPS-related trade issues. Many Members, including the United States, utilized these meetings 

to raise concerns regarding new and existing SPS measures of other Members. In 2016, the United States 

raised a number of concerns with existing or proposed measures of other Members, including proposed 

changes by China relating to approvals for “genetically modified organisms,” implementation of China’s 

transparency obligations, Costa Rica’s suspension of the issuance of import certificates for avocados, and 

the EU’s proposals to assess, classify and regulate chemicals classified as endocrine disruptors. Further, 

the United States, with a view to transparency, informed the SPS Committee of U.S. measures, both new 

and proposed. A workshop on the trade impact of issues related to the establishment and use of maximum 

residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides was held on the margins of the October Committee meeting. 

The Committee did not conclude work on its report of the SPS Committee’s fourth review of the 

implementation of the SPS Agreement due to differences of views among Members on the role of the SPS 

Committee with respect to private and commercial standards. The United States remains concerned about 

whether private and commercial standards is an appropriate issue to which the SPS Committee should be 

devoting resources and continues to work with the Committee and other Members to address that concern. 

Notifications: Because it is critical for trading partners to know and understand each other’s laws and 

regulations, the SPS notification process, with the Committee’s consistent encouragement, is a significant

mechanism in the facilitation of international trade. The process also provides a means for Members to 

report on determinations of equivalence and S&D. The United States made 154 SPS notifications to the 

WTO Secretariat in 2016, and submitted comments on 143 SPS measures notified by other Members.

Prospects for 2017

The SPS Committee will hold three meetings in 2017 with informal sessions anticipated to be held in 

advance of each meeting. The Committee has a standing agenda for meetings that can be amended to 

accommodate new or special issues. The SPS Committee will continue to monitor Members’ 

implementation activities, and the discussion of specific trade concerns will continue to be an important 

part of the Committee’s activities.

In 2017, the SPS Committee will also continue to monitor the use by Members, and development by Codex, 

the OIE, and the IPPC, of international standards, guidelines, and recommendations. We expect the 

Committee to continue its work on trade issues related to pesticide MRLs in 2017.
20 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

4. Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures

Status

The Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (the TRIMS Agreement) prohibits investment 

measures that are inconsistent with national treatment obligations under Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 

and reinforces the prohibitions on quantitative restrictions set out in Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994. The 

TRIMS Agreement requires the elimination of certain measures imposing requirements on, or linking 

advantages to, certain actions of foreign investors, such as measures that require, or provide benefits for, 

the use of local inputs (local content requirements) or measures that restrict a firm’s imports to an amount 

related to the quantity of its exports or foreign exchange earnings (trade balancing requirements). The 

Agreement includes an illustrative list of measures that are inconsistent with Articles III:4 and XI:1 of the 

GATT 1994. 

Developments relating to the TRIMS Agreement are monitored and discussed both in the Council for Trade 

in Goods and in the Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS Committee). Since its 

establishment in 1995, the TRIMS Committee has been a forum for the United States and other Members 

to address concerns, gather information, and raise questions about the maintenance, introduction, or 

modification of trade-related investment measures by Members. 

Major Issues in 2016

The TRIMS Committee held two formal meetings during 2016, in June and October, during which the 

United States and other Members continued to discuss particular local content measures of concern to the 

United States. The United States explored these concerns through written questions to certain countries to 

seek a better understanding of a variety of potentially trade-distortive local content requirements. 

Some of the local content measures discussed by the Committee remain in place after several years, while 

new measures continue to emerge. For example, the United States, joined by Japan and the EU, continued 

to raise questions about possible local content requirements in Indonesia’s measures pertaining to mineral 

and coal mining and oil and gas exploration, noting that it had raised these concerns every year since 2009. 

The United States, the EU, and Japan also posed questions to Indonesia regarding measures in the 

telecommunications sector that have been the subject of discussion in the Committee since 2009. The 

United States also continued to raise questions, first posed in 2015, about apparent local content 

requirements with respect to 4G LTE equipment in Indonesia. The United States also posed questions to 

the Russian Federation on programs related to SOE purchases generally, and to SOE purchases of 

agricultural equipment specifically, in order to determine whether these programs are conditioned on use 

of local content. Finally, the United States also raised concerns about a new proposal by China that would 

appear to require acquisition of domestically produced technology and software by investors in the 

insurance sector. 

Prospects for 2017

The United States will continue to engage other Members in efforts to promote compliance with the TRIMS 

Agreement.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 21

5. Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures

Status

The SCM Agreement provides rules and disciplines for the use of government subsidies and the application 

of remedies – through either WTO dispute settlement or countervailing duty action taken by individual 

WTO Members – to address subsidized trade that causes harmful commercial effects. Subsidies contingent 

upon export performance or the use of domestic over imported goods are prohibited. All other subsidies 

are permitted but are actionable (through countervailing duty or WTO dispute settlement actions) if they 

are (i) “specific”, i.e., limited to a firm, industry, or group thereof within the territory of a WTO Member, 

and (ii) found to cause adverse trade effects, such as material injury to a domestic industry or serious 

prejudice to the trade interests of another Member.

Major Issues in 2016

The Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (the SCM Committee) held two regular 

meetings and two special meetings in 2016, in April and October. The SCM Committee continued to review 

the consistency of Members’ domestic laws, regulations, and actions with the SCM Agreement’s 

requirements, as well as Members’ notifications of their subsidy programs to the SCM Committee. Other 

items addressed in the course of the year included: the fourth “counter notifications” by the United States 

of unreported subsidy programs in China; examination of ways to improve the timeliness and completeness 

of subsidy notifications; the “export competitiveness” of India’s textile and apparel sector; a submission by 

the European Union, Japan, Mexico and the United States on contributing factors to overcapacity in a 

number of industrial sectors; a U.S. proposal to enhance the transparency of fisheries subsidies 

notifications; review of the export subsidy program extension mechanism for certain small economy 

developing country Members; filling the opening on the five-member Permanent Group of Experts; and 

updating the eligibility threshold for developing countries to provide export subsidies under Annex VII(b) 

of the SCM Agreement. Further information on these various activities is provided below.

Review and Discussion of Notifications: Throughout the year, Members submitted notifications of: (1) new 

or amended countervailing duty legislation and regulations; (2) countervailing duty investigations initiated 

and decisions taken; and (3) Members’ subsidy programs. Notifications of countervailing duty legislation 

and actions, as well as subsidy notifications, were reviewed and discussed by the SCM Committee at its 

April and October meetings.

In reviewing notified countervailing duty legislation and subsidies, SCM Committee procedures provide 

for the exchange in advance of written questions and answers in order to clarify the operation of the notified 

measures and their relationship to the obligations of the SCM Agreement. As of October 2016, 110 WTO 

Members (counting the EU as a single Member) have notified their countervailing duty legislation or lack 

thereof, and 26 Members have so far failed to make a legislative notification.6 In 2016, the SCM Committee 

reviewed notifications of new or amended countervailing duty laws and regulations from Australia; 

Bahrain; Cameroon; Canada; Dominican Republic; India, Kazakhstan; Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lesotho; 

Oman; Pakistan; Qatar; Russian Federation; Saudi Arabia; Seychelles; United Arab Emirates; United 

States; and Vanuatu.

 7

 

6 These notifications do not include notifications submitted by Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, 

Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia before these Members 

acceded to the European Community.

7

In keeping with WTO practice, the review of legislative provisions which pertain or apply to both antidumping and 

countervailing duty actions by a Member generally took place in the Antidumping Committee.
22 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

As for countervailing duty measures, 14 Members notified countervailing duty actions they took during the 

latter half of 2015, and 15 Members notified actions they took in the first half of 2016. The SCM Committee 

reviewed actions taken by: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, the EU, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz 

Republic, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Turkey, the United States, and Ukraine.

In 2016, the SCM Committee examined dozens of new and full subsidy notifications covering various time 

periods. Unfortunately, numerous Members have not submitted a notification in many years or have yet to 

make even an initial subsidy notification to the WTO, although many of them are least-developed country 

Members.

Counter notifications: Under Article 25.1 of the SCM Agreement, Members are obligated to regularly 

provide a subsidy notification to the SCM Committee. Prior to October 2011, China had only submitted a 

single subsidy notification, in 2006 (covering the years 2001 – 2004). The United States and other Members 

have repeatedly expressed deep concern about the notification record of China and India (among others). 

During the 2010 fall meeting of the SCM Committee, the United States foreshadowed potential resort to 

the counter notification mechanism under Article 25.10 of the SCM Agreement. This provision states that 

when a Member fails to notify a subsidy, any other Member may bring the matter to the attention of the 

Member failing to notify.

Pursuant to Article 25.10, the United States filed counter notifications in October 2011 with respect to over 

200 unreported subsidy measures in China and 50 unreported subsidy measures in India – the first counter 

notifications ever filed by the United States. Although not required by the SCM Agreement, included as 

part of the counter notification of China was access to translations of each measure in the counter 

notifications. While China submitted its second subsidy notification (covering 2005 – 2008) shortly after 

the U.S. counter notification, it covered very few of the subsidy programs referenced in the U.S. counter 

notification. 

In the fall of 2014, the United States submitted its second counter notification of subsidy measures in China. 

This counter notification was based on the Article 25.8 questions submitted to China in October 2012. 

Because China did not respond to these questions after two years, the United States was compelled to 

counter notify the measures at issue. This counter notification included 110 subsidy measures, covering, 

inter alia, steel, semiconductors, non-ferrous metals, textiles, fish, and various sector-specific stimulus 

initiatives. As part of this counter notification, the United States provided hyperlinks in its submission to 

complete translations of each measure counter notified.

In the fall of 2015, the United States submitted its third counter notification of subsidy measures in China. 

All of the measures in this counter notification pertain to China’s policy of promoting its “strategic, 

emerging industries” (SEI). This counter notification was based on the Article 25.8 questions submitted to 

China in the spring of 2014. Once again, because China did not respond to these questions, the United 

States was compelled to counter notify the measures at issue. Over 60 subsidy measures were included in 

the counter notification. The specific sectors China has selected as SEIs include the following: (1) new 

energy vehicles, (2) new materials (a category that includes textile products), (3) biotechnology, (4) highend equipment manufacturing, (5) new energy, (6) next generation information technology, and (7) energy 

conservation and environmental protection. As with other industrial planning measures in China, subcentral governments appear to play an important role in implementing China’s SEI policy. While China 

submitted its third subsidy notification (covering 2009 – 2014) shortly after the third U.S. counter 

notification, it covered very few of the subsidy programs referenced in the U.S. counter notifications.

8

 

8

In the summer of 2016, China submitted its first subsidy notification covering sub-central government subsidy 

programs since becoming a WTO Member in 2001. While this is a positive development, the number and range of 

programs covered appears to be a small fraction of the programs administered at the sub-central levels of 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 23

In the spring of 2016, the United States submitted its fourth counter notification of subsidy measures in 

China. All of the measures in this counter notification pertain to China’s fisheries subsidies. This counter 

notification was based on Article 25.8 questions submitted to China in the spring of 2015. Once again, 

because China did not respond to these questions, the United States was compelled to counter notify the 

measures at issue. The measures counter notified included measures to support fishing vessel acquisition 

and renovation; a 100 percent corporate income tax exemption; grants for new fishing equipment; subsidies 

for insurance; subsidized loans for processing facilities; fuel subsidies; preferential provision of water, 

electricity, and land; grants to explore new offshore fishing grounds; grants for establishing famous brands; 

and special funds for strategic emerging industries in the marine economy. Over 40 subsidy measures were 

included in the counter notification. Full translations of each measure, though not required under the 

Subsidies Agreement, were included in the counter notification. 

Taking all four counter notifications into account, the United States has now counter notified over 400 

Chinese subsidy measures. As noted, China has included in its subsidy notifications only a small number 

of programs identified by the United States in its counter notifications, and has argued that other measures 

counter notified have, in fact, previously been notified. However, China has refused to engage in bilateral 

technical discussions to address this issue. 

Notification improvements: In March 2009, the Chairman of the Trade Policy Review Body, acting through 

the Chairman of the General Council, requested that all committees discuss “ways to improve the timeliness 

and completeness of notifications and other information flows on trade measures.” The United States fully 

supported the continuation of this initiative in 2016 in light of Members’ poor record in meeting their 

subsidy notification obligations. In 2010, the United States took the initiative under this agenda item to 

review the subsidy notification record of several large exporters in failing to provide complete and timely 

subsidy notifications. Of primary concern in this regard was China. As noted above, the United States 

continues to devote significant time and resources to researching, monitoring, and analyzing China’s 

subsidy practices. The United States has also been working with several other larger exporting countries 

bilaterally to assist and encourage them to meet their subsidy notification obligations. 

In 2011, the United States submitted a specific proposal under Article 25.8 of the SCM Agreement to 

strengthen and improve the notification procedures of the SCM Committee. As noted above, under Article 

25.8, any Member may make a written request for information on the nature and extent of a subsidy subject 

to the requirement of notification. Unfortunately, many requests under Article 25.8 have not been answered 

or are only partially answered orally after significant delay. To address this problem, the United States 

proposed that the SCM Committee establish deadlines for the submission of written answers to Article 25.8 

questions and include all unanswered Article 25.8 questions on the bi-annual agendas of the SCM 

Committee until the questions are answered.9 In 2016, the United States continued to advocate for a revised 

proposal, which sets out specific deadlines for responses to questions.10 Many Members supported the 

proposal, while several other Members, such as China, India, South Africa, and Brazil, voiced concerns. 

The “export competitiveness” of India’s textile and apparel sector: Under the SCM Agreement, developing 

countries receive special and differential treatment with respect to certain subsidy disciplines under Article 

27. For developing countries listed in Annex VII of the SCM Agreement, which includes India, the general 

prohibition on export subsidies does not apply until: (1) per capita GNP reaches a designated threshold of 

$1,000 per annum, or (2) eight years after the country achieves “export competitiveness” for a particular 

product. Article 27.6 of the SCM Agreement defines export competitiveness as the point when an exported 

 

government. Some subsidy programs in this notification were first raised in one or more of the counter notifications 

submitted by the United States. 

9 G/SCM/W/555; 21 October 2011.

10 G/SCM/W/557/Rev.1; September 22, 2014.
24 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

product reaches a share of 3.25 percent of world trade for two consecutive calendar years. Export 

competitiveness is determined to exist either via notification by the Annex VII developing country having 

reached export competitiveness or on the basis of a computation undertaken by the WTO SCM Committee 

Secretariat at the request of any Member.

In February 2010, the United States formally requested the Secretariat, pursuant to Article 27.6 of the SCM 

Agreement, to compute the export competitiveness of India’s textile and apparel sector. The Secretariat 

submitted its results to the Committee in March 2010. The calculations appear to support the conclusion 

that India has reached export competitiveness in the textile and apparel sector. In light of the Secretariat’s 

calculations, the United States continues to press India to identify the current export subsidy programs that 

benefit the textile and apparel sector and commit to end all such programs to the extent they benefit the 

textile and apparel sector. In response, India has raised certain technical questions as to the appropriate 

definition of “product” and the precise starting point of the phase-out period under Articles 27.5 and 27.6 

of the SCM Agreement. The United States will continue to pursue this issue.

Overcapacity submission: At the fall meeting of the Subsidies Committee, a paper on the problem of 

overcapacity in certain sectors (e.g., steel and aluminum) was submitted by the European Union, Japan, 

Mexico, Korea and the United States. The paper was a follow-up to the recognition by the G-20 Leaders 

that industrial overcapacity has become a major problem for the global economy. It suggested that the 

Subsidies Committee could usefully examine the extent to which subsidies contribute to overcapacity and 

how such subsidies could be further disciplined in the interest of providing a level playing field and an 

environment where trade and resource allocation is not distorted. Several countries spoke in favor of 

continuing work in this area, while China argued that the Subsidies Committee was not the appropriate 

forum.

Extension of the transition period for the phase out of export subsidies: Under the SCM Agreement, most 

developing country Members were obligated to eliminate their export subsidies by December 31, 2002. To 

address the concerns of certain small economies, a special procedure within the context of Article 27.4 of 

the SCM Agreement was adopted at the 2001 Doha Ministerial Conference to provide for facilitated annual 

extensions of the time available to eliminate certain notified export subsidies.11 In 2007, the General 

Council, acting on an SCM Committee recommendation, decided to extend the application of the special 

procedure. An important outcome of these negotiations, upon which the United States and other developed 

and developing countries insisted, was that the beneficiaries must eliminate all export subsidy programs no 

later than 2015 and that they will have no recourse to further extensions beyond 2015. The final two-year 

phase-out period (2014-2015) is provided for in Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement and ended on 

December 31, 2015. In 2016, the SCM Committee continued its efforts to ensure that all extension 

recipients either had terminated the programs at issue or were in the process of doing so. 

Enhanced Fisheries Subsidies Notification: In light of the rapid depletion of global fisheries, the role of 

fishery subsidies in facilitating overfishing and overcapacity, and the difficulty of reaching agreement on 

stricter rules limiting fishery subsidies at the WTO, the United States has proposed as a realistic and 

practical first step that WTO Members consider providing additional information (e.g., information beyond 

that required under the Subsidies Agreement) when notifying their fisheries subsidies. The United States 

has noted that additional information regarding, for example, the health of the relevant fish stocks and the 

applicable management regime, could be voluntarily included in a Member’s regular subsidy notification. 

 

11 Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, 

Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Mauritius, Panama, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and 

the Grenadines, and Uruguay have made yearly requests since 2002 under these special procedures.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 25

Many Members spoke in favor of developing such an approach, while others, such as China and India 

expressed reservations.

Permanent Group of Experts: Article 24 of the SCM Agreement directs the SCM Committee to establish 

a Permanent Group of Experts (PGE), “composed of five independent persons, highly qualified in the fields 

of subsidies and trade relations” and that “[t]he experts will be elected by the Committee and one of them 

will be replaced every year.” The SCM Agreement articulates three possible roles for the PGE: (1) to 

provide, at the request of a dispute settlement panel, a binding ruling on whether a particular practice 

brought before that panel constitutes a prohibited subsidy within the meaning of Article 3 of the SCM 

Agreement; (2) to provide, at the request of the SCM Committee, an advisory opinion on the existence and 

nature of any subsidy; and (3) to provide, at the request of a Member, a “confidential” advisory opinion on 

the nature of any subsidy proposed to be introduced or currently maintained by that Member. To date, the 

PGE has not yet been called upon to perform any of the aforementioned duties.

At the beginning of 2016, the members of the Permanent Group of Experts were: Mr. Zhang Yuqing 

(China); Mr. Welber Barral (Brazil), Mr. Chris Parlin (United States), Mr. Subash Pillai (Malaysia); and 

Mr. Ichiro Araki (Japan). Ms. Luz Elena Reyes de la Torre (Mexico) was elected at the regular spring 

meeting to replace the outgoing Mr. Zhang Yuqing. Therefore, at the end of 2016, the five members of the 

PGE were: Mr. Welber Barral (until 2017), Mr. Chris Parlin (until 2018), Mr. Subash Pillai (until 2019), 

Mr. Ichiro Araki (until 2020) and Ms. Luz Elena Reyes de la Torre (2021).

The Methodology for Annex VII (b) of the SCM Agreement: Annex VII of the SCM Agreement identifies 

certain lesser developed country Members that are eligible for particular special and differential treatment. 

Specifically, the export subsidies of these Members are not prohibited, and therefore, are not actionable as 

prohibited subsidies under the dispute settlement process. The Members identified in Annex VII include 

those WTO Members designated by the United Nations as “least-developed countries” (Annex VII(a)) as 

well as countries that had, at the time of the negotiation of the SCM Agreement, a per capita GNP under 

$1,000 per annum and are specifically listed in Annex VII(b).12 A country automatically “graduates” from 

Annex VII(b) status when its per capita GNP rises above the $1,000 threshold. In 2001, at the WTO Fourth 

Ministerial Conference in Doha, decisions were made, which, inter alia, led to the adoption of an approach 

to calculate the $1,000 threshold in constant 1990 dollars and to require that a Member be above this 

threshold for three consecutive years before graduation. The WTO Secretariat updated these calculations 

in 2016.13

Prospects for 2017

In 2017, the United States will continue to analyze the latest subsidy notifications submitted by China in 

the fall of 2015 and summer of 2016, and will focus on other possible subsidy programs in China not 

notified, particularly those that may be prohibited under the SCM Agreement and those provided to sectors 

for which China has yet to notify any subsidies (e.g., steel and aluminum), as well as new programs being 

implemented under the 13th Five Year Plan. The United States will continue to seek to engage India 

bilaterally to commit to a phase-out of its export subsidy programs to the extent that they benefit the textile 

and apparel sector. More generally, the SCM Committee will continue to work in 2017 to improve the 

timeliness and completeness of Members’ subsidy notifications and, in particular, will continue to discuss 

 

12 Members identified in Annex VII(b) are: Bolivia, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, 

Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, 

Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. In recognition of the technical error made in the final compilation of this list and pursuant 

to a General Council decision, Honduras was formally added to Annex VII(b) on January 20, 2001.

13 See G/SCM/110/Add.13.
26 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

the proposal made by the United States to improve and strengthen the SCM Committee’s procedures under 

Article 25.8 of the SCM Agreement. As to the proposal to enhance the transparency of fisheries subsidies, 

the United States will work with like-minded Members to develop specific elements for inclusion in an 

enhanced fisheries subsidies notification. Finally, the subsidy notification of the United States, covering 

fiscal years 2014 and 2015, will likely be submitted in the summer of 2017.

6. Committee on Customs Valuation 

Status

The purpose of the Agreement on the Implementation of GATT Article VII (known as the WTO Agreement 

on Customs Valuation, referred to herein as the “Valuation Agreement) is to ensure that determinations of 

the customs value for the application of duty rates to imported goods are conducted in a neutral and uniform 

manner, precluding the use of arbitrary or fictitious customs values. Adherence to the Valuation Agreement 

is designed to ensure that market access opportunities achieved through tariff reductions are not negated by 

unwarranted and unreasonable “uplifts” in the customs value of goods to which tariffs are applied. The use 

of arbitrary and inappropriate “uplifts” in the valuation of goods by importing countries when applying 

tariffs can result in an unwarranted doubling or tripling of effective duties.

Major Issues in 2016

The Valuation Agreement is administered by the Committee on Customs Valuation (the Customs Valuation 

Committee), which held two formal meetings in 2016. The Valuation Agreement also established a 

Technical Committee on Customs Valuation under the auspices of the World Customs Organization 

(WCO), with a view to ensuring, at the technical level, uniformity in interpretation and application of the 

Valuation Agreement. The Technical Committee held two meetings in 2016.

In accordance with a 1999 recommendation of the WTO Working Party on Preshipment Inspection that 

was adopted by the General Council, the Customs Valuation Committee continued to provide a forum for 

reviewing the operation of various Members’ preshipment inspection regimes and the implementation of 

the WTO Agreement on Preshipment Inspection.

No Members currently maintain the Special & Differential Treatment (S&D) reservation concerning the 

use of minimum values, which is a practice inconsistent with the obligations of the Valuation Agreement. 

However, there are still Members employing these practices, which continue to create concerns for traders.

The United States has used the Customs Valuation Committee to address concerns on behalf of U.S. 

exporters across all sectors – including agriculture, automotive, textile, steel, and information technology –

that have experienced difficulties related to the conduct of customs valuation and pre-shipment inspection 

regimes. 

Achieving universal acceptance of the Valuation Agreement was an objective of the United States in the 

Uruguay Round. The Valuation Agreement was initially negotiated in the Tokyo Round, but until entry 

into force of the WTO Agreement, adherence to it was voluntary. A proper valuation methodology, 

avoiding arbitrary determinations or officially established minimum import prices, is essential for the 

realization of market access commitments. Furthermore, the implementation of the Valuation Agreement 

often is an initial concrete and meaningful step by developing country Members toward reforming their 

customs administrations, diminishing corruption, and ultimately moving to a rules-based trade facilitation 

environment. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 27

An important part of the Customs Valuation Committee’s work is the examination of customs valuation 

legislation to implement Valuation Agreement commitments and individual Member practices. As of 

December 2016, 96 Members had notified their national legislation on customs valuation (these figures do 

not include the 28 individual EU Member States, which also are WTO Members). In addition, 65 Members 

have notified its “Implementation and Administration of the Agreement on Customs Valuation” checklist 

of issues created by the Tokyo Round Committee on May 5, 1981. Thirty-five Members have not yet made 

any notification of their national legislation on customs valuation. At the Committee’s April and October 

2016 meetings, the Committee undertook its examination of the customs valuation legislation of: the 

Kingdom of Bahrain, Belize, Cabo Verde; Colombia, Ecuador; the Gambia; Guinea, Honduras, Mali; the 

Republic of Moldova; Montenegro, Nepal, Nicaragua; Nigeria; Russian Federation; Rwanda; and Sri 

Lanka. In addition, the Committee concluded the review of the national legislation of Ecuador, 

Montenegro, South Africa, and Ukraine. Where the Committee’s examination of these Members’ customs 

valuation legislation was not concluded because of outstanding responses, or Members have reverted in 

2016, the examination will continue in 2017.

Working with information provided by U.S. exporters, the United States played a leading role in these 

examinations, submitting in some cases detailed questions as well as suggestions for improved 

implementation. In addition to its examination of Members’ customs valuation legislation, the United 

States submitted and is still awaiting replies to questions to Indonesia requesting notification of its preshipment inspection program to the Committee.

The Customs Valuation Committee’s work throughout 2016 continued to reflect a cooperative focus among 

all Members to ensure implementation of the Valuation Agreement. The Committee also took note of 

technical assistance activities carried out by the Secretariat of the WCO and its Members related to customs 

valuation. The Committee also noted that technical assistance in the area of customs valuation is now 

incorporated into the WTO-wide technical assistance program, which encompasses regional activities on 

market access issues, including customs valuation.

Prospects for 2017

The Customs Valuation Committee’s work in 2017 will include reviewing the relevant implementing 

legislation and regulations notified by Members, along with addressing any further requests by other 

Members concerning implementation deadlines. The Committee will monitor progress by Members with 

regard to their respective work programs that were included in the decisions granting transitional 

reservations or extensions of time for implementation. In this regard, the Committee will continue to 

provide a forum for sustained focus on issues arising from practices of Members with regard to their 

implementation of the Valuation Agreement, to ensure that Members’ customs valuation regimes do not 

utilize arbitrary or fictitious values, such as through the use of minimum import prices. In addition, the 

United States will continue to showcase the benefits of advance rulings on valuation for traders and customs 

administrations, including by sharing best practices and experience. Further, the United Sates will continue 

to emphasize the synergy between the Customs Valuation Agreement and the TFA. In particular, as part 

of Technical Assistance discussions in the Customs Valuation Committee, the United States intends to 

explore using TFA technical assistance capacity building to further Members’ understanding and 

compliance with the Valuation Agreement in order to address technical assistance issues, which the 

Committee considers as a matter of high priority.
28 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

7. Committee on Rules of Origin 

Status

The objective of the Agreement on Rules of Origin (the ROO Agreement) is to increase transparency, 

predictability, and consistency in both the preparation and application of rules of origin. The ROO 

Agreement provides important disciplines for conducting preferential and non-preferential origin regimes, 

such as the obligation on Members to provide, upon request of a trader, an assessment of the origin their 

authorities would accord to a good within 150 days of that request. In addition to setting forth disciplines 

related to the administration of rules of origin, the ROO Agreement provides for a work program to develop 

harmonized rules of origin for non-preferential trade. The Harmonization Work Program (HWP) is more 

complex than initially envisioned under the ROO Agreement, which provided for the work to be completed 

within three years after its commencement in July 1995. This HWP continued throughout 2016 and will 

continue into 2017.

The ROO Agreement is administered by the Committee on Rules of Origin (the ROO Committee), which 

held meetings in April and September of 2016. The Committee also serves as a forum to exchange views 

on notifications by Members concerning their national rules of origin along with relevant judicial decisions 

and administrative rulings of general application. The ROO Agreement also established a Technical 

Committee on Rules of Origin (Technical Committee) under the auspices of the World Customs 

Organization to assist in the HWP.

Major Issues in 2016

As of December 2016, 95 Members have notified the WTO concerning non-preferential rules of origin. In 

these notifications, 47 Members notified that they apply non-preferential rules of origin, and 56 Members 

notified that they did not have a non-preferential rule of origin regime. Thirty-five Members have not 

notified non-preferential rules of origin. All WTO Members have notified the WTO, either through the 

ROO Committee or other WTO bodies, that they apply at least one set of preferential rules of origin.

The ROO Agreement has provided a means for addressing and resolving many problems facing U.S. 

exporters pertaining to origin regimes, and the ROO Committee has been active in its review of the ROO 

Agreement’s implementation. Virtually all issues and concerns cited by U.S. exporters as arising under the 

origin regimes of U.S. trading partners arise from administrative practices that are not transparent, allow 

discrimination, and lack predictability. The ROO Committee has given substantial attention to the 

implementation of the ROO Agreement’s disciplines related to transparency.

The ongoing HWP has attracted a great deal of attention and resources from WTO Members. Members 

working through the Technical Committee and the ROO Committee have made progress toward completion 

of this effort, despite the large volume and magnitude of complex issues, which must be addressed for 

hundreds of specific products.

U.S. proposals for the HWP have been developed based on a Section 332 study, which was conducted by 

the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) pursuant to a request by USTR. The U.S. proposals 

reflect input received from ongoing consultations with the private sector as the negotiations have progressed 

from the technical stage to deliberations in the ROO Committee. Representatives from several U.S. 

Government agencies continue to be involved in the HWP, including USTR, U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA).
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 29

While the ROO Committee made some progress towards fulfilling the mandate of the ROO Agreement to 

establish harmonized non-preferential rules of origin since the start of the HWP, a number of fundamental 

issues, including many with respect to product-specific rules for agricultural and industrial goods and the 

scope of the prospective obligation to apply the harmonized non-preferential rules of origin equally for all

purposes, remain to be resolved. 

Because of the impasse among Members on: (i) the product specific rules related to the 94 core policy 

issues; (ii) the absence of a common understanding of the scope of the prospective obligation to apply the 

harmonized non-preferential rules of origin equally for all purposes; and (iii) the growing concern among 

Members that the final result of the HWP negotiations would not be consistent with the objectives of the 

HWP set forth in Article 9 of the ROO Agreement, the General Council recognized that its guidance was 

needed on how to resolve these issues. In 2007, the General Council endorsed the recommendation of the 

ROO Committee that substantive work on these issues be suspended until the ROO Committee receives the 

necessary guidance from the General Council on how to reconcile the differences among Members on the 

aforementioned issues.

In 2016, the ROO Committee agreed to initiate an educational exercise to exchange information about nonpreferential rules of origin and better understand the impact that existing rules have on international trade. 

Members participated in two information sessions and heard presentations about the impact of rules of 

origin on international trade and on the operation of businesses. 

The ROO Committee held dedicated discussions on preferential rules of origin for LDCs, in particular in 

light of the outcomes of the 2013 and 2015 Ministerial Decisions on this issue. In that context, the ROO 

Committee reviewed the availability of trade data regarding preferential trade arrangements, reviewed the 

status of notifications of preferential rules of origin, and discussed a template for the notification of 

preferential rules of origin.

Prospects for 2017

The Committee will continue to discuss the future organization of the Committee’s work and divergences 

in Members’ views of how to continue the HWP. In accordance with the decision taken by the General 

Council in July 2007, and subject to future guidance from the General Council, the ROO Committee will 

continue to focus on technical issues, including the technical aspects of the overall architecture of the HWP 

product specific rules, through informal consultations. The ROO Committee will continue to report 

periodically to the General Council on its progress in resolving these issues. The Committee will also 

review the implementation of the Ministerial Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs that was 

adopted at the Nairobi Ministerial (WT/MIN(15)/47).

8. Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

Status

The Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT Agreement) establishes rules and procedures 

regarding the development, adoption, and application of voluntary standards and mandatory technical 

regulations for products and the procedures (such as testing or certification) used to determine whether a 

particular product meets such voluntary standards or technical regulations (conformity assessment 

procedures). One of the main objectives of the TBT Agreement is to prevent the use of regulations as 

unnecessary barriers to trade while ensuring that Members retain the right to regulate, inter alia, for the 

protection of health, safety, or the environment, at the levels they consider appropriate.
30 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

The TBT Agreement applies to industrial as well as agricultural products, although it does not apply to SPS 

measures or specifications for government procurement, which are covered under separate agreements. 

TBT Agreement rules help to distinguish legitimate standards, conformity assessment procedures, and 

technical regulations from protectionist measures and other measures that act as unnecessary obstacles to 

trade. For example, the TBT Agreement requires Members to apply standards, technical regulations, and 

conformity assessment procedures in a nondiscriminatory fashion and, in particular, requires that technical 

regulations be no more trade restrictive than necessary to meet a legitimate objective and be based on 

relevant international standards, except where international standards would be ineffective or inappropriate 

to meet a legitimate objective.

The Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT Committee) serves as a forum for consultation on 

issues associated with implementing and administering the TBT Agreement. The TBT Committee is 

composed of representatives of each WTO Member and provides an opportunity for Members to discuss 

concerns about specific standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures that a 

Member proposes or maintains. The TBT Committee also allows Members to discuss systemic issues 

affecting implementation of the TBT Agreement (e.g., transparency, use of good regulatory practices, 

regulatory cooperation), and to exchange information on Members’ practices related to implementing the 

TBT Agreement and relevant international developments.

Transparency: The TBT Agreement requires each Member to establish a central contact point, known as 

an inquiry point, which is responsible for responding to requests for information on its standards, technical 

requirements, and conformity assessment procedures, or making the appropriate referral. The TBT 

Agreement also requires Members to notify proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment 

procedures and to take comments received from other Members into account. These obligations provide a 

key benefit to the public. Through the U.S. Government’s implementation of these obligations, the public 

is able to obtain information on proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures of 

other WTO Members and to provide written comments for consideration on those proposals before they 

are finalized. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) serves as the U.S. inquiry point for purposes 

of the TBT Agreement (NIST can be contacted via email at: usatbtep@nist.gov or notifyus@nist.gov or via 

the Internet at: http://www.nist.gov/notifyus). The inquiry point responds to requests for information 

concerning Federal and State standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures, as 

well as voluntary standards and conformity assessment procedures developed or adopted by 

nongovernmental bodies. Upon request, NIST will provide copies of notifications of proposed technical 

regulations and conformity assessment procedures that other Members have made under the TBT 

Agreement, as well as contact information for other Members’ TBT inquiry points. NIST maintains the 

“Notify U.S. Service” through which U.S. entities receive, via e-mail, WTO notifications of proposed or 

revised domestic and foreign technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures for manufactured 

products. U.S. entities can access the services through the website: https://www.nist/notifyus. NIST refers 

requests for information concerning SPS measures to USDA, which is the U.S. inquiry point pursuant to 

the SPS Agreement.

The opportunity provided by the TBT Agreement for interested parties in the United States to influence the 

development of proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures being developed by 

other Members by allowing them to provide written comments on proposed measures and submit them 

through the U.S. inquiry point helps to prevent the establishment of technical barriers to trade. The TBT 

Agreement has functioned well in this regard, although discussions on how to improve its operation occur 

as part of the triennial review process (see below). Obligations, such as the prohibition on discrimination 

and the requirement that technical regulations not be more trade restrictive than necessary to fulfill 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 31

legitimate regulatory objectives, have been useful in evaluating potential trade barriers and in seeking ways 

to address them.

The TBT Committee also plays an important monitoring and oversight role. It has served as a constructive 

forum for discussing and resolving issues and avoiding disputes. Since its inception, an increasing number 

of Members, including developing countries, have used the Committee to highlight trade problems.

Article 15.4 of the TBT Agreement requires the Committee to review the operation and implementation of 

the TBT Agreement every three years. Six such reviews have now been completed (G/TBT/5, G/TBT/9,

G/TBT/13, G/TBT/19, G/TBT/26, and G/TBT/32), the most recent in 2012. From the U.S. perspective, a 

key benefit of these reviews is that they prompt WTO Members to review and discuss all of the provisions 

of the TBT Agreement, which facilitates a common understanding of Members’ rights and obligations. The 

reviews have also prompted the Committee to host workshops on various topics of interest, including 

technical assistance, conformity assessment, labeling, good regulatory practice, international standards, and 

regulatory cooperation. 

Major Issues in 2016

The TBT Committee met three times in 2016, March (G/TBT/M/68), June (G/TBT/M/69), and November 

(G/TBT/M/70). At these meetings, Members made statements informing the Committee of measures they 

had taken to implement the TBT Agreement and to administer measures in compliance with the Agreement. 

Members also used Committee meetings to raise concerns about specific technical regulations, standards, 

or conformity assessment procedures that have been proposed or adopted by other Members. Measures 

garnering significant Committee attention included nutrition labeling requirements for food (Chile, 

Ecuador, Peru, and Indonesia); measures that may unnecessarily restrict labeling, advertising and promotion 

of food to infants and young children (Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia); regulations on alcoholic beverages 

(Ireland, Korea, East African Community, Mexico, Russia, Thailand, and Ecuador); and continued concern 

regarding regulations for Registration of Chemicals (Korea, and the EU); the development of China-specific 

standards in the information technology sphere for the banking and insurance sectors; testing procedures 

for toys (Brazil, Colombia, Turkey, Gulf Cooperation Council, Eurasian Economic Commission, and

Indonesia); the EU’s proposal to regulate potential endocrine disruptors; and Egypt’s product registration 

and conformity assessment requirements.

The African Organization for Standardization and CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and 

Quality became observers to the TBT Committee in 2016.

The Seventh Triennial Review of the Operation and Implementation of the TBT Agreement was 

implemented. Ninety-four proposals made by 22 Members through papers and during informal discussions 

of the TBT Committee include: Good Regulatory Practices, Regulatory Cooperation, Conformity 

Assessment Procedures, Standards, Transparency, Technical Assistance, Special and Differential 

Treatment, and on the Operation of the Committee. 

 Outcomes on Good Regulatory Practices include continuing to exchange information on Good 

Regulatory Practice mechanisms adopted by Members and continuing to discuss how Regulatory 

Impact Assessment can facilitate the implementation of the TBT Agreement, including a discussion 

of the challenges faced by developing countries. 

 Regulatory Cooperation was a new topic identified by Members for discussion in the Seventh 

Triennial Review. With respect to Regulatory Cooperation, the Committee agreed to deepen its 

information exchange on Regulatory Cooperation between Members, to share information and 

experiences related to emerging or ongoing issues in specific sectors, and to discuss effective 
32 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

elements of Regulatory Cooperation. It is anticipated that the first discussion on Regulatory 

Cooperation will focus on energy efficiency standards. 

 The recommendations on Conformity Assessment include three areas of work identified in the 

Sixth Triennial Review: approaches to conformity assessment, use of relevant international 

standards and guides, and facilitating the recognition of conformity assessment results. 

 The recommendations on Standards relate to exchanging information on how Members reference 

standards in technical regulations, and developing further transparency in standards setting, 

including the publication of work programs and comment periods for draft standards on websites, 

and compliance to the Code of Good Practice for local government and non-government 

standardizing bodies. 

 Recommendations for improved Transparency focused on the functioning of Inquiry Points, 

coherent use of WTO notification formats for proposed technical regulations, increasing the 

availability of translations, and improving the use and function of on-line tools managed by the 

WTO Secretariat. 

 For Technical Assistance and Special and Differential Treatment, the Committee will continue to 

exchange information. 

 Finally, with respect to the Operation of the Committee, Members agreed to continue holding 

thematic sessions. 

The complete outcomes of the Seventh Triennial Review are summarized in G/TBT/37.

Of those Seventh Triennial Review priorities, the TBT Committee exchanged information and experiences 

through a series of informal thematic sessions in 2016. In March, the TBT Committee held two thematic 

sessions on Regulatory Impact Assessment and how it can facilitate the implementation of the TBT 

Agreement, and on the developments in international and regional conformity assessment systems and 

obligations related to conformity assessment in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), relating to the 

recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results.14 In June, the Committee held thematic 

session on how to reference Standards in technical regulations, and on Regulatory Cooperation on Energy 

Efficiency Standards.15 In November, the Committee conducted the Eighth Special Meeting on Procedures 

for Information Exchange, and held thematic sessions on Technical Assistance16 and Regulatory 

Cooperation on Food Labeling17. In the thematic discussions the United States offered expert presentations 

from the U.S. Government including representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, 

and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as the private sector, including Underwriters 

Laboratories, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Information Technology Industry 

 

14 Thematic Session on Good Regulatory Practice Report of the Chairperson (G/TBT/GEN/191) and Conformity 

Assessment Procedures Report of the Chairperson (G/TBT/GEN/190): 

https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_events_e.htm

15 Thematic Session on Energy Efficiency Presentations and Report from the Moderators’ (G/TBT/GEN/198) and 

Thematic Session on Use of Standards in Technical Regulations Presentations and Report from the Moderator 

(G/TBT/GEN/199): https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbtcomjune16_e.htm

16 Thematic Session on Technical Assistance Chairperson’s Report (G/TBT/GEN/204)

17 Thematic Session on Food Labeling Presentations and Chairperson’s Report (G/TBT/GEN/205): 

https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbtnov16_e.htm
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 33

Council, Consumer Electronics Association, American National Standards Institute, ASTM International, 

Grocery Manufacturers Association, Mondelez International, and the American Pediatrics Association. 

In an effort to improve transparency of WTO Members, in November 2016, the WTO, in cooperation with 

the International Trade Centre (ITC) and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 

launched a new service called e-Ping, which enables timely access to the regulatory notifications made to 

the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committees and facilitates 

dialogue amongst the public and private sector in addressing potential trade problems at an early stage.18 

While the United States will continue to use Notify US as its WTO TBT notification system, e-Ping 

provides a similar services to Notify US for the rest of the world. 

In 2016 the WTO Secretariat launched an effort to develop a Guide on Best Practices for TBT Inquiry 

Points. In the last quarter of 2016, the Secretariat conducted a survey of Inquiry Points to gather data for 

the Guide. 

Prospects for 2017

In 2017, the TBT Committee will continue to monitor Members’ implementation of the TBT Agreement. 

The United States will continue efforts to resolve specific trade concerns, as well as monitor the outcomes 

of the Seventh Triennial Review. 

9. Committee on Antidumping Practices

Status

The Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the 

Antidumping Agreement) sets forth detailed rules and disciplines prescribing the manner and basis on 

which Members may take action to offset the injurious dumping of products imported from another 

Member. Implementation of the Antidumping Agreement is overseen by the Committee on Antidumping 

Practices (the Antidumping Committee), which operates in conjunction with two subsidiary bodies, the 

Working Group on Implementation (the Working Group) and the Informal Group on Anticircumvention 

(the Informal Group).

The Antidumping Committee is supposed to be a venue for reviewing Members’ compliance with the 

detailed provisions in the Antidumping Agreement, improving mutual understanding of those provisions, 

and providing opportunities to exchange views and experiences with respect to Members’ application of 

antidumping remedies. 

The Working Group is an active body, which focuses on practical issues and concerns relating to 

implementation. The activities of the Working Group are designed to permit Members to develop a better 

understanding of their respective policies and practices for implementing the provisions of the Antidumping 

Agreement based on discussion of relevant topics and papers submitted by Members on specific topics. 

Where possible, the Working Group endeavors to develop draft recommendations on the topics it discusses, 

which it forwards to the Antidumping Committee for consideration. To date, the Antidumping Committee 

has adopted Working Group recommendations on the following five antidumping topics: (1) the period of 

data collection for antidumping investigations; (2) the timing of notifications under Article 5.5; (3) the 

contents of preliminary determinations; (4) the time period to be considered in making a determination of 

 

18 Access the e-Ping notification service: http://www.epingalert.org/en
34 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

negligible imports for purposes of Article 5.8; and (5) an indicative list of elements relevant to a decision 

on a request for extension of time to provide information pursuant to Articles 6.1 and 6.1.1. 

The Working Group has drawn a high level of participation by Members, in particular capital-based experts 

and officials of antidumping administering authorities. Since the inception of the Working Group, the 

United States has submitted papers on most topics and has been an active participant at all meetings. While 

not a negotiating forum in either a technical or formal sense, the Working Group serves an important role 

in promoting improved understanding of the Antidumping Agreement’s provisions and exploring options 

for improving practices among antidumping administrators. 

At Marrakesh in 1994, Ministers adopted a Decision on Anticircumvention directing the Antidumping 

Committee to develop rules to address the problem of circumvention of antidumping measures. In 1997, 

the Antidumping Committee agreed upon a framework for discussing this important topic and established 

the Informal Group. Many Members, including the United States, recognize the importance of using the 

Informal Group to pursue the 1994 decision by Ministers.

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the Antidumping Committee held meetings in April and October. At its meetings, the 

Antidumping Committee focused on implementation of the Antidumping Agreement, in particular, by 

continuing its review of Members’ antidumping legislation. The Antidumping Committee also reviewed 

reports required of Members that provide information as to preliminary and final antidumping measures 

and actions taken over the preceding six months. 

The following is a list of the more significant activities that the Antidumping Committee, the Working 

Group, and the Informal Group undertook in 2016. 

Notification and Review of Antidumping Legislation: To date, 79 Members have notified that they currently 

have antidumping legislation in place, and 37 Members have notified that they maintain no such legislation. 

In 2016, the Antidumping Committee reviewed new notifications of antidumping legislation and/or 

regulations submitted by Australia, Kingdom of Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, 

India, Kazakhstan, State of Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Vanuatu. Several 

Members, including the United States, were active in formulating written questions and in making follow 

up inquiries at the Antidumping Committee meetings.

Notification and Review of Antidumping Actions: In 2016, 46 Members notified that they had taken 

antidumping actions during the latter half of 2015, while 45 Members reported having taken actions in the 

first half of 2016. Members identified these actions, as well as outstanding antidumping measures currently 

maintained by Members, in semi-annual reports submitted for the Antidumping Committee’s review and 

discussion. The semi-annual reports for the second half of 2015 were issued in document series 

“G/ADP/N/280/...,” and the semi-annual reports for the first half of 2016 were issued in document series 

“G/ADP/N/286/...” At its April and October 2016 meetings, the Antidumping Committee also reviewed 

Members’ notifications of preliminary and final actions pursuant to Article 16.4 of the Antidumping 

Agreement.

Other Business: During both the April and October 2016 meetings of the Antidumping Committee, among 

other items, China made a statement regarding the expiry of section 15(a)(ii) of its Protocol of Accession. 

Comments were made by the European Union, Mexico, and the United States.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 35

Working Group on Implementation: The Working Group held meetings in April and October 2016. 

Beginning in 2003, the Working Group has held discussions on several agreed topics, including: (1) export 

prices to third countries vs. constructed value under Article 2.2 of the Antidumping Agreement; (2) foreign 

exchange fluctuations under Article 2.4.1; (3) conduct of verifications under Article 6.7; (4) judicial, 

arbitral, or administrative reviews under Article 13; and (5) price undercutting by dumped imports. In 2009, 

the Working Group agreed to include the following additional topics for discussion: (1) constructed export 

prices; (2) other known causes of injury; (3) threat of material injury; (4) accuracy and adequacy of evidence 

to justify the initiation of an investigation; and (5) the determination of the likelihood of continuation or 

recurrence of dumping and injury in sunset reviews. The discussions in the Working Group on all of these 

topics have focused on submissions by Members describing their own practice. 

At the April 2016 meeting, the Working Group discussed the gathering and compilation of injury data. A 

representative from Mexico served as a discussant and several Members, including the United States, made 

informal presentations. 

For the October 2016 meeting, the Working Group selected the topic of treatment of confidential 

information in antidumping investigations. A representative from the United States served as the discussant 

and several Members, including the United States, made informal presentations. 

Informal Group on Anticircumvention: The Informal Group held meetings in April and October 2016. At 

the April 2016 meeting, the Informal Group discussed a paper submitted by the United States describing 

the Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act of 2015. This Act put in place a new mechanism to combat 

antidumping duty evasion. The United States provided a detailed explanation of this act and the Informal 

Group engaged in an active question and answer session regarding this Act.

At the October 2016 meeting, the United States presented its implementing regulations for duty evasion 

investigations and the Informal Group engaged in an active question and answer session. 

Prospects for 2017

Work will proceed in 2017 on the areas that the Antidumping Committee and the Working Group addressed 

this past year, and the Informal Group will continue to meet on relevant topics as the Members deem 

appropriate. The Antidumping Committee will pursue its review of Members’ notifications of antidumping 

legislation, and Members will continue to have the opportunity to submit additional questions concerning 

previously reviewed notifications. This review process is supposed to ensure that Members’ antidumping 

laws are properly drafted and implemented. Since notifications of antidumping legislation are not restricted 

documents, U.S. exporters will continue to enjoy access to information about the antidumping laws of other 

Members, which should assist them in better understanding the operation of such laws and in taking them 

into account in commercial planning.

The preparation by Members and review in the Antidumping Committee of semi-annual reports and reports 

of preliminary and final antidumping actions will also continue in 2017. The semi-annual reports are 

accessible to the general public on the WTO website. This transparency promotes improved public 

knowledge and appreciation of the trends and focus of all WTO Members’ antidumping actions. 

Discussions in the Working Group will continue to play an important role as more Members enact 

antidumping laws and begin to apply them. There has been a sharp and widespread interest in the technical 

issues related to understanding how Members implement these rules when administering their laws pursuant 

to the Antidumping Agreement. For these reasons, the United States will continue to use the Working 

Group to learn in greater detail about other Members’ administration of their antidumping laws, especially 

as that forum provides opportunities to discuss not only the laws as written, but also the operational practices 
36 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

that Members employ to implement them. In 2017, the Working Group will continue to assess the 

effectiveness of the topic-centered discussion approach and decide whether to continue this approach for 

upcoming meetings and, if so, discuss and select topics accordingly.

The work of the Informal Group will also continue in 2017 according to the framework for discussion on 

which Members have agreed.

10. Committee on Import Licensing

Status

The Committee on Import Licensing (the Import Licensing Committee) was established to administer the 

Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (Import Licensing Agreement) and to monitor compliance with 

the mutually agreed rules for the application of these widely-used measures. The Import Licensing 

Committee normally meets twice a year to review information on import licensing requirements submitted 

by WTO Members in accordance with the obligations set out in the Import Licensing Agreement. The 

Committee also serves as a forum for Members to submit questions on the licensing regimes of other 

Members, whether or not those regimes have been notified to the Committee, and to address specific 

observations and complaints concerning Members’ licensing systems. The Committee activities are not 

intended to substitute for dispute settlement procedures; rather, they offer Members an opportunity to focus 

multilateral attention on licensing measures and procedures that they find problematic, to receive 

information on specific issues and to clarify problems, and possibly to resolve concerns. 

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the Import Licensing Committee held its meetings in April and October. In accordance with 

Articles 1.4(a), 5.4, and 8.2(b) of the Import Licensing Agreement and procedures agreed to by the 

Committee, all Members, upon joining the WTO, must notify the sources of the information pertaining to 

their laws, regulations, and administrative procedures relevant to import licensing. Any subsequent changes 

to these measures must also be published and notified. Since the entry into force of the WTO Agreement, 

110 Members19 have notified the Committee of their measures or publications under these provisions. 

During 2016, the Committee reviewed 25 notifications from the following 13 Members: Afghanistan; 

Bolivia; Brazil; Ecuador; the European Union; Macau; Paraguay; Philippines; Russian Federation; 

Seychelles; the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Tajikistan; and 

Thailand. These notifications can be found in document series G/LIC/N/1/-

(http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/res_e.htm).

With regard to notifications of new import licensing procedures or changes in such procedures (required by 

Articles 5.1 through 5.4 of the Agreement), the Committee reviewed 18 notifications relating to the 

institution of new import licensing procedures or changes in these procedures from 11 Members: 

Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; El Salvador; the European Union; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Jamaica; Malaysia; 

Paraguay; and Russian Federation.20 These notifications can be found in documents series G/LIC/N/2/-

(http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/res_e.htm).

Article 7.3 of the Import Licensing Agreement requires all Members to provide replies to the annual 

Questionnaire on Import Licensing Procedures; Committee procedures set a deadline of September 30 each 

year for Members to submit replies. Not all Members provide replies each year; however, since the entry 

 

19 The EU and its Member States counted as one Member for purposes of this notification.

20 New notifications were received from Argentina and the Philippines after October 20, 2016, and will be reviewed 

at the next Committee meeting.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 37

into force of the WTO Agreement, 112 Members have provided replies under this provision. The number 

of Members submitting replies to the annual Questionnaire has increased from 11 Members in 1995, when 

the WTO was established, to 38 Members in 2016. Replies to the Questionnaire, including the U.S. replies 

(G/LIC/N/3/USA/12), are notified to the WTO and may be found in document series G/LIC/N/3/-

(http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/res_e.htm). (Other notifications made under the Import Licensing 

Agreement may also be found in this document series).

In 2016, the United States used the Import Licensing Committee to gather information and to discuss import 

licensing measures applied to its trade by other Members. In 2016, the United States raised concerns about 

the import licensing procedures of: Bangladesh (pharmaceuticals); India (boric acid); Indonesia (cell 

phones, handheld computers, and tablets); Mexico (steel); and Vietnam (distilled spirits; transparency). 

The United States and other Members submitted written questions on these and other issues. Written 

questions from Members and replies to those questions submitted to the Committee concerning notifications 

and import licensing procedures may be found in document series G/LIC/Q/-

(http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/res_e.htm).

Notifications and Other Documentation: The United States continues to work within the Committee to 

seek to enhance Members’ efforts to comply with the Agreement’s notification requirements. There is a 

concern that potential overlap in notification requirements in different provisions in the Import Licensing 

Agreement, as well as duplications in the current notification templates, might contribute to the low level 

of submissions of required notifications. In this context, in 2016, several informal meetings were held on 

improving transparency and streamlining the notification procedures and templates. To facilitate the 

discussion, the Secretariat prepared a number of background papers and presentations, which have been 

circulated in documents RD/LIC/6, 7, 8 and 9. Members have started to discuss possible new approaches 

to improving transparency, and the technical work is ongoing.

Prospects for 2017

The administration of import licensing procedures continues to be a significant topic of discussion in the 

day-to-day implementation of Members’ WTO obligations. The use of such measures to monitor and to 

regulate imports has increased. Import licensing also remains a factor in the administration of tariff-rate 

quotas and the application of safeguard measures, technical regulations, and sanitary and phytosanitary 

requirements. The proliferation of import licensing requirements is a continuing source of concern, as many 

such requirements appear to be administered in a manner that restrict trade. The United States will continue 

to advocate for increased transparency and proper use of import licensing procedures, as well as to closely 

monitor licensing procedures to ensure that the procedures do not, in themselves, restrict imports in a 

manner inconsistent with Members’ WTO obligations. The United States also expects to be active in the 

examination of the current notification procedures and templates, with a view towards ensuring that all of 

the substantive information as required by the Import Licensing Agreement can be efficiently provided. 

11. Committee on Safeguards

Status

The Committee on Safeguards (the Safeguards Committee) was established to administer the WTO 

Agreement on Safeguards (the Safeguards Agreement). The Safeguards Agreement establishes rules for 

the application of safeguard measures as provided in Article XIX of GATT 1994. Effective rules on 

safeguards are important to the viability and integrity of the multilateral trading system. The availability 

of a safeguard mechanism gives WTO Members the assurance that they can act quickly to help industries 

adjust to import surges, providing them with flexibility they would not otherwise have to open their markets 
38 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

to international competition. At the same time, WTO rules on safeguards ensure that such actions are of 

limited duration and are gradually less restrictive over time.

The Safeguards Agreement requires Members to notify the Safeguards Committee of their laws, 

regulations, and administrative procedures relating to safeguard measures. It also requires Members to 

notify the Safeguards Committee of various safeguards actions, such as: (1) the initiation of an investigatory 

process; (2) a finding by a Member’s investigating authority of serious injury or threat thereof caused by 

increased imports; (3) the taking of a decision to apply or extend a safeguard measure; and (4) the proposed 

application of a provisional safeguard measure. 

Major Issues in 2016

The Safeguards Committee held two regular meetings in April and October 2016.

During its two meetings in 2016, the Safeguards Committee continued its review of Members’ laws, 

regulations, and administrative procedures based on notifications required under Article 12.6 of the 

Safeguards Agreement. The Safeguards Committee reviewed the national legislation of the Kingdom of 

Bahrain, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, State of Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, 

Russian Federation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu. 

The Safeguards Committee reviewed Article 12.1(a) notifications regarding the initiation of a safeguard 

investigatory process relating to serious injury or threat thereof and the reasons for it, or the initiation of a 

review process relating to the extension of an existing measure, from the following Members: Chile on 

Steel Wire, Steel Nails, and Steel Mesh; China on Sugar; Egypt on Polyethylene Terephthalate; India on 

Hot-Rolled Flat Sheets and Plates (Excluding Hot-Rolled Flat Products in Coil Form) of Alloy or NonAlloy Steel, and Unwrought Aluminium (Aluminium Not Alloyed and Aluminium Alloys); Jordan on 

Aluminium Bars, Rods and Profiles; Kyrgyz Republic on Harvesters and Modules Thereof, and Tableware 

and Kitchenware of Porcelain; Malaysia on Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar and Steel Wire Rod and 

Deformed Bar-In-Coil; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Flat-Rolled Products of Iron or Non-Alloy Steel and 

Ferro Silico Manganese; South Africa on Flat-Rolled Products of Iron or Non-Alloy Steel, and Certain FlatRolled Products of Iron, Non-Alloy Steel or Other Alloy Steel; Thailand on Structural Hot-Rolled H-Beam 

with Alloy and Non Alloy Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products in Coils and Not in Coils; and Vietnam on PrePainted Galvanized Steel Sheet and Strip, and Semi-Finished and Certain Finished Products of Alloy and 

Non-Alloy Steel.

The Safeguards Committee reviewed Article 12.1(b) notifications, regarding a finding of serious injury or 

threat thereof caused by increased imports from the following Members: Chile on Steel Wire Rod; Egypt 

on Automotive Batteries; India on Hot-Rolled Flat Sheets and Plates (Excluding Hot-Rolled Flat Products 

in Coil Form) of Alloy or Non-Alloy Steel, Unwrought Aluminium (Aluminium Not Alloyed and 

Aluminium Alloys), and Hot-Rolled Flat Products of Non-Alloy and Other Alloy Steel in Coils; Kyrgyz 

Republic on Harvesters and Modules Thereof, and Tableware and Kitchenware of Porcelain; Morocco on 

Paper in Rolls and Reams, and Cold-Rolled Sheets in Coils or Cut, and Plated or Coated Sheets; Philippines 

on Testliner Board; Ukraine on Flexible Porous Plates, Blocks and Sheets of Polyurethane Foams; and 

Vietnam on Semi-Finished and Certain Finished Products of Alloy and Non-Alloy Steel.

The Safeguards Committee reviewed Article 12.1(c) notifications regarding a decision to apply or extend 

a safeguard measure from the following Members: Chile on Steel Wire Rod; India on Hot-Rolled Flat 

Products of Non-Alloy and Other Alloy Steel in Coils; Kyrgyz Republic on Harvesters and Modules 

Thereof, and Tableware and Kitchenware of Porcelain; Morocco on Wire Rods and Reinforcing Bars, Paper 

in Rolls and Reams, and Cold-Rolled Sheets in Coils or Cut, and Plated or Coated Sheets; Philippines on 

Testliner Board; Thailand on Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products with Certain Amounts of Alloying Elements; 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 39

Ukraine on Flexible Porous Plates, Blocks and Sheets of Polyurethane Foams; and Vietnam on SemiFinished and Certain Finished Products of Alloy and Non-Alloy Steel.

The Safeguards Committee reviewed Article 12.4 notifications regarding the application of a provisional 

safeguard measure from the following Members: Jordan on Aluminium Bars, Rods and Profiles; Malaysia 

on Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar and Steel Wire Rod and Deformed Bar-in-Coil; Kingdom of Saudi 

Arabia on Ferro Silico Manganese; and Vietnam on Semi-Finished and Certain Finished Products of Alloy 

and Non-Alloy Steel, and Monosodium Glutamate.

The Safeguards Committee received notifications of the termination of a safeguard investigation with no 

definitive safeguard measure imposed, or the expiration or termination of a definitive safeguard measure, 

from the following Members: Egypt on White Sugar; Jordan on Bars and Rods of Iron and Steel; Kyrgyz 

Republic on Wheat Flour; and Ukraine on Motor Cars.

Also, at the meeting in April, at the request of Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, European Union, Ukraine, 

and the United States, the Safeguards Committee separately discussed the issue of notification of 

developing countries that were excluded from a measure under Article 9, footnote 2 of the Safeguards 

Agreement, and the United States questioned why certain Members were not providing a list of the 

developing countries to be excluded. Between the April and October meetings, the Secretariat released a 

factual compilation of Members’ notifications practices under this Article and the compilation was 

discussed at the October meeting.

Also at the April meeting, the Committee separately discussed the issue put forth by the United States 

regarding what types of notifications should be automatically put onto the agenda of each Committee 

meeting. An informal meeting was also held in September to discuss this issue and there was wide support 

of the idea that the Secretariat should automatically include more items into the agenda of Safeguards 

Committee meetings than under current practice. At the October meeting, the Chairman informed Members 

that the Safeguards Committee will test this idea in future meetings. 

At both the April and October meetings, the Safeguards Committee separately discussed an idea put forth 

by Brazil regarding the creation of a working group on implementation, where experts could engage in 

horizontal technical discussions on safeguards investigations without reference to specific investigations. 

The United States supported the creation of such a group, but requested that certain changes be made to the 

rules and procedures under which the group would function. Other divergent views were expressed, and 

the Chairman suggested that informal consultations be held to further discuss this issue. 

Also at both the April and October meetings, the Safeguards Committee separately discussed a proposal 

made by Australia to include, in the relevant annex of the Safeguards Committee’s annual report, the timing 

of the notification of key actions taken under Article 21.1 of the Safeguards Agreement. While there was 

wide support for the idea, one delegation needed more time to consider it. This issue will be taken up again 

in future meetings.

Finally, at the Safeguards Committee meeting in April, the Friends of Safeguards Procedures (FSP) – a 12 

delegation group of WTO Members, including the United States – organized an informal discussion group. 

The informal discussion group consisted of presentations by various WTO Members on (1) the duration of 

a measure and mid-term reviews, and (2) structure and staffing of investigating authorities. At the informal 

discussion group meeting in October, the group discussed what additional topics Members would benefit 

from in the form of a technical exchange in future sessions. 
40 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Prospects for 2017

The Safeguards Committee’s work in 2017 will continue to focus on the review of safeguard actions that 

have been notified to the Safeguards Committee and on the review of notifications of any new or amended 

safeguards legislation. The United States will also work on its own, as well as with the FSP, to continue to 

address systemic issues of concern with safeguard proceedings as issues arise.

12. Working Party on State Trading Enterprises

Status

Article XVII of the GATT 1994 requires Members, inter alia, to ensure that state trading enterprises (STEs), 

as defined in that Article, act in a manner consistent with the general principles of nondiscriminatory 

treatment, and make purchases or sales solely in accordance with commercial considerations. The 

Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII of the GATT 1994 (the Article XVII Understanding) 

defines a state trading enterprise for the purposes of providing a notification. Members are required to 

submit new and full notifications to the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises (WP-STE) for review 

every two years.

The WP-STE was established in 1995 to review, inter alia, Member notifications of STEs and the coverage 

of STEs that are notified, and to develop an illustrative list of relationships between Members and their 

STEs and the kinds of activities engaged in by these enterprises.

Major Issues in 2016

The WP-STE held two formal meetings, on June 9, 2016 and October 21, 2016. During the period of 

review, the WP-STE reviewed new and full notifications from the following Members: Afghanistan, 

Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, European Union, 

Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Macau, Mauritius, Morocco, Montenegro, 

New Zealand, Norway, Seychelles, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, 

Ukraine, United States, and Vietnam. The WP-STE also returned to the previously reviewed notifications 

of Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Vietnam. 

During one or both of the WP-STE’s meetings, the following agenda items were taken up: (1) agricultural 

exporting state trading enterprises (item requested by Canada); (2) STE notification of the Russian 

Federation (item requested by the European Union and the United States); (3) Russia Federation – Russian 

United Grain Company (item requested by the European Union and the United States); (4) European Union 

– Alko, Inc. (Finland) (item requested by the Russian Federation); (5) non-notification and overdue 

notifications (item requested by Australia, the European Union, and the United States); (6) non-notification 

of state trading enterprises by the United Arab Emirates (item requested by the United States); and (7) 

transparency in the working party (item requested by the United States). 

Prospects for 2017

The WP-STE will continue its review of new notifications and its examination of how to improve Member 

compliance with STE notification obligations to enhance the transparency of STEs. The WP-STE is 

formally scheduled to meet in May and October 2017. Also, the United States will continue to work with 

other WTO Members on the Russia and United Arab Emirates notification issues. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 41

F. Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

Status

The TRIPS Council monitors implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, provides a forum in which WTO 

Members can consult on intellectual property matters, and carries out the specific responsibilities assigned 

to the Council in the TRIPS Agreement. The TRIPS Agreement sets minimum standards of protection for 

copyrights and related rights, trademarks, geographical indications (GIs), industrial designs, patents, 

integrated circuit layout designs, and undisclosed information. The TRIPS Agreement also establishes 

minimum standards for the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) through civil actions for 

infringement, actions at the border and, at least with respect to copyright piracy and trademark 

counterfeiting, in criminal actions.

The TRIPS Agreement is important to U.S. interests and has yielded significant benefits for U.S. industries 

and individuals, from those engaged in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, chemical, and biotechnology 

industries to those producing motion pictures, sound recordings, software, books, magazines, and consumer 

goods.

Developed Members were required to fully implement the obligations of the TRIPS Agreement by January 

1, 1996, and developing country Members generally had to achieve full implementation by January 1, 2000. 

LDC Members have had their transition period for full implementation of the TRIPS Agreement extended 

to July 1, 2021. The extension of this deadline provides, as before, that “This Decision is without prejudice 

to the Decision of the Council for TRIPS of June 27, 2002, on ‘Extension of the Transition Period under 

Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement for Least-Developed Country Members for Certain Obligations with 

respect to Pharmaceutical Products’ (IP/C/25), and to the right of least developed country Members to seek 

further extensions of the period provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 66 of the Agreement.” On November 

6, 2015, the TRIPS Council extended the transition period for LDC Members to implement Sections 5 and 

7 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to pharmaceutical products until January 1, 2033, and recommended 

waiving Articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to pharmaceuticals also until January 

1, 2033, which was adopted by the WTO General Council on November 30, 2015.

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the TRIPS Council held three formal meetings. In addition to its continuing work on reviewing 

the implementation of the Agreement, the TRIPS Council’s activities in 2016 focused on the positive 

relationship between intellectual property (IP) and innovation, under agenda items co-sponsored by the 

United States and other WTO Members. The TRIPS Council also continued its consideration of the 

relationship of the TRIPS Agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity of issues addressed in the 

Doha Ministerial Declaration and the Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, and of 

technology transfer and technical cooperation.

 

Intellectual Property and Innovation: At the March, June, and November TRIPS Council meetings, the 

United States co-sponsored agenda items on the positive contributions of IP to innovation. 

In March 2016, the United States advanced an agenda on the integral role of IP and innovation-related 

education in the diffusion of innovation. Including IP in education curricula is an essential part of any 

innovation strategy to ensure that innovators understand not only how to protect their hard work, but to use 

IP to grow resources for future research and development (R&D), attract investment, structure collaboration 

and partnerships, and to create jobs, among other critical objectives. As a threshold matter, supporting 

widespread high-quality education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is essential in an 
42 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

increasingly knowledge-intensive economy. Such support includes increasing the number of STEM 

teachers, attracting students to STEM and graduating students with a strong STEM education. STEM career 

opportunities have grown more rapidly and offer relatively higher salaries than many other professions. 

Education regarding IP is also a vital aspect of a national innovation education strategy. Intellectual 

property is critical to translating ideas into outcomes. While scientists may create start-ups, and engineers 

may be future entrepreneurs, without a strong understanding of IP, the potential of innovation may never 

be realized. Intellectual property systems, including patent registration systems, themselves provide a key 

educational resource, making vast amounts of knowledge available, often at a click of a button, for students 

and educators as well as innovators and creators. Beyond the significant investment in its IP registration 

systems, the United States and other Members have realized the priority of IP education through a range of 

educational initiatives, as exemplified by initiatives sponsored by the Office of Innovation Development of 

the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Such education also provides an essential conduit for 

diffusion. University classrooms and laboratories often serve as international collaboration centers, 

massing the respective contributions of innovators from around the world. Idea-sharing is indeed the 

essence of education. And university laboratories and research centers engage in the daily incremental 

application of innovations from one context to the pressing questions in other fields of technology and from 

other regions. In short, while education in STEM and IP facilitates the innovation that drives technological 

change, education also provides one of the best ways to diffuse the benefits of innovation, to absorb such 

change and to catalyze future innovation.

In June 2016, the United States advanced an agenda item on the integral role of IP and innovation in 

sustainable resource and low emission technology strategies. This item offered Members the opportunity 

to highlight their laws, policies and other initiatives that advance resource conservation and emissions 

reductions, and how technological innovation features in such strategies. Among other things, the item 

addressed IP and innovation in relation to renewable and related technologies such as biofuels, biomass, 

carbon capture, energy efficiency, fuel cells, geothermal, hydro/marine, low emission, solar photovoltaic, 

solar thermal, and wind. The development and diffusion of such critical technologies cannot be assumed. 

Instead, such technologies must be supported and protected through IPR protection and enforcement. There 

are positive signs of progress around the world. Since the WTO TRIPS Agreement entered into force, 

patenting rates – including patent applications filed and patents granted – for clean energy technologies 

have increased by approximately 20 percent per year - with the most intensive patenting growth rates 

occurring for biofuels, carbon capture, hydro/marine, solar photovoltaic, and wind. Similar trends are 

evident at a regional level. In Latin America, for example, patent application filings for adaptation 

technologies – including desalination, off-grid water supply, remote energy services and weather-related 

technologies – have increased by 51 percent on average per year since 2000. Similarly, in Africa, a study 

by the United Nations Environment Program and the European Patent Office concluded that there has been 

a relatively high level of clean energy innovation occurring in Africa, where energy storage/hydrogen/fuel 

cell technologies account for 37 percent of patents for such innovation and renewable energy technologies 

account for 25 percent of patents on such technologies. The African growth rate for mitigation technologies 

is 59 percent, and the average rate for patent applications for adaptation technologies is 17 percent per year. 

The United States also supports renewable energy and resource conservation technologies in a number of 

ways. Without innovation, sustained by IPR, there is a real risk of a technology drought that could 

undermine the ability to meet future energy demands and environmental and stewardship responsibilities.

In November 2016, the United States sponsored an agenda item relating to regional innovation models. 

The agenda item focused discussion on the extent to which regional integration has come to provide a 

transformative feature of the innovation landscape. 

Review of Developing Country Members’ TRIPS Agreement Implementation: During 2016, the TRIPS 

Council continued to conduct ongoing reviews of developing country Members’ and newly acceded 

Members’ implementation of the TRIPS Agreement and to provide assistance to developing country 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 43

Members in implementing the Agreement. The United States continued to press for full implementation of 

the TRIPS Agreement by developing country Members and participated actively during the reviews of 

legislation by highlighting specific concerns regarding individual Members’ implementation of the 

Agreement’s obligations. 

Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines: 

On January 23, 2017, an amendment to TRIPS entered into force to implement the August 30, 2003 solution 

(the General Council Decision on "Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 

Agreement and Public Health). With the acceptance of this amendment by two thirds of the WTO 

Membership in January 2017, the amendment has taken effect as of that date. The January 2017 outcome 

preserves all substantive aspects of the August 30, 2003 solution and does not alter the substance of the 

previously agreed to solution. The United States was the first Member to submit its acceptance of the 

amendment to the WTO in December 2005.

TRIPS-related WTO Dispute Settlement Cases: In April 2007, the United States initiated WTO dispute 

settlement proceedings over deficiencies in China’s legal regime for the protection and enforcement of IPR 

by requesting consultations with China. The Panel circulated its report on January 26, 2009. The Panel 

found that China's denial of copyright protection to works that did not meet China’s content review 

standards was inconsistent with the TRIPS Agreement. The Panel also found it inconsistent with the TRIPS 

Agreement for China to provide for simple removal of an infringing trademark as the only precondition for 

the sale at public auction of counterfeit goods seized by Chinese customs authorities.

With respect to the U.S. claim regarding thresholds in China’s law that must be met in order for certain acts 

of trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy to be subject to criminal procedures and penalties, the 

panel clarified that China must provide for criminal procedures and penalties to be applied to willful 

trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy on a commercial scale. The Panel agreed with the United 

States that Article 61 of the TRIPS Agreement requires China not to set its thresholds for prosecution of 

piracy and counterfeiting so high as to ignore the realities of the commercial marketplace. The Panel did 

find, however, that it needed more evidence in order to decide whether the actual thresholds for prosecution 

in China’s criminal law are so high as to allow commercial-scale counterfeiting and piracy to occur without 

the possibility of criminal prosecution. The DSB adopted the panel report on March 20, 2009, and China 

made a number of changes to its legal regime. The United States continues to monitor China’s compliance 

with the DSB recommendations and rulings.

The United States also continues to monitor EU compliance with a 2005 ruling of the DSB that the EU’s 

regulation on food-related GIs was inconsistent with the EU’s obligations under the TRIPS Agreement and 

the GATT 1994. The United States has raised certain questions and concerns with regard to the revised EU 

regulation and its compliance with the DSB findings and recommendations, and continues to monitor 

implementation in this dispute.

The United States also continues to monitor WTO Members’ implementation of their TRIPS Agreement 

obligations and will consider the further use of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism as appropriate.

Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building: As in each past year, the United States and other Members 

provided reports on their activities in connection with technical cooperation and capacity building for 

consideration at the fall TRIPS Council meeting (November 2016) (see IP/CW/W/617/Add.5). Priority 

needs reports submitted by LDCs were discussed in the TRIPS Council as well as in informal consultations.

Implementation of Article 66.2: Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement requires developed country Members 

to provide incentives for enterprises and institutions in their territories to promote and encourage technology 
44 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

transfer to LDC Members in order to enable them to create a sound and viable technological base. This 

provision was reaffirmed in the Doha Decision on Implementation related Issues and Concerns, and the 

TRIPS Council was directed to put in place a mechanism for ensuring monitoring and full implementation 

of the obligation. Developed country Members are required to provide detailed reports every third year, 

with annual updates, on these incentives. In November 2016, the United States provided an updated report 

on specific U.S. Government institutions and incentives (see IP/C/W/616/Add.5).

Implementation of the TRIPS Agreement by LDCs: On June 11, 2013, the TRIPS Council reached 

consensus on a decision to extend the transition period under Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement for 

least-developed WTO Members. Under this decision, LDCs are not required to apply the provisions of the 

TRIPS Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4, and 5, until July 1, 2021, or until such a date on which they 

cease to be a LDC Member, whichever date is earlier. On November 6, 2015, the TRIPS Council reached 

consensus to extend the transition period for LDC Members to implement Sections 5 and 7 of the TRIPS 

Agreement with respect to pharmaceutical products until January 1, 2033, and reached consensus to 

recommend waiving Articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to pharmaceuticals also 

until January 1, 2033, which the WTO General Council adopted on November 30, 2015.

Non-Violation and Situation Complaints: On November 23, 2015, the TRIPS Council reached agreement 

to extend the moratorium on non-violation and situation complaints under the TRIPS Agreement for two 

years until the next Ministerial in 2017. The moratorium was originally introduced in Article 64 of the 

TRIPS Agreement, for a period of five years following the entry into force of the WTO Agreement (i.e., 

until December 31, 1999). The moratorium has been referred to and extended in several WTO Ministerial 

documents, most recently in 2013. In 2015, the TRIPS Council intensified its discussions on this issue, 

including on the basis of a communication by the United States to the Council outlining the U.S. position 

on non-violation and situation complaints. This communication (document number IP/C/W/599) addressed 

the relevant TRIPS Agreement provisions, WTO and GATT disputes, and provided responses to issues 

raised by other WTO Members.

Prospects for 2017

In 2017, the TRIPS Council will continue to focus on IP and innovation as well as its built-in agenda, 

including possibly issues related to the LDC transition period for implementing the TRIPS Agreement, on 

the relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and on 

traditional knowledge and folklore, as well as enforcement and other relevant new developments. 

U.S. objectives for 2017 continue to be to:

 resolve differences through consultations and use of dispute settlement procedures, where 

appropriate;

 continue efforts to ensure that developing country Members fully implement the TRIPS 

Agreement;

 engage in constructive dialogue with WTO members, including regarding the technical assistance 

and capacity-related needs of developing countries, and especially LDCs, in connection with 

TRIPS Agreement implementation;

 continue to encourage a fact-based discussion within the TRIPS Council regarding TRIPS 

Agreement provisions;

 ensure that provisions of the TRIPS Agreement are not weakened; 

 continue to advance discussions on IP and Innovation, including through data-driven discussions 

on IPR that promote concrete outcomes; and
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 45

 intensify discussions within the TRIPS Council on the application of non-violation nullification

and impairment (NVNI) under the TRIPS Agreement.

G. Council for Trade in Services

Status

The Council for Trade in Services (CTS) oversees implementation of the GATS and reports to the General 

Council. This includes a technical review of GATS Article XX.2 provisions; review of waivers from 

specific commitments pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement 

Establishing the WTO; a periodic review of developments in the air transport sector; the transitional review 

mechanism under Section 18 of the Protocol on the Accession of the People’s Republic of China; 

implementation of GATS Article VII; a review of Article II exemptions (to most-favored nation treatment); 

and notifications made to the General Council pursuant to GATS Articles III.3, V.5, V.7, and VII.4. Four 

subsidiary bodies report to the CTS: The Committee on Specific Commitments, the Committee on Trade 

in Financial Services, the Working Party on Domestic Regulation, and the Working Party on GATS Rules.

Major Issues in 2016

The CTS met several times during 2016, receiving a number of notifications pursuant to GATS Article III:3 

(transparency) and GATS Article V:7 (economic integration). The operationalization of the LDC services 

waiver was discussed, and several notifications of preferential treatment were approved during the year. A 

total of 23 Members have submitted notifications to date, including the United States. 

The Committee continued to discuss its role in the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce by 

exchanging information and ideas for future work. A proposal for a seminar on the services trade aspects 

of e-commerce is under consideration. Brazil notified its intention to give legal effect to its commitments 

on financial services pursuant to the Fifth Protocol to the GATS, which was adopted in 1997. 

The Committee decided to undertake the fourth review of MFN exemptions and agreed on procedural 

arrangements to be followed. 

Prospects for 2017

The CTS will continue discussions related to its mandated reviews and various notifications related to 

GATS implementation, as well as other topics raised by Members. The fourth review of MFN exemptions 

will be conducted during the first half of 2017.

1. Committee on Trade in Financial Services

Status

The Committee on Trade in Financial Services (CTFS) provides a forum for Members to explore financial 

services market access and regulatory issues, including implementation of existing trade commitments.

Major Issues in 2016

The CTFS met in March, June, October, and November 2016.
46 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Members continued to monitor acceptance of the Fifth Protocol to the GATS. In accepting the protocol, 

financial services commitments made in 1994 would be replaced by those agreed to during the 1995-1997 

extended negotiations on financial services. Brazil, the only Member not to have accepted the protocol, did 

so at the March meeting.

The CTFS continued its work on regulatory issues in financial services. The Global Forum on Transparency 

and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, the International Monetary Fund and the Islamic Financial 

Services Board made presentations on recent developments in their respective areas of competence.

The topic of trade in financial services and development continued to receive attention from the CTFS. 

During the year, the CTFS continued discussion on financial inclusion, based on the Background Note, 

“Financial Inclusion and the GATS” prepared by the Secretariat at the request of CTFS members. At the 

meetings in June and October 2016, the representative of Jamaica, on behalf of the members of the 

Caribbean Community (CARICOM), drew Members' attention to the impact of "de-risking" on 

correspondent banking relationships in the region.

Prospects for 2017

At this time, no meetings of the CTFS have been scheduled during 2016, and the future focus of Committee

is not clear. 

2. Working Party on Domestic Regulation

Status

GATS Article VI:4 on Domestic Regulation provides for Members to develop any necessary disciplines 

relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements and 

procedures. In May 1999, the CTS established the Working Party on Domestic Regulation (WPDR), which 

took on the mandate of GATS VI:4. 

Major Issues in 2016

The WPDR met in March, June, and October 2016.

During 2016, Members continued discussing their experiences with domestic regulation disciplines in 

services provisions of regional trade agreements (RTAs). The discussion has revealed that domestic 

regulation provisions in RTAs have generally been based upon existing GATS obligations, as well as the 

negotiating mandate contained in Article VI:4. There was no text-based negotiation of domestic regulation 

disciplines in the WPDR during 2015. However, during the October meeting Members introduced two 

proposals for future negotiations: one proposal by a group of Members lead by Australia provided a text 

proposal on “Administration of Measures,” while the other communication, by India, presented a “Concept 

Note for an Initiative on Trade Facilitation in Services.”

The United States continues to take the view that any horizontal disciplines must advance regulatory 

transparency while respecting the right of WTO Members to regulate, as recognized by the GATS. 

Prospects for 2017

At this time, no meetings of the WPDR have been scheduled during 2017, and the future focus of the 

Working Group is not clear.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 47

3. Working Party on GATS Rules

Status

The Working Party on GATS Rules (WPGR) provides a forum to discuss the possibility of new disciplines 

on emergency safeguard measures, government procurement, and subsidies.

Major Issues in 2016

The WPGR met in March and June 2016. The delegations of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, 

Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam renewed their 

interest in developing emergency safeguard provisions, and the European Union restated its interest in 

government procurement disciplines for services. There was little engagement by other Members.

Prospects for 2017

At this time, no meetings of the WPGR have been scheduled for 2017, and the future focus of the Committee 

is not clear.

4. Committee on Specific Commitments

Status

The Committee on Specific Commitments (CSC) examines ways to improve the technical accuracy of 

scheduling commitments, primarily in preparation for the GATS negotiations, and oversees the application 

of the procedures for the modification of schedules under GATS Article XXI. The CSC also oversees 

implementation of commitments in Members’ schedules in sectors for which there is no sectoral committee, 

which is currently the case for all sectors except financial services. 

Major Issues in 2016

The CSC held meetings in March, June, and October 2016. The main substantive area of discussion was 

uncertainty caused by vaguely described schedule entries on economic needs tests. The Committee agreed 

to task the Secretariat with updating a Note on Economic Needs Tests. The Secretariat presented the 

updated Note in June 2016. 

Prospects for 2017

Work will continue on technical issues as raised by Members.

H. Dispute Settlement Understanding

Status

The Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (Dispute Settlement 

Understanding or DSU), which is annexed to the WTO Agreement, provides a mechanism to settle disputes 

under the Uruguay Round Agreements. 
48 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

The DSU is administered by the DSB, which consists of representatives of the entire membership of the 

WTO and is empowered to establish dispute settlement panels, adopt panel and Appellate Body reports, 

oversee the implementation of panel recommendations adopted by the DSB, and authorize retaliation. The 

DSB makes all its decisions by consensus unless the WTO Agreement provides otherwise.

Major Issues in 2016

The DSB met 18 times in 2016 to oversee disputes and to address responsibilities such as appointing 

members to the Appellate Body and approving additions to the roster of governmental and 

nongovernmental panelists.

Roster of Governmental and Non-Governmental Panelists: Article 8 of the DSU makes it clear that 

panelists may be drawn from either the public or private sector and must be “well-qualified,” such as 

persons who have served on or presented a case to a panel, represented a government in the WTO or the 

GATT, served with the Secretariat, taught or published in the international trade field, or served as a senior 

trade policy official. Since 1985, the Secretariat has maintained a roster of nongovernmental experts for 

GATT 1947 dispute settlement, which has been available for use by parties in selecting panelists. In 1995, 

the DSB agreed on procedures for renewing and maintaining the roster, and expanding it to include 

governmental experts. In response to a U.S. proposal, the DSB also adopted standards increasing and 

systematizing the information submitted by roster candidates. These modifications aid in evaluating 

candidates’ qualifications and encouraging the appointment of well-qualified candidates who have 

expertise in the subject matters of the Uruguay Round Agreements. In 2016, the DSB approved by 

consensus a number of additional names for the roster. The United States scrutinized the credentials of 

these candidates to assure the quality of the roster.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), the present WTO panel 

roster appears in the background information in Annex II. The list in the roster notes the areas of expertise 

of each roster member (goods, services, and/or TRIPS). 

Rules of Conduct for the DSU: The DSB completed work on a code of ethical conduct for WTO dispute 

settlement and, on December 3, 1996, adopted the Rules of Conduct for the Understanding on Rules and 

Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes. A copy of the Rules of Conduct was printed in the 

Annual Report for 1996 and is available on the WTO and USTR websites. There were no changes in these

Rules in 2016.

The Rules of Conduct elaborate on the ethical standards built into the DSU to maintain the integrity, 

impartiality, and confidentiality of proceedings conducted under the DSU. The Rules of Conduct require 

all individuals called upon to participate in dispute settlement proceedings to disclose direct or indirect 

conflicts of interest prior to their involvement in the proceedings and to conduct themselves during their 

involvement in the proceedings so as to avoid such conflicts.

The Rules of Conduct also provide parties an opportunity to address potential material violations of these 

ethical standards. The coverage of the Rules of Conduct exceeds the goals established by the U.S. Congress 

in section 123(c) of the URAA, which directed USTR to seek conflict of interest rules applicable to persons 

serving on panels and members of the Appellate Body. The Rules of Conduct cover not only panelists and 

Appellate Body members, but also: (1) arbitrators; (2) experts participating in the dispute settlement 

mechanism (e.g., the Permanent Group of Experts under the SCM Agreement); (3) members of the WTO 

Secretariat assisting a panel or assisting in a formal arbitration proceeding; and (4) the support staff of the 

Appellate Body.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 49

As noted above, the Rules of Conduct established a disclosure based system. Examples of the types of 

information that covered persons must disclose are set forth in Annex II to the Rules, and include: (1) 

financial interests, business interests, and property interests relevant to the dispute in question; (2) 

professional interests; (3) other active interests; (4) considered statements of personal opinion on issues 

relevant to the dispute in question; and (5) employment or family interests.

Appellate Body: Pursuant to the DSU, the DSB appoints seven persons to serve on an Appellate Body, 

which is to be a standing body with members serving four year terms, except for three initial appointees 

determined by lot whose terms expired at the end of two years. At its first meeting on February 10, 1995, 

the DSB formally established the Appellate Body, and agreed to arrangements for selecting its members 

and staff. The DSB also agreed that Appellate Body members would serve on a part-time basis and sit 

periodically in Geneva. The original seven Appellate Body members were Mr. James Bacchus of the United 

States, Mr. Christopher Beeby of New Zealand, Mr. Claus-Dieter Ehlermann of Germany, Mr. Said ElNaggar of Egypt, Mr. Florentino Feliciano of the Philippines, Mr. Julio Lacarte-Muró of Uruguay, and Mr. 

Mitsuo Matsushita of Japan. On June 25, 1997, it was determined by lot that the terms of Messrs. 

Ehlermann, Feliciano, and Lacarte-Muró would expire in December 1997. The DSB agreed on the same 

date to reappoint them for a final term of four years commencing on December 11, 1997. At its meeting 

held on October 27, 1999 and November 3, 1999, the DSB agreed to renew the terms of Messrs. Bacchus 

and Beeby for a final term of four years, commencing on December 11, 1999, and to extend the terms of 

Mr. El-Naggar and Mr. Matsushita until the end of March 2000. On April 7, 2000, the DSB agreed to 

appoint Mr. Georges Michel Abi-Saab of Egypt and Mr. A.V. Ganesan of India to a term of four years 

commencing on June 1, 2000. On May 25, 2000, the DSB agreed to the appointment of Mr. Yasuhei 

Taniguchi of Japan to serve through December 10, 2003, the remainder of the term of Mr. Beeby, who 

passed away on March 19, 2000. On September 25, 2001, the DSB agreed to appoint Mr. Luiz Olavo 

Baptista of Brazil, Mr. John S. Lockhart of Australia, and Mr. Giorgio Sacerdoti of Italy to a term of four 

years commencing on December 11, 2001. On November 7, 2003, the DSB agreed to appoint Ms. Merit 

Janow of the United States to a term of four years commencing on December 11, 2003, to reappoint Mr. 

Taniguchi for a final term of four years commencing on December 11, 2003, and to reappoint Mr. AbiSaab and Mr. Ganesan for a final term of four years commencing on June 1, 2004. On September 27, 2005, 

the DSB agreed to reappoint Mr. Baptista, Mr. Lockhart, and Mr. Sacerdoti for a final term of four years 

commencing on December 12, 2005. On July 31, 2006, the DSB agreed to the appointment of Mr. David 

Unterhalter of South Africa to serve through December 11, 2009, the remainder of the term of Mr. Lockhart, 

who passed away on January 13, 2006. At its meeting held on November 19 and 27, 2007, the DSB agreed 

to appoint Ms. Lilia R. Bautista of the Philippines and Ms. Jennifer Hillman of the United States as members 

of the Appellate Body for four years commencing on December 11, 2007, and to appoint Mr. Shotaro 

Oshima of Japan and Ms. Yuejiao Zhang of China as members of the Appellate Body for four years 

commencing on June 1, 2008. On November 12, 2008, Mr. Baptista notified the DSB that he was resigning 

for health reasons, effective in 90 days. On December 22, 2008, the DSB decided to deem the term of the 

position to which Mr. Baptista was appointed to expire on June 30, 1999, and to fill the position previously 

held by Mr. Baptista for a four-year term. On June 19, 2009, the DSB agreed to appoint Mr. Ricardo 

Ramírez Hernández of Mexico as a member of the Appellate Body for four years commencing on July 1, 

2009, to appoint Mr. Peter Van den Bossche of Belgium as a member of the Appellate Body for four years 

commencing on December 12, 2009, and to reappoint Mr. Unterhalter for a final term of four years 

commencing on December 12, 2009. On November 18, 2011, the DSB agreed to appoint Mr. Thomas 

Graham of the United States and Mr. Ujal Bhatia of India as members of the Appellate Body for four years 

commencing on December 11, 2011. On May 24, 2012, the DSB agreed to appoint Mr. Seung Wha Chang 

of Korea as a member of the Appellate Body for four years commencing on June 1, 2012, and to reappoint 

Ms. Zhang for a final term of four years commencing on June 1, 2012. On March 26, 2013, the DSB agreed 

to reappoint Mr. Ramírez Hernández of Mexico for a final term of four years commencing on July 1, 2013. 

On November 25, 2013, the DSB agreed to reappoint Mr. Van den Bossche of Belgium for a final term of 

four years commencing on December 12, 2013. On September 26, 2014, the DSB agreed to appoint Mr. 
50 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing of Mauritius to a term of four years commencing on October 1, 2014. 

On November 25, 2015, the DSB agreed to reappoint Mr. Bhatia of India and Mr. Graham of the United 

States for a final term of four years each commencing on December 11, 2015. On November 23, 2016, the 

DSB agreed to appoint Ms. Zhao Hong of China and Mr. Hyun Chong Kim of Korea to a term of four years 

commencing on December 1, 2016 (the names and biographical data for the Appellate Body members 

during 2016 are included in Annex II of this report). 

The Appellate Body has also adopted Working Procedures for Appellate Review. On February 28, 1997, 

the Appellate Body issued a revision of the Working Procedures, providing for a two year term for the first 

Chairperson, and one year terms for subsequent Chairpersons. In 2001, the Appellate Body amended its 

working procedures to provide for no more than two consecutive terms for a Chairperson. Mr. LacarteMuró, the first Chairperson, served until February 7, 1998; Mr. Beeby served as Chairperson from February 

7, 1998 to February 6, 1999; Mr. El-Naggar served as Chairperson from February 7, 1999 to February 6, 

2000; Mr. Feliciano served as Chairperson from February 7, 2000 to February 6, 2001; Mr. Ehlermann 

served as Chairperson from February 7, 2001 to December 10, 2001; Mr. Bacchus served as Chairperson 

from December 15, 2001 to December 10, 2003; Mr. Abi-Saab served as Chairperson from December 13, 

2003 to December 12, 2004; Mr. Taniguchi served as Chairperson from December 17, 2004 to December 

16, 2005; Mr. Ganesan served as Chairperson from December 17, 2005 to December 16, 2006; Mr. 

Sacerdoti served as Chairperson from December 17, 2006 to December 17, 2007; Mr. Baptista served as 

Chairperson from December 18, 2007, to December 17, 2008; Mr. Unterhalter served as Chairperson from 

December 18, 2008 to December 16, 2010; Ms. Bautista served as Chairperson from December 17, 2010 

to June 14, 2011; Ms. Hillman served as Chairperson from June 15, 2011 until December 10, 2011; Ms. 

Zhang served as Chairperson from December 11, 2011 to December 31, 2012; Mr. Ramirez served as 

Chairperson from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014; Mr. Peter Van den Bossche served as Chairperson 

from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015; and Mr. Thomas Graham served as Chairperson from January 

1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.

In 2016, the Appellate Body issued six reports on the following issues: (1) on a challenge by China to EU 

compliance concerning antidumping measures on fasteners; (2) on a challenge by Panama to Argentina’s 

financial, taxation, foreign exchange, and registration measures on certain services and service suppliers; 

(3) on a challenge by Panama to Colombia’s tariff on textiles, apparel, and footwear; (4) on a challenge by 

Korea to U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties on residential washers; (5) on a challenge by the 

United States to India’s domestic content requirements for solar cells and/or modules; and (6) on a challenge 

by Argentina to EU dumping regulations and EU anti-dumping duties on biodiesel. In the disputes in which 

it was not a party, the United States participated as a third party. 

Dispute Settlement Activity in 2016: During the DSB’s first 22 years in operation, WTO Members filed 

517 requests for consultations (25 in 1995, 42 in 1996, 46 in 1997, 44 in 1998, 31 in 1999, 30 in 2000, 27 

in 2001, 37 in 2002, 26 in 2003, 19 in 2004, 11 in 2005, 20 in 2006, 14 in 2007, 19 in 2008, 14 in 2009, 17 

in 2010, 8 in 2011, 27 in 2012, 17 in 2013, 14 in 2014, 13 in 2015, and 16 in 2016). During that period, 

the United States filed 110 complaints against other Members’ measures and received 126 complaints on 

U.S. measures. Several of these complaints involved the same issues as other complaints. A number of 

disputes commenced in earlier years remained active in 2016. What follows is a description of those 

disputes in which the United States was a complainant, defendant, or third party during the past year. 

Prospects for 2017

The United States has used the opportunity of the ongoing review to seek improvements in the dispute 

settlement system, including greater transparency. In 2017, the United States expects the DSB to continue 

to focus on the administration of the dispute settlement process in the context of individual disputes. 

Experience gained with the DSU will be incorporated into the U.S. litigation and negotiation strategy for 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 51

enforcing U.S. WTO rights, as well as the U.S. position on DSU reform. Participants will continue to 

consider reform proposals in 2017.

Disputes Brought by the United States 

In 2016, the United States continued to be one of the most active participants in the WTO dispute settlement 

process. This section includes brief summaries of dispute settlement activity in 2016 where the United 

States was a complainant (listed alphabetically by responding party). 

Argentina — Measures Affecting the Importation of Goods (DS444)

On August 21, 2012, the United States requested consultations with Argentina regarding certain measures 

affecting the importation of goods into Argentina. These measures include the broad use of non-transparent 

and discretionary import licensing requirements that have the effect of restricting U.S. exports as well as 

burdensome trade balancing commitments that Argentina requires as a condition for authorization to import 

goods. 

Between 2008 and 2013, Argentina greatly expanded the list of products subject to non-automatic import 

licensing requirements, with import licenses required for approximately 600 eight-digit tariff lines in 

Argentina’s goods schedule. In February 2012, Argentina adopted an additional licensing requirement that 

applies to all imports of goods into the country. In conjunction with these licensing requirements, Argentina 

has adopted informal trade balancing requirements and other schemes, whereby companies seeking to 

obtain authorization to import products must agree to export goods of an equal or greater value, make 

investments in Argentina, lower prices of imported goods, and/or refrain from repatriating profits.

Through these measures, the United States was concerned that Argentina was acting inconsistently with its 

WTO obligations, including with Article XI:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 

1994), which generally prohibits restrictions on imports of goods, including those made effective through 

import licenses. The United States was also concerned the measures breached various provisions of the 

Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, which contains requirements related to the administrative 

procedures used to implement import licensing regimes.

The United States and Argentina held consultations on September 20-21, 2012, but these consultations 

failed to resolve the dispute. On December 17, 2012, the United States, together with the EU and Japan, 

requested the WTO to establish a dispute settlement panel to examine Argentina’s import restrictions, and 

a panel was established on January 28, 2013. The Director General composed the panel as follows: Ms. 

Leora Blumberg, Chair; and Ms. Claudia Orozco and Mr. Graham Sampson, Members.

Argentina repealed its product-specific non-automatic import licenses, which had been the subject of 

consultations and the U.S. panel request on January 25, 2013. However, it continued to maintain a 

discretionary non-automatic import licensing requirement applicable to all goods imported into Argentina, 

as well as informal trade balancing and similar requirements.

On August 22, 2014, the Panel issued its report. The Panel found Argentina’s import licensing requirement 

and its trade balancing requirements to be inconsistent with Article XI of the GATT 1994. 

On September 26, 2014, Argentina appealed the panel findings. The parties made written submissions to 

the Appellate Body during the fall of 2014, and the Appellate Body held an oral hearing on November 3 

and 4, 2014. 
52 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

The Appellate Body issued its report on January 15, 2015. In its report, the Appellate Body rejected 

Argentina’s arguments, upholding the Panel’s findings that Argentina’s import licensing requirement and 

trade balancing requirements are inconsistent with Article XI of the GATT 1994. On January 26, 2015, the 

DSB adopted the panel and Appellate Body reports. 

At the DSB meeting held on February 23, 2015, Argentina informed the DSB that it intended to implement 

the DSB's recommendations and rulings in a manner that respects its WTO obligations, and that it would 

need a reasonable period of time (RPT) to do so. The United States and Argentina agreed that the RPT 

would be 11 months and 5 days, ending on December 31, 2015. Since December 2015, Argentina has 

issued modified import licensing requirements. The United States has significant questions about how the 

adoption of these measures could serve to bring Argentina’s import licensing measures into compliance 

with its WTO obligations, and the United States is working to address these concerns. 

China – Measures Affecting Trading Rights and Distribution Services for Certain Publications and 

Audiovisual Entertainment Products (DS363)

On April 10, 2007, the United States requested consultations with China regarding certain measures related 

to the import and/or distribution of imported films for theatrical release, audiovisual home entertainment 

products (e.g., video cassettes and DVDs), sound recordings, and publications (e.g., books, magazines, 

newspapers, and electronic publications). On July 10, 2007, the United States requested supplemental 

consultations with China regarding certain measures pertaining to the distribution of imported films for 

theatrical release and sound recordings. 

Specifically, the United States was concerned that certain Chinese measures: (1) restricted trading rights 

(such as the right to import goods into China) with respect to imported films for theatrical release,

audiovisual home entertainment products, sound recordings, and publications; and (2) restricted market 

access for, or discriminated against, imported films for theatrical release and sound recordings in physical 

form, and foreign service providers seeking to engage in the distribution of certain publications, audiovisual 

home entertainment products, and sound recordings. The Chinese measures at issue appeared to be 

inconsistent with several WTO provisions, including provisions in the GATT 1994 and GATS, as well as 

specific commitments made by China in its WTO accession agreement.

The United States and China held consultations on June 5-6, 2007 and July 31, 2007, but they did not 

resolve the dispute. On October 10, 2007, the United States requested the establishment of a panel, and on 

November 27, 2007, a panel was established. On March 27, 2008, the Director General composed the panel 

as follows: Mr. Florentino P. Feliciano, Chair; and Mr. Juan Antonio Dorantes and Mr. Christian Häberli, 

Members.

The report of the panel was circulated to WTO Members and made public on August 12, 2009. In the final 

report, the panel made three critical sets of findings. First, the panel found that China’s restrictions on 

foreign invested enterprises (and in some cases foreign individuals) from importing films for theatrical 

release, audiovisual home entertainment products, sound recordings, and publications are inconsistent with 

China’s trading rights commitments as set forth in China’s protocol of accession to the WTO. The panel 

also found that China’s restrictions on the right to import these products are not justified by Article XX(a) 

of the GATT 1994. Second, the panel found that China’s prohibitions and discriminatory restrictions on 

foreign owned or controlled enterprises seeking to distribute publications and audiovisual home 

entertainment products and sound recordings over the Internet are inconsistent with China’s obligations 

under the GATS. Third, the panel also found that China’s treatment of imported publications is inconsistent 

with the national treatment obligation in Article III:4 of the GATT 1994.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 53

In September 2009, China filed a notice of appeal to the WTO Appellate Body, appealing certain of the 

panel’s findings. First, China contended that its restrictions on importation of the products at issue are 

justified by an exception related to the protection of public morals. Second, China claimed that while it 

had made commitments to allow foreign enterprises to partner in joint ventures with Chinese enterprises to 

distribute music, those commitments did not cover the electronic distribution of music. Third, and finally, 

China claimed that its import restrictions on films for theatrical release and certain types of sound recordings 

and DVDs were not inconsistent with China’s commitments related to the right to import because those 

products were not goods and therefore were not subject to those commitments. The United States filed a 

cross appeal on one aspect of the panel’s analysis of China’s defense under GATT Article XX(a). On 

December 21, 2009, the Appellate Body issued its report. The Appellate Body rejected each of China’s 

claims on appeal. The Appellate Body also found that the Panel had erred in the aspect of the analysis that 

the United States had appealed. The DSB adopted the Appellate Body and panel reports on January 19, 

2010. On July 12, 2010, the United States and China notified the DSB that they had agreed on a 14 month 

period of time for implementation, to end on March 19, 2011. 

China subsequently issued several revised measures, and repealed other measures, relating to the market 

access restrictions on books, newspapers, journals, DVDs and music. As China acknowledged, however, 

it did not issue any measures addressing theatrical films. Instead, China proposed bilateral discussions with 

the United States in order to seek an alternative solution. The United States and China reached agreement 

in February 2012 on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) providing for substantial increases in the 

number of foreign films imported and distributed in China each year and substantial additional revenue for 

foreign film producers. The MOU will be reviewed after five years in order to discuss additional 

compensation for the U.S. side.

China – Measures Relating to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials (DS394)

On June 23, 2009, the United States requested consultations with China regarding China’s export restraints 

on a number of important raw materials. The materials at issue are: bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, 

manganese, silicon metal, silicon carbide, yellow phosphorus, and zinc. These materials are inputs for 

numerous downstream products in the steel, aluminum, and chemical sectors.

The United States challenged China’s export restraints on these raw materials as inconsistent with several 

WTO provisions, including provisions in the GATT 1994, as well as specific commitments made by China 

in its WTO accession agreement. Specifically, the United States challenged certain Chinese measures that 

impose: (1) quantitative restrictions in the form of quotas on exports of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, silicon 

carbide, and zinc ores and concentrates, as well as certain intermediate products incorporating some of these 

inputs; and (2) export duties on several raw materials. The United States also challenged other related 

export restraints, including export licensing restrictions, minimum export price requirements, and 

requirements to pay certain charges before certain products can be exported, as well as China’s failure to 

publish relevant measures. 

The United States and China held consultations on July 30 and September 1-2, 2009, but did not resolve 

the dispute. The EU and Mexico also requested and held consultations with China on these measures. On 

November 19, 2009, the EU and Mexico joined the United States in requesting the establishment of a panel, 

and on December 21, 2009, the WTO DSB established a single panel to examine all three complaints. On 

March 29, 2010, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Elbio Rosselli, Chair; Ms. Dell 

Higgie and Mr. Nugroho Wisnumurti, Members. 

The panel’s final report was circulated to Members on July 5, 2011. The panel found that the export duties 

and export quotas imposed by China on various forms of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, 

silicon carbide, silicon metal, and zinc constitute a breach of WTO rules and that China failed to justify 
54 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

those measures as legitimate conservation measures, environmental protection measures, or short supply 

measures. The panel also found China’s imposition of minimum export price, export licensing, and export 

quota administration requirements on these materials, as well as China’s failure to publish certain measures 

related to these requirements inconsistent with WTO rules.

On January 30, 2012, the Appellate Body issued a report affirming the panel’s findings on all significant 

claims. In particular, the Appellate Body confirmed that: China may not seek to justify its imposition of 

export duties as environmental or conservation measures; China failed to demonstrate that certain of its 

export quotas were justified as measures for preventing or relieving a critical shortage; and the Panel 

correctly made recommendations for China to bring its measures into conformity with its WTO obligations. 

The Appellate Body also found that the panel erred in making findings related to licensing and 

administration claims, declaring those findings moot, and erred in its legal interpretation of one element of 

the exception set forth in Article XX(g) of the GATT 1994. 

The DSB adopted the Appellate Body report, and the panel report as modified by the Appellate Body report, 

on February 22, 2012. The United States, the EU, Mexico, and China agreed that China would have until 

December 31, 2012, to comply with the rulings and recommendations.

At the conclusion of the RPT for China to comply, it appeared that China had eliminated the export duties 

and export quotas on the products at issue in this dispute, as of January 1, 2013. However, China maintains 

export licensing requirements for a number of the products. The United States continues to monitor actions 

by China that might operate to restrict exports of raw materials at issue in this dispute.

China – Certain Measures Affecting Electronic Payment Services (DS413)

On September 15, 2010, the United States requested consultations with China concerning issues relating to 

certain restrictions and requirements maintained by China pertaining to electronic payment services (EPS) 

for payment card transactions and the suppliers of those services. EPS enable transactions involving credit 

card, debit card, charge card, check card, automated teller machine (ATM) card, prepaid card, or other 

similar card or money transmission product, and manage and facilitate the transfers of funds between 

institutions participating in such card-based electronic payment transactions.

EPS provide the essential architecture for card-based electronic payment transactions, and EPS are supplied 

through complex electronic networks that streamline and process transactions and offer an efficient and 

reliable means to facilitate the movement of funds from the cardholders purchasing goods or services to the 

individuals or businesses that supply them. EPS consist of a network, rules and procedures, and operating 

system that allow cardholders’ banks to pay merchants’ banks the amounts they are owed. EPS suppliers 

receive, check and transmit the information that processors need to conduct the transactions. The rules and 

procedures established by the EPS supplier give the payment system stability and integrity, and enable net 

payment flows among the institutions involved in card-based electronic transactions. The best known EPS 

suppliers are credit and debit card companies based in the United States. 

China instituted and maintains measures that operate to block foreign EPS suppliers, including U.S. 

suppliers, from supplying these services, and that discriminate against foreign suppliers at every stage of a 

card-based electronic payment transaction. The United States challenged China’s measures affecting EPS 

suppliers as inconsistent with China’s national treatment and market access commitments under the GATS.

The United States and China held consultations on October 27 and 28, 2010, but these consultations did 

not resolve the dispute. The United States requested the establishment of a panel on February 11, 2011. 

On March 25, 2011, the DSB established a panel to consider the claims of the United States. On July 4, 

2011, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Virachai Plasai, Chair; and Ms. Elaine 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 55

Feldman and Mr. Martín Redrado, Members. The panel held its meetings with the parties on October 26-

27, 2011, and December 13-14, 2011.

The Panel issued its report to the Parties on May 25, 2012. The Panel Report was circulated to the WTO 

Membership on July 16, 2012. China did not appeal the Panel’s findings, and the Panel Report was adopted 

by the DSB on August 31, 2012.

The United States prevailed on significant threshold issues, including:

 EPS is a single service (or EPS are integrated services) and each element of EPS is necessary for a 

payment card transaction to occur.

 EPS is properly classified under the same subsector, item (viii) of the GATS Annex on Financial 

Services, which appears as subsector (d) of China’s Schedule (All payment and money transmission 

services, including credit, charge, and debit cards...) as the United States argued, and no element 

of EPS is classified as falling in item (xiv) of the GATS Annex on Financial services (settlement 

and clearing of financial assets, including securities, derivative products, and other negotiable 

instruments), as China argued and for which China has no WTO commitments.

 In addition to the “four-party” model of EPS (e.g., Visa and MasterCard), the “three-party” model 

(e.g., American Express) and other variations, and third party issuer processor and merchant 

processors also are covered by subsector (d) of China’s Schedule. 

With respect to the U.S. GATS national treatment claims, the Panel found the following violations:

 China imposes requirements on issuers of payment cards that payment cards issued in China bear 

the “Yin Lian/UnionPay logo,” and therefore China requires issuers to become members of the 

CUP network; that the cards they issue in China meet certain uniform business specifications and 

technical standards; and that these requirements fail to accord to services and service suppliers of 

any other Member treatment no less favorable than China accords to its own like services and 

service suppliers; 

 China imposes requirements that all terminals (ATMs, merchant processing devices, and point of 

sale (POS) terminals) in China that are part of the national card inter-bank processing network be 

capable of accepting all payment cards bearing the Yin Lian/UnionPay logo, and that these 

requirements fail to accord to services and service suppliers of any other Member treatment no less 

favorable than China accords to its own like services and service suppliers;

 China imposes requirements on acquirers (those institutions that acquire payment card transactions 

and that maintain relationships with merchants) to post the Yin Lian/UnionPay logo, and 

furthermore, China imposes requirements that acquirers join the CUP network and comply with 

uniform business standards and technical specifications of inter-bank interoperability, and that 

terminal equipment operated or provided by acquirers be capable of accepting bank cards bearing 

the Yin Lian/UnionPay logo, and that these requirements fail to accord to services and service 

suppliers of any other Member treatment no less favorable than China accords to its own like 

services and service suppliers;

With respect to the U.S. GATS market access claims, the Panel found that China’s requirements related to 

certain Hong Kong and Macau transactions are inconsistent with Article XVI:2(a) of the GATS because, 
56 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

contrary to China’s Sector 7.B(d) mode 3 market access commitments, China maintains a limitation on the 

number of service suppliers in the form of a monopoly.

The United States and China agreed that a RPT for China to implement the DSB recommendations and 

rulings would be 11 months from the date of adoption of the recommendations and rulings, that is, until 

July 31, 2013. 

In April 2015, the State Council of China issued a formal decision announcing that China’s market would 

be open to foreign suppliers that seek to provide EPS for domestic currency payment card transactions. The 

People’s Bank of China followed this in July 2015 by publishing a draft licensing regulation for public 

comment. This draft licensing regulation was finalized in June 2016. However, to date no foreign EPS 

supplier is permitted to operate in the domestic Chinese market. The United States has urged China to 

ensure that approvals for foreign EPS suppliers to operate in China occur without delay, in accordance with 

China’s WTO obligations, and continues to monitor the situation closely.

China — Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten and Molybdenum (DS431)

On March 13, 2012, the United States requested consultations with China regarding China’s export 

restraints on rare earths, tungsten and molybdenum. These materials are vital inputs in the manufacture of 

electronics, automobiles, steel, petroleum products, and a variety of chemicals that are used to produce both 

everyday items and highly sophisticated, technologically advanced products, such as hybrid vehicle 

batteries, wind turbines, and energy efficient lighting. 

The United States challenged China’s export restraints on these materials as inconsistent with several WTO 

provisions, including provisions in the GATT 1994, as well as specific commitments made by China in its 

WTO accession agreement. Specifically, the United States challenged: (1) China’s quantitative restrictions 

in the form of quotas on exports of rare earth, tungsten, and molybdenum ores and concentrates, as well as 

certain intermediate products incorporating some of these inputs; (2) China’s export duties on rare earths, 

tungsten, and molybdenum; and (3) China’s other export restraints on these materials, including prior export 

performance and minimum capital requirements. 

The United States, together with the EU and Japan, held consultations with China on April 25-26, 2012, 

but the consultations did not resolve the dispute. 

On June 29, 2012, the EU and Japan joined the United States in requesting the establishment of a panel, 

and on July 23, 2012, the WTO DSB established a single panel to examine all three complaints. On 

September 24, 2012, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Nacer Benjelloun-Touimi, 

Chair; Mr. Hugo Cayrús and Mr. Darlington Mwape, members. The panel held its meetings with the parties 

on February 26-28, 2013, and June 18-19, 2013. 

On March 26, 2014, the panel issued its report. The panel found that the export quotas and export duties 

imposed by China on various forms of rare earths, tungsten, and molybdenum constitute a breach of WTO 

rules and that China failed to justify those measures as legitimate conservation measures or environmental 

protection measures, respectively. The panel also found China’s imposition of prior export performance 

and minimum capital requirements inconsistent with WTO rules.

On August 7, 2014, the Appellate Body issued a report affirming the panel’s findings on all significant 

claims. In particular, the Appellate Body confirmed that China may not seek to justify its imposition of 

export duties as environmental measures. The Appellate Body also confirmed that, while modifying some 

of the panel’s original reasoning, China had failed to demonstrate that its export quotas were justified as 

measures for conserving exhaustible natural resources. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 57

On August 29, 2014, the DSB adopted the panel and Appellate Body reports. In September 2014, China 

announced its intention to implement the DSB recommendations and rulings in the dispute, and stated that 

it would need a RPT in which to do so. The United States, the EU, Japan, and China agreed that China 

would have until May 2, 2015, to comply with the recommendations and rulings.

China announced that it had eliminated its export quotas on the products at issue in this dispute as of January 

1, 2015, and its export duties as of May 1, 2015. 

China maintains export licensing requirements for these products, however. Accordingly, the United States 

continues to monitor actions by China that might operate to restrict exports of the materials at issue in this 

dispute.

China — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty Measures on Broiler Products from the United States 

(DS427)

On September 20, 2011, the United States filed a request for consultations regarding China’s imposition of 

antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of chicken broiler products from the United States.

On September 27, 2009, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) initiated antidumping and 

countervailing duty investigations of imports of chicken broiler products from the United States. On 

September 26, 2010 and August 30, 2010, China imposed antidumping and countervailing duties, 

respectively. The United States’ review of MOFCOM’s determinations sustaining antidumping and 

countervailing duties indicated that China was acting inconsistently with numerous WTO obligations, such 

as abiding by applicable procedures and legal standards, including by finding injury to China’s domestic 

industry without objectively examining the evidence, by improperly calculating dumping margins and 

subsidization rates, and by failing to adhere to various transparency and due process requirements.

The United States and China held consultations on October 28, 2011, but were unable to resolve the 

dispute. On December 8, 2011, the United States requested the establishment of a panel. The DSB 

established a panel on January 20, 2012. On May 24, 2012, the WTO Director General composed the panel 

as follows: Mr. Faizullah Khilji, Chair; and Mr. Serge Fréchette and Ms. Claudia Orozco, Members. The 

Panel held its meetings with the parties on September 27-28, 2012, and December 4-5, 2012. 

The Panel’s report, which upheld nearly all the claims brought by the United States, was circulated on 

August 2, 2013. In particular, the Panel found MOFCOM’s substantive determinations and procedural 

conduct in levying the duties was inconsistent with China’s WTO obligations. With respect to the 

substantive errors, the Panel’s report found China breached its obligations by: 

 Levying countervailing duties on U.S. producers in excess of the amount of subsidization;

 Relying on flawed price comparisons for its determination that China’s domestic industry had 

suffered injury;

 Unjustifiably declining to use the books and records of two major U.S. producers in calculating 

their costs of production; failing to consider any of the alternative allocation methodologies 

presented by U.S. producers and instead using a weight-based methodology resulting in high 

dumping margins; improperly allocating distinct processing costs to other products inflating 

dumping margins; and allocating one producer’s costs in producing non-exported products to 

exported products creating an inflated dumping margin; and

 Improperly calculating the “all others” dumping margin and subsidy rates.
58 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

With respect to the procedural failings, the Panel found that China breached its WTO obligations by:

 Denying a hearing request during the investigation;

 Failing to require the Chinese industry to provide non-confidential summaries of information it 

provided to MOFCOM; and

 Failing to disclose essential facts to U.S. companies including how their dumping margins were

calculated.

The DSB adopted the panel report on September 25, 2013. On December 19, 2013, the United States and 

China agreed that China would have until July 9, 2014 to comply with the panel’s findings. 

MOFCOM announced on December 25, 2014 that it was initiating a reinvestigation of U.S. producers in 

response to the panel report. MOFCOM released re-determinations on July 8, 2014, that maintained 

recalculated duties on U.S. broiler products. 

The United States considered that China failed to bring its measures into compliance with WTO rules, and 

on May 10, 2016, requested consultations. The United States and China held consultations on May 24, 

2016 but did not resolve the dispute. On May 27, 2016, the United States requested the establishment of a

compliance panel, which was established on July 18, 2016. 

China — Certain Measures Affecting the Automobile and Automobile-Parts Industries (DS450)

On September 17, 2012, the United States requested consultations with China concerning China’s 

automobile and automobile parts “export base” program. Under this program, China appears to provide 

extensive subsidies to automobile and automobile parts exporting enterprises located in designated regions 

known as “export bases.” It appears that China is providing these subsidies in contravention of its 

obligation under Article 3 of the SCM Agreement, which prohibits the provision of subsidies contingent 

upon export performance. China also appears to have failed to comply with various transparency related 

obligations, including its obligation to notify the challenged subsidies as required by the SCM Agreement, 

and to publish the measures at issue in an official journal and to translate the measures into one or more of 

the official languages of the WTO as required by China’s Protocol of Accession.

The United States and China held consultations in November 2012. After consultations, China removed or 

did not renew key provisions. The United States continues to monitor China’s actions with respect to the 

matters at issue in this dispute. 

China — Measures related to Demonstration Bases and Common Service Platform Programs (DS489)

On February 11, 2015, the United States requested consultations regarding China’s “Demonstration BasesCommon Service Platform” export subsidy program. Under this program, China appears to provide 

prohibited export subsidies through “Common Service Platforms” to manufacturers and producers across 

seven economic sectors and dozens of sub-sectors located in more than 150 industrial clusters, known as 

“Demonstration Bases.”

Pursuant to this Demonstration Bases-Common Service Platform program, China provides free and 

discounted services as well as cash grants and other incentives to enterprises that meet export performance 

criteria and are located in 179 Demonstration Bases throughout China. Each of these Demonstration Bases 

is comprised of enterprises from one of seven sectors: (1) textiles, apparel and footwear; (2) advanced 

materials and metals (including specialty steel, titanium and aluminum products); (3) light industry; (4) 

specialty chemicals; (5) medical products; (6) hardware and building materials; and (7) agriculture. China
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 59

maintains and operates this extensive program through over 150 central government and sub-central 

government measures throughout China.

The United States held consultations with China on March 13 and April 1-2, 2015. On April 9, 2015, the 

United States requested the establishment of a panel, and on April 22, 2015, the WTO DSB established a 

panel to examine the complaint. The United States and China held additional consultations following the 

establishment of the panel and reached agreement in April 2016 on a Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU). Pursuant to the MOU, China agreed to terminate the export subsidies it had provided through the 

Demonstration Bases-Common Service Platform program. The United States continues to monitor China’s 

actions with respect to its compliance with the terms of the MOU.

China – Tax Measures Concerning Certain Domestically Produced Aircraft (DS501)

On December 8, 2015, the United States requested consultations with China concerning its measures 

providing tax advantages in relation to the sale of certain domestically produced aircraft in China. It appears 

that China exempts the sale of certain domestically produced aircraft from China’s value-added tax (VAT), 

while imported aircraft continue to be subject to the VAT. The aircraft subject to the exemptions appear to 

include general aviation, regional, and agricultural aircraft. China has also failed to publish the measures 

that establish these exemptions.

These measures appear to be inconsistent with Articles III:2 and III:4 of the GATT 1994. China also 

appears to have acted inconsistently with its obligations under Article X:1 of the GATT 1994, as well as a 

number of specific commitments made by China in its WTO accession agreement. 

The United States and China held consultations on January 29, 2016. Following consultations, the United 

States confirmed that China rescinded the discriminatory tax exemptions at issue, and the United States 

made those relevant measures public. 

China — Export Duties on Certain Raw Materials (DS508)

On July 13, 2016, and July 19, 2016, the United States requested consultations with China regarding 

China’s restraints on the exportation of antimony, chromium, cobalt, copper, graphite, indium, lead, 

magnesia, talc, tantalum, and tin. These materials are critical to the production of downstream products 

made in the United States in industries including aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, and steel. 

The United States challenged China’s export restraints on these materials as inconsistent with several WTO 

provisions, including provisions in the GATT 1994, as well as specific commitments made by China in its 

WTO accession agreement. The export restraints include export quotas, export duties, and additional 

requirements that impose restrictions on the trading rights of enterprises seeking to export various forms of 

the materials, such as prior export performance requirements. 

The United States, together with the EU, held consultations with China on September 8-9, 2016. 

Consultations did not resolve the dispute. 

Pursuant to a request by the United States, the WTO DSB established a panel on November 8, 2016. 

European Union – Measures concerning meat and meat products (hormones) (DS26, 48)

The United States and Canada challenged the EU ban on imports of meat from animals to which any of six 

hormones for growth promotional purposes had been administered. The panel found that the EU ban is 

inconsistent with the EU’s obligations under the SPS Agreement, and that the ban is not based on science, 

a risk assessment, or relevant international standards. 
60 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Upon appeal, the Appellate Body affirmed the panel’s findings that the EU ban fails to satisfy the 

requirements of the SPS Agreement. The Appellate Body also found that, while a country has broad 

discretion in electing what level of protection it wishes to implement, in doing so it must fulfill the 

requirements of the SPS Agreement. In this case, the ban imposed is not rationally related to the conclusions 

of the risk assessments the EU had performed. 

Because the EU did not comply with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB by May 13, 1999, the 

final date of its compliance period as set by arbitration, the United States sought WTO authorization to 

suspend concessions with respect to certain products of the EU. The value of the suspension of concessions 

represents an estimate of the annual harm to U.S. exports resulting from the EU’s failure to lift its ban on 

imports of U.S. meat. The EU exercised its right to request arbitration concerning the amount of the 

suspension. On July 12, 1999, the arbitrators determined the level of suspension to be $116.8 million. On 

July 26, 1999, the DSB authorized the United States to suspend such concessions and the United States 

proceeded to impose 100 percent ad valorem duties on a list of EU products with an annual trade value of 

$116.8 million.

On November 3, 2003, the EU notified the WTO that it had amended its hormones ban. On November 8, 

2004, the EU requested consultations with respect to “the United States’ continued suspension of 

concessions and other obligations under the covered agreements” in the EU – Hormones dispute. The

Appellate Body issued its report in the U.S. – Continued Suspension (WT/DS320) dispute on October 16, 

2008. 

On October 31, 2008, USTR announced that it was considering changes to the list of EU products on which 

100 percent ad valorem duties had been imposed in 1999. A modified list of EU products was announced 

by USTR on January 15, 2009.

On December 22, 2008, the EU requested consultations with the United States and Canada pursuant to 

Articles 4 and 21.5 of the DSU, regarding the EU’s implementation of the DSB’s recommendations and 

rulings in the EU–Hormones dispute. In its consultations request, the EU stated that it considered that it 

has brought into compliance the measures found inconsistent in EU–Hormones by, among other things, 

adopting its revised ban in 2003. Consultations took place in February 2009. 

 

Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and the EU, further 

litigation in the EU-Hormones compliance proceeding has been suspended. 

For additional information on the U.S. suspension of concessions and the MOU, please see the discussion 

of the associated Section 301 investigation in section 5.B.1 of this report. 

European Union – Measures affecting the approval and marketing of biotechnology products (DS291)

Since the late 1990s, the EU has pursued policies that undermine agricultural biotechnology and trade in 

biotechnological foods. After approving a number of biotechnological products through October 1998, the 

EU adopted an across-the-board moratorium under which no further biotechnology applications were 

allowed to reach final approval. In addition, six Member States (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, 

and Luxemburg) adopted unjustified bans on certain biotechnological crops that had been approved by the 

EU prior to the adoption of the moratorium. These measures have caused a growing portion of U.S. 

agricultural exports to be excluded from EU markets, and unfairly cast concerns about biotechnology 

products around the world, particularly in developing countries.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 61

On May 13, 2003, the United States filed a consultation request with respect to: (1) the EU’s moratorium 

on all new biotechnology approvals; (2) delays in the processing of specific biotech product applications; 

and (3) the product-specific bans adopted by six EU Member States (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, 

Italy, and Luxembourg). The United States requested the establishment of a panel on August 7, 2003. 

Argentina and Canada submitted similar consultation and panel requests. On August 29, 2003, the DSB 

established a panel to consider the claims of the United States, Argentina, and Canada. On March 4, 2003, 

the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Christian Häberli, Chair; and Mr. Mohan Kumar 

and Mr. Akio Shimizu, Members. 

The panel issued its report on September 29, 2006. The panel agreed with the United States, Argentina, 

and Canada that the disputed measures of the EU, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and 

Luxembourg are inconsistent with the obligations set out in the SPS Agreement. In particular:

 The panel found that the EU adopted a de facto, across-the-board moratorium on the final approval 

of biotechnological products, starting in 1999 up through the time the panel was established in 

August 2003. 

 The panel found that the EU had presented no scientific or regulatory justification for the 

moratorium, and thus that the moratorium resulted in “undue delays” in violation of the EU’s 

obligations under the SPS Agreement.

 The panel identified specific, WTO inconsistent “undue delays” with regard to 24 of the 27 pending 

product applications that were listed in the U.S. panel request. 

 The panel upheld the United States’ claims that, in light of positive safety assessments issued by 

the EU’s own scientists, the bans adopted by six EU Member States on products approved in the 

EU prior to the moratorium were not supported by scientific evidence, and were thus inconsistent 

with WTO rules.

The DSB adopted the panel report on November 21, 2006. At the meeting of the DSB held on December 

19, 2006, the EU notified the DSB that the EU intended to implement the recommendations and rulings of 

the DSB in these disputes, and stated that it would need a RPT for implementation. On June 21, 2006, the 

United States, Argentina, and Canada notified the DSB that they had agreed with the EU on a one year 

period of time for implementation, to end on November 21, 2007. On November 21, 2007, the United 

States, Argentina, and Canada notified the DSB that they had agreed with the EU to extend the 

implementation period to January 11, 2008.

On January 17, 2008, the United States submitted a request for authorization to suspend concessions and 

other obligations with respect to the EU under the covered agreements at an annual level equivalent to the 

annual level of nullification or impairment of benefits accruing to the United States resulting from the EU’s 

failure to bring measures concerning the approval and marketing of biotechnology products into compliance 

with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB. On February 6, 2008, the EU requested arbitration 

under Article 22.6 of the DSU, claiming that the level of suspension proposed by the United States was not 

equivalent to the level of nullification or impairment. The EU and the United States mutually agreed to 

suspend the Article 22.6 arbitration proceedings as of February 18, 2008. The United States may request 

resumption of the proceedings following a finding by the DSB that the EU has not complied with the 

recommendations and rulings of the DSB. 
62 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Subsequent to the suspension of the Article 22.6 proceeding, the United States has been monitoring EU 

developments and has been engaged with the EU in discussions with the goal of normalizing trade in 

biotechnology products.

European Union and certain Member States – Measures affecting trade in large civil aircraft (DS316)

On October 6, 2004, the United States requested consultations with the EU, as well as with Germany, 

France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, with respect to subsidies provided to Airbus, a manufacturer of 

large civil aircraft. The United States alleged that such subsidies violated various provisions of the SCM 

Agreement, as well as Article XVI:1 of the GATT 1994. Consultations were held on November 4, 2004. 

On January 11, 2005, the United States and the EU agreed to a framework for the negotiation of a new 

agreement to end subsidies for large civil aircraft. The parties set a three month time frame for the 

negotiations and agreed that, during negotiations, they would not request panel proceedings.

The United States and the EU were unable to reach an agreement within the 90 day time frame. Therefore, 

the United States filed a request for a panel on May 31, 2005. The panel was established on July 20, 2005. 

The U.S. request challenged several types of EU subsidies that appear to be prohibited, actionable, or both. 

On October 17, 2005, the Deputy Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Carlos Pérez del 

Castillo, Chair; and Mr. John Adank and Mr. Thinus Jacobsz, Members. The panel met with the parties on 

March 20-21 and July 25-26, 2007, and met with the parties and third parties on July 24, 2007. The panel 

granted the parties’ request to hold part of its meetings with the parties in public session. This portion of 

the panel’s meetings was videotaped and reviewed by the parties to ensure that business confidential 

information had not been disclosed before being shown in public on March 22 and July 27, 2007.

The Panel issued its report on June 30, 2010. It agreed with the United States that the disputed measures 

of the EU, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom were inconsistent with the SCM Agreement. 

In particular:

 Every instance of “launch aid” provided to Airbus was a subsidy because in each case, the terms 

charged for this unique low interest, success-dependent financing were more favorable than were 

available in the market.

 Some of the launch aid provided for the A380, Airbus’s newest and largest aircraft, was contingent 

on exports and, therefore, a prohibited subsidy.

 Several instances in which German and French government entities created infrastructure for 

Airbus were subsidies because the infrastructure was not general, and the price charged to Airbus 

for use resulted in less than adequate remuneration to the government.

 Several government equity infusions into the Airbus companies were subsidies because they were 

on more favorable terms than available in the market.

 Several EU and Member State research programs provided grants to Airbus to develop technologies 

used in its aircraft.

 These subsidies caused adverse effects to the interests of the United States in the form of lost sales, 

displacement of U.S. imports into the EU market, and displacement of U.S. exports into the markets 

of Australia, Brazil, China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Mexico, and Singapore.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 63

The EU filed a notice of appeal on July 21, 2010. The WTO Appellate Body conducted an initial hearing 

on August 3, 2010 to discuss procedural issues related to the need to protect business confidential 

information and highly sensitive business information and issued additional working procedures to that end 

on August 10, 2010. The Appellate Body held two hearings on the issues raised in the EU’s appeal of the 

Panel’s findings of WTO inconsistent subsidization of Airbus. The first hearing, held November 11-17, 

2010, addressed issues associated with the main subsidy to Airbus, launch aid, and the other subsidies 

challenged by the United States. The second hearing held December 9-14, 2010, focused on the Panel’s 

findings that the European subsidies caused serious prejudice to the interests of the United States in the 

form of lost sales and declining market share in the EU and other third country markets. On May 18, 2011, 

the Appellate Body issued its report. The Appellate Body affirmed the Panel’s central findings that 

European government launch aid had been used to support the creation of every model of large civil aircraft 

produced by Airbus. The Appellate Body also confirmed that launch aid and other challenged subsidies to 

Airbus have directly resulted in Boeing losing sales involving purchases of Airbus aircraft by easyJet, Air 

Berlin, Czech Airlines, Air Asia, Iberia, South African Airways, Thai Airways International, Singapore 

Airlines, Emirates Airlines, and Qantas – and lost market share, with Airbus gaining market share in the 

EU and in third country markets, including China and South Korea, at the expense of Boeing. The Appellate 

Body also found that the Panel applied the wrong standard for evaluating whether subsidies are export 

subsidies, and that the Panel record did not have enough information to allow application of the correct 

standard.

On December 1, 2011, the EU provided a notification in which it claimed to have complied with the DSB 

recommendations and rulings. On December 9, 2011, the United States requested consultations regarding 

the notification and also requested authorization from the DSB to impose countermeasures. The United 

States and the EU held consultations on January 13, 2012. On December 22, 2011, the EU objected to the 

level of suspension of concessions requested by the United States, and the matter was referred to arbitration 

pursuant to Article 22.6 of the DSU. On January 19, 2012, the United States and the EU requested that the 

arbitration be suspended pending the conclusion of the compliance proceeding.

On March 30, 2012, in light of the parties’ disagreement over whether the EU had complied with the DSB’s 

recommendations and rulings, the United States requested that the DSB refer the matter to the original Panel 

pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU. The DSB did so at a meeting held on April 13, 2012. On April 25, 

2012, the compliance Panel was composed with the members of the original Panel: Mr. Carlos Pérez del 

Castillo, Chair; Mr. John Adank and Mr. Thinus Jacobsz, Members.

The parties filed submissions in the compliance proceeding in late 2012, and the compliance Panel held a 

meeting with the parties on April 16-17, 2013. 

On September 22, 2016, the report of the Article 21.5 Panel was circulated to the Members. The panel 

found that the EU breached Articles 5(c) and 6.3(a), (b), and (c) of the SCM agreement, and that the EU 

and certain Member States failed to comply with the DSB recommendations under Article 7.8 of the SCM 

Agreement to “take appropriate steps to remove the adverse effects or ... withdraw the subsidy.” 

Significant findings by the compliance panel against the EU include:

 34 out of 36 alleged compliance “steps” notified by the EU did not amount to “actions” with respect 

to the subsidies provided to the Airbus or the adverse effects that those subsidies were to have 

caused in the original proceeding. 

 As a result, the EU failed to withdraw the subsidies, as recommended by the DSB.
64 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

 Those subsidies were a genuine and substantial cause of lost sales to U.S. aircraft, and displacement 

and impedance of exports of U.S. aircraft to Australia, China, India, Korea, Singapore, and the 

United Arab Emirates. 

On October 13, 2016, the EU notified the DSB of its decision to appeal certain issues of law and legal 

interpretations developed by the compliance panel. The Division hearing the appeal is Ricardo RamirezHernandez (Chair), Peter van den Bossche and Ujal Singh Bhatia.

European Union – Regime for the importation, sale, and distribution of bananas – Recourse to Article 21.5 

of the DSU by the United States (WT/DS27)

On June 29, 2007, the United States requested the establishment of a panel under Article 21.5 of the DSU 

to review whether the EU had failed to bring its import regime for bananas into compliance with its WTO 

obligations and the DSB recommendations and rulings adopted on September 25, 1997. The request related 

to the EU’s apparent failure to implement the WTO rulings in a proceeding initiated by Ecuador, Guatemala, 

Honduras, Mexico, and the United States. That proceeding had resulted in findings that the EU’s banana 

regime discriminated against bananas originating in Latin American countries and against distributors of 

such bananas, including a number of U.S. companies. The EU was under an obligation to bring its banana 

regime into compliance with its WTO obligations by January 1999. The EU committed to shift to a tariff

only regime for bananas no later than January 1, 2006. Despite these commitments, the banana regime 

implemented by the EU on January 1, 2006 included a zero duty tariff-rate quota allocated exclusively to 

bananas from African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. All other bananas did not have access to this dutyfree tariff-rate quota and were subject to a 176 euro per ton duty. The United States brought challenges 

under GATT Articles I:1 and XIII.

Ecuador requested the establishment of a similar compliance panel on February 23, 2007, and a panel was 

composed in response to that request on June 15. In response to the United States request, the Panel was 

established on July 12, 2007. On August 13, 2007, the Director General composed the Panel as follows:

Mr. Christian Häberli, Chair; and Mr. Kym Anderson and Mr. Yuqing Zhang, Members. Mr. Häberli and 

Mr. Anderson were members of the original Panel in this dispute.

The Panel granted the parties’ request to open the substantive meeting with the parties, as well as a portion 

of the third-party session, to the public. The public observed these meetings from a gallery in the room in 

which the meetings were conducted. 

The Panel issued its report on May 19, 2008. The Panel agreed with the United States that the EU’s regime 

was inconsistent with the EU’s obligations under Articles I:1, XIII:1, and XIII:2 of the GATT 1994, and 

that the EU had failed to implement the recommendations and rulings of the DSB. 

On August 28, 2008, the EU filed a notice of appeal. The Appellate Body granted a joint request by the 

parties to open its hearing to the public, and the public was able to observe the hearing via a closed circuit 

television broadcast. The Appellate Body issued its report on November 26, 2008. The Appellate Body 

found that the EU had failed to bring itself into compliance with the recommendations and rulings of the 

DSB. In particular, the Appellate Body rejected all of the EU’s procedural arguments alleging the United 

States was barred from bringing the compliance proceeding and agreed with the panel that the EU’s dutyfree tariff-rate quota reserved only for some countries was inconsistent with Article XIII of the GATT 1994. 

The Panel in this dispute had also found that the EU’s banana import regime was in violation of GATT 

Article I. The EU did not appeal that finding. The DSB adopted the Appellate Body report on December 

22, 2008.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 65

On December 15, 2009, the United States and the EU initialed an agreement designed to lead to settlement 

of the dispute. In the agreement, the EU undertakes not to reintroduce measures that discriminate among 

bananas distributors based on the ownership or control of the distributor or the source of the bananas, and 

to maintain a nondiscriminatory, tariff only regime for the importation of bananas. The United StatesEuropean Union agreement complements an agreement initialed on the same date between the EU and 

several Latin American banana supplying countries (the GATB). That agreement provides for staged EU 

tariff cuts that will bring the EU into compliance with its obligations under the WTO Agreement. The 

GATB was signed on May 31, 2010, and the United States-European Union agreement was signed on June 

8, 2010. The agreements will enter into force following completion of certain domestic procedures. Upon 

entry into force, the EU will need to request formal WTO certification of its new tariffs on bananas. The 

GATB provides that once the certification process is concluded, the EU and the Latin American signatories 

to the GATB will settle their disputes and claims. Once that has occurred, the United States will also settle 

its dispute with the EU. 

The GATB entered into force on May 1, 2012, following completion of certain domestic procedures. The 

EU’s revised tariff commitments on bananas were formally certified through the WTO certification process 

(document WT/Let/868 of October 30, 2012). Pursuant to the GATB, the EU, and the Latin American 

signatories to the GATB settled their disputes and claims on November 8, 2012. As the GATB has entered 

into force and both the EU and the United States have completed necessary domestic procedures, the United 

States-European Union agreement entered into force on January 24, 2013. The United States will also settle 

its dispute with the EU.

European Communities – Certain Measures Affecting Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products from the 

United States (DS389)

On January 16, 2009, the United States requested consultations regarding certain EU measures that prohibit 

the import of poultry meat and poultry meat products that have been processed with chemical treatments 

designed to reduce the amount of microbes on poultry meat, unless such pathogen reduction treatments 

(PRTs) have been approved. The EU further prohibits the marketing of poultry meat and poultry meat 

products if they have been processed with PRTs. In December 2008, the EU formally rejected the approval 

of four PRTs whose approval had been requested by the United States, despite the fact that EU scientists 

have repeatedly concluded that poultry meat and poultry meat products treated with any of these four PRTs 

does not present a health risk to European consumers. The EU’s maintenance of its import ban and 

marketing regulation against PRT poultry appears to be inconsistent with its obligations under the SPS 

Agreement, the Agriculture Agreement, the GATT 1994, and the TBT Agreement. Consultations were 

held on February 11, 2009, but those consultations failed to resolve the dispute. The United States requested 

the establishment of a panel on October 8, 2009, and the DSB established a panel on November 19, 2009. 

India — Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Agricultural Products from the United States 

(DS430)

On March 6, 2012, the United States requested consultations with India regarding its import prohibitions 

on various agricultural products from the United States. India asserts these import prohibitions are 

necessary to prevent the entry of avian influenza into India. However, the United States has not had an 

outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza since 2004. With respect to low pathogenic avian influenza 

(LPAI), the only kind of avian influenza found in the United States since 2004, international standards do 

not support the imposition of import prohibitions, including the type maintained by India. The United 

States considers that India’s restrictions are inconsistent with numerous provisions of the SPS Agreement, 

including Articles 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 6.1, 6.2, 7, and Annex B, and Articles I and XI of 

GATT 1994. 
66 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

The United States and India held consultations on April 16-17, 2012, but were unable to resolve the dispute. 

The United States requested the establishment of a WTO panel on May 24, 2012. At its meeting on June 

25, 2012, the WTO DSB established a panel. On February 18, 2014, the WTO Director General composed 

the Panel as follows: Mr. Stuart Harbinson as Chair; and Ms. Delilah Cabb and Mr. Didrik Tønseth, 

Members. The panel held meetings with the Parties on July 24-25, 2013 and December 16-17, 2013. 

The Panel issued its report on October 14, 2014. In its report, the panel found in favor of the United States. 

Specifically, the Panel found that India’s restrictions breach its WTO obligations because they: are not 

based on international standards or a risk assessment that takes into account available scientific evidence; 

arbitrarily discriminate against U.S. products because India blocks imports while not similarly blocking 

domestic products; constitute a disguised restriction on international trade; are more trade restrictive than 

necessary since India could reasonably adopt international standards for the control of avian influenza 

instead of imposing an import ban; fail to recognize the concept of disease free areas and are not adapted 

to the characteristics of the areas from which products originate and to which they are destined; and were 

not properly notified in a manner that would allow the United States and other WTO Members to comment 

on India’s restrictions before they went into effect. India filed its notice of appeal on January 26, 2015. 

On 4 June 2015, the Appellate Body issued its report in this dispute, upholding the Panel’s findings that 

India’s restrictions: are not based on international standards or a risk assessment that takes into account 

available scientific evidence; arbitrarily discriminate against U.S. products because India blocks imports 

while not similarly blocking domestic products; are more trade restrictive than necessary since India could 

reasonably adopt international standards for the control of avian influenza instead of imposing an import 

ban; and fail to recognize the concept of disease-free areas and are not adapted to the characteristics of the 

areas from which products originate and to which they are destined.

On July 13, 2015, India informed the DSB that it intended to implement the DSB’s recommendations and 

rulings and would need a RPT to do so. On December 8, 2015, the United States and India agreed that the 

RPT would be 12 months, ending on June 19, 2016. 

On July 7, 2016, the United States requested the authorization of the DSB to suspend concessions or other 

obligations pursuant to Article 22.2 of the DSU. India objected to the request, referring the matter to 

arbitration. The United States is reviewing certain measures notified by India, which appear to continue to 

impose import prohibitions on account of avian influenza, including LPAI. In the meanwhile, the United 

States has maintained its request to suspend concessions or other obligations. 

India – Solar Local Content I / II (DS456)

In February 2013, the United States requested WTO consultations with India concerning domestic-content 

requirements for participation in an Indian solar power generation program known as the National Solar 

Mission (NSM). Under Phase I of the NSM, which India initiated in 2010, India provided guaranteed, longterm payments to solar power developers contingent on the purchase and use of solar cells and solar 

modules of domestic origin. India continued to impose domestic content requirements for solar cells and 

modules under Phase II of the NSM, which India launched in October 2013. In March 2014, the United 

States held consultations with India on Phase II of the NSM. In April 2014, after two rounds of unsuccessful 

consultations with India, the United States requested that the WTO DSB establish a dispute settlement 

panel. In May 2014, the DSB established a WTO panel to examine India’s domestic content requirements 

under its NSM program. On September 24, 2014, the parties agreed to compose the Panel as follows: Mr. 

David Walker as Chair; and Mr. Pornchai Danvivathana and Mr. Marco Tulio Molina Tejeda, Members. 

The Panel held meetings with the Parties on February 3-4, 2015, and April 28-29, 2015. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 67

The Panel issued its final public report on February 24, 2016, finding in favor of the United States on all 

claims. The Panel found that India’s domestic content requirements under its National Solar Mission are 

inconsistent with India’s national treatment obligations under Article III:4 of the GATT 1994, and Article 

2.1 of the Agreement on Trade-related Investment Measures (TRIMS Agreement). Because an Indian solar 

power developer may bid for and maintain certain power generation contracts only by using domestically 

produced equipment, and not by using imported equipment, India’s requirements accord “less favorable” 

treatment to imported solar cells and modules than that accorded to like products of Indian origin. 

India appealed this decision to the WTO Appellate Body on April 20, 2016. The Appellate Body issued its 

report on September 16, 2016. The Appellate Body affirmed the Panel’s finding that India’s domestic 

content requirements (DCR measures) under its National Solar Mission are inconsistent with India’s 

national treatment obligations under Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 and Article 2.1 of the TRIMS 

Agreement. The Appellate Body also affirmed that Panel’s rejection of India’s defensive claims under 

Articles III:8(a), XX(j) and XX(d) of the GATT 1994. 

The DSB adopted the panel and Appellate Body reports during a special meeting of the DSB on October 

14, 2016. At that meeting, India informed the DSB that India intended to implement the DSB's 

recommendations and rulings in a manner that respects its WTO obligations, and that it would need an RPT 

to do so.

Indonesia – Import Restrictions on Horticultural Products, Animals, and Animal Products (DS455, DS465 

and DS478)

On May 8, 2014, the United States, joined by New Zealand, requested consultations with Indonesia 

concerning certain measures affecting the importation of horticultural products, animals, and animal 

products into Indonesia. The measures on which consultations were requested include Indonesia’s import 

licensing regimes for horticultural products and for animals and animal products, as well as certain 

prohibitions and restrictions that Indonesia imposes through these regimes. 

The United States previously had requested consultations on prior versions of Indonesia’s import licensing 

regimes. Indonesia established import licensing regimes governing the importation of horticultural 

products and animals and animal products in 2012. The United States was concerned about these regimes 

and certain measures imposed through them and, on January 10, 2013, requested consultations with 

Indonesia. Indonesia subsequently amended or replaced its import licensing regulations, changing their 

structure and requirements. The United States requested consultations again, this time joined by New 

Zealand, on August 30, 2013. Indonesia again amended its import licensing regimes shortly thereafter, and 

the consultation request in the current dispute (DS478) followed.

The United States is concerned that Indonesia, through its import licensing regimes, imposes numerous 

prohibitions and restrictions on the importation of covered products, including: (1) prohibiting the 

importation of certain products altogether; (2) imposing strict application windows and validity periods for 

import permits; (3) restricting the type, quantity, and country of origin of products that may be imported; 

(4) requiring that importers actually import a certain percentage of the volume of products allowed under 

their permits; (5) restricting the uses for which products may be imported; (6) imposing local content 

requirements; (7) restricting imports on a seasonal basis; and (8) setting a “reference price” below which 

products may not be imported. The Indonesian measures at issue appeared to be inconsistent with several 

WTO provisions, including Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 and Article 4.2 of the Agriculture Agreement. 

The United States and New Zealand held consultations with Indonesia on June 19, 2014, but these 

consultations failed to resolve the dispute. On March 18, 2015, the United States, together with New 

Zealand, requested the WTO to establish a dispute settlement panel to examine Indonesia’s import 
68 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

restrictions. A panel was established on May 20, 2015. The Director General Composed the panel as 

follows: Mr. Christian Espinoza Cañizares, Chair; and Mr. Gudmundur Helgason and Ms. Angela Maria 

Orozco Gómez, Members. The panel held meetings with the Parties on February 1-2, 2016 and April 13-

14, 2016. 

The Panel circulated its report on December 22, 2016. The Panel found that all of Indonesia's import 

restricting measures for horticultural products and animal products are inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the 

GATT 1994. The Panel also found that Indonesia has failed to demonstrate that the challenged measures 

are justified under any general exception available under the GATT 1994.

China – Domestic Supports for Agricultural Producers (DS511)

On September 13, 2016, the United States requested consultations with China concerning certain measures 

through which China provides domestic support in favor of agricultural producers, in particular, to those 

producing wheat, Indica rice, Japonica rice, and corn. It appears that China's level of domestic support is 

in excess of its commitment level of "nil" specified in Section I of Part IV of China's Schedule CLII because, 

for example, China provides domestic support in excess of its product-specific de minimis level of 8.5 

percent for each of wheat, Indica rice, Japonica rice, and corn.

China's level of domestic support appears to be inconsistent with Articles 3.2, 6.3, and 7.2(b) of the 

Agriculture Agreement. The parties consulted on this matter on October 20, 2016, but the consultations 

did not resolve the dispute. 

At a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body on December 16, 2016, the United States requested the 

establishment of a panel to examine the complaint.

China — Administration of Tariff-Rate Quotas for Certain Agricultural Products (DS517)

On December 15, 2016, the United States requested consultations with China regarding the administration 

of tariff-rate quotas for certain agricultural products, namely, wheat, corn, and rice. 

The measures identified in the request establish a system by which the National Development and Reform 

Commission (NDRC) annually allocates quota to eligible enterprises, and reallocates quota returned 

unused, based on eligibility requirements and allocation principles that are not clearly specified. The tariffrate quotas for these commodities have underfilled, even in years where market conditions would suggest 

demand for imports. China’s administration of these tariff-rate quotas inhibits the filling of the tariff-rate 

quotas, restricting opportunities for U.S. and other trading partners to export wheat, corn, and rice to China. 

In its Accession Protocol China agreed to ensure that the tariff-rate quotas were administered on a 

transparent, predictable, uniform, fair and non-discriminatory basis using clearly specified timeframes, 

administrative procedures and requirements that would provide effective import opportunities; that would 

reflect consumer preference and end-user demand; and that would not inhibin the filling of each tariff-rate 

quota. In addition to acting inconsistent with tariff-rate quota-specific commitments in its Accession 

protocol, China’s administration is inconsistent with Article XIII:3(b) of the General Agreement on Tariffs 

and Trade of 1994 (GATT 1994) because China fails to provide public notice of quantities permitted to be 

imported and changes to quantities permitted to be imported under each TRQ. China’s administration is 

inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994, which generally prohibits restrictions on imports of goods 

other than duties, taxes, or other charges. Finally, China’s administration is inconsistent with Article X:3(a) 

of the GATT 1994 because China does not administer its tariff-rate quotas in a reasonable manner. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 69

On February 9, 2017, the United States and China held consultations in Geneva. The European Union, 

Canada, Australia, and Thailand requested to join the consultations as third parties but China denied the 

third parties’ requests. Following consultations, China committed to provide certain additional information 

and responses after conferring with the relevant authorities. 

Disputes Brought Against the United States 

Section 124 of the URAA requires, inter alia, that the Annual Report on the WTO describe, for the 

preceding fiscal year of the WTO: each proceeding before a panel or the Appellate Body that was initiated 

during that fiscal year regarding Federal or State law, the status of the proceeding, and the matter at issue; 

and each report issued by a panel or the Appellate Body in a dispute settlement proceeding regarding 

Federal or State law. This section includes summaries of dispute settlement activity in 2016 for disputes in 

which the United States was a responding party (listed by DS number).

United States – Section 110(5) of the Copyright Act (DS160)

As amended in 1998 by the Fairness in Music Licensing Act, section 110(5) of the U.S. Copyright Act 

exempts certain retail and restaurant establishments that play radio or television music from paying royalties 

to songwriters and music publishers. The EU claimed that, as a result of this exception, the United States 

was in violation of its TRIPS obligations. Consultations with the EU took place on March 2, 1999. A panel 

on this matter was established on May 26, 1999. On August 6, 1999, the Director General composed the 

panel as follows: Ms. Carmen Luz Guarda, Chair; and Mr. Arumugamangalam V. Ganesan and Mr. Ian F. 

Sheppard, Members. The Panel issued its final report on June 15, 2000 and found that one of the two 

exemptions provided by section 110(5) is inconsistent with the U.S. WTO obligations. The Panel report 

was adopted by the DSB on July 27, 2000, and the United States has informed the DSB of its intention to 

respect its WTO obligations. On October 23, 2000, the EU requested arbitration to determine the period of 

time to be given the United States to implement the Panel’s recommendation. By mutual agreement of the 

parties, Mr. J. Lacarte-Muró was appointed to serve as arbitrator. He determined that the deadline for 

implementation should be July 27, 2001. On July 24, 2001, the DSB approved a U.S. proposal to extend 

the deadline until the earlier of the end of the then current session of the U.S. Congress or December 31, 

2001.

On July 23, 2001, the United States and the EU requested arbitration to determine the level of nullification 

or impairment of benefits to the EU as a result of section 110(5)(B). In a decision circulated to WTO 

Members on November 9, 2001, the arbitrators determined that the value of the benefits lost to the EU in 

this case was $1.1 million per year. On January 7, 2002, the EU sought authorization from the DSB to 

suspend its obligations vis-à-vis the United States. The United States objected to the details of the EU 

request, thereby causing the matter to be referred to arbitration. 

However, because the United States and the EU had been engaged in discussions to find a mutually 

acceptable resolution of the dispute, the arbitrators suspended the proceeding pursuant to a joint request by 

the parties filed on February 26, 2002. 

On June 23, 2003, the United States and the EU notified the WTO of a mutually satisfactory temporary 

arrangement regarding the dispute. Pursuant to this arrangement, the United States made a lump sum 

payment of $3.3 million to the EU, to a fund established to finance activities of general interest to music 

copyright holders, in particular, awareness raising campaigns at the national and international level and 

activities to combat piracy in the digital network. The arrangement covered a three year period, which 

ended on December 21, 2004. 
70 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

United States – Section 211 Omnibus Appropriations Act (DS176)

Section 211 addresses the ability to register or enforce, without the consent of previous owners, trademarks 

or trade names associated with businesses confiscated without compensation by the Cuban government. 

The EU questioned the consistency of Section 211 with the TRIPS Agreement and requested consultations 

on July 7, 1999. Consultations were held September 13 and December 13, 1999. On June 30, 2000, the 

EU requested a panel. A panel was established on September 26, 2000, and at the request of the EU, the 

WTO Director General composed the panel on October 26, 2000. The Director General composed the 

panel as follows: Mr. Wade Armstrong, Chair; and Mr. François Dessemontet and Mr. Armand de Mestral, 

Members. The Panel report was circulated on August 6, 2001, rejecting 13 of the EU’s 14 claims and 

finding that, in most respects, section 211 is not inconsistent with the obligations of the United States under 

the TRIPS Agreement. The EU appealed the decision on October 4, 2001. The Appellate Body issued its 

report on January 2, 2002. 

The Appellate Body reversed the Panel’s one finding against the United States and upheld the Panel’s 

favorable findings that WTO Members are entitled to determine trademark and trade name ownership 

criteria. The Appellate Body found certain instances, however, in which section 211 might breach the 

national treatment and most favored nation obligations of the TRIPS Agreement. The Panel and Appellate 

Body reports were adopted on February 1, 2002, and the United States informed the DSB of its intention to 

implement the recommendations and rulings. The RPT for implementation ended on June 30, 2005. On 

June 30, 2005, the United States and the EU agreed that the EU would not request authorization to suspend 

concessions at that time and that the United States would not object to a future request on grounds of lack 

of timeliness. 

In January 2016, the United States notified the EU of positive developments that resolved a longstanding 

issue of concern to the EU and others, which helped moved this dispute into a more cooperative phase.

United States – Antidumping measures on certain hot-rolled steel products from Japan (DS184)

Japan alleged that Commerce and the USITC’s preliminary and final determinations in their antidumping 

investigations of certain hot-rolled steel products from Japan, issued on November 25 and 30, 1998, 

February 12, 1999, April 28, 1999, and June 23, 1999, were erroneous and based on deficient procedures 

under the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930 and related regulations. Japan claimed that these procedures and 

regulations violate the GATT 1994, as well as the Antidumping Agreement and the Agreement Establishing 

the WTO. Consultations were held on January 13, 2000, and a panel was established on March 20, 2000. 

In May 2000, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Harsha V. Singh, Chair; and Mr. 

Yanyong Phuangrach and Ms. Lidia di Vico, Members. On February 28, 2001, the Panel circulated its 

report, in which it rejected most of Japan’s claims, but found that, inter alia, particular aspects of the 

antidumping duty calculation, as well as one aspect of the U.S. antidumping duty law, were inconsistent 

with the WTO Antidumping Agreement. On April 25, 2001, the United States filed a notice of appeal on 

certain issues in the Panel report. 

The Appellate Body report was issued on July 24, 2001, reversing in part and affirming in part. The reports 

were adopted on August 23, 2001. Pursuant to a February 19, 2002 arbitral award, the United States was 

given 15 months, or until November 23, 2002, to implement the DSB’s recommendations and rulings. On 

November 22, 2002, Commerce issued a new final determination in the hot-rolled steel antidumping duty 

investigation, which implemented the recommendations and rulings of the DSB with respect to the 

calculation of antidumping margins in that investigation. The RPT ended on July 31, 2005. With respect 

to the outstanding implementation issue, on July 7, 2005, the United States and Japan agreed that Japan 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 71

would not request authorization to suspend concessions at that time and that the United States would not 

object to a future request on grounds of lack of timeliness. 

United States – Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA) (DS217/234)

On December 21, 2000, Australia, Brazil, Chile, the EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand 

requested consultations with the United States regarding the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act 

of 2000 (19 U.S.C. § 754), which amended Title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 to transfer import duties 

collected under U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty orders from the U.S. Treasury to the companies 

that filed the antidumping and countervailing duty petitions. Consultations were held on February 6, 2001. 

On May 21, 2001, Canada and Mexico also requested consultations on the same matter, which were held 

on June 29, 2001. On July 12, 2001, the original nine complaining parties requested the establishment of a 

panel, which was established on August 23, 2001. On September 10, 2001, a panel was established at the 

request of Canada and Mexico, and all complaints were consolidated into one panel. The panel was 

composed of: Mr. Luzius Wasescha, Chair; and Mr. Maamoun Abdel-Fattah and Mr. William Falconer, 

Members. 

The Panel issued its report on September 2, 2002, finding against the United States on three of the five 

principal claims brought by the complaining parties. Specifically, the Panel found that the CDSOA 

constitutes a specific action against dumping and subsidies and, therefore, is inconsistent with the 

Antidumping and SCM Agreements as well as Article VI of the GATT 1994. The Panel also found that 

the CDSOA distorts the standing determination conducted by Commerce and, therefore, is inconsistent with 

the standing provisions in the Antidumping and SCM Agreements. The United States prevailed against the 

complainants’ claims under the Antidumping and SCM Agreements that the CDSOA distorts Commerce’s 

consideration of price undertakings (agreements to settle antidumping and countervailing duty 

investigations). The Panel also rejected Mexico’s actionable subsidy claim brought under the SCM 

Agreement. Finally, the Panel rejected the complainants’ claims under Article X:3 of the GATT, Article 

15 of the Antidumping Agreement, and Articles 4.10 and 7.9 of the SCM Agreement. The United States 

appealed the Panel’s adverse findings on October 1, 2002. 

The Appellate Body issued its report on January 16, 2003, upholding the Panel’s finding that the CDSOA 

is an impermissible action against dumping and subsidies, but reversing the Panel’s finding on standing. 

The DSB adopted the Panel and Appellate Body reports on January 27, 2003. At the meeting, the United 

States stated its intention to implement the DSB recommendations and rulings. On March 14, 2003, the 

complaining parties requested arbitration to determine a RPT for U.S. implementation. On June 13, 2003, 

the arbitrator determined that this period would end on December 27, 2003. On June 19, 2003, legislation 

to bring the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act into conformity with U.S. obligations under the 

Antidumping Agreement, the SCM Agreement, and the GATT of 1994 was introduced in the U.S. Senate 

(S. 1299).

On January 15, 2004, eight complaining parties (Brazil, Canada, Chile, the EU, India, Japan, South Korea, 

and Mexico) requested WTO authorization to retaliate. The remaining three complaining parties (Australia, 

Indonesia, and Thailand) agreed to extend to December 27, 2004 the period of time in which the United 

States had to comply with the WTO rulings and recommendations in this dispute. On January 23, 2004, 

the United States objected to the requests from the eight complaining parties to retaliate, thereby referring 

the matter to arbitration. On August 31, 2004, the Arbitrators issued their awards in each of the eight 

arbitrations. They determined that each complaining party could retaliate, on a yearly basis, covering the 

total value of trade not exceeding, in U.S. dollars, the amount resulting from the following equation: amount 

of disbursements under CDSOA for the most recent year for which data are available relating to 

antidumping or countervailing duties paid on imports from each party at that time, as published by the U.S. 

authorities, multiplied by 0.72. 
72 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Based on requests from Brazil, the EU, India, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico, on November 26, 

2004, the DSB granted these Members authorization to suspend concessions or other obligations, as 

provided in DSU Article 22.7 and in the Decisions of the Arbitrators. The DSB granted Chile authorization 

to suspend concessions or other obligations on December 17, 2004. On December 23, 2004, January 7, 

2005 and January 11, 2005, the United States reached agreements with Australia, Thailand, and Indonesia 

that these three complaining parties would not request authorization to suspend concessions at that time, 

and that the United States would not object to a future request on grounds of lack of timeliness. 

On May 1, 2005, Canada and the EU began imposing additional duties of 15 percent on a list of products 

from the United States. On August 18, 2005, Mexico began imposing additional duties ranging from 9 to 

30 percent on a list of U.S. products. On September 1, 2005, Japan began imposing additional duties of 15 

percent on a list of U.S. products.

On February 8, 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush signed the Deficit Reduction Act into law. That Act 

included a provision repealing the CDSOA. Certain of the complaining parties nevertheless continued to 

impose retaliatory measures because they considered that the Deficit Reduction Act failed to bring the 

United States into immediate compliance. Thus, on May 1, 2006, the EU renewed its retaliatory measure 

and added eight products to the list of targeted imports. Japan renewed its retaliatory measure on September 

1, 2006, retaining the same list of targeted imports. Mexico adopted a new retaliatory measure on 

September 14, 2006, imposing duties of 110 percent on certain dairy products through October 31, 2006. 

Since that date, Mexico has taken no further retaliatory measures. Canada did not renew its retaliatory 

measures once they expired on April 30, 2006.

On May 13, 2016, the EU announced that it would maintain unchanged the list of products subject to 

retaliation, and would decrease the duty on those products from 1.5 percent to 0.45 percent. According to 

the EU, the total value of trade covered does not exceed $887,696. On August 22, 2016, Japan notified the 

DSB that it would continue its non-application of retaliatory measures for the coming year, due to a low 

amount of relevant disbursements in fiscal year 2015.

United States – Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services (DS285)

On March 13, 2003, Antigua and Barbuda (Antigua) requested consultations regarding its claim that U.S. 

Federal, State, and territorial laws on gambling violate U.S. specific commitments under the GATS, as well 

as Articles VI, XI, XVI, and XVII of the GATS, to the extent that such laws prevent or can prevent operators 

from Antigua from lawfully offering gambling and betting services in the United States. Consultations 

were held on April 30, 2003. 

Antigua requested the establishment of a panel on June 12, 2003. The DSB established a panel on July 21, 

2003. At the request of Antigua, the WTO Director General composed the panel on August 25, 2003, as 

follows: Mr. B. K. Zutshi, Chair; and Mr. Virachai Plasai and Mr. Richard Plender, Members. The Panel’s 

final report, circulated on November 10, 2004, found that the United States breached Article XVI (Market 

Access) of the GATS by maintaining three U.S. Federal laws (18 U.S.C. §§ 1084, 1952, and 1955) and 

certain statutes of Louisiana, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and Utah. It also found that these measures 

were not justified under exceptions in Article XIV of the GATS.

The United States filed a notice of appeal on January 7, 2005. The Appellate Body issued its report on 

April 7, 2005, in which it reversed and/or modified several Panel findings. The Appellate Body overturned 

the Panel’s findings regarding the state statutes, and found that the three U.S. Federal gambling laws at 

issue “fall within the scope of ‘public morals’ and/or ‘public order’” under Article XIV. To meet the 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 73

requirements of the Article XIV chapeau, the Appellate Body found that the United States needed to clarify 

an issue concerning Internet gambling on horse racing.

The DSB adopted the Panel and Appellate Body reports on April 20, 2005. On May 19, 2005, the United 

States stated its intention to implement the DSB recommendations and rulings. On August 19, 2005, an 

Article 21.3(c) arbitrator determined that the RPT for implementation would expire on April 3, 2006. 

At the DSB meeting of April 21, 2006, the United States informed the DSB that the United States was in 

compliance with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB in the dispute. On June 8, 2006, Antigua 

requested consultations with the United States regarding U.S. compliance with the DSB recommendations 

and rulings. The parties held consultations on June 26, 2006. On July 5, 2006, Antigua requested the DSB 

to establish a panel pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU, and a panel was established on July 19, 2006. The 

chair of the original panel and one of the panelists were unavailable to serve. The parties agreed on their 

replacements, and the panel was composed as follows: Mr. Lars Anell, Chair; and Mr. Mathias Francke 

and Mr. Virachai Plasai, Members. The report of the Article 21.5 Panel, which was circulated on March 

30, 2007, found that the United States had not complied with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB 

in this dispute. 

On May 4, 2007, the United States initiated the procedure provided for under Article XXI of the GATS to 

modify the schedule of U.S. commitments so as to reflect the original U.S. intent of excluding gambling 

and betting services. 

The DSB adopted the report of the Article 21.5 panel on May 22, 2007. On June 21, 2007, Antigua 

submitted a request, pursuant to Article 22.2 of the DSU, for authorization from the DSB to suspend the 

application to the United States of concessions and related obligations of Antigua under the GATS and the 

TRIPS Agreement. On July 23, 2007, the United States referred this matter to arbitration under Article 

22.6 of the DSU. The arbitration was carried out by the three panelists who served on the Article 21.5 

Panel.

On December 21, 2007, the Article 22.6 arbitration award was circulated. The arbitrator concluded that 

Antigua’s annual level of nullification or impairment of benefits is $21 million, and that Antigua may 

request authorization from the DSB to suspend its obligations under the TRIPS Agreement in this amount. 

On December 6, 2012, Antigua submitted a request under Article 22.7 of the DSU for authorization to 

suspend concessions or other obligations under the TRIPS Agreement consistent with the award of the 

Arbitrator. At the DSB meeting of January 28, 2013, the DSB authorized Antigua to suspend concessions 

or other obligations under the TRIPS Agreement consistent with the award of the Arbitrator.

During 2007 and early 2008, the United States reached agreement with every WTO Member, aside from 

Antigua, that had pursued a claim of interest in the GATS Article XXI process of modifying the U.S. 

schedule of GATS commitments so as to exclude gambling and betting services. Antigua and the United 

States have continued in their efforts to achieve a mutually agreeable resolution to this matter. 

United States – Subsidies on large civil aircraft (DS317)

On October 6, 2004, the EU requested consultations with respect to “prohibited and actionable subsidies 

provided to U.S. producers of large civil aircraft.” The EU alleged that such subsidies violated several 

provisions of the SCM Agreement, as well as Article III:4 of the GATT. Consultations were held on 

November 5, 2004. On January 11, 2005, the United States and the EU agreed to a framework for the 

negotiation of a new agreement to end subsidies for large civil aircraft. The parties set a three month

timeframe for the negotiations and agreed that, during negotiations, they would not request panel 

proceedings. These discussions did not produce an agreement. On May 31, 2005, the EU requested the 
74 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

establishment of a panel to consider its claims. The EU filed a second request for consultations regarding 

large civil aircraft subsidies on June 27, 2005. This request covered many of the measures covered in the 

initial consultations, as well as many additional measures that were not covered. 

A panel was established with regard to the October claims on July 20, 2005. On October 17, 2005, the 

Deputy Director General established the panel as follows: Ms. Marta Lucía Ramírez de Rincón, Chair; and 

Ms. Gloria Peña and Mr. David Unterhalter, Members. Since that time, Ms. Ramirez and Mr. Unterhalter 

have resigned from the Panel. They have not been replaced.

The EU requested establishment of a panel with regard to its second panel request on January 20, 2006. 

That panel was established on February 17, 2006. On December 8, 2006, the WTO issued notices changing 

the designation of this panel to DS353. The summary below of United States – Subsidies on large civil 

aircraft (Second Complaint) (DS353) discusses developments with regard to this panel. 

United States – Subsidies on large civil aircraft (Second Complaint) (DS353)

On June 27, 2005, the EU filed a second request for consultations regarding large civil aircraft subsidies 

allegedly applied by the United States. The section above on United States – Subsidies on Large Civil 

Aircraft (DS317) discusses developments with regard to the dispute arising from the initial request for 

consultations. The June 2005 request covered many of the measures in the initial consultations, as well as 

many additional measures that were not covered. The EU requested establishment of a panel with regard 

to its second panel request on January 20, 2006. That panel was established on February 17, 2006. On 

November 22, 2006, the Deputy Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Crawford Falconer, 

Chair; and Mr. Francisco Orrego Vicuña and Mr. Virachai Plasai, Members.

The Panel granted the parties’ request to open the substantive meetings with the parties to the public via a 

screening of a videotape of the public session. The sessions of the Panel meeting that involved business 

confidential information and the Panel’s meeting with third parties were closed to the public.

On March 31, 2011, the Panel circulated its report with the following findings:

Findings against the EU

 Most of the NASA research spending challenged by the EU did not go to Boeing.

 Most of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) research payments to Boeing were not subsidies or 

did not cause adverse effects to Airbus.

 Treatment of patent rights under U.S. Government contracts is not a subsidy specific to the aircraft 

industry.

 Treatment of certain overhead expenses in U.S. Government contracts is not a subsidy.

 Washington State infrastructure and plant location incentives were not a subsidy or did not cause 

adverse effects.

 Commerce research programs were not a subsidy specific to the aircraft industry.

 The U.S. Department of Labor payments to Edmonds Community College in Snohomish County, 

Washington, were not specific subsidies.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 75

 Kansas and Illinois tax programs were not subsidies or did not cause adverse effects.

 The Foreign Sales Corporation/Extraterritorial Income tax measures were a WTO inconsistent 

subsidy, but as the United States removed the subsidy in 2006, there was no need for any further 

recommendation.

Findings against the United States

 NASA research programs conferred a subsidy to Boeing of $2.6 billion that caused adverse effects 

to Airbus.

 Tax programs and other incentives offered by the State of Washington and some of its 

municipalities conferred a subsidy of $16 million that caused adverse effects to Airbus.

 Certain types of research projects funded under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Manufacturing 

Technology and Dual Use Science and Technology programs were a subsidy to Boeing of 

approximately $112 million that caused adverse effects to Airbus.

On April 1, 2011, the EU filed a notice of appeal on certain findings, and on April 28, 2011, the United 

States filed a notice of other appeal. The Appellate Body held hearings on August 16-19, 2011, and October 

11-14, 2011. On March 12, 2012, the Appellate Body circulated its report with the following findings:

 The Panel erred in its analysis of whether NASA and DoD research funding was a subsidy. 

However, the Appellate Body affirmed the Panel’s subsidy finding with regard to NASA research 

funding and DoD research funding through assistance instruments on other grounds. The Appellate 

Body declared the Panel’s findings with regard to DoD procurement contracts moot, but made no 

further findings.

 The Panel correctly found that NASA and DoD rules regarding the allocation of patent rights were 

not, on their face, specific subsidies. The Appellate Body found that Panel should have addressed 

the EU allegations of de facto specificity, but was unable to complete the Panel’s analysis of this 

issue.

 The Panel correctly found that Washington State tax measures and industrial revenue bonds issued 

by the City of Wichita were subsidies.

 The Panel erred in concluding that the WTO DSB was not obligated to initiate informationgathering procedures requested by the EU, but this error did not require any modification in the 

panel’s ultimate findings.

 The Panel correctly concluded that NASA research funding and DoD funding of research through 

assistance instruments caused adverse effects to Airbus.

 The Panel erred in analyzing the effects of the Wichita industrial revenue bonds separately from 

other tax measures. The Appellate Body grouped the Wichita measure with the other tax benefits.

 The Panel erred in concluding that Washington State tax benefits, in tandem with FSC/ETI tax 

benefits, caused lost sales, lost market share, and price depression of the Airbus A320 and A340 
76 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

product lines. The Appellate Body found that the evidence before it justified a finding of lost sales 

only in two instances, involving 50 A320 airplanes.

On March 23, 2012, the DSB adopted its recommendations and rulings in this dispute. At the following 

DSB meeting, on April 13, 2012, the United States informed the DSB of its intention to implement the 

recommendations and rulings of the DSB in connection with this matter. On September 23, 2012, the 

United States notified the DSB that it has brought the challenged measures into compliance with the 

recommendations and rulings of the DSB. 

On September 25, 2012, the EU requested consultations regarding the U.S. notification. The United States 

and the EU held consultations on October 10, 2012. On October 11, 2012, the EU requested that the DSB 

refer the matter to the original Panel pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU. The DSB did so at a meeting 

held on October 23, 2012. On October 30, 2012, the compliance Panel was composed with the members 

of the original Panel: Mr. Crawford Falconer, Chair; and Mr. Francisco Orrego Vicuña and Mr. Virachai 

Plasai, Members. The compliance Panel held a meeting with the parties on October 29-31, 2013. The 

Panel is expected to issue a report in 2017. 

On September 27, 2012, the EU requested authorization from the DSB to impose countermeasures. On 

October 22, 2012, the United States objected to the level of suspension of concessions requested by the EU, 

and the matter was referred to arbitration pursuant to Article 22.6 of the DSU. On November 27, 2012, the 

United States and the EU each requested that the arbitration be suspended pending the conclusion of the 

compliance proceeding.

United States – Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing, and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products 

(WT/DS381)

On October 24, 2008, Mexico requested consultations regarding U.S. dolphin-safe labeling provisions for 

tuna and tuna products. These provisions prohibit labeling tuna and tuna products as dolphin-safe if the 

tuna was caught by using purse-seine nets intentionally set on dolphins, a technique Mexico uses to catch 

tuna in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. Mexico challenged three U.S. measures: (1) the Dolphin 

Protection Consumer Information Act (19 U.S.C. § 1385); (2) certain dolphin-safe labeling regulations (50 

C.F.R. §§ 216.91-92); and (3) the Ninth Circuit decision in Earth Island v. Hogarth, 494 F.3d. 757 (Ninth 

Cir. 2007). On April 20, 2009, at Mexico’s request, the DSB established a WTO panel to examine these 

measures. Mexico alleged that these measures accord imports of tuna and tuna products from Mexico less 

favorable treatment than like products of national origin and like products originating in other countries and 

fail to immediately and unconditionally accord imports of tuna and tuna products from Mexico any 

advantage, favor, privilege, or immunity granted to like products in other countries. Mexico further alleged 

that the U.S. measures create unnecessary obstacles to trade and are not based on relevant international 

standards. Mexico alleged that the U.S. measures are inconsistent with Articles I and III of the GATT 1994 

and Article 2 of the TBT Agreement.

On December 14, 2009, the Panel was composed by the Director-General to include Mr. Mario Matus, 

Chair, Ms. Elizabeth Chelliah, and Mr. Franz Perrez. The Panel issued its interim report on May 5, 2011, 

and its final report to the parties on July 8, 2011. The final report was circulated to Members and the public 

on September 15, 2011.

The Panel found the U.S. dolphin-safe provisions are technical regulations within the meaning of Annex 

1.1 of the TBT Agreement; not inconsistent with Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because they do not 

afford less favorable treatment to Mexican tuna products; inconsistent with Article 2.2 of the TBT 

Agreement because they are more trade restrictive than necessary to achieve their objectives; and not 

inconsistent with Article 2.4 of the TBT Agreement because the alternative measure put forth by Mexico 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 77

would not be an effective means of achieving the objective of the U.S. measures. The Panel exercised 

judicial economy with respect to the GATT 1994 claims in light of its findings under Article 2.1 of the TBT 

Agreement. 

The United States appealed aspects of the report on January 20, 2012, and Mexico appealed aspects of the 

report on January 25, 2012. The Appellate Body circulated its report on May 16, 2012. In its key findings, 

the Appellate Body rejected the U.S. appeal and upheld the Panel’s finding that the measure at issue is a 

technical regulation; agreed with Mexico’s appeal and overturned the Panel’s finding that the U.S. measure 

is consistent with the national treatment provisions of Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement; agreed with the 

U.S. appeal and overturned the Panel’s finding that the measure at issue is more trade restrictive than 

necessary under Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement; and agreed with the U.S. appeal and overturned the 

Panel’s finding that the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP) is a 

relevant international standard within the meaning of Article 2.4 of the TBT Agreement.

On June 13, 2012, the DSB adopted the Appellate Body report, and the Panel report as modified by the 

Appellate Body report. On September 17, 2012, the United States and Mexico notified the DSB that they 

agreed on a RPT for the United States to implement the recommendations and rulings of the DSB, ending 

on July 13, 2013.

On July 23, 2013, the Unites States announced that it had fully complied with the DSB’s recommendations 

and rulings through a final rule of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that 

came into effect on July 13, 2013. The final rule enhances the documentary requirements for certifying 

that no dolphins were killed or seriously injured in the sets or other gear deployments in which the tuna 

were caught outside the Eastern Tropical Pacific. 

On November 25, 2013, Mexico requested that the DSB establish a compliance panel to determine whether 

the U.S. dolphin-safe labeling provisions, as amended by the new final rule, are consistent with U.S. WTO 

obligations. At its meeting on January, 22 2014, the DSB referred the matter to the original Panel, and on 

January 27, 2014 the Panel was composed with the members of the original Panel. Mexico has claimed 

that the U.S. dolphin-safe labeling provisions are inconsistent with Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement and 

Articles I:1 and III:4 of the GATT 1994. 

The Panel met with the parties on August 19-21, 2014. The Panel issued its report on April 14, 2015. In 

its report, the Panel found that the amended dolphin-safe labeling measure was inconsistent with Article 

2.1 of the TBT Agreement and Articles I:1 and III:4 of the GATT 1994 and, although the measure was 

preliminarily justified under Article XX(g) of the GATT 1994, was not applied consistently with the Article 

XX chapeau. 

The United States appealed aspects of the compliance panel’s report on June 5, 2015, and Mexico appealed 

aspects of the report on June 10, 2015. The Appellate Body circulated its report on November 20, 2015. 

The Appellate Body found that the compliance panel had erred in its analytical approach to the amended 

measure, and it reversed the Panel’s findings as to the measure’s consistency with the covered agreements 

as to the eligibility criteria, the certification requirements, and the tracking and verification requirements. 

The Appellate Body found, however, that because the compliance panel had not made a proper factual 

assessment of the matter, the Appellate Body could not complete the analysis and made no findings as to 

those three regulatory distinctions under either Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement or Article XX of the 

GATT 1194. The Appellate Body also found that analysis of other aspects of the measure did not depend 

on factual findings and that these aspects rendered the measure inconsistent with Article 2.1 of the TBT 

Agreement and Article XX of the GATT 1994.
78 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

On March 10, 2016, Mexico sought authorization to suspend concessions or other obligations under the 

covered agreements. The United States objected to Mexico’s proposed level of suspension of concessions 

or other obligations on March 22, 2016, which referred the matter to arbitration pursuant to Article 22.6 of 

the DSU. The arbitrator held a meeting with the parties on October 25-26, 2016. The proceeding is 

ongoing.

On March 22, 2016, NOAA promulgated an interim final rule amending the U.S. dolphin safe labeling 

measure, and, on April 11, 2016, the United States requested that the DSB establish a compliance panel to 

determine whether the U.S. dolphin-safe labeling provisions, as amended by the new final rule, are 

consistent with U.S. WTO obligations. The DSB referred the matter to the original panel at its meeting on 

May 9, 2016. On May 27, 2016, the compliance panel was composed, including a new chairperson, Mr. 

Stefan Johannesson, due to the unavailability of the original chairperson. On June 9, 2016, Mexico also 

requested the establishment of a compliance panel pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU. At its meeting on 

June 22, 2016, the DSB referred the matter to the same panel as the other compliance proceeding. The 

schedules of the two proceedings have been harmonized, and the United States and Mexico submitted 

written submissions in fall of 2016.

United States – Certain Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Requirements (Canada) (DS384)

On December 1, 2008, Canada requested consultations with the United States regarding U.S. mandatory 

country of origin labeling (COOL) provisions. Canada requested supplemental consultations with the 

United States regarding this matter on May 7, 2009. Canada challenged the COOL provisions of the 

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended by the Farm, Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002

(2002 Farm Bill), and Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), the USDA Interim 

Final Rule on COOL published on August 1, 2008 and on August 28, 2008, respectively, the USDA Final 

Rule on COOL published on January 15, 2009, and a February 20, 2009 letter issued by the Secretary of 

Agriculture. These provisions relate to an obligation to inform consumers at the retail level of the country 

of origin of covered commodities, including beef and pork. 

Canada alleged that the COOL requirements were inconsistent with Articles III:4, IX:2, IX:4, and X:3(a) 

of the GATT 1994, Articles 2.1, 2.2, and 2.4 of the TBT Agreement, or in the alternative, Articles 2, 5, and 

7 of the SPS Agreement, and Articles 2(b), 2(c), 2(e), and 2(j) of the Agreement on Rules of Origin. Canada 

asserted that these violations nullified or impaired the benefits accruing to Canada under those Agreements 

and further appeared to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to Canada within the meaning of GATT 1994 

Article XXIII:1(b). 

Consultations were held on December 16, 2008, and supplemental consultations were held on June 5, 2009. 

On October 7, 2009, Canada requested the establishment of a panel, and on November 19, 2009, the DSB 

established a single panel to examine both this dispute and Mexico’s dispute regarding COOL (see 

WT/DS386). On May 10, 2010, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Christian 

Häberli, Chair; and Mr. Manzoor Ahmad and Mr. Joao Magalhaes, Members. 

The Panel circulated its final report on November 18, 2011. The final report found that the COOL measure 

(the COOL statute and USDA’s Final Rule together), in respect of muscle cut meat labels, breached TBT 

Article 2.1 because it afforded Canadian livestock less favorable treatment than it afforded U.S. livestock. 

With respect to Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement, the Panel found that the objective of the COOL measure 

was to provide consumers with information about the origin of the meat products that they buy at the retail 

level, and that consumer information on origin is a legitimate objective that WTO Members, including the 

United States, are permitted to pursue with their measures. However, the Panel found that the COOL 

measure breached TBT Article 2.2 because it failed to fulfill its legitimate objective of providing consumer 

information on origin with respect to meat products. The Panel also found that the Vilsack Letter breached 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 79

GATT Article X:3 because it did not constitute a reasonable administration of the COOL measure. On 

April 5, 2012, USDA withdrew the Vilsack Letter. 

On March 23, 2012, the United States appealed the Panel’s findings on Article 2.1 and 2.2. On March 28, 

2012, Canada appealed certain aspects of the Panel’s Article 2.2 analysis, the Panel’s failure to make a 

finding on its claim under Articles III:4 of the GATT 1994, and made a conditional appeal on its claim 

under Article XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 1994. The Appellate Body agreed with the United States that the 

Panel’s Article 2.2 analysis was insufficient. Moreover, the Appellate Body found that, due to the absence 

of relevant factual findings by the Panel and the lack of sufficient undisputed facts on the record, the 

Appellate Body was unable to complete the analysis under Article 2.2, and Canada’s claim must fail. With 

regard to Article 2.1, the Appellate Body upheld the Panel’s finding that the COOL measure was 

inconsistent with the national treatment obligation, albeit with different reasoning. The Appellate Body 

first upheld the Panel’s finding that the COOL measure had a disparate impact on Canadian livestock. 

However, the Appellate Body reasoned that the analysis could not end there but that the Panel should have 

analyzed whether the detrimental impact stemmed exclusively from a legitimate regulatory distinction. The 

Appellate Body found that the COOL measure did not as it imposed costs that were disproportionate to the 

information conveyed by the labels. Having upheld the Panel’s Article 2.1 finding, the Appellate body 

found it unnecessary to make findings on Canada’s appeals under Articles III:4 and XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 

1994.

On December 4, 2012, a WTO arbitrator determined that the RPT for the United States to comply with the 

DSB recommendations and rulings was 10 months, ending on May 23, 2013.

On May 24, 2013, the United States announced that it had fully implemented the DSB’s recommendations 

and rulings through a new final rule issued by USDA on May 23, 2013. The final rule modified the labeling 

provisions for muscle cut covered commodities to require the origin designations to include information 

about where each of the production steps (i.e., born, raised, slaughtered) occurred and removes the 

allowance for commingling. 

On September 25, 2013, at the request of Canada, the DSB referred the matter raised by Canada in its panel 

request to a compliance panel to determine whether the COOL program, as amended by the May 23 final 

rule, was consistent with U.S. WTO obligations. Canada made claims under Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the 

TBT Agreement and Articles III:4 and XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 1994.

On October 20, 2014, the compliance Panel circulated its final report. The Panel found that the amended 

COOL measure was inconsistent with Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because it accorded imported 

Canadian livestock treatment less favorable than that accorded to like domestic livestock. In particular, the 

Panel found that this was so because the measure resulted in a detrimental impact on the competitive 

opportunities of Canadian livestock, and this detrimental impact did not stem exclusively from a legitimate 

regulatory distinction. The Panel further found that Canada had not made a prima facie case that the 

amended COOL measure was more trade restrictive than necessary and, therefore, inconsistent with 

Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement. With respect to the GATT 1994 claims, the Panel found that the 

amended COOL measure violated Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 because it had a detrimental impact on 

the competitive opportunities of imported Canadian livestock, and thus accorded “less favourable 

treatment” to imported products. In light of this finding, the Panel exercised judicial economy with regard 

to Canada’s non-violation claim under Article XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 1994. 

On November 28, 2014, the United States filed its notice of appeal, and on December 5, 2014, the United 

States filed its appellant submission. The United States appealed the Panel’s findings on Article 2.1 of the 

TBT Agreement and on Article III:4 of the GATT 1994. The United States also challenged the Panel’s 
80 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

failure to address the availability of the exceptions provided for in Article XX of the GATT 1994. On 

December 12, 2014, Canada appealed other of the Panel’s findings. 

On May 18, 2015, the Appellate Body circulated its report. The Appellate Body upheld the compliance 

Panel’s findings with respect to Article 2.1. of the TBT Agreement. In particular, it maintained the 

compliance Panel’s conclusions with respect to the alleged lack of accuracy of the labels, the burdens 

imposed by “heightened” recordkeeping and verification requirements, and the relevance of exemptions 

from the labeling requirements. The Appellate Body also upheld the compliance Panel’s ultimate 

determination with respect to Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement.

On June 4, 2015, Canada sought authorization to suspend concessions under the covered agreements. On 

June 16, 2015, the United States objected to the level of suspension of concessions or obligations sought 

by Canada, thus referring the matter to arbitration pursuant to Article 22.6 of the DSU. On December 7, 

2015, the decision by the Arbitrator was circulated to Members. In considering the level of nullification or 

impairment of the benefits accruing to Canada, the Arbitrator rejected requests to consider the domestic 

effect of the amended COOL measure on Canadian prices, and instead focused on the trade impact of the 

amended COOL measure. The Arbitrator found that the level of nullification or impairment attributable to 

the amended COOL measure was CAD 1,054,729 million annually. On December 21, 2015, the DSB 

granted authorization to Canada to suspend concessions consistent with the award of the Arbitrator, and 

pursuant to the DSU, the authorization shall be equivalent to the level of nullification or impairment.

On December 18, 2015, the President signed legislation repealing the country of origin labeling requirement 

for beef and pork. This action withdrew the measure at issue, thus bringing the United States into 

compliance with the WTO’s recommendations and rulings.

United States – Certain Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Requirements (Mexico) (DS386)

On December 17, 2008, Mexico requested consultations regarding U.S. mandatory country of origin 

labeling (COOL) provisions. Mexico requested supplemental consultations with the United States 

regarding this matter on May 7, 2009. Mexico challenged the COOL provisions of the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946, as amended by the Farm, Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm 

Bill), and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), the USDA Interim Final Rule 

on COOL published on August 1, 2008 and on August 28, 2008, respectively, the USDA Final Rule on 

COOL published on January 15, 2009, and a February 20, 2009 letter issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. 

These provisions relate to an obligation to inform consumers at the retail level of the country of origin of 

covered commodities, including beef and pork.

Mexico alleged that the COOL requirements are inconsistent with Articles III:4, IX:2, IX:4, and X:3(a) of 

the GATT 1994, Articles 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 12.1, and 12.3 of the TBT Agreement, or in the alternative, Articles 

2, 5, and 7 of the SPS Agreement, and Articles 2(b), 2(c), and 2(e), of the Agreement on Rules of Origin. 

Mexico asserted that these violations nullify or impair the benefits accruing to Mexico under those 

Agreements and further appeared to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to Mexico within the meaning 

of GATT 1994 Article XXIII:1(b). 

Consultations were held on February 27, 2009, and supplemental consultations were held on June 5, 2009. 

On October 9, 2009, Mexico requested the establishment of a panel in this dispute, and November 19, 2009, 

the DSB established a single panel to examine both this dispute and Canada’s dispute regarding COOL (see 

WT/DS384). On May 10, 2010, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Christian 

Häberli, Chair; and Mr. Manzoor Ahmad and Mr. Joao Magalhaes, Members. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 81

The Panel circulated its final report on November 18, 2011. The final report found that the COOL measure 

(the COOL statute and USDA’s Final Rule together), in respect of muscle cut meat labels, breached TBT 

Article 2.1 because it afforded Mexican livestock less favorable treatment than it afforded U.S. livestock. 

Under TBT Article 2.2, the Panel found that the objective of the COOL measure was to provide consumers 

with information about the origin of the meat products that they buy at the retail level, and that consumer 

information on origin is a legitimate objective that WTO Members, including the United States, are 

permitted to pursue with their measures. However, the Panel found that the COOL measure breached TBT 

Article 2.2 because it failed to fulfill its legitimate objective of providing consumer information on origin 

with respect to meat products. 

The Panel rejected Mexico’s claim under TBT Article 2.4 that the United States was required to base origin 

under the COOL measure on the principle of substantial transformation, concluding that using this principle 

would be an ineffective and inappropriate means to fulfill the legitimate U.S. objective of providing 

consumers with information about the origin of the meat products they buy. The Panel also rejected 

Mexico’s claims under TBT Articles 12.1 and 12.3, concluding that the United States did not fail to take 

account of Mexico’s needs as a developing country Member. 

Finally, the Panel found that the Vilsack Letter breached GATT Article X:3 because it did not constitute a 

reasonable administration of the COOL measure. On April 5, 2012, USDA withdrew the Vilsack Letter. 

On March 23, 2012, the United States appealed the Panel’s findings on Article 2.1 and 2.2. On March 28, 

2012, Mexico appealed certain aspects of the Panel’s Article 2.2 analysis, and made a conditional appeal 

on its claims under Articles III:4 and XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 1994. The Appellate Body agreed with the 

United States that the Panel’s Article 2.2 analysis was insufficient. Moreover, the Appellate Body found 

that, due to the absence of relevant factual findings by the Panel and the lack of sufficient undisputed facts 

on the record, the Appellate Body was unable to complete the analysis under Article 2.2, and Canada’s 

claim must fail. With regard to Article 2.1, the Appellate Body upheld the Panel’s finding that the COOL 

measure was inconsistent with the national treatment obligation, albeit with different reasoning. The 

Appellate Body first upheld the Panel’s finding that the COOL measure has a disparate impact on Mexican 

livestock. However, the Appellate Body reasoned that the analysis could not end there but that the Panel 

should have analyzed whether the detrimental impact stemmed exclusively from a legitimate regulatory 

distinction. The Appellate Body found that the COOL measure did not as it imposed costs that are 

disproportionate to the information conveyed by the labels. Having upheld the Panel’s Article 2.1 finding, 

the Appellate body found it unnecessary to make findings on Mexico’s appeals under Articles III:4 and 

XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 1994.

On December 4, 2012, a WTO arbitrator determined that the RPT for the United States to comply with the 

DSB recommendations and rulings was 10 months, ending on May 23, 2013.

On May 24, 2013, the United States announced that it had fully implemented the DSB’s recommendations 

and rulings through a new final rule issued by USDA on May 23, 2013. The final rule modifies the labeling 

provisions for muscle cut covered commodities to require the origin designations to include information 

about where each of the production steps (i.e., born, raised, slaughtered) occurred and removes the 

allowance for commingling.

On September 25, 2013, at the request of Mexico, the DSB referred the matter raised by Mexico in its panel 

request to a compliance Panel to determine whether the COOL program, as amended by the May 23 final 

rule, was consistent with U.S. WTO obligations. Mexico made claims under Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the 

TBT Agreement and Articles III:4 and XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 1994.
82 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

On October 20, 2014, the compliance Panel circulated its final report. The Panel found that the amended 

COOL measure was inconsistent with Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because it accorded imported 

Mexican livestock treatment less favorable than that accorded to like domestic livestock. In particular, the 

Panel found that this was so because the measure resulted in a detrimental impact on the competitive 

opportunities of Mexican livestock, and this detrimental impact did not stem exclusively from a legitimate 

regulatory distinction. The Panel further found that Mexico had not made a prima facie case that the 

amended COOL measure was more trade restrictive than necessary and, therefore, inconsistent with 

Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement. With respect to the GATT 1994 claims, the Panel found that the 

amended COOL measure violated Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 because it had a detrimental impact on 

the competitive opportunities of imported Mexican livestock, and thus accorded “less favourable treatment” 

to domestic products. In light of this finding, the Panel exercised judicial economy with regard to Mexico’s 

non-violation claim under Article XXIII:1(b) of the GATT 1994. 

On November 28, 2014, the United States filed its notice of appeal, and on December 5, 2014, the United 

States filed its appellant submission. The United States appealed the Panels’ findings on Article 2.1 of the 

TBT Agreement and on Article III:4 of the GATT 1994. The United States also challenged the Panel’s 

failure to address the availability of the exceptions provided for in Article XX of the GATT 1994. On 

December 12, 2014, Mexico appealed other of the Panel’s findings. 

On May 18, 2015, the Appellate Body released its report. The Appellate Body upheld the compliance 

Panel’s findings with respect to Article 2.1. of the TBT Agreement. In particular, it maintained the 

compliance Panel’s conclusions with respect to the accuracy of the labels, the burdens imposed by 

recordkeeping and verification requirements, and the impact of exemptions. The Appellate Body also 

upheld the compliance Panel’s ultimate determination with respect to Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement. 

However, in the context of Article 2.2., the Appellate Body found that the compliance Panel should have 

completed its analysis regarding the “gravity of the consequences of non-fulfilment,” noting that difficulties 

and imprecision that arise in this analysis do not excuse the Panel from reaching an overall conclusions. 

On June 4, 2015, Mexico sought authorization to suspend certain concessions and other obligations under 

the covered agreements. On June 12, 2015, Mexico revised the amount of suspension of concessions 

sought. Mexico removed this item from the agenda of the DSB meeting on June 17, 2015, and submitted 

a revised request for authorization from the DSB. On June 22, 2015, the United States objected to the level 

of suspension of concessions or obligations sought by Mexico, thus referring the matter to arbitration 

pursuant to Article 22.6 of the DSU. On December 7, 2015, the decision by the Arbitrator was circulated 

to Members. In considering the level of nullification or impairment of the benefits accruing to Mexico, the 

Arbitrator rejected requests to consider the domestic effect of the amended COOL measure on Mexican 

prices, and instead focused on the trade impact of the amended COOL measure. The Arbitrator found that 

the level of nullification or impairment attributable to the amended COOL measure was $227,758 million 

annually. On December 21, 2015, the DSB granted authorization to Mexico to suspend concessions 

consistent with the award of the Arbitrator, and pursuant to the DSU, the authorization shall be equivalent 

to the level of nullification or impairment.

On December 18, 2015, the President signed legislation repealing the country of origin labeling requirement 

for beef and pork. This action withdrew the measure at issue, thus bringing the United States into 

compliance with the WTO’s recommendations and rulings.

United States – Anti-dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Vietnam (DS404)

On February 1, 2010, the United States received from Vietnam a request for consultations pertaining to 

antidumping duties imposed by the United States pursuant to the final results issued by Commerce in 

several administrative reviews of the antidumping duty order on imports of certain frozen and canned warm 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 83

water shrimp from Vietnam. Vietnam claimed that certain actions by Commerce and U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection with respect to several administrative reviews and with respect to any ongoing or future 

administrative review or sunset review concerning this antidumping duty order, as well as various U.S. 

laws, regulations, administrative procedures, practices, and policies, both as such and as applied, are 

inconsistent with U.S. commitments and obligations under Articles I, II, VI:1, and VI:2 of the GATT 1994; 

Articles 1, 2.1, 2.4, 2.4.2, 6.8, 6.10, 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, 11.2, 11.3, 18.1, and 18.4 and Annex II of the Antidumping 

Agreement; Article XVI:4 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization; and 

Vietnam’s Protocol of Accession. 

The United States and Vietnam held consultations on March 23, 2010. On April 19, 2010, Vietnam 

requested that the DSB establish a panel. The DSB did so at its meeting on May 18, 2010. On July 26, 

2010, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. Mohammad Saeed, Chair; and Ms. Deborah 

Milstein and Mr. Iain Sanford, Members. 

The Panel circulated its report on July 11, 2011. The Panel found that the use of “zeroing” in the second 

and third administrative reviews of the shrimp antidumping order was inconsistent with Article 2.4 of the 

Antidumping Agreement, and the use of “zeroing” in administrative reviews is inconsistent “as such” with 

Article 9.3 of the Antidumping Agreement and Article VI:2 of the GATT 1994. The Panel also found that 

the use of antidumping margins determined using “zeroing” to calculate the “all others” rate in the second 

and third administrative reviews was inconsistent with Article 9.4 of the Antidumping Agreement. The 

Panel found that the application to the Vietnam-wide entity of an antidumping margin different from the

“all others” rate was also inconsistent with Article 9.4 of the Antidumping Agreement. The Panel rejected 

Vietnam’s claim that Commerce’s determination to limit the number of individually examined respondents 

was inconsistent with various provisions of the Antidumping Agreement, and the Panel rejected Vietnam’s 

claims relating to “continued use,” finding those claims to be outside the Panel’s terms of reference. 

On September 2, 2011, the DSB adopted its recommendations and rulings as set out in the Panel’s report. 

The United States and Vietnam agreed that the RPT for the United States to implement the 

recommendations and rulings of the DSB would end on July 2, 2012.

On July 18, 2016, the United States and Vietnam signed an agreement that resolved this matter as well as 

in United States — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Vietnam 

(WT/DS429). On July 18, 2016, the United States and Vietnam also notified the DSB, in accordance with 

Article 3.6 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, that the 

parties have reached a mutually agreed solution in this dispute.

United States — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Vietnam (DS429)

On February 21, 2012, the United States received from Vietnam a request for consultations pertaining to 

antidumping duties imposed by the United States pursuant to the final results issued by Commerce in a 

number of administrative reviews and the sunset review of the antidumping duty order on imports of certain 

frozen and canned warm water shrimp from Vietnam. Vietnam claimed that certain actions by Commerce 

with respect to the administrative reviews identified, and with respect to any ongoing or future 

administrative review, as well as the sunset review concerning this antidumping duty order, as well as 

various U.S. laws, regulations, administrative procedures, practices, and policies, both as such and as 

applied, are inconsistent with U.S. commitments and obligations under Articles 1:1, VI: 1, VI:2, and X:3(a) 

of the GATT 1994; Articles 1, 2.1, 2.4, 2.4.2, 6, 9, 11, 17.6(i), and Annex II of the Antidumping Agreement; 

Article XVI:4 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization; Articles 3.7, 19.1, 

21.1, 21.3, and 21.5 of the DSU; and Vietnam’s Protocol of Accession. Specifically, Vietnam complained 

that Commerce used “zeroing” in the administrative reviews of the antidumping duty order on imports of 

shrimp, Commerce failed to provide most Vietnamese respondents seeking a review an opportunity to 
84 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

demonstrate the absence of dumping by being permitted to participate in a review, the treatment of the 

Vietnam-wide entity as a “single entity” and the application of adverse facts available to the entity, the use 

of dumping margins determined using a “zeroing” methodology in the final determination of the sunset 

review, and the use of WTO-inconsistent antidumping duty assessment rates applied to unliquidated entries 

that are assessed following a section 129 determination that implements an adverse DSB ruling.

The United States and Vietnam held consultations on March 28, 2012. On December 17, 2012, Vietnam 

requested the establishment of a panel. Vietnam filed a revised panel request on January 17, 2013. The 

DSB established a panel on February 27, 2013 and the Parties agreed to the composition of the panel on 

July 12, 2013, as follows: Mr. Simon Farbenbloom, Chair; and Mr. Adrian Makuc and Mr. Abd El Rahman 

Ezz El Din Fawzy, Members.

The Panel met with the parties on December 10-11, 2013 and March 25-26, 2014.

The Panel circulated its report on November 17, 2014. The Panel rejected Vietnam’s claim that the use of 

“zeroing” in administrative reviews was inconsistent “as such” with Article 9.3 of the Antidumping 

Agreement and Article VI: of the GATT 1994, but found that the use of “zeroing” was inconsistent with 

these provision “as applied” in three of the administrative reviews at issue. The Panel found that 

Commerce’s presumption that all producers and exporters in Vietnam belonged to a single, non-market 

(NME) entity was inconsistent “as such” and “as applied” in the administrative reviews at issue with 

Articles 6.10 and 9.2 of the Antidumping Agreement. The Panel rejected Vietnam’s claim that the manner 

in which Commerce determined the NME-wide entity rate, in particular concerning the use of facts 

available, was inconsistent “as such” with Articles 6.8 and 9.4 and Annex II of the Antidumping Agreement; 

but found that the United States acted inconsistently with Article 9.4 of the Antidumping Agreement in 

assigning the NME-wide entity a duty rate exceeding the ceiling applicable under that provision in the 

administrative reviews at issue. The Panel also rejected Vietnam’s claim that section 129(c)(1) was 

inconsistent with Articles 1, 9.2, 9.3, 11.1, and 18.1 of the Antidumping Agreement. Finally, the Panel 

found that Commerce’s reliance on WTO-inconsistent margins of dumping in its likelihood-of-dumping 

determination in the first sunset review was inconsistent with Article 11.3 of the Antidumping Agreement; 

and that Commerce’s reliance on WTO-inconsistent margins of dumping in its treatment of requests for 

revocation made by certain Vietnamese producers/exporters in two of the administrative reviews at issue 

was inconsistent with Article 11.2 of the Antidumping Agreement.

On January 6, 2015, of its Vietnam appealed the Panel’s finding that Vietnam had failed to establish that 

Section 129(c)(1) is inconsistent “as such” with Articles 1, 9.2, 9.3, 11.1, and 18.1 of the Antidumping 

Agreement. On January 26, 2015, the United States filed an appellee’s submission in opposition to 

Vietnam’s appeal. The oral hearing in the appeal was held on March 2, 2015. 

On April 7, 2015, the Appellate Body issued its report. The Appellate Body upheld the Panel’s finding that 

Vietnam had not established that section 129(c)(1) is inconsistent “as such” with Articles 1, 9.2, 9.3, 11.1, 

and 18.1 of the Antidumping Agreement.

On April 22, 2015, the DSB adopted its recommendations and rulings in the dispute. On May 20, the 

United States stated its intention to comply with the DSB’s findings in a manner that respects its WTO 

obligations and that it would need a RPT to do so.

On September 17, 2015, Vietnam requested that the RPT be determined through arbitration pursuant to 

Article 21.3(c) of the DSU. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 85

By joint letter dated October 7, 2015, Vietnam and the United States agreed on Mr. Simon Farbenbloom as 

the Arbitrator. On December 15, 2015, the Arbitrator issued his award, deciding that the RPT would be 15 

months, ending on July 22, 2016.

On July 18, 2016, the United States and Vietnam signed an agreement that resolved this matter as well as 

in United States – Anti-dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Vietnam (WT/DS404). On July 18, 

2016, the United States and Vietnam also notified the DSB, in accordance with Article 3.6 of the 

Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, that the parties have reached 

a mutually agreed solution in this dispute.

United States — Countervailing Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India 

(DS436)

On April 24, 2012, India requested consultations concerning countervailing measures on certain hot-rolled 

carbon steel flat products from India. India challenged the Tariff Act of 1930, in particular sections 

771(7)(G) regarding accumulation of imports for purposes of an injury determination and 776(b) regarding 

the use of “facts available.” India also challenged Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations, sections 

351.308 regarding “facts available” and 351.511(a)(2)(i)-(iv), which relates to Commerce’s calculation of 

benchmarks. In addition, India challenged the application of these and other measures in Commerce’s 

countervailing duty determinations and the USITC’s injury determination. Specifically, India argued that 

these determinations were inconsistent with Articles I and IV of the GATT 1994 and Articles 1, 2, 10, 11, 

12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, and 32 of the SCM Agreement. The DSB established a panel to examine the 

matter on August 31, 2012. The panel was composed by the Director General on February 18, 2013, as 

follows: Mr. Hugh McPhail, Chair; Mr. Anthony Abad and Mr. Hanspeter Tschaeni, Members.

The Panel met with the parties on July 9-10, 2013, and on October 8-9, 2013. The Panel circulated its 

report on July 14, 2014. The Panel rejected India’s claims against the U.S. statutes and regulations 

concerning facts available and benchmarks under Articles 12.7 and 14(d) of the SCM Agreement, 

respectively, but found that the U.S. statute governing accumulation was inconsistent with Article 15 of the 

SCM Agreement because it required the accumulation of both dumped and subsidized imports in the context 

of countervailing investigations. Consequently, the Panel also found that the ITC’s injury determination 

breached U.S. obligations under Article 15. 

The Panel rejected India’s challenges under Article 1.1(a)(1) of the SCM Agreement to Commerce’s 

“public body” findings in two instances, as well as most of India’s claims with respect to Commerce’s 

application of facts available under Article 12.7 in the determination at issue. The Panel also rejected most 

of India’s claims against Commerce’s specificity determinations under Article 2.1, and its calculation of 

certain benchmarks used in the proceedings under Article 14(d). The Panel found that Commerce’s 

determination that certain low-interest loans constituted “direct transfers” of funds was consistent with 

Article 1.1(a)(1), but that Commerce’s determination that a captive mining program constituted a financial 

contribution was not consistent with Article 1.1(a). Finally, the Panel found that Commerce did not act 

inconsistently with Articles 11, 13, 21 and 22 of the SCM Agreement when it analyzed new subsidy 

allegations in the context of review proceedings.

On August 8, 2014, India appealed the Panel’s findings; on August 13, 2014, the United States also appealed 

certain of the Panel’s findings. The Appellate Body released its report on December 8, 2014.

The Appellate Body upheld the Panel’s findings regarding the U.S. benchmarks regulation, but found that 

certain instances of Commerce’s application of these regulations were inconsistent with Article 14(d). The 

Appellate Body also upheld the Panel’s findings regarding accumulation, finding that the application of the 

U.S. statute in the injury determination at issue was inconsistent with Article 15 of the SCM Agreement, 
86 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

and that the U.S. statute was inconsistent with that provision, although on different grounds than those 

found by the Panel. The Appellate Body rejected India’s interpretation of “public body” under 

Article 1.1(a)(1), but reversed the Panel’s finding that Commerce acted consistently in making the public 

body determination at issue on appeal. Regarding specificity, the Appellate Body rejected each of India’s 

appeals under Article 2.1(c), as it did with respect to India’s challenge to the Panel’s finding under Article 

1.1(a)(1)(i) relating to “direct transfers of funds.” The Appellate Body also reversed the Panel’s finding 

that Commerce had acted inconsistently with Article 1.1(a)(1)(iii) in finding that captive mining program 

constituted a provision of goods. Finally, the Appellate Body upheld the Panel’s rejection of India’s claims 

under Articles 11, 13 and 21 regarding new subsidy allegations. The Appellate Body reversed the Panel’s 

findings under Article 22 of the SCM Agreement, but was unable to complete the analysis. The DSB 

adopted the Appellate Body report and the Panel report, as modified by the Appellate Body report, on 

December 19, 2014. 

At the DSB meeting held on January 16, 2015, the United States notified the DSB of its intention to comply 

with the recommendations and rulings and indicated it would need a RPT to do so. On March 24, 2015, 

the United States and India informed the DSB that they had agreed on a RPT of 15 months, ending on 

March 19, 2016. At the United States’ request, India then agreed to a 30 day extension to April 18, 2016.

On March 7, 2016, USITC issued a Section 129 determination in the hot-rolled steel from India 

countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding to comply with the findings of the Appellate Body. On March 18, 

2016, DOC issued its preliminary determination memos in the Section 129 proceedings, and on April 14, 

2016, DOC issued its final Section 129 determinations. On April 22, 2016, the United States informed the 

DSB that it had complied with the recommendations and rulings in this dispute.

United States — Countervailing Duty Measures on Certain Products from China (DS437)

On May 25, 2012, China requested consultations regarding numerous U.S. countervailing duty 

determinations in which the U.S. Department of Commerce had determined that various Chinese stateowned enterprises were “public bodies” under Article 1.1(a)(1) of the SCM Agreement, with a view towards 

extending the Appellate Body’s analysis in DS379 to those determinations. China challenged various other 

aspects of these investigations as well, including but not limited to Commerce’s calculation of benchmarks, 

initiation standard, determination of specificity of the subsidies, use of facts available, and finding that 

export restraints were a countervailable subsidy. 

Consultations were held in July 2012, and a panel was established in September 2012. The Panel was 

composed by the Director-General on November 26, 2012, as follows: Mr. Mario Matus, Chair; Mr. Scott 

Gallacher and Mr. Hugo Perezcano Díaz, Members. The Panel met with the parties on April 30-May 1, 

2013, and on June 18-19, 2013. The panel circulated its report on July 14, 2014. The Panel found that 

Commerce’s determinations in 12 investigations that certain state-owned enterprises were “public bodies” 

were inconsistent with Article 1.1(a)(1) of the SCM Agreement, based on the Appellate Body’s analysis in 

DS379. However, the Panel found in favor of the United States with respect to China’s claims regarding 

Commerce’s calculation of benchmarks, initiation of investigations, and use of facts available, and the Panel 

upheld most of Commerce’s specificity determinations. The Panel also found that China established that 

Commerce acted inconsistently with Article 11.3 of the SCM Agreement by initiating countervailing duty 

investigations of export restraints.

On August 22, 2014, China appealed the Panel’s findings regarding Commerce’s calculation of 

benchmarks, specificity determinations, and use of facts available. On August 27, 2014, the United States 

appealed the Panel’s finding that a section of China’s panel request setting forth claims related to 

Commerce’s use of facts available was within the panel’s terms of reference. The Appellate Body held a 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 87

hearing in Geneva on October 16-17, 2014, with Ujal Singh Battia and Seung Wha Chang as Members, and 

Peter Van den Bossche as Chairman. 

On December 18, 2014, the Appellate Body circulated its report. On benchmarks, the Appellate Body 

reversed the Panel and found that Commerce’s determination to use out-of-country benchmarks in four 

countervailing duty investigations was inconsistent with Articles 1.1(b) and 14(d) of the SCM 

Agreement. On specificity, the Appellate Body rejected one of China’s claims with respect to the order of 

analysis in de facto specificity determinations. However, the Appellate Body reversed the Panel’s findings 

that Commerce did not act inconsistently with Article 2.1 when it failed to identify the “jurisdiction of the 

granting authority” and “subsidy programme” before finding the subsidy specific. On facts available, the 

Appellate Body accepted China’s claim that the Panel’s findings regarding facts available were inconsistent 

with Article 11 of the DSU, and reversed the Panel’s finding that Commerce’s application of facts available 

was not inconsistent with Article 12.7 of the SCM Agreement. Lastly, the Appellate Body rejected the U.S. 

appeal of the Panel’s finding that China’s panel request failed to meet the requirement of Article 6.2 of the 

DSU to present an adequate summary of the legal basis of its claim sufficient to present the problem clearly.

The DSB adopted the Appellate Body report and the Panel report, as modified by the Appellate Body report, 

on January 16, 2015. In a letter dated February 13, 2015, the United States notified the DSB of its intention 

to comply with its WTO obligations and indicated it would need a RPT to do so.

On June 26, 2015, China requested that the RPT be determined through arbitration pursuant to Article 

21.3(c) of the DSU. On July 17, 2015, the Director General appointed Mr. Georges M. Abi-Saab as the 

arbitrator. On October 9, 2015, the arbitrator issued his award, deciding that the RPT would be 14 months 

and 16 days, ending on April 1, 2016.

Commerce subsequently issued redeterminations in 15 separate countervailing duty investigations and with 

respect to one “as such” finding of the DSB. Commerce implemented these determinations on April 1, 

2016, and May 26, 2016. On June 22, 2016, the United States notified the DSB that it had brought the 

challenged measures into compliance with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB. 

On May 13, 2016, China requested consultations regarding the U.S. implementation. The United States 

and China held consultations on May 27, 2016. On July 8, 2016, China requested that the DSB refer the 

matter to the original Panel pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU. The DSB did so at a meeting held on July 

21, 2016. On October 5, 2016, the compliance Panel was composed with one member of the original Panel: 

Mr. Hugo Perezcano Diaz, Chair; and with two additional panelists selected to replace unavailable members 

of the original panel: Mr. Luis Catibayan and Mr. Thinus Jacobsz, Members. The compliance Panel is 

tentatively scheduled to hold a meeting with the parties in May 2017. The Panel is expected to issue a 

report in 2017.

United States — Measures Affecting the Importation of Animals, Meat and Other Animal Products from 

Argentina (DS447)

On August 30, 2012, Argentina requested consultations regarding inaction by the United States to authorize 

importation of fresh bovine meat from Argentina. U.S. law prohibits the importation of fresh meat from 

countries, pending a determination by the USDA as to whether, and under what import conditions, if any, 

such products can be safely imported without introducing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) into the United 

States. At issue in this matter were the status of three applications by Argentina to the USDA to revise its 

prohibition and permit the importation of fresh bovine meat. Specifically, Argentina contended that U.S. 

measures are inconsistent with Articles 1.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 6.1, 6.2, 8, and 10.1 of the 

SPS Agreement; and Articles I:1 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994. 
88 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Consultations were held on October 18 and 19, 2012. Argentina requested the establishment of a panel on 

December 6, 2012, and the DSB established a panel on January 28, 2013. On August 8, 2013, the Director 

General composed the Panel as follows: Mr. Eirik Glenne, Chair; and Mr. Jaime Coghi and Mr. David 

Evans, Members. The Panel met with the parties on January 28 and 29, 2014, and September 2, 4-5, 2014.

The final report was issued on July 24, 2015. The Panel’s report concluded that the U.S. measures were 

inconsistent with U.S. obligations under the SPS Agreement and the GATT 1994. 

Prior to the issuance of the panel report, USDA issued two administrative documents (in August 2014 and 

July 2015) that lift the FMD ban on Argentina, and permit the importation of fresh bovine meat under 

certain conditions. In light of the regulatory actions taken by USDA prior to the conclusion of the panel 

proceeding, the United States notified the DSB at its meeting held on August 31, 2015, that the United 

States had addressed the matters raised in this dispute. 

United States — Measures Affecting the Importation of Fresh Lemons (DS448)

On September 3, 2012, Argentina requested consultations regarding the U.S. failure thus far to grant import 

authorization for fresh lemons from Northwest Argentina. Consultations were held on October 17-18, 

2012, in Geneva, Switzerland. Argentina submitted its request for establishment of a dispute settlement 

panel on December 6, 2012.

United States — Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Products from China (DS449)

On September 17, 2012, the United States received a request for consultations from China regarding Public 

Law 112-99 (P.L. 112-99) and determinations and actions made by Commerce, the USITC, and U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection in connection with 31 joint antidumping and countervailing duty 

proceedings. China alleged in its consultation request that the retroactive nature of Section 1 of P.L. 112-

99 and the difference in effective dates between Sections 1 and 2 of P.L. 112-99 were violations of GATT 

Article X. China further alleged that dozens of antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings initiated 

between November 20, 2006 and March 13, 2012 violated the United States’ WTO obligations because the 

United States had no basis under domestic law to identify and avoid “double remedies” and U.S. authorities 

failed to “investigate and avoid double remedies.”

China and the United States held consultations on November 5, 2012. On November 30, China requested 

the establishment of a panel. China and the United States held consultations on November 5, 2012. On 

November 30, China requested the establishment of a panel, and on December 17, 2012 a panel was 

established. On March 4, 2013, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. José Graça Lima, 

Chair; and Mr. Donald Greenfield and Mr. Arie Reich, Members. The panel met with the parties on July 

2-3, 2013, and August 27-28, 2013.

On March 27, 2014, the panel issued a report that rejected all of China’s claims concerning the WTOconsistency of P.L. 112-99. However, the panel found that U.S. authorities failed to “investigate and avoid 

double remedies.” Therefore, the panel found that 25 countervailing duty proceedings involving imports 

from China initiated between November 20, 2006, and March 13, 2012 were inconsistent with U.S. WTO 

obligations.

On April 8, 2014, China appealed the panel’s interpretation of Article X:2 of the GATT 1994. On April 

17, 2014, the United States filed its own appeal, challenging the sufficiency of China’s panel request under 

Article 6.2 of the DSU, and requesting reversal of the panel’s findings relating to the 25 countervailing duty 

proceedings involving imports from China.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 89

On July 7, 2014, the Appellate Body issued its report. The Appellate Body found that the panel erred in its 

legal interpretation of Article X:2 of the GATT, and reversed the Panel’s findings with respect to P.L. 112-

99. The Appellate Body was unable to complete the analysis to determine the consistency of P.L. 112-99 

with Article X:2 due to the lack of undisputed facts on the record. The Appellate Body found that China’s 

panel request complied with Article 6.2 of the DSU.

On July 22, 2014, the DSB adopted its recommendations and rulings in the dispute. On August 21, 2014, 

the United States stated its intention to comply with the DSB recommendations and rulings, and that it 

would need a RPT to do so. The United States and China initially agreed to a RPT of 12 months. The 

United States and China subsequently agreed to extend the RPT, so as to expire on August 5, 2015. At the 

DSB meeting on August 31, 2015, the United States notified the DSB that it had implemented the 

recommendations and rulings of the DSB in the dispute.

United States – Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Large Residential Washers from Korea 

(DS464)

On August 29, 2013, the United States received from Korea a request for consultations pertaining to 

antidumping and countervailing duty measures imposed by the United States pursuant to final 

determinations issued by Commerce following antidumping and countervailing duty investigations 

regarding large residential washers (washers) from Korea. Korea claimed that Commerce’s determinations, 

as well as certain methodologies used by Commerce, were inconsistent with U.S. commitments and 

obligations under Articles 1, 2, 2.1, 2.4, 2.4.2, 5.8, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 11, and 18.4 of the AD Agreement, Articles 

1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 10, 14, and 19.4 of the SCM Agreement; Articles VI, VI:1, VI:2, and VI:3 of the GATT 

1994; and Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement. Specifically, Korea challenged Commerce’s alleged use 

of “zeroing” and application of the second sentence of Article 2.4.2 of the AD Agreement, as applied in the 

washers antidumping investigation and “as such.” Korea also challenged Commerce’s determinations in 

the washers countervailing duty investigation that Article 10(1)(3) of Korea’s Restriction of Special 

Taxation Act (RSTA) is a subsidy that is specific within the meaning of Article 2.1 of the SCM Agreement, 

Commerce’s determination of the amount of subsidy benefit received by a respondent under Article 

10(1)(3) of the RSTA, Commerce’s determination that Article 26 of the RSTA is a regionally specific 

subsidy, and Commerce’s imposition of countervailing duties on one respondent that were attributable to 

tax credits that the respondent received for investments that it made under Article 26 of the RSTA.

The United States and Korea held consultations on October 3, 2013. On December 5, 2013, Korea 

requested that the DSB establish a panel. On January 22, 2014, a panel was established. On June 20, 2014, 

the Director General composed the panel as follows: Ms. Claudia Orozco, Chair; and Mr. Mazhar Bangash 

and Mr. Hanspeter Tschaeni, Members. The panel held meetings with the parties on March 10-11, 2015, 

and on May 20-21, 2015.

The panel circulated its report on March 11, 2016. The panel found that aspects of Commerce’s 

antidumping determination were inconsistent with the second sentence of Article 2.4.2 of the AD 

Agreement, including the determination to apply an alternative, average-to-transaction comparison 

methodology and the application of that methodology to all transactions rather than just to so-called pattern 

transactions. The panel rejected other claims asserted by Korea, including Korea’s argument that 

Commerce acted inconsistently with Article 2.4.2 by determining the existence of a pattern exclusively on 

the basis of quantitative criteria.

The panel found that aspects of Commerce’s differential pricing methodology are inconsistent “as such” 

with the second sentence of Article 2.4.2 of the AD Agreement. The panel also found that the United 

States’ use of zeroing when applying the average-to-transaction comparison methodology is inconsistent 
90 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

with the second sentence of Article 2.4.2 and Article 2.4, both “as such” and as applied in the washers 

antidumping investigation. 

In addition, the panel made several findings on the CVD issues raised by Korea. The Panel found that 

Commerce’s disproportionality analysis, in its original and remand determinations, was inconsistent with 

Article 2.1(c) of the SCM Agreement. But the panel rejected Korea’s remaining claims – i.e., its claim that 

Commerce’s regional specificity determination was inconsistent with Article 2.2 of the SCM Agreement, 

and its claims concerning the proper quantification of subsidy ratios. 

On April 19, 2016, the United States appealed certain of the panel’s findings. Korea filed another appeal 

on April 25, 2016. The oral hearing in the appeal was held on June 20-21, 2016, in Geneva. 

On September 7, 2016, the Appellate Body circulated its report. The Appellate Body upheld several of the 

panel’s findings under the AD Agreement, including the panel’s finding that the average-to-transaction 

comparison methodology should be applied only to so-called pattern transactions, the panel’s finding that 

the use of zeroing is inconsistent with the second sentence of Article 2.4.2 and Article 2.4, both “as such” 

and as applied, and the panel’s finding that the differential pricing methodology is inconsistent “as such” 

with the second sentence of Article 2.4.2 of the AD Agreement. The Appellate Body reversed other findings 

made by the panel. For instance, the Appellate Body found that an investigating authority must assess the 

price differences at issue on both a quantitative and qualitative basis, and the Appellate Body mooted the 

panel’s finding concerning systemic disregarding, finding instead that the combined application of 

comparison methodologies is impermissible. With respect to the CVD issues, the Appellate Body upheld 

the panel’s rejection of Korea’s regional specificity claim, but found that certain aspects of Commerce’s 

calculation of subsidy rates were inconsistent with Article 19.4 of the SCM Agreement and Article VI:3 of 

the GATT 1994. 

On September 26, 2016, the DSB adopted the panel and Appellate Body reports. On October 26, 2016, the 

United States stated that it intends to implement the recommendations of the DSB in this dispute in a manner 

that respects U.S. WTO obligations, and that it will need a reasonable period of time in which to do so.

United States – Certain Methodologies and their Application to Anti-Dumping Proceedings Involving 

China (DS471)

On December 3, 2013, the United States received from China a request for consultations pertaining to 

antidumping measures imposed by the United States pursuant to final determinations issued by Commerce 

following antidumping investigations regarding a number of products from China, including certain coated 

paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses, certain oil country tubular goods, high 

pressure steel cylinders, polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip; aluminum extrusions; certain 

frozen and canned warm water shrimp; certain new pneumatic off–the-road tires; crystalline silicon 

photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules; diamond sawblades and parts thereof; 

multilayered wood flooring; narrow woven ribbons with woven selvedge; polyethylene retail carrier bags; 

and wooden bedroom furniture. China claimed that Commerce’s determinations, as well as certain 

methodologies used by Commerce, are inconsistent with U.S. obligations under Articles 2.4.2, 6.1, 6.8, 

6.10, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, and Annex II of the AD Agreement; and Article VI:2 of the GATT 1994. Specifically, 

China challenges Commerce’s application in certain investigations and administrative reviews of a 

“targeted dumping methodology,” “zeroing” in connection with such methodology, a “single rate 

presumption for non-market economies,” and a “NME-wide methodology” including certain “features”. 

China also challenges a “single rate presumption” and the use of “adverse facts available” “as such.”

The United States and China held consultations on January 23, 2014. On February 13, 2014, China 

requested that the DSB establish a panel, and a panel was established on March 26, 2014. On August 28, 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 91

2014, the Director General composed the panel as follows: Mr. José Pérez Gabilondo, Chair; and Ms. 

Beatriz Leycegui Gardoqui and Ms. Enie Neri de Ross, Members. The panel held meetings with the parties 

on July 14-16, 2015, and on November 17-19, 2015. 

The panel circulated its report on October 19, 2016. The panel found that a number of aspects of the 

“targeted dumping methodology” applied by Commerce in three challenged investigations were not 

inconsistent with the requirements of the AD Agreement, including certain quantitative aspects of 

Commerce’s methodology. However, the Panel found fault with other aspects of Commerce’s methodology 

and with Commerce’s explanation of why resort to the alternative methodology was necessary. The panel 

also found that Commerce’s application of the alternative methodology to all sales, rather than only to socalled pattern sales, and Commerce’s use of “zeroing” in connection with the alternative methodology, 

were inconsistent with the second sentence of Article 2.4.2 of the AD Agreement. The panel found that 

Commerce’s use of a rebuttable presumption that all producers and exporters in China comprise a single 

entity under common government control – the China-government entity – to which a single antidumping 

margin is assigned, both as used in specific proceedings and generally, is inconsistent with certain 

obligations in the WTO Antidumping Agreement concerning when exporters and producers are entitled to 

a unique antidumping margin or rate. Finally, the Panel agreed with the United States that China had not 

established that Commerce has a general norm whereby it uses adverse inferences to pick information that 

is adverse to the interests of the China-government entity in calculating its antidumping margin or rate. The 

panel also decided to exercise judicial economy with respect to the information Commerce utilized in 

particular proceedings. 

On November 18, 2016, China appealed certain of the panel’s findings regarding Commerce’s “targeted 

dumping methodology,” use of “adverse facts available,” and the “single rate presumption.” The Appellate 

Body is expected to hold a hearing in Geneva and issue a report in 2017.

United States – Conditional Tax Incentives for Large Civil Aircraft (DS487)

On December 19, 2014, the EU requested consultations with the United States with respect to “conditional 

tax incentives established by the State of Washington in relation to the development, manufacture, and sale 

of large civil aircraft.” The EU alleges that such tax incentives are prohibited subsidies that are inconsistent 

with Articles 3.1(b) and 3.2 of the SCM Agreement. Consultations were held on February 2, 2015, and a 

panel was established on February 23, 2015. The panel was composed by the Director General on April 

22, 2015, as follows: Mr. Daniel Moulis, Chair; Mr. Terry Collins-Williams and Mr. Wilhelm Meier, 

Members.

On November 28, 2016, the panel report was circulated to the Members finding only the Washington State 

B&O tax incentive to be a prohibited subsidy. Six other tax incentives were found to be subsidies, but they 

were not deemed to be illegal under WTO rules.

Findings against the EU

 The EU failed to demonstrate that the aerospace tax measures are de jure contingent upon the use 

of domestic over imported goods with respect to the First Siting Provision in Washington State’s 

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB 5952) considered separately. 

 The EU failed to demonstrate that the reduced B&O tax rate for the manufacture and sale of 

commercial airplanes is de jure contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods with 

respect to the Second Siting Provision in ESSB 5952 considered separately. 
92 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

 The EU failed to demonstrate that the aerospace tax measures are de jure contingent upon the use 

of domestic over imported goods with respect to the First Siting Provision and the Second Siting 

Provision considered jointly. 

Findings against the United States 

 The seven aerospace tax measures at issue constitute a subsidy within the meaning of Article 1 of 

the SCM Agreement. 

 The Washington State B&O tax rate for the manufacturing or sale of commercial airplanes under 

the 777X program is inconsistent with Article 3.1(b) of the SCM Agreement. 

 The United States acted inconsistently with Article 3.2 of the SCM Agreement. 

On November 28, 2016, the panel report was circulated to the Members finding only the Washington State 

B&O tax incentive to be a prohibited subsidy. Six other tax incentives were found to be subsidies, but they 

were not deemed to be illegal under WTO rules.

The United States appealed certain aspects of the Panel’s findings on December 16, 2016.

United States — Anti-Dumping Measures on Oil Country Tubular Goods from Korea (DS488)

On April 18, 2014, the United States received from Korea a request for consultations pertaining to 

antidumping duties imposed on oil country tubular goods from Korea. Korea claimed that the calculation 

by Commerce of the constructed value profit rate for Korean respondents was inconsistent with U.S. 

obligations under Articles 2.2, 2.2.2, 2.4, 6.2, 6.4, 6.9, and 12.2.2 of the Antidumping Agreement and 

Articles I and X:3 of the GATT 1994. Korea also claimed that Commerce’s decision regarding the 

affiliation of a certain Korean respondent to a supplier, and the effects of that decision, was inconsistent 

with Articles 2.2.1.1 and 2.3 of the Antidumping Agreement and that its selection of two mandatory

respondents was inconsistent with Article 6.10, including Articles 6.10.1 and 6.10.2. Korea further claimed 

that Commerce’s methodology for disregarding a respondent’s exports to third-country markets was 

inconsistent “as such” and “as applied” in the investigation at issue with Article 2.2 of the Antidumping 

Agreement.

The United States and Korea held consultations on January 21, 2015. On February 23, Korea requested the 

establishment of a panel. The DSB established a panel on March 25, 2015, and the Parties agreed to the 

composition of the panel on July 13 as follows: Mr. John Adank, Chair; and Mr. Abd El Rahman Ezz El 

Din Fawzy and Mr. Gustav Brink, Members. Subsequently, Mr. Adank withdrew as Chair prior to the 

second substantive meeting of the Panel, and the Parties agreed that Mr. Crawford Falconer would replace 

Mr. Adank as Chair.

The Panel met with the parties on July 20-21, 2016, and November 1-2, 2016. The panel is expected to 

issue its report in 2017.

United States – Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Certain Coated Paper from Indonesia 

(DS491)

On March 13, 2015, Indonesia requested consultations concerning antidumping and countervailing duty 

measures pertaining to certain coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 93

Indonesia alleges inconsistencies with Article VI of the GATT 1994, Articles 1, 3.5, 3.7 and 3.8 of the 

Antidumping Agreement, and Articles 2.1, 12.7, 10, 14(d), 15.5, 15.7 and 15.8 of the SCM Agreement.

With respect to the countervailing duty measures, Indonesia challenges Commerce’s determinations that 

Indonesia’s provision of standing timber, log export ban and debt forgiveness program are countervailable 

subsidies. Indonesia claims that Commerce determined both that the standing timber was provided for less 

than adequate remuneration and that the log export ban distorted prices without factoring in prevailing 

market conditions. Indonesia also alleges, in regards to all three subsidies, that Commerce failed to examine 

whether there was a plan or scheme in place sufficient to constitute a “subsidy programme” within the 

meaning of the SCM Agreement. Indonesia further claims that Commerce did not identify whether each 

subsidy was “specific to an enterprise ... within the jurisdiction of the granting authority,” as required by 

the SCM Agreement. In addition, Indonesia challenges Commerce’s facts available determination in which 

it concluded that the government of Indonesia forgave debt. 

With respect to both the antidumping and countervailing duty measures, Indonesia alleges that the USITC 

threat of injury determination breached both the AD Agreement and SCM Agreement because it relied on 

allegation, conjecture, and remote possibility; was not based on a change in circumstances that was clearly 

foreseen and imminent; and showed no causal relationship between the subject imports and the threat of 

injury to the domestic industry.

Indonesia also raised an “as such” claim with respect to 19 U.S.C. § 1677(11)(B). Indonesia contends that 

the law does not consider or exercise “special care’” as a result of the requirement that a tie vote in a threat 

of injury determination must be treated as an affirmative ITC determination. 

Consultations between Indonesia and the United States took place in Geneva on June 25, 2015. A panel 

was established on September 28, 2015, and on February 4, 2016, the Director-General composed the panel 

as follows: Mr. Hanspeter Tschani, Chair; and Mr. Martin Garcia and Ms. Enie Neri de Ross, Members. 

The panel held its first substantive meeting with the parties, in Geneva, on December 6-7, 2016.

United States — Measures Concerning Non-Immigrant Visas (DS503)

On March 3, 2016, India requested consultations with the United States regarding certain measures relating 

to (1) fees for the L-1 and H-1B categories of non-immigrant visas, under which the United States permits 

the temporary entry of foreign workers that meet certain criteria; and (2) an alleged U.S. commitment to 

issue a certain amount of H-1B visas to nationals of Singapore and Chile on an annual basis. India’s request 

alleges that these measures are inconsistent with Articles II, III:3, IV:1, V:4, VI:1, XVI, XVII, and XX of 

the GATS; and paragraphs three and four of the GATS Annex on the Movement of Natural Persons 

Supplying Services. Consultations between India and the United States took place in Geneva on May 11-

12, 2016. 

United States – Countervailing Measures on Supercalendered Paper from Canada (DS505)

On March 30, 2016, Canada requested consultations with the United States to consider claims related to 

U.S. countervailing duties on supercalendered paper from Canada (Investigation C-122-854). 

Consultations between the United States and Canada took place in Washington, D.C. on May 4, 2016.

On June 9, 2016, Canada requested the establishment of a panel challenging certain actions of the U.S. 

Department of Commerce with respect to the countervailing duty investigation and final determination, the 

countervailing duty order, and an expedited review of that order. The panel request also presents claims 

with respect to alleged U.S. “ongoing conduct” or, in the alternative, a purported rule or norm, with respect 
94 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

to the application of facts available in relation to subsidies discovered during the course of a countervailing 

duty investigation. 

Canada alleges that the U.S. measures at issue are inconsistent with obligations under Articles 1.1(a)(1), 

1.1(b), 2, 10, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.6, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.7, 12.8, 14, 14(d), 19.1, 19.3, 19.4, 22.3, 22.5, and 

32.1 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement); and Article VI:3 of 

the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994).

A panel was established on July 21, 2016. On August 31, 2016, the Panel was composed by the DirectorGeneral to include: Mr. Paul O’Connor, Chair; and Mr. David Evans and Mr. Colin McCarthy, Members.

United States – Certain Measures Relating to the Renewable Energy Sector (DS510)

On September 9, 2016, India requested WTO consultations regarding alleged domestic content requirement 

and subsidy measures maintained under renewable energy programs in the states of Washington, California, 

Montana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, Delaware, and Minnesota. India’s request alleges 

inconsistencies with Articles III:4, XVI:1 and XVI:4 of the GATT 1994, Article 2.1 of the TRIMS 

Agreement; and Articles 3.1(b), 3.2, 5(a), 5(c), 6.3(a), 6.3(c), and 25 of the SCM Agreement. Consultations 

between India and the United States took place in Geneva on November 16-17, 2016. 

United States – Countervailing Measures on Cold- and Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Brazil (DS514) 

On November 11, 2016, Brazil requested consultations concerning countervailing duty measures pertaining 

to cold- and hot-rolled steel flat products from Brazil. Brazil alleges inconsistencies with Article VI of the 

GATT 1994; Articles 1, 2, 10, 11 (in particular, Articles 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, and 11.9), 12 (in particular, 

Articles 12.3, 12.5, and 12.7), 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, and 32.1, and Annexes II and III of the SCM Agreement.

Brazil characterizes its claims as claims related to the procedures applied in the countervailing duty 

investigations, claims related to the determinations of injury and domestic industry, claims related to the 

characterization of certain measures as countervailable subsidies, and claims related to the calculation and 

determination of the subsidy margins for certain tax legislation and loans. With respect to the procedures, 

Brazil alleges that the United States initiated countervailing duty investigations in the absence of sufficient 

evidence and inappropriately drew adverse inferences or relied upon adverse facts available. With respect 

to the determination of injury and domestic industry, Brazil claims that it is not clear that the decision on 

injury was based on positive evidence or an objective examination of the facts, and that the domestic

industry definition did not refer to the domestic producers as a whole. With respect to the characterization 

of certain measures as countervailable subsidies, Brazil alleges that the United States failed to demonstrate 

that certain legislation (related to the “IPI” (tax on industrialized products) levels for capital goods, the 

integrated drawback scheme, the ex-tarifario, the “REINTEGRA,” the payroll tax exemption, and the 

FINAME and “Desenvolve Bahia) entailed a financial contribution and conferred a benefit within the 

meaning of the SCM Agreement; that the United States failed to demonstrate that the tax legislation is 

specific within the meaning of the SCM Agreement; and that, with regard to FINAME, the United States 

failed to demonstrate that the loans conferred a benefit and were specific within the meaning of the SCM 

Agreement. Finally, with respect to the calculation and determination of subsidy margins for tax legislation 

and loans, Brazil alleges that the subsidies were calculated in excess of the actual benefit provided, because 

the benchmarks used were flawed. 

The parties consulted on this matter on December 19, 2016.
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United States – Measures Related to Price Comparison Methodologies (DS515)

On December 12, 2016, China requested consultations with the United States regarding its use of a nonmarket economy (NME) methodology in the context of anti-dumping investigations involving Chinese 

producers. In its request, China asserts that WTO Members were required to terminate the use of an NME 

methodology by December 11, 2016, and thereafter apply the provisions of the AD Agreement and the 

GATT 1994 to determine normal value. 

Specifically, China alleges that the following U.S. measures are inconsistent with Articles 2.1, 2.2, 9.2, 

18.1, and 18.4 of the AD Agreement and Articles I:1, VI:1, and VI:2 of the GATT 1994: 

(1) the NME provisions of the U.S. AD statute (Sections 771(18) and 773 of the Tariff Act of 1930); 

(2) the NME provisions of the AD regulations (19 C.F.R. § 351.408); 

(3) the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2006 determination that China is an NME; and 

(4) the failure of the United States to revoke the 2006 determination or otherwise modify its laws with 

respect to AD investigations and reviews of Chinese products initiated and/or resulting in preliminary or 

final determinations after December 11, 2016. 

China also challenges Section 773(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930 – the constructed value provision that applies 

to market economies – to the extent that it permits the use of “surrogate values.” 

Consultations took place on February 7-8, 2017, in Geneva.

I. Trade Policy Review Body

Status

The Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) is the subsidiary body of the General Council, created by the 

Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO, to administer the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). 

The TPRM examines domestic trade policies of each Member on a schedule designed to review the policies 

of the full WTO Membership on a timetable determined by trade volume. The express purpose of the 

review process is to strengthen Members’ adherence to WTO provisions and to contribute to the smoother 

functioning of the multilateral trading system. Moreover, the review mechanism serves as a valuable 

resource for improving the transparency of Members’ trade and investment regimes. Members continue to 

value the review process, because it informs each government’s own trade policy formulation and 

coordination.

The Member under review works closely with the WTO Secretariat to provide pertinent information for the 

process. The Secretariat produces an independent report on the trade policies and practices of the Member 

under review. Accompanying the Secretariat’s report is the Member’s own report. In a TPRB session, the 

WTO Membership discusses these reports together, and the Member under review addresses issues raised 

in the reports and answers questions about its trade policies and practices. Reports cover the range of WTO 

agreements – including those relating to goods, services, and intellectual property – and are available to the 

public on the WTO’s website at http://www.wto.org. Documents are filed on the website’s “Documents 

Online” database under the document symbol “WT/TPR.”

TPRs of LDC Members often perform a technical assistance function, helping them improve their 

understanding of their trade policy structure’s relationship with the WTO Agreements. The reviews have 

also enhanced these countries’ understanding of the WTO Agreements, thereby better enabling them to 

comply and integrate into the multilateral trading system. In some cases, the reviews have spurred better 
96 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

interaction among government agencies. The reports’ wide coverage of Members’ policies also enables 

Members to identify any shortcomings in policy and specific areas where further technical assistance may 

be appropriate.

The TPRM requires Members, in between their reviews, to provide information on significant trade policy 

changes. The WTO Secretariat uses this and other information to prepare reports by the Director General 

on a regular basis on the trade and trade-related developments of Members and Observer Governments. 

The reports are discussed at informal meetings of the TPRB. The Secretariat consolidates the information 

it collects and presents it in the Director General's Annual Report on Developments in the International 

Trading Environment.

Major Issues in 2016

During 2016, the TPRB reviewed the trade regimes of 23 Members. Members reviewed were Albania, 

China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Korea, 

Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of), Singapore, Solomon Islands, 

Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Zambia. 

Since its inception in 1989 to the end of 2016, the TPRB has conducted 452 reviews. The reviews have 

covered 153 of 164 Members. Those Members not yet reviewed by the end of 2016 are Afghanistan, Cuba, 

Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Liberia, Montenegro, Samoa, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Vanuatu, and Yemen. Of the 

36 LDC Members of the WTO, the TPRB had reviewed 31 by the end of 2016.

While each review highlights the specific issues and measures concerning the individual Member, certain 

common themes emerged during the course of the reviews conducted in 2016. These included:

 transparency in policy making and implementation;

 economic environment and trade liberalization;

 implementation of the WTO Agreements (including acceptance and implementation of the WTO 

TFA);

 regional trade agreements and their relationship with the multilateral trading system;

 tariff issues, including the differences between applied and bound rates;

 customs valuation and customs clearance procedures;

 the use of trade remedy measures such as antidumping and countervailing duties;

 technical regulations and standards and their alignment with international standards;

 sanitary and phytosanitary measures; 

 intellectual property rights legislation and enforcement;

 government procurement policies and practices;

 trade-related investment policy issues;

 sectoral trade policy issues, particularly liberalization in agriculture and certain services sectors; 

and

 technical assistance in implementing the WTO Agreements and experience with Aid for Trade, and 

the Enhanced Integrated Framework.

In December, WTO Members completed the sixth appraisal of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism and 

agreed on several reforms that aim to improve the TPRB’s review of Members’ trade policies and practices 

and its monitoring of the global trading environment. Most significantly, Members agreed to adjust the 

cycle of TPRs amid the rising number of WTO Members. Currently, Members undergo a TPR every two, 

four, or six years depending on the size of their economy. From 2019, the frequency will be changed to 

three, five, or seven years, respectively. Members agreed to revise the timeline for the TPR question-and-
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 97

answer process for those Members who opt to provide early written answers to other Members’ questions. 

For Members reviewed on a two-year cycle, such as the United States, it was agreed that the Secretariat 

Report may focus on the implementation of issues highlighted in the previous review and on actual changes 

due to legislation or related to new issues arising from recent WTO ministerial decisions. Further, Members 

agreed to create a regular item on the agenda of trade monitoring meetings to allow Members to provide 

brief reports on significant changes in their trade policies.

Prospects for 2017

The TPRM will continue to be an important tool for monitoring Members’ compliance with WTO 

commitments and an effective forum in which to encourage Members to meet their obligations and to adopt 

further trade liberalizing measures. For 2017, the proposed program of reviews is Belize, Bolivia 

(Plurinational State of), Brazil, Cambodia, European Union, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, 

Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Gambia, and the West 

African Economic and Monetary Union (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, 

Senegal, and Togo).

J. Other General Council Bodies/Activities

1. Committee on Trade and Environment 

Status

The WTO General Council created the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) on January 31, 1995, 

pursuant to the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Trade and Environment. Since then, the CTE has 

discussed a broad range of important trade and environment issues. These issues include: market access 

associated with environmental measures; the TRIPS Agreement and the environment; labeling for 

environmental purposes; and capacity-building and environmental reviews, among others. 

Major Issues in 2016

In 2016, the CTE met twice under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Representative of Chile, in June and 

November, 2016. 

Both meetings of the CTE covered a range of trade and environment issues, including fisheries, illegal 

logging, wildlife trafficking, biodiversity, chemicals and waste, climate change, fossil fuel subsidies, and 

environmental provisions in regional trade agreements. Across this range of issues, WTO Members 

provided updates on their respective policies and programs. The United States provided an update on trade 

policy tools used to combat wildlife trafficking. Additionally, several international organizations, including 

the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Conference on 

Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 

(UNFCCC), and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), briefed the CTE on recent 

activities. The Secretariat also provided an update of the Environmental Database (EDB) and sought input 

from WTO Members regarding how to make the database more accessible for Members. The EDB contains 

all environment-related notifications submitted by WTO members as well as environmental measures and 

policies mentioned in the Trade Policy Reviews (TPRs) of WTO members and is updated on an annual 

basis. Negotiation of the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) is a plurilateral initiative outside the 

work of the CTE. For more on EGA, see section IV .A Trade and Environment.
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Prospects for 2017

The United States will use the CTE to discuss trade and environment issues, and will continue to explore 

fresh and innovative approaches to challenging issues.

2. Committee on Trade and Development

Status

The Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) was established in 1965 to strengthen the GATT 1947’s 

role in the economic development of less developed GATT Contracting Parties. In the WTO, the CTD is 

a subsidiary body of the General Council. Since the Doha Development Round was launched, Members 

have established four additional subgroups of the CTD: a Subcommittee on LDCs; a Dedicated Session on 

Small Economies; a Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs); and a Dedicated Session 

on the Monitoring Mechanism. 

The CTD addresses trade issues of interest to Members with particular emphasis on issues related to the 

operation of the “Enabling Clause” (the 1979 Decision on Differential and More Favorable Treatment, 

Reciprocity, and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries). In this context, the CTD focuses on the 

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programs, the Global System of Trade Preferences among 

developing country Members, and regional integration efforts among developing country Members. In 

addition, the CTD focuses on issues related to the fuller integration of all developing country Members into 

the international trading system, technical cooperation and training, trade in commodities, market access in 

products of interest to developing countries, and the special concerns of LDCs, small, and landlocked 

economies. 

The CTD has been the primary forum for discussion of broad issues related to the nexus between trade and 

development. Since the initiation of the DDA, the CTD has intensified its work on issues related to trade 

and development. The CTD has focused on issues such as transparency in preferential trade agreements, 

expanding trade in products of interest to developing country Members, the WTO’s technical assistance 

and capacity building activities, and an overall assessment of the development aspects of the DDA and 

sustainable development goals. As directed in the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, the CTD also 

conducts annual reviews of steps taken by WTO Members to implement the decision on providing DFQF 

market access to the LDC Members. 

Work in the Subcommittee on LDCs and the Dedicated Sessions on Small Economies and RTAs has 

included review of market access challenges related to exports of LDC Members, LDC accessions to the 

WTO, trade-related needs of small, vulnerable economies, including island and landlocked states, and 

review of Member RTAs notified under the Enabling Clause.

The Monitoring Mechanism was established in 2013 at the Ninth Ministerial Conference. It serves as a 

focal point within the WTO to analyze and review the implementation of special and differential treatment 

provisions. The Monitoring Mechanism operates on the basis of submissions by Members. To date, no 

submissions have been made.

Major Issues in 2016

The CTD in Regular Session held three formal sessions in March, July, and November 2016. Activities of 

the CTD and its subsidiary bodies in 2016 included:
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 Focused Work on Trade and Development: At the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the WTO, 

“Ministers reaffirm[ed] that development is a core element of the WTO’s work. They also 

reaffirm[ed] the positive link between trade and development and call[ed] for focused work in the 

Committee on Trade and Development” (WT/MIN(11)/11). In 2016, Members continued their 

consideration of submissions containing proposals for work under the MC8 mandate through the 

consideration of specific proposals.

 Technical Cooperation and Training: The Committee took note of the 2015 Annual Report on 

Technical Assistance and Training (WT/COMTD/W/216). According to the report, a total of 269 

activities were undertaken by the Secretariat in 2015, a slight drop from the previous year. Overall, 

approximately 15,000 participants were trained during the year, which was an increase of two 

percent over 2014. The Committee also monitored the external evaluation of the WTO’s traderelated technical assistance. The Committee is expected to convene in early 2017 to consider the 

final evaluation report.

 Notifications Regarding Market Access for Developing and LDCs: In 2016, notifications under 

the Enabling Clause were made concerning the GSP schemes of the United States 

(WT/COMTD/N/1/Add.9) and Norway (WT/COMTD/N/6/Add.5/Corr.1 and 

WT/COMTD/N/48). The CTD also considered issues relating to the notification status of the Gulf 

Cooperation Council Customs Union, ASEAN-Korea RTA, and the India-Korea RTA.

 Duty Free, Quota Free Market Access for LDC Members: The Decision taken at the Hong Kong 

Ministerial Conference on DFQF market access for LDCs remains a standing item on the CTD’s 

agenda. A number of Members shared information on the steps they are taking to provide DFQF 

market access to LDCs’ products, including in respect of preferential rules of origin. Benin, on 

behalf of the LDC group, circulated draft terms of reference for a proposed Secretariat study on 

DFQF implementation.

 

 Dedicated Session on Small Economies: The Dedicated Session on Small Economies held three 

formal meetings, in March, July, and November 2016. Each of these meetings was preceded by 

an information session on sectors discussed in the 2015 Secretariat research paper on “Challenges 

and Opportunities experienced by Small Economies when linking into Global Value Chains in 

Trade in Goods and Services.” 

 Aid for Trade: The CTD held three sessions on Aid for Trade in 2016, in February, May, and 

October. The Subcommittee reviewed the implementation of the 2016-2017 Biennial Work 

Programme, which was finalized in February 2016. The work program continues to focus on 

reducing trade costs, and extends it to the areas of electronic commerce, services, and 

infrastructure. In July 2016, the WTO and OECD launched the 2016 Aid-for-Trade monitoring 

and evaluation exercise. In October, the Chairman of the General Council announced that the 

Sixth Global Review would be held on July 11-13, 2017, and the theme would be “Promoting 

Connectivity.”

 LDC Subcommittee: The LDC Subcommittee also held three meetings in 2016, in April, June, 

and October. During those meetings, Members considered market access for LDCs and trends in 

LDC trade, trade-related technical assistance and accession of LDCs. The Secretariat provided 
100 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

the Subcommittee with a report on developments in preferential rules of origin. In July, the 

Secretariat reported on technical assistance to LDCs.

Prospects for 2017

The CTD is expected to continue to monitor developments as they relate to issues of concern to developing 

country Members, including technical assistance and market access. It is anticipated that efforts to identify 

“focused work” will continue, taking into consideration the relevant sections of the Bali and Nairobi 

Ministerial Declarations. Members will also continue to work with the Secretariat in dedicated sessions to 

identify the challenges and opportunities experienced by small economies when linking into global value 

chains. In addition, the CTD’s examination of RTAs between developing country Members will continue 

as new RTAs are notified to the WTO. Work will continue on implementing the transparency mechanism 

for preferential trade agreements. The implementation of the Monitoring Mechanism, agreed to at the Bali 

Ministerial (WT/MIN(13)/W/17), will also continue in dedicated sessions of the CTD.

3. Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions

Status

The Uruguay Round Understanding on Balance-of-Payments (BOP) clarified GATT disciplines on 

balance-of-payments-related trade measures. The Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions works 

closely with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in conducting consultations on balance of payments 

issues. Full consultations involve examining a Member’s trade restrictions and BOP situation, while 

simplified consultations provide for more general reviews. Full consultations are held when restrictive 

measures are introduced or modified, or at the request of a Member in view of improvements in its BOP.

Major Issues in 2016

On April 2, 2015, Ecuador notified the introduction of temporary tariff surcharges for balance of-payments 

purposes (WTO document WT/BOP/N/79 and Add.1, Add.2). Ecuador indicated that the measure, which 

came into force on March 11, 2015, would be in place for 15 months. The Committee held full consultations 

with Ecuador in June and October 2015, in accordance with the terms of reference of Article XVIII:B of 

the GATT 1994 and the Understanding on the Balance of-Payments Provisions of the GATT 1994. During 

these consultations, the United States and many other members expressed their concerns regarding the 

compatibility of the measures with Ecuador's commitments and called for the elimination of these measures, 

while at the same time recognizing the difficulties of the situation. Following the October meeting, Ecuador 

presented a timetable for the dismantlement of the measure (WT/BOP/G/23), offering to reduce the tariff 

surcharges and then eliminate them in June 2016. 

The Committee continued its full consultations with Ecuador in February 2016. On May 9, 2016, Ecuador 

notified Resolution No. 006-2016, which deferred elimination of the surcharge until June 2017. Ecuador’s 

notification justified this change of plans based on an April earthquake that it claimed further worsened its 

balance of payments. The Committee met to review the situation in June and November 2016. On October 

4, 2016, Ecuador notified Resolution No. 021-2016, which stated that it was taking steps to lower the 

surcharges. The Committee met again in November 2016, with the United States and other Members 

pressing Ecuador to eliminate its surcharges as soon as possible in 2017. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 101

Prospects for 2017

The Committee is scheduled to continue its full consultations with Ecuador and will press it to ensure that 

its surcharges are terminated as soon as possible in 2017. 

4. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration

Status

The Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration (the Budget Committee) is responsible for 

establishing and presenting the budget for the WTO Secretariat to the General Council for Members’ 

approval. The Budget Committee meets throughout the year to address the financial requirements of the 

WTO. The budget process in the WTO operates on a biennial basis; the WTO is currently in the sixth 

consecutive year of “zero nominal growth” budgets. As is the practice in the WTO, decisions on budgetary 

issues are taken by consensus. The United States is an active participant in the Budget Committee.

In the WTO, the assessed contribution of each Member is based on the share of that Member’s trade in 

goods, services, and intellectual property. The United States, as the Member with the largest share of world 

trade, makes the largest contribution to the WTO budget. For the 2016 budget, the U.S. assessed 

contribution was 11.240 percent of the total budget assessment, or Swiss Francs (CHF) 21,974,200 (about 

$22 million) (details required by Section 124 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act on the WTO’s 

consolidated budget are provided in Annex II).

Major Issues in 2016

The Committee met periodically throughout the year and presented six reports to the General Council in 

2016. The Committee obtained and reviewed on a quarterly basis reports on the financial and budgetary 

situation of the WTO, the arrears of contributions from Members and Observers, the WTO Pension Plan, 

WTO risk management and internal oversight activities, and the financial situation due to negative interest 

impact. The Committee reviewed and took note of the annual report on diversity in the WTO Secretariat, 

the staff learning program, and the Human Resources annual report on grading structure and promotions. 

The Committee also reviewed and approved proposed revisions to the WTO Financial Rules. A dedicated 

working group examined the possible establishment of an Audit Committee for the WTO, as recommended 

by the WTO’s external and internal auditors; however, this working group was unable to reach a consensus 

on whether an Audit Committee was necessary or appropriate for the particular circumstances of the WTO. 

Members of the Budget Committee also monitored the development, by the WTO Secretariat, of a strategy 

for addressing long-term sustainability of the medical insurance plan provided to WTO employees and 

retirees. The Committee also received regular updates on an Organizational Review process launched by 

the Director General in December 2013. 

Prospects for 2017

The Budget Committee will continue to monitor the financial and budgetary situation of the WTO on an 

ongoing basis. The Committee is expected, among other 2017 priorities, to establish a budget for the 2018-

2019 biennium and to continue to monitor implementation of the strategy for sustainability in the WTO’s 

provision of health insurance. The Committee may also continue its consideration of the possible 

establishment of an Audit Committee for the WTO.
102 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

5. Committee on Regional Trade Agreements

Status

The Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA), a subsidiary body of the General Council, was 

established in early 1996 as a central body to oversee all regional agreements to which Members are party. 

The CRTA is charged with conducting reviews of individual agreements, seeking ways to facilitate and 

improve the review process, implementing the biennial reporting requirements established in the Uruguay 

Round Agreements, and considering the systemic implications of such agreements and regional initiatives 

for the multilateral trading system. Prior to 1996, these reviews were typically conducted by a “working 

party” formed to review a specific agreement.

GATT Article XXIV is the principal provision governing free trade areas (FTAs), customs unions (CUs), 

and interim agreements leading to an FTA or CU concerning goods. Additionally, the 1979 Decision on 

Differential and More Favorable Treatment, Reciprocity and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries, 

commonly known as the “Enabling Clause,” provides a basis for certain agreements between or among 

developing country Members, also concerning trade in goods. The Uruguay Round added three more 

provisions: the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XXIV, which clarifies and enhances the 

requirements of Article XXIV of GATT 1994; and Articles V and Vbis of the GATS, which govern services 

and labor markets integration agreements. FTAs and CUs are authorized departures from the principle of 

MFN treatment, if relevant requirements are met. 

Major Issues in 2016

As of December 15, 2016, 464 regional trade agreements (RTAs) have been notified to the GATT or WTO, 

of which 271 are in force (133 covering goods only, 1 covering services only, and 137 covering goods and 

services). RTAs include bilateral or plurilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), customs unions, and services 

agreements covered under GATS Articles V and Vbis.

At the end of 2006, the General Council established, on a provisional basis, a new transparency mechanism 

for all RTAs. The main features of the mechanism, agreed upon in the Negotiating Group on Rules, include: 

the early announcement of any RTA; guidelines regarding the notification of RTAs; the preparation by the 

WTO Secretariat, on its own responsibility and in full consultation with the parties, of a factual presentation 

on each notified RTA to assist Members in their consideration of the notified RTA; timeframes associated 

with the consideration of RTAs; provisions regarding subsequent notification and reporting with respect to 

notified RTAs; technical support for developing countries; and a division of work between the CRTA, 

entrusted to implement the mechanism vis-à-vis RTAs falling under Article XXIV of GATT 1994 and 

Article V of the GATS, and the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD), entrusted to do the same for 

RTAs falling under the Enabling Clause.

Since the implementation of the transparency mechanism in 2007, 238 agreements, counting goods and 

services notifications separately, have been considered (18 factual presentations representing 29 

notifications in 2016). Of these agreements, 231 have been reviewed in the CRTA and seven in the CTD.

In 2016, the United States-Panama FTA and the CAFTA-DR were reviewed under the transparency 

mechanism. All U.S. FTAs currently in force have now been reviewed in the CRTA for transparency.

Under the transparency mechanism, the WTO Secretariat was tasked to establish and maintain an updated 

electronic database on individual RTAs. The database was launched in January 2009 and includes extensive 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 103

information, all of which is available to the public. The RTAs database may be accessed at: 

http://rtais.wto.org.

Prospects for 2017

Four sessions of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements are foreseen in 2017. The United States 

will continue to push other Members to comply with WTO transparency obligations applicable to their 

RTAs. 

6. Accessions to the World Trade Organization

Status

In 2016, the WTO welcomed two new Members, Liberia and Afghanistan. Liberia became the 163rd WTO 

Member on July 14, and Afghanistan became the 164th Member on July 29.

 

The number of current applicants for WTO Membership stood at 21 at the end of 2016. At its meeting in 

December, the General Council established a Working Party (WP) to negotiate the terms of accession for 

Timor-Leste and Somalia, the first new applicants since 2007. Of the 21 applicants21 remaining, only four 

appear to be actively pursuing completion of their negotiations: Azerbaijan convened a WP in July; Belarus 

will have a WP meeting in January 2017; Comoros held its first WP meeting in December; and Sudan will 

have a WP meeting in January 2017. Timor-Leste indicated that it is working on its Memorandum of 

Foreign Trade Regime, which is required for negotiations to commence. While Lebanon did not record 

activity on its accession, it expressed interest to the WTO Secretariat in possibly moving forward next year. 

Four WTO accession applicants (Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Sao Tome and Principe, and Syria) have not 

submitted the initial documents describing their respective foreign trade regimes. As a result, negotiations 

on their accessions have not commenced. Working parties and bilateral negotiations with eleven other 

applicants – Algeria, Andorra, the Bahamas, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, 

Lebanon, Serbia, and Uzbekistan – remained dormant in 2016. 

 

Background

Countries and separate customs territories seeking to join the WTO must negotiate the terms of their 

accession with current Members, as Article XII of the WTO Agreement provides. The accession process, 

with its emphasis on the implementation of WTO provisions and the establishment of stable and predictable 

market access for goods and services, provides a proven framework for the adoption of policies and 

practices that encourage trade and investment and promote growth and development. 

In a typical accession negotiation, a government writes the WTO Director General seeking accession to the 

WTO. This application is circulated to WTO Members and placed on the agenda of the next meeting of 

the WTO General Council, which establishes a WP composed of all interested WTO Members to review 

the applicant’s trade regime, conduct the negotiations, and to make a recommendation to the General 

Council on the application. To initiate negotiations for the terms of its WTO Membership, the applicant 

then provides an initial description of its trade practices, i.e., a Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime, 

(MFTR) and responds to questions and comments submitted by Members on that document. The WTO 

Secretariat schedules a first meeting of the WP and subsequent meetings as justified by new developments 

 

21 Accession Working Parties continue for Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan*, Bosnia and 

Herzegovina, Comoros*, Equatorial Guinea*, Ethiopia*, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sao Tome and Principe*, Serbia, 

Somalia*, Sudan*, Syria, Timor-Leste*, and Uzbekistan (the 8 countries marked with an asterisk are LDCs).
104 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

and documentation. The number of WP meetings needed to complete the negotiations, as well as the overall 

length of the accession process, largely depends on the speed with which the applicant addresses the issues 

identified by Members in the WP and moves to conclude negotiations on trade liberalization, specific 

commitments on market access for industrial and agricultural goods, as well as for services, based on 

requests from WP Members. In addition, applicants are expected to make necessary legislative changes to 

implement WTO institutional and regulatory requirements and to eliminate existing WTO-inconsistent 

measures. Almost all “developed country” accession applicants, and many “developing country” accession 

applicants, take all of these actions on WTO rules prior to conclusion of the accession negotiations.22

At the conclusion of its work, the WP adopts the documents recording the agreed results of the negotiations 

(the “terms of accession” for the applicant developed with WP Members in bilateral and multilateral 

negotiations) and transmits them with its recommendation for approval to the General Council or to the 

Ministerial Conference. These terms, i.e., the accession “package,” consist of the “Report of the Working 

Party” and “Protocol of Accession,” consolidated schedules of specific commitments on market access for 

goods and services, and agriculture schedules that include commitments on export subsidies and domestic 

supports. After General Council or Ministerial Conference approval, accession applicants submit the 

package to their domestic authorities for acceptance (ratification).23 Thirty days after the WTO receives 

the applicant’s instrument accepting the terms of accession, the applicant becomes a WTO Member.

The accession process requires attention and active engagement from both applicants and WTO Members. 

Undertaking accession negotiations is a serious decision for any country. Applicants already committed to 

economic reform, or that demonstrate a strong interest in using WTO provisions as the basis for their trade 

regimes, usually are the most successful in moving their accession towards completion (e.g., by submitting 

usable documentation, market access offers, and legislation for WP review on a timely basis). Thus, the 

pace of the accession process generally depends on the applicant.

The accession process strengthens the international trading system by ensuring that new Members 

understand and implement WTO rules from the outset. The process also offers current Members the 

opportunity to secure market access opportunities from acceding countries, to work with accession 

applicants towards full implementation of WTO obligations, and to address outstanding trade issues 

covered by the WTO in a multilateral context.

U.S. Leadership and Technical Assistance: The United States has traditionally taken a leadership role in 

all aspects of the accession negotiations, including in the bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral aspects of 

the negotiations. The U.S. objectives are to ensure that the applicant fully implements WTO provisions 

when it becomes a Member, to encourage trade liberalization in developing and transforming economies, 

and to use the opportunities provided in these negotiations to expand market access for U.S. exports. The 

United States also has provided technical assistance to countries seeking accession to the WTO to help them 

meet the requirements and challenges presented, both by the negotiations and the process of implementing 

WTO provisions in their trade regimes. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the 

USDA, the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and 

the U.S. Trade and Development Agency have provided this assistance on behalf of the United States. 

 

22 As outlined below, negotiations with applicants designated as “least developed” by the United Nations are subject 

to special procedures and guidelines, and they do not, as a rule, fully implement WTO provisions prior to accession. 

Transitional periods may also be negotiated, if necessary, with developing or other applicants that request them and 

can justify their necessity.

23 The WP decision to adopt the accession package is by “consensus,” i.e., without objection by any WP Member. 

While there are provisions in the WTO Agreement for the Ministerial Conference or General Council to approve 

accessions by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all Members, in practice, the Ministerial Conference or General 

Council also approve the terms of accession by consensus.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 105

The U.S. assistance can include providing short term technical expertise focused on specific issues (e.g., 

customs procedures, intellectual property rights protection, or sanitary and phytosanitary matters and 

technical barriers to trade), and/or a WTO expert in residence in the acceding country or customs territory. 

A number of the WTO Members that have acceded since 1995 received technical assistance in their 

accession process from the United States at one time or another, including Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, 

Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Laos, 

Liberia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, and 

Yemen. The United States provided resident experts for most of these countries for some portion of the 

accession process. 

In 2016, the United States provided WTO accession assistance to Afghanistan and Iraq. Among current 

accession applicants, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon, 

Serbia, and Uzbekistan received U.S. technical assistance earlier in their accession processes. In addition, 

Afghanistan, Albania, Georgia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macedonia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Ukraine, 

and Vietnam continue to receive assistance with implementing their membership commitments.

Major Issues in 2016

Liberia and Afghanistan concluded their accession negotiations in 2015, in October and in November, 

respectively, and WTO Members approved their terms of accession at the 10th Ministerial Conference in 

Nairobi. Liberia became a WTO Member on July 14, 2016, and Afghanistan became a WTO Member on 

July 29, 2016. Two formal WP meetings occurred in 2016: Azerbaijan (1) and Comoros (1). 

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s 13th WP meeting convened in July 2016. WTO Members and Azerbaijan were unable to 

reach a solution on systemic issues identified in earlier meetings. Members and Azerbaijan also made little 

progress with respect to their bilateral negotiations on goods and services. 

LDC Accessions

WTO Members are committed to facilitating the accession processes of LDCs and to making WTO 

accession more accessible to these applicants. The accession negotiations for all LDC accession applicants 

are guided by the simplified and streamlined procedures developed for these countries in response to the 

WTO General Council Decision on Accessions of Least Developed Countries (WT/L/508) adopted at the 

end of 2002, and in its addendum, adopted in July 2012 by the General Council.24 The expanded guidelines 

established by these documents include provisions under the following pillars: (i) Benchmarks on Goods 

Concessions; (ii) Benchmarks on Services Commitments; (iii) Transparency in Accession Negotiations; 

(iv) Special and Differential (S&D) Treatment and Transition Periods; and, (v) Technical Assistance. 

Points (i) and (ii) establish that market access negotiations for the WTO accession of LDCs are to be guided 

by special principles and benchmarks more appropriate to the development level of LDC applicants. The 

transparency provisions confirm evolving practice in LDC accessions for the use of the good offices of the 

Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on LDCs, as well as the Chairpersons of the LDCs’ Accession Working 

Parties to assist the conclusion of the accession process for LDCs. S&D treatment and technical assistance 

provisions of the guidelines also confirm the need for restraint and the broad use of transitional provisions 

when constructing market access commitments, as well as the need for action plans for transitional 

implementation of WTO provisions. Further, the guidelines confirm the need for enhanced technical 

assistance and capacity building in LDC accessions. 

 

24 WT/L/508 and WT/L/508/Add.1. 
106 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

The United States and other developed country WTO Members support both the 2002 and the 2012 

Decisions on LDC Accessions, adhering to the guidelines established by these documents in formulating 

more flexible negotiating positions on market access and WTO implementation commitments for LDCs. 

The purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that LDCs are prepared for the responsibilities of WTO 

Membership by promoting use of technical assistance and structuring transitional periods with action plans, 

and, in general, making extra efforts to facilitate LDC integration into the multilateral trading system. The 

guidelines will continue to establish the WTO accession process for LDCs as a tool for economic 

development, incorporating the applicant’s own development program and schedule for receiving technical 

assistance into an action plan for progressive implementation of WTO rules. 

Developments in 2016: With the WTO accession applications of Somalia and Timor-Leste in December 

2016, the number of LDCs seeking WTO accession rose to eight.25 Comoros convened a WP meeting in 

2016, and Sudan issued new documents for Members’ review at a WP meeting in January 2017. The 

accession processes of Bhutan and Ethiopia remain dormant. Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea 

have not yet provided documentation to begin negotiations.26

Comoros

Comoros’ WP was established in October 2007, and the first meeting of the WP was held in December 

2016. In September and October 2016, Comoros submitted to WP Members a full set of inputs, including 

Questions and Replies, a legislative action plan, questionnaires on import licensing and state trading, 

information on technical barriers to trade, the implementation and administration of the Customs Valuation 

Agreement, and the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, and illustrative SPS issues. Members have 

provided a thorough set of questions and comments for Comoros to review and address. Additional work 

is expected in 2017. 

Prospects for 2017

After a relatively quiet period in 2016, several countries are expected to make progress on their accessions 

in 2017. Belarus and Sudan have WP meetings scheduled for January 2017, and Comoros aims to prepare 

for another WP meeting in the first half of the year. Lebanon and Timor-Leste have also expressed interest 

in making progress in 2017. While Serbia's accession package is relatively advanced, Serbia cannot accede 

to the WTO until it removes a longstanding legislative ban on trade in biotechnology products, and there 

are no signs thus far that the ban will be lifted in 2017. Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession could move in 

2017 once its outstanding market access negotiations are concluded. Azerbaijan has made efforts to resume 

work, but its negotiations are not at an advanced stage. Another eight applicants have not made progress 

for over six years.27

K. Plurilateral Agreements

1. Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft 

 

25 Bhutan, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Sao Tome and Principe and Sudan.

26 LDCs that have not yet applied for WTO accession include Eritrea, Timor-Leste, Somalia, South Sudan, Kiribati, 

and Tuvalu.

27 Andorra, Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Libya, Sao Tome and Principe, Syria, and Uzbekistan.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 107

Status

The Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft (Aircraft Agreement) entered into force on January 1, 1980, and 

is one of two WTO plurilateral agreements (along with the Agreement on Government Procurement) that 

are in force only for those WTO Members that have accepted it.28 

The Aircraft Agreement requires Signatories to eliminate tariffs on civil aircraft, engines, flight simulators, 

and related parts and components, and to provide these benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis to other 

signatories. In addition, the Signatories have agreed provisionally to provide duty-free treatment for ground 

maintenance simulators, although this item is not covered under the current agreement. The Aircraft 

Agreement also establishes various obligations aimed at fostering free market forces. For example, 

signatory governments pledge that they will base their purchasing decisions strictly on technical and 

commercial factors. 

There are currently 32 Signatories to the Aircraft Agreement: Albania, Canada, the EU29 (the following 20 

EU Member States are also Signatories to the Aircraft Agreement in their own right: Austria, Belgium, 

Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 

Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), Egypt, Georgia, 

Japan, Macau, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei and the United States. WTO Members 

with observer status in the Committee are: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, China, 

Colombia, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Israel, South Korea, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, the Russian 

Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, and 

Ukraine. The IMF and UNCTAD are also observers.

The Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft (Aircraft Committee), permanently established under the Aircraft 

Agreement, provides the Signatories an opportunity to consult on the operation of the Aircraft Agreement, 

to propose amendments to the Agreement, and to resolve any disputes. 

Major Issues in 2016 

The Aircraft Committee held a regular meeting on November 3, 2016. At the regular meeting, the 

Committee agreed by consensus to grant Tajikistan observer status in the Committee. The Committee also 

discussed a proposal to start another round of discussions to further update the aviation products list covered 

by the agreement to align with the 2012 version of the Harmonized System. Members had various views 

on this idea and the Chairman stated that he will hold informal consultations in due course.

Prospects for 2017 

The Aircraft Committee agreed to hold its next regular meeting in November 2017. The United States will 

continue to encourage recently-acceded WTO Members to become Signatories pursuant to their respective 

protocols of accession, and will continue to encourage current Committee observers and other WTO 

Members to become Signatories to the Aircraft Agreement.

 

28 Additional information on this agreement can be found on the WTO’s website at: 

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/civair_e/civair_e.htm.

29 Currently comprising 28 Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, 

Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, 

Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
108 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

2. Committee on Government Procurement 

Status

Membership

The WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) is a “plurilateral” agreement included in Annex 

4 to the WTO Agreement. As such, it is not part of the WTO’s single undertaking and its membership is 

limited to WTO Members that specifically signed the GPA in Marrakesh or that have subsequently acceded 

to it. WTO Members are not required to join the GPA, but the United States strongly encourages all WTO 

Members to participate in this important agreement. 

Forty-seven WTO Members are parties to the GPA: Armenia; Canada; the EU and its 28 Member States 

(Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, 

Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, 

Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom); Hong Kong; 

Iceland; Israel; Japan; South Korea; Liechtenstein; Moldova; Montenegro; the Netherlands with respect to 

Aruba; New Zealand; Norway; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Ukraine; and the United States 

(collectively the GPA Parties). 

As of the end of 2016, nine Members were in the process of acceding to the GPA: Albania; Australia; 

China; Georgia; Jordan; Kyrgyz Republic; Oman; Russia; and Tajikistan. Three additional Members have 

provisions in their respective Protocols of Accession to the WTO regarding accession to the GPA: the 

Republic of Macedonia; Mongolia; and Saudi Arabia. 

Australia

Australia applied for accession to the GPA in June 2015 and submitted its initial market access offer on 

September 8, 2015. Australia submitted a revised offer on September 20, 2016. Australia has set out an 

ambitious goal of completing its accession in 2017. 

China

When China joined the WTO in 2001, it committed to commence negotiations to join the GPA “as soon as 

possible.” In April 2006, China agreed in the United States – China Joint Commission on Commerce and 

Trade (JCCT) to submit its initial offer of coverage by the end of 2007. Based on these commitments, 

China submitted its application for accession to the GPA and its Initial Appendix I Offer on December 28, 

2007. The United States submitted its Initial Request for improvements in China’s Initial Offer in May 

2008. In accordance with a commitment that China made at the United States-China Strategic and 

Economic Dialogue in July 2009, China submitted a report to the GPA Committee on its plans for 

submission of a revised offer and the difficulties it has encountered in revising its offer. 

At the JCCT meeting in October 2009, China committed to table a revised offer in 2010. China submitted 

its first Revised Offer in July 2010. The United States submitted its Second Request for improvements in 

China’s revised offer in September 2010. China also submitted its responses to the Checklist of Issues for 

Provision of Information Relating to Accession in September 2008. 

In April 2010, the United States submitted questions to China on its responses to the Checklist of Issues. 

China replied to U.S. questions in October 2010. At the JCCT meeting in December 2010, China committed 

to table a second revised offer in 2011. During President Hu’s January 2011 visit to Washington, China 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 109

expressly committed that its second revised offer would include sub-central entities. On November 30, 

2011, China submitted its second Revised Offer, which included several sub-central entities. On July 3, 

2012, the United States submitted its Third Request for improvements in China’s offer. On November 29, 

2012, China submitted its third Revised Offer. On December 30, 2013, China submitted its fourth Revised 

Offer, which included lower thresholds, increased coverage of sub-central entities, and improvements in 

other areas. During the 24th JCCT meeting in December 2013, China committed to circulate a further 

revised offer later in 2014, which would provide coverage commensurate, on the whole, with that of existing 

GPA Parties.

China reconfirmed this at the GPA Committee’s meetings in June and October 2014. Parties requested that 

China submit its further revised offer as early as possible and certainly before the end of 2014, in order to 

enable the Committee to give appropriate consideration to it at the Committee’s meeting scheduled for 

February 2015. 

On December 22, 2014, China submitted its fifth Revised Offer. While this fulfilled China’s 2013 JCCT 

commitment to submit an offer in 2014, it did not meet the U.S. request for improvements and was not 

commensurate with the coverage provided by the United States and other GPA Parties. In 2016, the United 

States and China held bilateral discussions on China’s accession, but as of November 2016, China had 

submitted no new offer. 

Jordan

Jordan submitted its initial offer of coverage in 2002. It has submitted several revised offers, in response 

to requests by the United States and other GPA Parties for improvements. Negotiations on Jordan’s 

accession did not make progress in 2016.

Kyrgyz Republic

The Kyrgyz Republic’s accession to the GPA, which had been inactive since 2003, moved forward in 2009 

when it submitted updated responses to the Checklist of Issues. In January 2016 the Kyrgyz Republic 

circulated its newly revised Law on Public Procurement and submitted a “revised initial offer.” The Kyrgyz 

Republic followed up with its second and third revised offer on May 26, 2016 and October 4, 2016, 

respectively. While the third revised offer addressed most GPA Parties’ requests for improvements, the 

Parties continue to engage with the Kyrgyz Republic on the remaining outstanding issues. The GPA Parties 

continue to review the Kyrgyz Republic’s procurement procedures to ensure consistency with WTO GPA 

obligations. 

Russia

In its WTO Protocol, Russia committed to request observer status in the GPA and to begin negotiations to 

join the GPA within four years of its WTO accession. Russia became a GPA observer on May 29, 2013, 

and informed the GPA Parties on August 19, 2016 of its intent to initiate negotiations to join the GPA. As 

of November 2016, Russia has not submitted its initial offer, which would officially initiate negotiations. 

Tajikistan

Consistent with Tajikistan’s commitment to initiate GPA accession negotiations, made in the course of its 

accession to the WTO in March 2013, Tajikistan applied for accession to the GPA and submitted its initial 

offer in February 2015. In February, June, and October 2016, Tajikistan submitted a revised market access 

offer, second revised offer, and third revised offer, respectively. 
110 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Observerships

Twenty-nine WTO Members have observer status in the GPA Committee: Albania, Argentina, Australia, 

Bahrain, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 

the Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, 

Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, and Vietnam. (The 

observership of Kazakhstan was approved in 2016). Four intergovernmental organizations, the IMF, ITC, 

OECD, and UNCTAD, also have observer status.

Revised GPA

On December 15, 2011, the GPA Parties reached agreement on the conclusion of negotiations, which had 

been conducted over more than a decade, to revise the GPA. The outcome included a revision of the text 

of the GPA to streamline and clarify its obligations, to incorporate flexibilities that reflect modern 

procurement practices, and to facilitate its implementation. The revised GPA also significantly expanded 

the procurement covered under the GPA. As part of the GPA package, the GPA parties adopted a set of 

Future Work Programs to be undertaken by the GPA Committee following the entry into force of the revised 

GPA. These include programs related to: (i) the treatment of small and medium sized enterprises; (ii) 

sustainable procurement; (iii) the collection and dissemination of statistical data; (iv) exclusions and 

restrictions in GPA Parties’ Annexes; and (v) safety standards in international procurement. The GPA 

Committee has also approved a decision relating to the use of electronic means to fulfill notification 

requirements under Articles XIX and XXII of the revised GPA. 

In March 2012, the GPA Parties formally adopted the results of the revision of the GPA. The GPA Parties 

also agreed to undertake the necessary domestic approval procedures so that the revised GPA could enter 

into force as soon as possible. On December 2, 2013, the United States deposited its instrument of 

acceptance. On December 3, 2013, the GPA parties committed to bring the revised GPA into force by 

March 31, 2014.

The revised GPA entered into force on April 6, 2014 after 10 Parties, two-thirds of the Parties30 to the GPA 

at that time, deposited their instruments of acceptance. As of November 2016, 14 Parties had deposited 

their instruments of acceptance. Only Switzerland has yet to deposit its instruments of acceptance. U.S. 

obligations to Switzerland are defined under the 1994 GPA.

Major Issues in 2016

The GPA Committee formally adopted arbitration procedures as called for under the revised GPA. The 

arbitration procedures provide a tool for the resolution of disputes arising in the context of modifications 

or rectifications to coverage pursuant to Article XIX of the revised GPA.

The GPA Committee accelerated its implementation of the four (of five) Work Programs that were adopted 

as part of the revised GPA covering: small and medium enterprises, sustainable procurement, the collection 

and reporting of statistical data, and exclusions and restrictions in Parties’ Annexes. The Work Programs 

were established to facilitate the implementation of the GPA and inform any furture negotiations. While 

 

30 On April 6, 2014 the 15 Parties to the GPA were: Armenia, Canada, the EU (and its 28 Member States -- Austria, 

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, 

Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, 

Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, 

Liechtenstein, the Netherlands with respect to Aruba, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, and the United 

States.
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 111

the GPA Committee made progress on all four Work Programs, work on sustainable procurement and small 

and medium enterprises was particularly notable in 2016. In the small business work program, the GPA 

Parties submitted follow-up questions and responses to those questions. In the sustainable procurement 

work program, the GPA Parties agreed to hold a symposisum with sustainable procurement experts to learn 

more about the issue. 

In January, the Kyrgyz Republic restarted its accession process. In May 2016, the GPA entered in force 

for Ukraine. In July, the GPA entered into force for Moldova. 

During 2016, the GPA Committee held four formal and informal meetings (in February, June, October, and 

November) focused on accessions, new members, arbitration procedures, and Work Programs. In addition, 

the GPA Committee held further discussions at the informal meetings on the accessions to the GPA of 

Australia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Tajikistan. 

Prospects for 2017

The GPA Committee will continue to work to advance GPA accessions, in particular, of Australia, China, 

the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan. The GPA Committee will continue its work on implementing the 

Work Programs.

3. The Information Technology Agreement and the Expansion of Trade in 

Information Technology Products

Status

The ITA31 is a plurilateral agreement to eliminate tariffs on certain information and communications 

technology (ICT) products. The ITA covers a wide range of ICT products, including computers and 

computer peripheral equipment, electronic components including semiconductors, computer software, 

telecommunications equipment, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and computer-based analytical 

instruments. To date, 82 WTO Members are ITA participants. Among these 82 ITA participants, however, 

Morocco has yet to submit the formal documentation to implement its ITA commitments, and El Salvador 

has indicated that implementation would begin after the completion of domestic legal procedural 

requirements. 

In 2012, a subset of ITA participants launched negotiations to expand significantly the product coverage of 

the ITA. Those negotiations were concluded in 2015, and participants began implementation of their tariff 

commitments this year, as elaborated below. 

Major Issues in 2016

The Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products:

The United States and over 50 WTO Members announced the landmark agreement to expand the list of 

ICT products subject to duty elimination in 2015. This agreement, referred to as “ITA Expansion,” commits 

parties to phase out hundreds of tariffs on additional ICT products.32 ITA Expansion requires tariff 

 

31 More formally known as the “WTO Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products” 

(WT/MIN(96)/16).

32 “Declaration on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products” (WT/L/956).
112 | II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

elimination on a list of 201 products, including advanced semiconductors, high-tech medical devices, global 

positioning systems, software media, video game consoles, and high-tech ICT testing instrumentation. This 

is the first major tariff-elimination deal at the WTO in 18 years. 

In 2016, the Parties took steps to implement ITA Expansion. Under the agreement, each Party agreed to 

implement its initial tariff reductions for covered products by 1 July 2016, subject to completion of its 

domestic procedural requirements. The majority of Parties, including key U.S. export markets, such as 

China, Korea, and the EU, have completed implementation of their initial tariff reductions and have put in 

place procedures to make subsequent reductions as called for in ITA Expansion. In addition, the majority 

of Parties have submitted, in accordance with the relevant WTO procedures,33 modifications to their WTO 

tariff schedules of concessions, which will incorporate these duty-free tariff commitments into their overall 

WTO tariff commitments. 

 

The WTO estimates that ITA Expansion will eliminate tariffs on roughly $1.3 trillion in annual global trade 

of ICT products, which global industry estimates will increase annual global gross domestic product by an 

estimated $190 billion. With implementation of ITA Expansion, over $180 billion in annual American 

technology exports will no longer face burdensome tariffs in key markets around the globe. 

ITA Committee:

The ITA established the Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology 

Products (the ITA Committee) to carry out the provisions of the ITA, among which are to review the current 

product coverage with a view to incorporate additional products, and consider any divergence among ITA 

participants in classifying ITA products. The ITA Committee does not cover the ITA Expansion agreement; 

however, ITA Expansion Parties provide regular updates to the ITA Committee on the status of 

implementation. ITA Expansion contains a review clause through which the Parties will review ITA 

Expansion product coverage by no later than January 1, 2018. 

The ITA Committee held two formal meetings in April and November 2016.34 In those meetings, the ITA 

Committee continued its deliberations on the Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) Work Program. With regard 

to its work on the Electro-Magnetic Compatibility/Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMC/EMI) Pilot Project, 

the ITA Committee took note that 33 ITA participants (including the EU as one participant) have provided 

survey responses to the ITA Committee, and encouraged those that had not provided the information to do 

so without further delay. In considering ways to advance and expand its work on NTMs beyond EMC/EMI, 

the ITA Committee continues to discuss the main issues raised by Members, including transparency, 

standards for recognition of test results, and electronic-labeling.

The ITA Committee also continued a discussion of classification divergences on certain ITA products. 

These discussions are aimed at eliminating differences in the way ITA participants classify ITA products 

in their national tariff schedules. In 2013, the ITA Committee adopted a decision to endorse the 

classification of 18 ITA Attachment B items in the Harmonized System (HS) 1996 nomenclature. For the 

37 remaining items listed in Attachment B, or identified as “for Attachment B” in section 2 of 

Attachment A, the ITA Committee agreed on a Decision for the HS 2007 classification of 15 additional 

items.35 The WTO Secretariat prepared and circulated a list of these remaining 22 items and their possible 

classification in HS2007 nomenclature. ITA participants are required to indicate those items for which 

 

33 The relevant procedures are detailed in the “Decision on 26 March 1980 on Procedures for Modification and 

Rectification of Schedules of Tariff Concessions” (BISD 27S/25).

34 The minutes of these Committee meetings are contained in WTO documents G/IT/M/64 and G/ITA/M/65 (not yet 

released). 

35 The ITA Committee Decision is contained in WTO document G/IT/29. 
II. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION | 113

their classification diverges from the list prepared by the Secretariat; if an ITA participant’s classification 

differs, then it must identify the HS2007 sub-heading (i.e. HS 6-digit level) under which it classifies the 

Attachment B product in question. After receiving responses from ITA participants, the WTO Secretariat 

compiled and circulated the answers to the ITA Committee.36 On that basis, ITA participants are able to 

assess the next steps to reduce any remaining divergences in the classification of such ITA products.

Prospects for 2017

With respect to implementation of ITA Expansion, the Parties will continue to implement tariff reductions 

and to take the steps necessary to bind these tariff commitments in accordance with WTO procedures. 

The ITA Committee will hold a symposium on June 27-28, 2017, to mark the 20th Anniversary of the ITA, 

and continue its on-going work to reduce divergences in the classification of products covered by the ITA 

as well as continue to examine non-tariff measures that impact the sector. The next meeting of the ITA 

Committee will be held in the first quarter of 2017.

 

36 The comments on the additional items are contained in WTO document G/IT/W/40 and its addenda and 

supplements.

III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 115

III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL 

NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

A. Free Trade Agreements

As with Chapter II, the primary focus of this chapter is on actions taken by the U.S. Government during 

2016. The Trump Administration continues to review the various negotiations and agreements discussed 

in this chapter, and will provide further guidance as the year continues.

1. Australia

The United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has supported bilateral trade and investment with 

Australia, supporting jobs and new economic opportunities in both countries. Since the FTA entered into 

force, two-way goods trade has increased 47.7 percent, from $21.5 billion in 2004 to $31.8 billion in 2016. 

Two-way services trade nearly tripled in the same period, from $10.4 billion in 2004 to $29.3 billion in 

2015 (latest data available). The United States had a $12.7 billion goods trade surplus with Australia in 

2016 and a $15.3 billion services trade surplus in 2015 (latest data available). In May 2016, officials from 

the United States and Australia held a meeting of the United States-Australia FTA Joint Committee to 

review implementation of the agreement, and discussed issues related to goods, services, investment, plant 

and animal health, and intellectual property. U.S. officials also engaged bilaterally with Australian officials 

on these issues throughout 2016. In addition, the United States and Australia have been close partners

through WTO, APEC, and other regional initiatives.

2. Bahrain

The United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which entered into force on August 1, 2006, 

continues to generate export opportunities for the United States. Since the FTA entered into force, twoway goods trade has doubled from $782 million to $1.7 billion. The FTA provided for 100 percent of the 

two way trade in industrial and consumer products to flow without tariffs from the date of its entry into 

force. In addition, Bahrain opened its services market, creating important new opportunities for U.S. 

financial service providers and U.S. companies that offer telecommunication, audiovisual, express delivery, 

distribution, healthcare, architecture, and engineering services. The United States-Bahrain Bilateral 

Investment Treaty, which took effect in May 2001, covers investment issues between the two countries.

To manage implementation of the FTA, the agreement establishes a central oversight body, the United 

States-Bahrain Joint Committee, chaired jointly by USTR and Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and 

Commerce. 

During 2016, U.S. Government officials continued to engage with officials from Bahrain’s Ministries of 

Labor, Industry and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, as well as labor unions and business representatives, 

to address labor rights concerns highlighted during consultations that began in 2013 under the United StatesBahrain FTA. Areas of ongoing discussion include: enhancing outreach and enforcement of labor laws on 

freedom of association and collective bargaining; considering legal amendments to improve the consistency 

of Bahraini labor laws with international labor standards; encouraging regular tripartite dialogue on labor 

matters; addressing concerns about visa denials that prevent Bahraini and international labor stakeholders 

from participation in labor conferences, trainings and panels in Bahrain and abroad; and improving 

Bahrain’s capacity to respond to cases of employment discrimination. The government of Bahrain signed 
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an agreement during 2014 with the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions and the Bahrain Chamber 

of Commerce and Industry to address many of these concerns, including employment discrimination. That 

agreement led to the closing of a complaint filed with the International Labor Organization by Bahrain’s 

unions. However, challenges remain in fulfilling the terms of the agreement. 

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

3. Central America and the Dominican Republic

Overview

On August 5, 2004, the United States signed the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free 

Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR or Agreement) with five Central American countries (Costa Rica, El 

Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic. CAFTA-DR eliminates 

tariffs, opens markets, reduces barriers to services, and promotes transparency. 

Central America and the Dominican Republic represent the third largest U.S. goods export market in Latin 

America, behind Mexico and Brazil. U.S. goods exports to the CAFTA-DR countries were valued at $28.9 

billion in 2016. Combined total two-way trade in 2016 between the United States and Central American 

CAFTA-DR Parties and the Dominican Republic was $52.3 billion.

The Agreement has been in force since January 1, 2009, for all seven countries that signed the CAFTADR. It entered into force for the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua during 

2006, for the Dominican Republic on March 1, 2007, and for Costa Rica on January 1, 2009.

Elements of the CAFTA-DR

Operation of the Agreement

The central oversight body for the CAFTA-DR is the Free Trade Commission (FTC), composed of the U.S. 

Trade Representative and the trade ministers of the other CAFTA-DR Parties or their designees. The 

CAFTA-DR Coordinators, who are technical level staff of the Parties, met in August 2016 in Managua, 

Nicaragua to follow up on agreements reached by the FTC at its meeting in the Dominican Republic on 

March 26, 2015, to advance technical and administrative implementation issues under the CAFTA-DR, and 

to define the agenda for a subsequent meeting of the FTC. At the 2015 FTC meeting, the CAFTA-DR 

Parties reviewed the implementation of the Agreement and accomplishments of the CAFTA-DR 

committees and institutions, and endorsed various means to further strengthen the operation of the 

Agreement (see other implementation matters, below). 

In this eleventh year of the CAFTA-DR, U.S. export and investment opportunities with Central America 

and the Dominican Republic have continued to grow. All the CAFTA-DR partners have committed to 

strengthening trade facilitation, regional supply chains, and implementation of the Agreement. All U.S. 

consumer and industrial goods may enter duty free in all the other CAFTA-DR countries’ markets. Nearly 

all U.S. textile and apparel goods meeting the Agreement’s rules of origin have been entering the other 

CAFTA-DR countries’ markets duty free and quota free, promoting regional integration and opportunities 

for U.S. and regional fiber, yarn, fabric, and apparel manufacturing companies. Under the CAFTA-DR, 

exports of sensitive products under tariff rate quotas constitute two-thirds of U.S. agricultural exports to the 

region. These quotas continue to increase annually until all tariffs are eliminated by no later than 2025. 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 117

Labor

Guatemala

Continuing a process that began in 2008, on September 19, 2014, the United States moved ahead with the 

dispute settlement proceedings for the labor enforcement case brought by the United States against 

Guatemala under the CAFTA-DR that had previously been suspended while the disputing Parties worked 

together on a labor Enforcement Plan. Upon resumption of the dispute, Guatemala and the United States 

exchanged written submissions pursuant to the Rules of Procedure for dispute settlement under the CAFTADR. Eight nongovernmental entities also provided written submissions to the arbitral panel regarding the 

dispute. On June 2, 2015, a hearing was held in Guatemala City during which the arbitral panel received 

the oral submissions of both disputing Parties. The proceedings were suspended on November 4, 2015, 

when a panelist resigned from the panel, and resumed on November 27, 2015, with a new panelist. The 

panel considered the complex issues under this dispute and the final report is expected in 2017. For 

additional information, visit https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/labor/bilateral-and-regional-tradeagreements/guatemala-submission-under-cafta-dr. 

In August 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) posted an official in-house at the Ministry of Labor 

(MOL) to provide guidance on improving labor law enforcement. In November 2016, the government of 

Guatemala submitted to Congress proposed labor reforms that would restore administrative sanction 

authority to the MOL and address long-standing concerns of the International Labor Organization related 

to freedom of association and collective bargaining, including reducing the number of workers needed to 

form an industry union and reducing the number of workers needed to approve a strike. 

Dominican Republic

In December 2011, a public communication was filed with the DOL alleging that the government of the 

Dominican Republic failed to ensure the effective enforcement of labor laws in the Dominican sugar sector. 

The DOL accepted the communication for review and issued a public report in September 2013 which 

highlighted concerns about potential and apparent violations of Dominican Republic labor laws in the sugar 

sector with respect to: (1) acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, 

and occupational safety and health; (2) a minimum age for the employment of children and the prohibition 

and elimination of the worst forms of child labor; and (3) a prohibition on the use of any form of forced or 

compulsory labor. The DOL also noted concerns in the sugar sector with respect to Dominican labor law 

on freedom of association, the right to organize, and collective bargaining. In addition, the report raised 

significant concerns about procedural and methodological shortcomings in the inspection process that 

undermine the government's capacity to effectively identify labor violations. The United States engaged 

with the government of the Dominican Republic as well as with the sugar industry and civil society on the 

concerns identified in this report, including through multiple visits to the Dominican Republic. During 

2016, the DOL, in consultation with USTR and the U.S. Department of State, issued its fifth periodic review 

on implementation of the recommendations in its 2013 report noting positive steps taken by the Dominican 

Republic and the sugar industry to address the concerns raised in the report.

Honduras

In March 2012, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and 26 

Honduran worker and civil society groups filed a public submission with the DOL alleging that the 

government of Honduras had failed to effectively enforce its labor laws under the CAFTA-DR labor 

chapter. Since then, the U.S. Government has engaged with Honduran officials as well as labor unions and 

employer groups regarding the submission, and on February 27, 2015, the DOL issued a public report with 

detailed recommendations to improve respect for labor rights in Honduras and address the concerns 
118 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

identified in the submission. U.S. Government officials from USTR, the DOL and the U.S. Department of 

State were joined by Honduran officials for the release of the report which took place in Tegucigalpa, 

Honduras during a joint press conference. Both governments pledged to work together to address the issues 

raised in the DOL report and issued a joint statement to announce their intention to develop a plan with 

concrete commitments and timelines to bolster labor enforcement. (For additional information on the DOL 

report and the joint statement, visit https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/pressreleases/2015/february/statement-us-trade-representative, and 

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20150066.htm.). 

On December 8, 2015, the DOL and Honduras announced they had concluded a multi-year Monitoring and 

Action Plan (MAP) that includes comprehensive commitments by Honduras to address legal and regulatory 

frameworks for labor rights, undertake institutional improvements, intensify targeted enforcement, and 

improve transparency. Upon full implementation, the plan will address shortcomings noted in the DOL’s 

review concerning labor inspections, access of inspectors to enterprises, illegal dismissals of workers, and 

other issues. For more information, visit https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/pressoffice/blog/2015/december/honduras-monitoring-and-action-plan-shows and 

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20152378.htm. 

In March 2016, the DOL published an assessment of the progress made by Honduras. During the remainder 

of the year, USTR and the DOL continued to engage closely with the government of Honduras and other 

stakeholders on the implementation of the MAP. Throughout the year, the government of Honduras has 

continued to make significant progress implementing the MAP, including by passing a comprehensive new 

inspection law in January 2017 and convening four tripartite meetings with private sector and labor 

stakeholders to discuss progress under the MAP. 

The U.S. Government is also funding a number of technical cooperation projects in Honduras to support 

employment and labor rights, including programs supported by USAID and by the U.S. Department of State 

to promote freedom of association, union formation, and labor-management relations, a $7 million DOL 

project to reduce child labor and improve labor rights, and a $13 million DOL project to support vocational 

training for vulnerable youth in El Salvador and Honduras, including youth at risk of migrating.

Capacity Building

Ongoing labor capacity building activities are supporting efforts to promote workers’ rights and improve 

the effective enforcement of labor laws in the CAFTA-DR countries. This includes ongoing support from 

USAID for efforts to protect the rights of workers in the informal economy and to lift barriers to 

formalization; for building the capacity of workers and their organizations to constructively advocate for 

workers’ rights with public authorities and employers; and for ensuring that workers and employers develop 

skills and expertise to resolve disputes. In 2016, USAID continued to support these activities as part of its 

Global Labor Program, and the U.S. Department of State continued its funding of a program to strengthen 

the capacity of unions to organize and represent workers, and a program to combat labor violence in 

Honduras and Guatemala. 

Environment 

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see chapter IV.A.2.

Trade Capacity Building

In addition to the labor and environment programs discussed above, trade capacity building programs and 

planning in other areas continued throughout 2016 under the Central America Strategy with the Office of 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 119

the U.S. Trade Representative and other agencies. The Central America Strategy promotes trade facilitation 

in the region and directs diplomatic engagement and programs toward increasing trade capacity within 

existing free trade agreements. USAID and other donors, including agencies such as the U.S. Departments 

of Agriculture (USDA), State, and Commerce, carried out bilateral and regional projects with the CAFTADR partner countries. 

In 2016, USAID continued implementing the Regional Trade and Market Alliances Project to build trade 

and institutional capacity in Central America and improve trade facilitation. Through this project, USAID 

supports Central American governments and businesses in areas related to coordinated border management, 

including customs administration and other border control agencies, promoting improved information 

technology and efficient procedures, harmonizing regulations, and other steps to reduce the time and cost 

to trade across borders. Additional funds were committed to focus on key commercial border crossings 

between the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. USAID also fosters 

enhanced public-private dialogue regarding trade facilitation, paving the way for the implementation of the 

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. During 2016, USAID, in partnership with the International Finance 

Corporation, continued progress on the implementation of an information technology platform for mutual 

recognition of sanitary registries with Central American Ministries of Health, which is now operational for 

food and beverage products being produced by and traded among Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and 

Honduras. 

USAID has also partnered with USDA to continue supporting CAFTA-DR countries so that their private 

sectors can take advantage of the trade agreement. In 2016, USAID continued the Food and Agricultural 

Sustainability Training Program, under which USDA provides assistance in Central America, South 

America, and the Caribbean to inform countries and private sector exporters of ways to meet new U.S. 

import requirements. USAID and USDA continued coordinating closely with FDA to build awareness of 

the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act, possible impacts thereof, and practical ways to operate domestic 

food safety processes. Through an interagency agreement signed in 2010 and focused on Central America, 

USAID and USDA support for trade capacity building and food security has contributed to meeting 

CAFTA-DR obligations. USAID and USDA provide technical assistance and capacity building on various 

agricultural technical issues, such as market information systems, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary 

measures as they relate to intraregional trade and exports to the U.S. market. 

Other Implementation Matters

The FTC committed to addressing inefficiencies and obstacles to cross-border trade in the region to increase 

the transparency and predictability of trade and doing business. The CAFTA-DR countries are poised to 

reap great benefits from reforming customs practices and reducing the costs and time associated with goods 

crossing borders because of the highly integrated manufacturing and supply chain linkages throughout the 

region. 

The FTC further emphasized the need for greater regional integration and agreed to support supply chain 

systems in the region through several project initiatives. Some of these initiatives include a series of 

measures affecting the U.S. textile and apparel industry in order to strengthen utilization of the agreement.

During 2015, the FTC agreed on changes to the product-specific rules of origin to reflect the changes to the 

International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System in 2012 and 

during 2016 countries took domestic actions necessary to implement the changes. These changes will 

facilitate the proper implementation of the Agreement. In December 2016, President Obama proclaimed 

the implementation of the 2007 and 2012 changes for the United States, effective on the date, as announced 

by USTR in the Federal Register. The FTC also agreed to eliminate Costa Rica’s tariffs on certain crude 

vegetable oils, promoting increased trade and competitiveness. 
120 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

 

On May 24, 2016, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) issued a report finding that none of 

the proposed changes, contained in the package of changes to certain product-specific rules of origin, agreed 

upon at the technical level under CAFTA-DR (Article 4.14), would likely have significant or substantial 

effects on total U.S. imports, total U.S. exports, or U.S. production. USTR staff had reached agreement 

with CAFTA-DR partners in 2014 to modify the rules of origin for a package of products, including fishing 

lures, gaming machines, a type of plastic, and chemicals, in order to create additional opportunities for trade 

under the Agreement. U.S. exports of these products to the other CAFTA-DR countries were $2.4 billion 

in 2015, and U.S. imports from the other CAFTA-DR countries were $398 million during the same period. 

At the 2015 CAFTA-DR Free Trade Commission (FTC) meeting, countries agreed to undertake their 

respective domestic procedures required to implement these changes. As part of that process, in November 

2015, USTR asked the USITC to conduct the study of the probable economic effects of these changes. The 

next step is for the CAFTA-DR FTC to enter into a formal agreement to implement these changes.

The United States also continued to work closely with its CAFTA-DR partners on bilateral matters related 

to the Agreement, with a particular focus on ensuring that its partners properly implement the Agreement. 

For example, the U.S. Government continued to work with several CAFTA-DR partners on implementation 

of agricultural trade matters. The U.S. Government worked to improve the transparency and effectiveness 

of tariff rate quota administration procedures, which led to improved access for U.S. exporters of several 

agricultural products including rice, onion, and potatoes. The U.S. Government also worked with several 

countries to ensure implementation of CAFTA-DR intellectual property (IP) commitments, including 

those related to the protection of plant varieties, the protection of certain undisclosed data, and the protection 

and enforcement of trademarks and geographical indications, as reflected in the CAFTA-DR. In March 

2016, following engagement with USTR, Honduras committed to an IP Work Plan consisting of actions to 

enhance the protection and enforcement of IP in Honduras (https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/IP-WorkPlan-Honduras-02292016-FINAL.pdf).

4. Chile

Overview

The United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on January 1, 2004, and with the 

12th annual tariff reductions having taken effect on January 1, 2015, 100 percent of originating goods 

exports can now enter the United States and Chile duty free under the agreement.

The FTA is a comprehensive free trade agreement that resulted in significant liberalization of trade in goods 

and services between the United States and Chile, with a U.S. goods and services trade surplus with Chile 

of $9.1 billion in 2015 (latest data available for goods and services trade). 

The FTA eliminates tariffs and opens markets, reduces barriers for trade in services, provides protection 

for intellectual property, promotes regulatory transparency, guarantees nondiscrimination in the trade of 

digital products, commits the Parties to maintain competition laws that prohibit anticompetitive business 

conduct, and requires effective enforcement of the Parties’ respective labor and environmental laws. In 

2016, U.S. goods exports to Chile decreased by 16.2 percent to $12.9 billion, while U.S. goods imports 

from Chile increased by 0.3 percent to $8.8 billion. Chile is currently our 29th largest goods trading partner 

with $21.7 billion in total (two-way) goods trade during 2016. The U.S. goods trade surplus with Chile 

was $4.1 billion in 2016. The United States has a services trade surplus of $2.4 billion with Chile in 2015, 

up 7.4 percent from 2014. 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 121

U.S. foreign direct investment in Chile (stock) was $27.3 billion in 2015, a 1 percent increase from 2014. 

U.S. direct investment in Chile is led by mining, finance/insurance, and manufacturing. 

Elements of the United States-Chile FTA

Operation of the Agreement

The central oversight body for the FTA is the United States-Chile Free Trade Commission (FTC), 

comprised of the U.S. Trade Representative and Chile’s Director General of International Economic Affairs 

or their respective designees. In December 2016, the FTC held its 11th meeting. Both Parties recognized 

the value of their dialogue regarding the implementation of Chapter 17 (Intellectual Property Rights) and 

reaffirmed the interest in continuing this discussion. The United States pressed Chile on the outstanding 

intellectual property rights issues and explained how the U.S. Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement 

Law Act will be implemented. Concurrently, two of the FTA’s committees, the Committee on Technical 

Barriers to Trade and the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters, also met. 

The FTC reviewed implementation of the FTA, including the need to update product-specific rules of origin 

in the FTA to reflect the 2017 changes to the Harmonized System. The FTC also reaffirmed the goal of 

resolving SPS concerns and continued cooperation in international fora on SPS matters. At the meeting, 

Chile provided information on how its pension system is functioning and reforms Chile is considering to 

address concerns raised by pensioners. 

Labor

The FTA Labor Chapter establishes a Labor Cooperation Mechanism for the United States and Chile to 

work together to improve labor standards and advance common commitments. In this regard, in June 2016, 

a delegation from the Chilean Ministry of Labor visited Washington, D.C. for a working group meeting of 

the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor, during which it visited the Jobs Corps center of the 

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to study and learn U.S. practices. In the area of labor protections relevant 

to the FTA Labor Chapter, Chile has enacted several key pieces of labor legislation over the past decade, 

covering areas such as the rights of subcontracted workers (2006), equal pay for men and women (2009), 

victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labor (2011), domestic workers (2014), and the 

rights of workers to collective bargaining (2016). The most recent change, which is scheduled to enter into 

effect in April 2017, limits the ability of employers to replace striking workers, expands collective 

bargaining rights to some temporary workers and apprentices, and removes obstacles that previously 

inhibited bargaining beyond the individual enterprise level. In its 2016 annual report on Findings on the 

Worst Forms of Child Labor, the DOL recognized Chile as having made “significant advancement” and 

noted positive measures taken in the areas of law enforcement, policy, legislative efforts, and social 

programs.

Environment

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

5. Colombia

Overview

The United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) entered into force on May 15, 2012. 

U.S. two-way goods trade with Colombia totaled $26.9 billion in 2016, with U.S. goods exports to 
122 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

Colombia totaling $13.1 billion. The sixth set of annual tariff reductions was effective on January 1, 2017. 

Under the CTPA, duties on over 80 percent of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial products to Colombia 

were eliminated immediately upon entry into force, with remaining tariffs phased out over 10 years. More 

than half of U.S. agricultural exports to Colombia became duty free immediately upon entry into force, with 

virtually all remaining tariffs to be eliminated within 15 years. Tariffs on a few most sensitive agricultural 

products will be phased out in 17 to 19 years. In addition, with limited exceptions, U.S. services suppliers 

gained access to Colombia’s services market, estimated at $172 billion in 2015 (lasted data available). 

Colombia also agreed to important new disciplines in investment, government procurement, intellectual 

property rights, labor, and environmental protection.

Elements of the United States-Colombia TPA

Operation of the Agreement

The CTPA’s central oversight body is the United States-Colombia Free Trade Commission (FTC), 

composed of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Colombian Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism 

or their designees. The FTC is responsible for overseeing implementation and operation of the CTPA. The 

FTC met on November 19, 2012. At that meeting, the two sides discussed the functioning of the agreement 

and ways to improve its operation. In 2016, the United States and Colombia continued to work together to 

carry out initiatives launched at the FTC meeting, such as consideration of accelerating the elimination of 

tariffs for certain goods under the Agreement, establishment of certain elements related to the dispute 

settlement mechanism, and updates to the Agreement’s rules of origin. USTR expects to hold the second

FTC meeting to review implementation of the CTPA in 2017.

Labor

The CTPA Labor Chapter includes commitments requiring both countries to adopt and maintain in laws 

and practices the fundamental labor rights as stated in the 1998 Declaration of Fundamental Principles and 

Rights at Work of the International Labor Organization, and not to fail to effectively enforce their labor 

laws or to waive or derogate from those laws in a manner affecting trade or investment. The obligations of 

the Labor Chapter are subject to the same dispute settlement provisions as the rest of the CTPA and are 

subject to the same remedies. The entry into force of the CTPA was accompanied by progress by Colombia 

under the Action Plan Related to Labor Rights (Action Plan), which was developed jointly by the Parties 

and launched in 2011, and includes specific commitments by the Colombian government to address key 

areas of concern.

2016 marked the five-year anniversary of the Action Plan, and the United States continued engagement 

with the Colombian government to support its efforts to improve the protection of workers’ rights, prevent 

violence against trade unionists, and ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators of such violence. The 

Colombian government took steps to implement the Action Plan in 2016, including issuing a Presidential 

Decree to crack down on illegal forms of subcontracting that violate labor rights and carrying out the initial 

review of twenty cases of alleged illegal subcontracting under that decree. The United States will continue 

to work closely with Colombia on remaining challenges, including the collection of assessed fines for illegal 

subcontracting, inspections in priority sectors, and implementation of the new decree on illegal forms of 

subcontracting.

To address the issue of violence, Colombia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has 20 prosecutors who work on 

cases of violence against unionists and 83 investigators to support the work of the prosecutors. The United 

States has worked with Colombia to increase the number of successful prosecutions in cases of violence 

and threats against unionists. In cases of employers violating certain workers’ rights under Article 200 of 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 123

the criminal code, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported 84 case conciliations through October 2016. In 

addition, 628 cases under Article 200 remain under investigation; no case has yet completed the trial phase 

and resulted in a conviction. 

Ongoing engagement with Colombian officials in 2016 included videoconferences with Colombia’s 

Minister of Labor and other officials regarding the new subcontracting decree; a July meeting in 

Washington, DC with Colombia’s new Minister of Labor; and a November mission to Colombia by USTR 

and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) officials that included a meeting with the Labor Vice Minister, as 

well as meetings with Colombian labor stakeholders, business representatives, and the Prosecutor General’s 

Office. In addition, DOL and the U.S. Agency for International Development fund four labor-related 

technical assistance projects in Colombia that aim to: (1) improve the government’s capacity to enforce 

workers’ rights; (2) improve workers’ access to information on their rights and their ability to protect and 

assert them; and (3) reduce child labor in the informal and artisanal mining sector, including the promotion 

of safe work and mitigation of the risk of injuries for adult workers.

The DOL posted a labor attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá beginning in 2015. Colombia is one of only 

three countries where the DOL has posted a labor attaché, highlighting the importance of ensuring close 

engagement with Colombia on labor rights. In 2016, USTR, the DOL, and the U.S. Department of State 

continued to work in close collaboration with stakeholders in both countries and with the Colombian 

government to achieve the underlying goals of the Action Plan and to support the efforts of workers to 

exercise their fundamental rights. The Labor Attaché met frequently with the Vice Minister of Labor and 

other labor officials.

In May 2016, the DOL received a public submission under the Labor Chapter of the CTPA, from labor 

unions and NGOs in the United States and Colombia. The submission alleged that the government of 

Colombia has failed to effectively enforce labor laws and has not adopted and maintained laws that protect 

fundamental labor rights. The DOL accepted the submission for review in July and issued a report on the 

submission. The report recommends that the government of Colombia take steps to improve the labor law 

inspection system, improve the application and collection of fines for employers who violate labor laws, 

particularly regarding violations for abusive subcontracting arrangements, and improve the investigation 

and prosecution of cases of violence and threats against unionists. The report also recommends that the 

U.S. Government initiate consultations between the contact points of the two governments under the Labor 

Chapter of the trade agreement, to discuss the questions and concerns identified in the review and explore 

options for implementing the report's recommendations, or similar measures.

Environment

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

6. Israel 

The United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is the United States’ first FTA. It entered into force 

in 1985 and continues to serve as the foundation for expanding trade and investment between the United 

States and Israel by reducing barriers and promoting regulatory transparency. In 2016, U.S. goods exports 

to Israel decreased 2.5 percent to $13.2 billion. 

The United States-Israel Joint Committee (JC) is the central oversight body for the FTA and at its last 

meeting in February 2016, the JC explored potential new collaborative efforts to increase bilateral trade 

and investment. During the meeting, the United States and Israel noted progress made in addressing a 

number of specific standards-related and customs impediments to bilateral trade and agreed to continue to 
124 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

support existing dialogues that address these issues. Israel continues to revise its standards regime aiming 

to expand significantly the recognition of standards of internationally respected standards bodies, including 

those of the United States. The 2014 Israeli standards law has facilitated the enhanced importation into 

Israel of a broad range of U.S. products. The United States and Israel are also working to make it easier 

for exporters to gain approvals when claiming duty-free status under the FTA for individual products. 

Also at the February JC meeting, Israel proposed resuming negotiations on a permanent agreement to the 

U.S-Israel Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products (ATAP). Negotiated initially in 1996, the ATAP 

was the result of a disagreement between the United States and Israel over the interpretation of the 1985 

FTA’s provisions on agriculture. The 1996 ATAP allowed for some preferential market access to Israel 

for U.S. products, but fell far short of the FTA’s objective of free trade in agriculture. Renegotiation of the 

ATAP in 2004 achieved modest additional market access opportunities in Israel for U.S. agricultural 

products. The renegotiated ATAP was to remain in effect only until December 2008, but Israel and the 

United States to date have been unable to conclude a successor agreement and have since extended the 2004 

ATAP on an annual basis. 

In July 2016, the United States proposed revised modalities for a new permanent ATAP agreement, seeking 

to capitalize on progress in negotiations to date while liberalizing trade to the maximum degree possible. 

Each side is reviewing the proposals put forward by the other in preparation for the next round of 

negotiations. In December 2016, the two sides agreed to extend the ATAP agreement through December 

31, 2017, while the aforementioned negotiations continue. 

7. Jordan 

In 2016, the United States and Jordan continued to benefit from their economic partnership. A key 

element of this relationship is the United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which entered into 

force on December 17, 2001, and was implemented fully on January 1, 2010. In addition, the Qualifying 

Industrial Zones (QIZs) program, established by the U.S. Congress in 1996, allows products to enter the 

United States duty free if manufactured in Jordan, Egypt, or the West Bank and Gaza, with a specified 

amount of Israeli content. 

U.S. goods exports to Jordan were an estimated $1.5 billion in 2016, up 10 percent from 2015. QIZ

products account for about five percent of Jordanian exports to the United States. The QIZ share of

these exports is declining relative to the share of exports shipped to the United States under provisions

of the FTA. 

At the Joint Committee’s most recent meeting in May 2016, the United States and Jordan discussed labor, 

agriculture, specifically current technical barriers to agricultural trade, acceptance of the WTO Trade 

Facilitation Agreement and accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement. The parties 

opened a dialogue to outline concrete steps to boost trade and investment bilaterally, and between Jordan

and other countries in the Middle East region. After the meetings concluded, the issue regarding import 

licensing of poultry from the United States was resolved to allow the importation of U.S. poultry into 

Jordan. 

The United States also continued to work with Jordan in the area of labor standards, particularly through ongoing 

efforts under the Implementation Plan Related to Working and Living Conditions of Workers in Jordan, signed in 

2013. The Plan addresses labor concerns in Jordan’s garment factories including anti-union discrimination against 

foreign workers, conditions of accommodations for foreign workers, and gender discrimination and harassment. 

In 2016, the Jordanian Ministries of Health and Labor signed an agreement that will ensure labor inspections 

include garment dormitories, one of the pending commitments in the Implementation Plan. During 2016, the 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 125

United States and Jordan continued to work towards completion of the Implementation Plan.

The Ministry of Labor is working with the DOL-funded ILO Better Work program to improve their understanding 

of internationally recognized labor standards and the process for conducting audits in the garment sector, including 

by assigning labor inspectors to the project. Ongoing engagement focuses on internalizing lessons learned from 

Better Work to build labor inspector capacity, conducting inspections that include dormitories in the QIZs, and 

continuing outreach efforts to ensure that stakeholders understand their legal rights to participate in unions and 

enjoy workplaces free of discrimination and harassment. Jordan also worked with Better Work Jordan to ensure 

that factory-level audits will be publicly available starting in 2017.

DOL also concluded a $4.04 million capacity building project carried out by the ILO through August 2016 

to strengthen enforcement efforts to identify and eliminate child labor and to refer children and families 

vulnerable to child labor, including Syrian refugees, to relevant social services. The project conducted a 

national child labor survey that included data on Syrian refugee children, developed and trained officials 

on a child labor monitoring system, raised awareness of child labor, and referred at-risk children and 

families to social services and educational and vocational opportunities. 

Garments from Jordan had been included in DOL’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced 

Labor since 2009. During 2016, DOL removed Jordanian garments from the list on the grounds that there had 

been a significant reduction in the incidence of forced labor in Jordan’s garment sector.

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

8. Republic of Korea

Overview

The United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS or Agreement) entered into force on March 15, 

2012. As of January 1, 2017, five rounds of tariff cuts have taken place under KORUS. Imports of 

passenger vehicles from the United States began entering Korea duty free as of January 1, 2016. United 

States exports of goods to Korea fell from $43.5 billion in 2011 to $42.3 billion in 2016. Meanwhile, U.S. 

imports of goods from Korea rose from $56.7 billion in 2011 to $69.9 billion in 2106. Thus, the U.S. trade 

deficit in goods with Korea rose from $13.2 billion in 2011 to $27.6 billion in 2016.

Operation of the Agreement

The Agreement’s central oversight body is the Joint Committee, chaired by the U.S. Trade Representative 

and the Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Minister. Senior Officials meetings are typically held just prior 

to the Joint Committee meetings to coordinate and report on the activities of the committees and working 

groups established under the agreement.

In 2016, nine committees and working groups established under KORUS met to discuss issues related to 

the Agreement. USTR consults closely with stakeholders regarding the work of the FTA committees, 

including with respect to potential agenda items. 

The United States also participated in quarterly financial services meetings with Korea. The European 

Union, which also has a free trade agreement with Korea, participated in the government-to-government 

sessions of these financial services meetings. The most recent meeting was held on September 6, 2016, 

which Australia joined.
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In May 2016, the third meeting of the Committee on Trade in Goods was held, followed by the fifth meeting 

of the Medicines and Medical Devices Committee and the third meeting of the Committee on Trade 

Remedies in September 2016. In October 2016, the second meeting of the Committee on Textiles and 

Apparel and the fourth meeting of the Professional Services Working Group were held, followed by the 

second meetings of the Committees on Financial Services and on Technical Barriers to Trade.

The Committee on Trade in Goods focused on the Korea Customs Service’s interpretation of Rules of 

Origin and verification procedures under KORUS. As a result of the meeting, two outstanding customs 

reviews of U.S. manufacturers were successfully closed. The Committee also discussed concerns with new 

customs clearance procedures for express delivery packages at Incheon airport, emphasizing the need for 

customs clearance times to remain consistent with commitments under KORUS and for U.S. express 

delivery companies to be afforded national treatment. On both an ad hoc basis and through the Trade in 

Goods Committee, USTR will continue to ensure KORUS commitments to provide preferential tariff 

treatment for originating U.S. goods are honored, and that KCS origin verification cases are handled quickly 

and reasonably. 

The Medicines and Medical Devices Committee discussed Korea’s import pricing system, each side’s 

respective patent linkage system, and updates on draft regulations related to pharmaceutical drugs in Korea. 

The Professional Services Working Group discussed mechanisms for enhancing trade in professional 

services, Korea’s interest in Mutual Recognition Agreements in the areas of engineering, architectural, and 

veterinary services.

The Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters discussed a range of topics, including Korea’s 

process for reviewing and approving new biotechnology events, outstanding respective plant and animal 

market access issues, and issues related to maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, which are the 

maximum legally acceptable levels of pesticide residues in food and agricultural products. Regarding 

MRLs, the United States and Korea had a constructive exchange on ideas for facilitating the transparent 

and efficient establishment of tolerance levels under Korea’s ongoing transition to a positive list system. 

Topics discussed in the Committee on Agricultural Trade included KORUS tariff-rate quota administration, 

an essential component in ensuring that the established tariff-rate quotas deliver their intended benefits. 

In November 2016, USTR and the U.S. Department of Labor traveled to Korea for technical-level 

conversations concerning matters related to the KORUS labor chapter. These discussions were held with 

the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor (KMOEL), unions, employers, companies, NGOs, and 

national labor law experts. As follow-up to a 2015 United States–Korea workshop, the U.S. delegation and 

KMOEL also discussed cooperative efforts to facilitate corporate compliance with the international labor 

standards in global supply chains.

Throughout 2016, in line with work being done under the auspices of the Autos Working Group, USTR 

closely followed implementation of a new fuel economy standard in Korea, new emissions testing 

requirements, and the implementation of new consumer protection policies covering: (1) disclosure by 

manufacturers to consumers of repairs made to a vehicle prior to sale; and (2) the right of repair shops to 

access information needed to service vehicles. In May, USTR and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and 

Transportation officials met in Seoul to discuss progress being made in regard to right to repair and damage 

disclosure issues. The United States and Korea also emphasized the need for further harmonization of 

Korean regulations, continued involvement of stakeholders into the regulatory process, and the need for 

quality regulatory analysis.

The U.S. Government also addresses KORUS compliance and other trade issues on a continual basis 

through regular inter-sessional consultations, through respective embassies, and through other engagements 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 127

with the Korean government (including at senior levels) in order to resolve issues in a timely manner. In 

2016, the United States focused on trade and implementation issues including regulatory transparency, 

competition policy, customs policies, automotive trade, intellectual property, market access for electronic 

mapping services, and medical devices. Through U.S. engagement with Korea, the United States succeeded 

in making significant progress in addressing issues in many of these areas. 

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see chapter IV.A

9. Morocco

The United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on January 1, 2006. The FTA 

supports the significant economic and political reforms that are underway in Morocco and provides 

improved commercial opportunities for U.S. exports to Morocco by reducing and eliminating trade barriers. 

Since the entry into force of the FTA, two way U.S.-Morocco trade in goods has grown from $927 million 

in 2005 (the year prior to entry into force) to $2.9 billion in 2016. U.S. goods exports to Morocco in 2016 

were $1.9 billion, up 14.8 percent from the previous year. Corresponding U.S. imports from Morocco in 

2016 were $1 billion, up 1.0 percent from 2015. Services trade in 2015 (the most recent year available) 

included $657 million in exports and $585 million in imports. 

The United States and Morocco held the fourth meeting of the FTA Joint Committee (JC) on February 20, 

2015, in Rabat. American and Moroccan officials noted the productive cooperation both sides had pursued 

under the Labor and Environment FTA subcommittees, which had last met in 2014. They highlighted 

recent improvements to Morocco’s legislative regime for the protection of intellectual property rights and 

outlined Morocco’s steps to implement the bilateral Customs and Mutual Assistance and Trade Facilitation 

agreements, signed in 2013, as well as the multilateral 2013 WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. 

During the JC meeting, the U.S. delegation raised questions regarding recent Moroccan trade legislation; 

certain local content requirements in government tenders, which had the potential to hinder the 

competitiveness of U.S. firms in bidding processes; Morocco’s July 2014 implementation of an export and 

harvest quota for Gigartina seaweed, a key input for a U.S. processor; and a pending Moroccan-EU 

agreement on the protection of geographical indications for EU products in the Moroccan market. In an 

effort to better understand U.S. market access procedures and to streamline Morocco’s export model, the 

Moroccan delegation requested information on how U.S. ports efficiently manage security and container 

processing, in addition to asking for assistance in liaising with U.S. investment-promotion entities.

U.S. and Moroccan officials held an Agriculture and SPS FTA Sub-Committee meeting in October 2016 

in Washington, DC. The two-day meeting covered a full range of agricultural and SPS issues between the 

countries and provided opportunities for technical consultations. The delegations completed the process to 

allow export of bovine genetics and pet food from the United States to Morocco; the Moroccan delegation 

announced that the country would allow imports of poultry and poultry products from U.S. regions not 

currently affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza.

With regard to labor, the U.S. Department of Labor continued to fund two projects under the FTA labor 

cooperation mechanism: one to reduce child labor and help build the capacity of relevant government 

agencies to combat child labor, and another to support the development and implementation of gender parity 

in employment policies, including by supporting civil society groups that are working to expand women’s 

access to work. The government of Morocco also passed a domestic worker law in 2016 that addresses an 

area of concern raised by the United States during the 2014 FTA Labor Sub-Committee meeting. The law, 

which takes effect in August 2017, extends protections and benefits to domestic workers by setting a 
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minimum wage, establishing a minimum age for employment, limiting weekly hours of work, and providing 

such workers with a day of rest. 

For a discussion of environment-related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

10. North American Free Trade Agreement

Overview

On January 1, 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada, and 

Mexico (NAFTA) entered into force. Tariffs were eliminated progressively, with all final duties and 

quantitative restrictions eliminated, as scheduled, by January 1, 2008. In 2016, the United States exported 

$266.8 billion worth of goods to Canada, and imported $278.1 billion worth of goods from Canada, for a 

bilateral trade deficit in goods of more than $11.2 billion. During the same year, the United States exported 

almost $231 billion worth of goods to Mexico, and imported $294.2 billion worth of goods from Mexico, 

for a bilateral trade deficit of $63.2 billion. The United States has had a trade deficit in goods with both 

Mexico and Canada in every year since 1994.

Elements of NAFTA

Operation of the Agreement

The NAFTA’s central oversight body is the NAFTA Free Trade Commission (FTC), composed of the U.S. 

Trade Representative, the Canadian Minister for International Trade, and the Mexican Secretary of 

Economy, or their designees. The FTC is responsible for overseeing implementation and elaboration of the 

NAFTA and government-to-government dispute settlement.

The FTC held its most recent meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 3, 2012. Since October 2012, trade 

ministers, senior officials, and experts from the United States, Canada, and Mexico have met regularly to 

expand and deepen trade and investment opportunities in North America , and will continue to do so. 

NAFTA and Labor

The North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC), a supplemental agreement to the 

NAFTA, promotes effective enforcement of domestic labor laws and fosters transparency in their 

administration. The NAALC established a tri-national Commission for Labor Cooperation, composed of a 

Ministerial Council and an administrative Secretariat. In addition, each NAFTA Party has established a 

National Administrative Office (NAO) within its Labor Ministry to serve as a contact point with the other 

Parties and the Secretariat, to provide publicly available information to the Secretariat and the other NAOs, 

and to provide for the submission and review of public communications on labor law matters. The NAOs, 

together with the Secretariat, can also carry out cooperative activities promoted by the Council.

In 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Mexican Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare 

(STPS) published a joint report that summarized the educational and outreach activities completed in 2015 

on the rights of workers in the United States under H-2A and H-2B visas. In the United States, the DOL 

held 29 outreach events in 15 states, reaching more than 2,300 workers and 1,000 employers. In Mexico, 

STPS held 11 events, reaching approximately 1,600 people. Additionally, the Mexican NAO received a 

submission in July 2016 from two former H-2 workers, the Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, and 27 

other organizations, alleging gender discrimination in the H-2 system visa system in the United States. The 

Mexican NAO accepted the submission for review in August 2016, and it remains pending. Also in 2016, 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 129

the U.S. NAO published its report of review on U.S. Submission 2015-04 (Mexico) concerning Mexico’s 

obligations under the NAALC regarding workers’ rights. DOL received Submission 2015-04 in November 

2015 from the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 770, the Frente Auténtico del Trabajo, the Los 

Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, and the Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and 

Research. DOL accepted the submission for review on January 11, 2016. The U.S. NAO found that there 

was insufficient evidence at that time to support specific conclusions related to the Mexican government’s 

application of labor laws at the chain of stores referenced in the submission. Nevertheless, the report 

discusses in detail DOL’s longstanding concerns related to protection contracts and the primary factors that 

facilitate them, such as structural bias in the Conciliation and Arbitration Boards (CABs) that administer 

labor justice in Mexico. The report notes that constitutional and legislative reforms proposed by President 

Enrique Peña Nieto would address the underlying factors related to these concerns. The constitutional 

reforms abolishing the CABs and creating a system of labor courts were introduced in April 2016 and were 

approved by Mexico’s Congress in November 2016. As of January 2017, a majority of Mexico’s state 

legislatures had approved the constitutional reforms, as required by law for ratification, and the reforms are 

expected to be implemented by early 2018. Additional legislative reforms to address protection contracts 

and union representation challenges are pending in Mexico’s Congress. The report urged expeditious 

passage and implementation of the reforms, and the U.S. NAO will continue to monitor and engage with 

the Mexican government on these and other issues in the submission. 

NAFTA and the Environment

The North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) established the Commission for 

Environmental Cooperation (CEC), comprised of a Council, a Secretariat, and a Joint Public Advisory 

Committee. The Council, comprised of the environmental ministers from the United States, Canada and 

Mexico, met for its annual Council session on September 8 and 9, 2016 in Merida, Mexico. The Council 

reiterated its commitment to clean and sustainable growth, committed to deliver results in support of the 

NALS agreements, identified marine litter and food waste as future areas of work within the organization, 

and recognized the work on a key priority, sustainable communities and ecosystems, including projects on 

the relationship between ecosystems, job creation, gender impacts and income generation. The Secretariat 

also reported on another key priority, promoting green growth across North America, which included work 

to foster harmonized private sector approaches to energy management, strategies for sustainable trade in 

select CITIES Appendix II species, and aligning mercury trade statistics in North America.

Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC establish a process for nongovernmental individuals or entities residing 

or established in the United States, Canada, or Mexico to file a public submission asserting that a Party is 

failing to effectively enforce its environmental law. In 2016, the CEC Parties continued the practice of 

reporting on actions taken on public submissions on enforcement matters concluded over the previous year. 

This is part of the CEC’s commitment to transparency and good governance. 

Additionally, since 1993, Mexico and the United States have helped border communities with 

environmental infrastructure projects in furtherance of the goals of the NAFTA and the NAAEC. The 

Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and the North American Development Bank 

(NADB) are working with communities throughout the United States-Mexico border region to address their 

environmental infrastructure needs. 

11. Oman

The United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which entered into force on January 1, 2009, 

complements other U.S. FTAs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to promote economic reform 
130 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

and openness throughout the MENA region. In 2016, the United States exported $1.78 billion worth of 

goods to Oman, and imported $1.1 billion worth of goods from Oman.

The central oversight body for the FTA is the United States-Oman Joint Committee (JC), chaired jointly by 

USTR and Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Meetings of the JC have addressed a broad range 

of trade issues, including efforts to increase bilateral trade and investment levels; efforts to ensure effective 

implementation of the FTA’s customs, investment and services chapters; possible cooperation in the 

broader MENA region; and additional cooperative efforts related to labor rights and environmental 

protection.

The Oman trade union federation was formed in 2006, as a result of major labor reforms by the government 

of Oman enacted in the context of entry into force of the FTA, which allowed independent unions in Oman 

for the first time. Oman has since seen a rapid increase in unionization with over 200 enterprise-level 

unions and a sub-federation for trade unions established in the oil and gas sectors. The program continued 

to work with the Omani government in 2016, in collaboration with unions and businesses, to promote social 

dialogue and resolve labor disputes, improve labor inspections, and strengthen technical and vocational 

training programs. 

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

12. Panama

Overview

The United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) entered into force on October 31, 2012. The 

United States’ two-way goods trade with Panama was $6.6 billion in 2016, with U.S. goods exports to 

Panama totaling $6.1 billion. Under the TPA, tariffs on 86 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial goods 

exports to Panama (based on 2011 trade flows) were eliminated upon entry into force, with any remaining 

tariffs phased out within 10 years. Additionally, nearly half of U.S. agricultural exports became duty free, 

with most remaining tariffs to be phased out within 15 years. Tariffs on a few of the most sensitive 

agricultural products will be phased out in 18 to 20 years. Following the first tariff reduction under the 

TPA on October 31, 2012, subsequent tariff reductions occur on January 1 of each year; the sixth round of 

tariff reductions took place on January 1, 2017. The TPA also provides new access to Panama’s estimated 

over $36 billion services market (2015 data; most recent available) and includes disciplines related to 

customs administration and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, government procurement, 

telecommunications, electronic commerce, intellectual property rights, and labor and environmental

protection. As of 2015, U.S. services trade with Panama included $1.6 billion in exports and $1.3 billion 

in imports.

Elements of the United States-Panama TPA

Operation of the Agreement

The TPA’s central oversight body is the United States-Panama Free Trade Commission (FTC), composed 

of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Panamanian Minister of Trade and Industry or their designees. 

The FTC is responsible for overseeing implementation and operation of the TPA. The United States and 

Panama continued to work cooperatively during 2016 to continue to implement the provisions of the TPA 

and address the few issues of concern that arose during the year. The United States and Panama held an 

FTC meeting on November 22, 2016, to review progress on implementation of the TPA, including the 

establishment of the Environment Secretariat in December 2015 and efforts to hire an Executive Director 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 131

for the Secretariat in 2016. The FTC also discussed Panama’s next steps on outstanding intellectual 

property commitments such as Internet Service Provider Liability (Article 15.11.27) and pre-established 

damages (Article 15.11.8), and bilateral concerns related to trade in agricultural products. Both sides agreed 

that implementation was proceeding and providing new opportunities for traders and investors, and agreed 

on next steps on ongoing issues.

Recognizing the importance of an effective dispute settlement procedure to ensuring both countries’ rights 

and benefits under the Agreement, in 2016, both sides continued to work to establish four rosters of potential 

panelists for disputes that may arise under the TPA concerning general matters, as well as under the Labor, 

Environment, and Financial Services chapters of the TPA. The finalization of the rosters will complete the 

establishment of the dispute settlement infrastructure for the Agreement, building on the 2014 FTC 

decisions establishing model rules of procedures for the settlement of disputes, a code of conduct for 

panelists, and remuneration of panelists, assistants, and experts, and the payment of their expenses. In 

December 2016, the United States and Panama agreed to update the TPA’s rules of origin to correspond to 

the 2007 and 2012 changes in the Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature. 

Labor

The TPA includes a Labor Chapter with commitments requiring both countries to adopt and maintain in 

laws and practices the fundamental labor rights as stated in the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles 

and Rights at Work of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and not to fail to effectively enforce 

their labor laws or to waive or derogate from those laws in a manner affecting trade or investment. The 

obligations under the Labor Chapter are subject to dispute settlement provisions, just as other obligations 

in the TPA are, and therefore are subject to the same remedies. 

Panama undertook a series of major legislative and administrative actions beginning in 2009 to 2016 to 

further strengthen its labor laws and labor enforcement, including new laws to protect the right to strike, 

eliminate restrictions on collective bargaining, update the list of hazardous occupations prohibited for 

children, and protect the rights of temporary workers. Panama has also taken administrative actions to 

address concerns in the areas of subcontracting, temporary workers, employer interference with unions, 

bargaining with non-union workers, strikes in essential services, and labor rights in the maritime sector. 

U.S. Government officials met with government officials from the Panamanian Ministry of Labor in 

February of 2016 in Washington D.C., and discussed labor law enforcement issues and best practices in the 

areas of child labor, wage-and-hour protections and occupational safety and health.

In addition, the Department of Labor (DOL) is currently funding three projects in Panama to further combat 

exploitative child labor, including a $6.5 million, four-year project implemented by Partners of the 

Americas to address the worst forms of child labor among the most vulnerable populations in Panama, 

including Afro-descendants and migrant and indigenous children and their families, by providing them with 

educational and livelihood services. DOL is also funding a $3.5 million, four-year project implemented by 

the ILO to strengthen the enforcement of child labor and occupational safety laws in Panama that runs 

through 2017. 

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

13. Peru

Overview

The United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) entered into force on February 1, 2009.
132 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

The United States’ two-way trade in goods with Peru was $14.3 billion in 2016, with U.S. goods exports to 

Peru totaling $8.0 billion, and U.S. goods imports from Peru totaling $6.2 billion. U.S. exports of 

agricultural products to Peru totaled $1.1 billion in 2016. Leading categories include: corn ($452 million), 

soybean meal ($108 million), and wheat ($89 million). U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Peru (stock), 

primarily in the mining sector, was $6.9 billion in 2015 (latest data available), a 6.4 percent increase from 

2014. 

The PTPA eliminates tariffs, removes barriers to U.S. goods and services, provides a secure and predictable 

legal framework for investors, and strengthens protections for intellectual property, workers’ rights, and the 

environment. 

Elements of the PTPA

Operation of the Agreement

The PTPA establishes a Free Trade Commission (FTC) to supervise the implementation of the PTPA. The 

last meeting of the FTC was held in November 2015 in Washington D.C. The government of Peru will 

host the next FTC meeting in early 2017. SPS and TBT work continued throughout 2016 (see below). This 

year, much of the work with Peru centered on logging issues under the Annex on Forest Sector Governance 

(Forest Annex) (see environment below). The Forest Annex includes concrete steps to be taken to 

strengthen forest sector governance and combat illegal logging and illegal trade in timber and wildlife 

products. The Forest Annex also includes monitoring tools such as a requirement that Peru conduct audits 

and verifications of particular producers and exporters upon request from the United States. 

Agriculture (SPS)

Following extensive technical-level exchanges, and numerous engagements by USTR and USDA officials 

in a variety of fora, including the PTPA Standing Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters, an 

official letter exchange was finalized with Peru in March 2016 resulting in the removal of remaining bovine 

spongiform encephalopathy-related trade restrictions. Since the PTPA entered into force, Peru has become 

one of the fastest growing markets for U.S. beef in Latin America and it is expected to further increase as 

result of the exchange of letters resulting in the removal of the BSE-related trade restrictions. U.S. exports 

of beef and beef products to Peru were valued at $25.4 million in 2015, a nearly fourfold increase from the 

$6.4 million posted in pre-PTPA 2008.

Labor

In July 2015, the International Labor Rights Forum and several Peruvian labor groups filed a public 

communication with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) alleging that the government of Peru had failed 

to meet its obligations under the PTPA Labor Chapter. The communication raised issues related to Peru’s 

adoption and maintenance of laws and practices that protect fundamental labor rights and the effective 

enforcement of labor laws, particularly with regard to Peru’s laws on non-traditional exports and the use of 

temporary contracts in the textiles sector and agricultural industry. Review of the submission included a 

fact-finding mission to Peru by USTR and DOL in December 2015 to gather additional information on the 

issues raised by the submission, including through meetings with the Peruvian government, the submitters, 

workers’ organizations, employers, and other relevant stakeholders. In March 2016, DOL issued a report 

on the matter, raising significant concerns regarding freedom of association in Peru’s non-traditional export 

sectors, which includes exports such as textiles, apparel, and certain agricultural products. In addition, 

while recognizing a number of positive steps taken by the Peruvian government to improve its labor law 

enforcement since signing the PTPA in 2007, the report raised questions about the effectiveness of the 

country’s labor law enforcement. To help guide subsequent engagement between the U.S. Government and 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 133

the government of Peru, the report provided six recommendations aimed at addressing the questions and 

concerns, and notes the U.S. Government’s commitment to assess any progress by Peru within nine months 

and thereafter, as appropriate. The U.S. Government held several videoconference meetings with Peruvian 

trade and labor officials after the report was published, and discussed ways to address the recommendations 

in the DOL report, including by improving labor inspections and through technical cooperation. DOL 

published its nine month review statement in December 2016, which noted progress by Peru in the area of 

labor inspections, but concerns remain regarding the right to freedom of association in Peru’s nontraditional export sectors USTR, DOL, and the State Department continue to engage with the government 

of Peru to review progress on addressing the issues identified in the report. Further information on the Peru 

labor communication is available at: http://www.dol.gov/ilab/trade/agreements/fta-subs.htm. 

In December 2014, DOL awarded $2 million to a Peruvian NGO (Capital Humano y Social Alternativo) to 

implement a project to help build the labor law enforcement capacity of the Peruvian Ministry of Labor and 

Employment Promotion’s (MTPE) recently-formed National Superintendency of Labor Inspection 

(SUNAFIL). The project, which runs through 2018, focuses particularly on improving the MTPE’s 

enforcement of laws, regulations, and other legal instruments governing subcontracting, outsourcing, and 

the use of short-term employment contracts, especially in the textile and apparel and agricultural export 

sectors. In November 2015, DOL awarded to the Solidarity Center a $1 million project to complement the 

SUNAFIL project by building the capacities of workers’ organizations to effectively assist their constituents 

to identify abusive short-term employment contracting and unlawful subcontracting and to productively 

engage with employers and the government to address identified problems. This project also runs through 

2018. In addition, DOL funds five projects, either focused exclusively on Peru or as part of global projects 

that work to reduce child labor and forced labor in Peru.

Environment

For a discussion of environment related activities in 2016, see Chapter IV.A.2.

14. Singapore

The United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement has been in force since January 1, 2004. Two-way 

goods trade has increased 40.9 percent from $32 billion in 2003 to $44.7 billion in 2016. The United States 

had a $9.1 billion goods trade surplus with Singapore in 2016. Two-way services trade has more than 

doubled, increasing from $8.1 billion in 2003 to $21.1 billion in 2015 (latest data available). The United 

States had a $7.6 billion services trade surplus with Singapore in 2015. The United States engaged regularly 

with Singapore in 2016 to further build and expand the bilateral relationship and address bilateral issues. 

The United States and Singapore have been close partners in the WTO, APEC, ASEAN, and other regional 

initiatives.

B. Other Bilateral and Regional Initiatives 

1. The Americas

Trade and Investment Framework Agreements and other Bilateral Trade Mechanisms

USTR chairs bilateral meetings with non-FTA partners in the Americas to discuss market opening 

opportunities, including improving access for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and resolving 

trade issues with those governments. The United States has Trade and Investment Framework Agreements 

(TIFAs) with Argentina, signed in March 2016; with Uruguay, signed in January 2007; and with the 

Caribbean Community, signed in May 2013 (to update and enhance a prior TIFA signed in 1991). The 
134 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

United States and Paraguay established a Bilateral Council on Trade and Investment in 2004, which last 

met in November 2015 (see below). The United States and Brazil signed the Agreement on Trade and

Economic Cooperation in 2011, which last met in March 2016 (see below).

Other Priority Work

The United States continued its engagement with other countries in the region, aimed at fostering bilateral 

trade relations and resolving trade problems during 2016. Highlights of USTR’s other priority activities in 

the region include:

Argentina

In March 2016, the United States and Argentina signed a TIFA, which established the United States–

Argentina Council on Trade and Investment. The Council serves as a forum for engagement on a broad 

range of bilateral trade issues, such as market access, intellectual property rights protection, and cooperation 

on shared objectives in the World Trade Organization and other multilateral fora. The first meeting of the 

Council was held in Buenos Aires in November 2016. One action of the Council was to establish an 

“Innovation and Creativity Forum” to discuss issues of mutual interest, including geographical indications, 

industrial designs, and the importance of intellectual property protections for small- and medium-sized 

enterprises. The Forum held its first meeting on December 6, 2016 in Buenos Aires.

Brazil

Bilateral dialogue with Brazil is conducted through the United States–Brazil Commission on Economic and 

Trade Relations (the Commission) established by the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation 

(ATEC), which was signed in 2011. The ATEC was intended to deepen U.S. engagement with Brazil and 

expand the trade and investment relationship on a broad range of issues including trade facilitation, 

intellectual property rights and innovation, and technical barriers to trade. The most recent Commission 

meeting under the ATEC was held in March 2016 at the ministerial level. The next Commission meeting 

will be held in 2017 in Brazil.

Canada

Trade tensions over softwood lumber are longstanding and deeply-rooted. In the United States, most of the 

fiber used to make softwood lumber is privately owned and sold; in Canada, provincial governments own 

and control most of the fiber supply and most set the price for harvesting timber rather than allowing the 

market to determine such prices. 

In early 2016, the United States responded to Canada’s interest in a new long-term agreement, for trade in 

softwood lumber, which would impose restrictions on Canadian softwood lumber imports. The most recent 

agreement expired in 2015. 

On June 29, 2016, the two countries released a statement that a new softwood lumber agreement would be 

designed to maintain Canadian exports at or below an agreed market share. On November 25, 2016, the 

U.S. Lumber Coalition initiated actions under U.S. trade remedy laws challenging the harmful effects of 

Canadian lumber in the U.S. market that are unfairly subsidized or “dumped”. This marks the fifth time in 

approximately 30 years that U.S. industry has availed itself of U.S. trade remedy laws to address this 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 135

imbalance, often resulting in bilateral softwood lumber dispute settlement agreements. The governments 

remain engaged in exploring a possible solution to the ongoing softwood lumber issue.

As a result of the 1998 United States-Canada Record of Understanding on Agricultural Matters, the United 

States-Canada Consultative Committee on Agriculture (CCA) and the Province/State Advisory Group were 

formed in 1999 to strengthen bilateral agricultural trade relations and to facilitate discussion and 

cooperation on matters related to agriculture. The CCA met in February and September 2016 to address 

bilateral trade issues, and strengthen collaboration on issues of mutual interest, including trade barriers in 

third countries.

Mexico

In May 2013, the United States and Mexico established the High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) to 

further elevate and strengthen the bilateral commercial and economic relationship. On February 25, 2016, 

the third meeting of the HLED was held, where officials of both countries noted success in meeting 2015 

strategic goals. USTR also participated in a mid-year DVC on December 8, 2016, which took stock of the 

year’s activities.

In 2007, the United States and Mexico signed a Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural trade, which 

established the current bilateral Consultative Committee on Agriculture (CCA). The CCA serves as a highlevel forum for dialogue on issues related to agricultural trade. The CCA met in Mexico City in May 2016 

to discuss a wide range of bilateral trade issues, and to strengthen cooperation on issues of mutual interest. 

Paraguay

In June 2015, the United States and Paraguay signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Intellectual 

Property Rights, under which Paraguay committed to take specific steps to improve its IPR protection and 

enforcement environment, and USTR removed Paraguay from the Special 301 Watch List. In November 

2015, Paraguay hosted the twelfth meeting of the Bilateral Council on Trade and Investment. The United 

States and Paraguay discussed a broad range of bilateral trade and investment issues, including increased 

collaboration to expand economic opportunities for businesses and investors, implementation of the MOU 

on IPR, and market access issues. The next meeting of the Joint Council on Trade and Investment will be 

held in 2017.

Uruguay

In May 2016, Uruguay hosted the seventh meeting of the United States–Uruguay Trade and Investment 

Council under the TIFA which was signed in 2007. The United States and Uruguay discussed a range of 

bilateral trade and investment issues, including trade facilitation, improving opportunities for SMEs, and 

market access matters. The next meeting of the Trade and Investment Council will be held in Washington 

in 2017.

Cuba

In addition to the United States-Cuba Regulatory Dialogue established in 2015, the U.S. Department of 

State held a meeting of the United States-Cuba Economic Dialogue in September 2016, during which the 

United States and Cuba agreed to create the Trade and Investment Working Group, which would be chaired 

by USTR on the U.S. side and Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment on the Cuban side.
136 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

2. Europe and the Middle East

USTR’s Office of Europe and the Middle East is responsible for bilateral trade relations with the European 

Union (EU) and its 28 Member states, non-EU European countries, Russia, certain countries of western 

Eurasia, the Middle East, and North Africa. The United States works with these countries through FTA, 

BITs, TIFAs, and other mechanisms to promote enhanced trade and investment ties, increase U.S. exports, 

encourage the development of intraregional economic engagement, foster partner country policies grounded 

in the rule of law, and, where relevant, advance countries’ accessions to the WTO (see Chapter II.J.6. for 

more information on WTO accessions).

During 2016, the Office of Europe and the Middle East focused on negotiations for a comprehensive trade 

and investment agreement with the EU, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP); 

monitored Russia’s implementation of its WTO commitments; promoted policies in Eurasia that foster 

economic diversity and independence; and supported initiatives in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) 

region centered on ongoing political and economic reforms, as well as trade and investment integration.

Deepening U.S.-EU Trade and Investment Relations

The U.S. trade and investment relationship with the EU is the largest and most complex economic 

relationship in the world. Transatlantic trade flows (goods and services trade plus earnings and payments 

on investment) averaged an estimated $4.8 billion each day of 2016.37 The total stock of transatlantic 

investment was $4.5 trillion in 2015 (latest data available). These enormous trade and investment flows 

constitute a key source of economic prosperity for the United States and Europe.

Early in 2013, the United States announced its intention to pursue the T-TIP agreement with the EU. The 

negotiations were formally launched during a June 2013 meeting, and the first negotiating round was held 

in July 2013. By the end of 2016, U.S. and EU negotiators had met in fifteen formal rounds, including four 

in 2016, and had engaged in a wide range of discussions and negotiating sessions between rounds. 

However, as 2016 concluded, important differences remained on critical negotiating areas of the agreement, 

The Trump Administration is currently evaluating the status of these negotiations.

Over the course of the negotiations, the goal has been to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive 

agreement that would promote economic growth and jobs, strengthen the strategic partnership, and reflect 

our shared values. In establishing U.S. negotiating objectives for the T-TIP agreement, USTR consulted 

with Congress and a wide range of private sector stakeholders. These consultations shaped U.S. negotiating 

goals, which are, inter alia, to:

 Further open EU markets to increase the $499 billion in goods and services the United States 

exported in 2015 (latest data available) to the European Union, our largest goods and services 

export market;

 Strengthen rules-based investment to grow the world’s largest investment relationship;

 Eliminate all tariffs on trade in goods;

 Obtain improved market access for trade in services; 

 Address and prevent unnecessary nontariff barriers and significantly reduce costs associated with 

unnecessary differences in standards and regulations by, for example, promoting greater 

transparency, public participation, and accountability in regulatory procedures and by achieving 

greater compatibility in the U.S. and EU approaches to regulation in several economically 

 

37 Based on the first three quarters of 2016.
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 137

significant sectors—while maintaining our high levels of health, safety, and environmental 

protection; 

 Develop rules, principles, and new modes of cooperation on issues of global concern, including 

intellectual property, and market-based disciplines addressing state-owned enterprises; and, 

 Promote the global competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Ongoing Engagement with Turkey and the Middle East/North Africa

The revolutions and other changes that swept through the MENA region beginning in 2011 have provided 

new opportunities and posed new challenges with respect to U.S. trade and investment relations with 

MENA countries (especially countries in transition such as Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, and Libya). 

USTR has coordinated with other Federal agencies, outside experts, and stakeholders in both the United 

States and MENA partner countries to explore prospective areas for cooperation that could yield the 

quickest results in terms of increased trade and investment, in addition to developing longer-term trade and 

investment objectives with regional trading partners. In 2016, the United States continued to monitor, 

implement, and enforce existing U.S. FTAs in the region (Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, and Oman); 

pursued TIFA consultations with Egypt, Tunisia, Qatar, and Algeria (including attempts to revive 

engagement with the Algerian government in its WTO accession efforts); and sought new opportunities to 

cooperate more closely with Saudi Arabia.

The United States also continued to pursue engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries 

(Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) as a group through the U.S.-

GCC Framework Agreement for Trade, Economic, Investment and Technical Cooperation. Enhanced U.S. 

dialogue with the GCC is aimed at ensuring that U.S. interests are fully represented as the GCC continues 

to develop as a regional organization dedicated to harmonizing standards, import regulations, and 

conformity assessment systems among its member states.

Recognizing Turkey’s growing importance as a trade and investment partner, the U.S. Trade Representative 

and the Secretary of Commerce co-chair U.S participation in a ministerial level forum designed to enhance 

bilateral engagement on economic issues, known as the Framework for Strategic Economic and 

Commercial Cooperation (FSECC). U.S. and Turkish officials have conducted three formal FSECC 

meetings: October 2010 (Washington); June 2012 (Ankara); and May 2014 (Washington). Given Turkey’s 

concerns about the potential for U.S.-EU T-TIP negotiations to affect its trade relations with both the United 

States and the European Union, the United States and Turkey agreed in May 2013 to form a High Level 

Committee (HLC), associated with the FSECC and chaired by the USTR and Minister of Economy, to 

assess such potential impacts and seek new ways to promote bilateral trade and investment. Expert level 

contacts under the HLC have been conducted on several occasions since its creation.

Promoting Transparent and Rules-Based Economies in Eurasia

U.S. support for economic policies that are transparent, predictable and based on the rule of law has long 

gone hand in hand with promoting democracy and self-determination. Throughout 2016, the United States 

worked with countries on Europe’s eastern periphery and in the Caucasus to reinforce the open trade 

policies of the WTO and promote economic growth.

For example, the United States has continued to provide significant technical and financial support to the 

government of Ukraine to support its continuing efforts to reform the Ukrainian economy, and to promote 

the strong enforcement and promotion of intellectual property rights. In October, the United States hosted 

the sixth meeting of the United States-Ukraine Trade and Investment Council in Washington, D.C., at which 

the delegations exchanged ideas and identified practical steps to deepen their bilateral trade and investment 

relationship. The United States has also continued discussions with Georgia and Armenia on efforts to 
138 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

further strengthen trade and investment ties through the United States-Georgia High-Level Dialogue on 

Trade and Investment and the United States-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.

Russia, unfortunately, continues to discriminate against imports, using unjustified and retaliatory trade 

measures against many of its neighbors, as well as against the United States. Although the United States 

continues to restrict its bilateral engagement with Russia as a result of Russia’s failure to implement the 

terms of the Minsk Agreement, it has not hesitated, where appropriate, to highlight the potential WTO 

inconsistency of its protectionist trade policies. The United States has closely monitored Russia’s 

implementation of its WTO obligations, and employed various WTO mechanisms to pursue full compliance 

where Russia appeared to fall short. The United States will continue to monitor Russia’s implementation 

of its WTO obligations and use all available tools of the WTO, as appropriate, to enforce those obligations. 

The United States will also continue to follow and evaluate the actions of the Eurasian Economic 

Commission (EEC), the administrative arm of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU; comprising Armenia, 

Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia), and, where appropriate, work with the EEC, Russia, and the 

individual EAEU member states to ensure compliance with the WTO rules and to open the EAEU’s markets 

to exports of U.S. goods.

3. Japan, Republic of Korea, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 

Forum

Japan 

In 2016, the United States continued to engage Japan on a broad array of trade and trade-related issues to 

eliminate barriers to trade and expanding access to Japan’s market. 

The United States worked closely with Japan in multilateral fora in 2016 to address trade issues of common 

interest, including those in third-country markets. This work included closely coordinating on World Trade 

Organization (WTO) dispute settlement matters and working toward full implementation of the expanded 

WTO Information Technology Agreement. The United States and Japan also worked together with other 

economies to advance negotiations on the Trade in Services Agreement and Environmental Goods 

Agreement. The United States and Japan are working closely together in the Asia-Pacific Economic 

Cooperation (APEC) forum on advancing next generation issues like digital trade; creating an enabling 

environment for innovation by promoting the Best Practices in Trade Secret Protection and Enforcement 

Against Misappropriation; and ensuring that APEC member economies continue to implement their 

groundbreaking commitment to reduce tariffs on environmental goods.

Republic of Korea (Korea)

(See Chapter III.A.8 for discussion of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement.)

In addition to close engagement with counterparts in the Korean government in committee meetings and 

working groups established under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), USTR continues 

to hold bilateral consultations with Korea in a variety of formats to address bilateral trade issues in a timely 

fashion, as well as to discuss emerging issues that may fall outside the scope of the FTA. These meetings, 

which USTR leads, and in which other U.S. agencies participate, are augmented by senior-level 

engagement. In 2016, the United States and Korea held a number of bilateral trade consultations, in which 

the United States addressed issues including the importance of good regulatory practice to the maintenance 

of an open and welcoming business environment, proper enforcement of intellectual property and 

competition policy, market access for electronic mapping services, and agricultural market access. 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 139

Korea has continued to import U.S. beef and beef products from animals less than 30 months of age since 

reopening its market to imports of U.S. beef in June 2008. In 2016, U.S. exports of beef and beef products 

to Korea were valued at $1.1 billion, making Korea the second largest U.S. beef export market. 

The United States and Korea cooperated extensively in a range of multilateral and regional fora to advance 

opening markets. In APEC, the two countries worked together closely to strengthen regional economic 

integration in the Asia-Pacific by improving supply chain performance in the region, advancing issues 

related to digital trade, and ensuring that APEC member economies continue to implement their 

commitment to reduce tariffs on environmental goods. The United States also supported Korea’s capacitybuilding initiative for helping developing economies participate in ongoing regional trade 

agreements. Finally, Korea and the United States continued working together to advance the Trade in 

Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations during 2016. 

APEC

Overview

Since it was founded in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has been instrumental 

in promoting regional and global trade and investment. APEC provides a unique opportunity to reduce 

barriers to U.S. exports and to more closely link our economy with the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. 

In 2016, Peru hosted APEC under the theme: “Quality Growth and Human Development.” This theme has 

four priority areas: 1) advancing regional economic integration and quality growth; 2) enhancing the 

regional food market; 3) modernizing micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in the Asia-Pacific; and 

4) developing human capital. Peru proposed that this theme, implemented in the framework of free market 

policies and openness to trade, will provide sustainability and legitimacy to the development processes. 

The United States worked with Peru to advance important policy objectives, particularly in the area of 

enhancing regional economic integration.

APEC Leaders and Ministers in their meetings in Lima on November 19-20 agreed to a number of outcomes 

for 2016 to promote regional economic integration by preventing trade barriers, creating more transparent 

and open regulatory cultures, and reducing trade costs by making supply chains more efficient. The 

activities below describe the key outcomes that advance the U.S. trade and investment agenda in the region. 

According to the APEC Secretariat, the 21 member economies collectively account for approximately 40 

percent of the world's population, approximately 57 percent of world GDP and about 45 percent of world 

trade (if intra-EU trade is included in world trade, or 59 percent if intra-EU trade is excluded). In 2016, 

United States-APEC total trade in goods was $2.4 trillion. Total trade in services was $475 billion in 2015 

(latest data available). The significant volume of U.S. trade in the Asia-Pacific region underscores the 

importance of the region as a market for U.S. exports.

2016 Activities

Services and Digital Trade: APEC economies adopted the APEC Services Competiveness Roadmap that 

will focus APEC work in the field of services. The APEC Services Competitiveness Roadmap sets APECwide and individual targets to be achieved by 2025. In the area of digital trade, APEC continued pursuing 

a U.S.-led initiative to facilitate the development of policies that promote digital trade as a next generation 

trade and investment issue. In 2017, APEC will continue its thorough review of the issue with the objective 

of identifying barriers to digital trade (including blocking of data flows and forced localization 

requirements), and policy responses to these barriers in a way that facilitates digital trade. The United 

States also advanced a Pathfinder initiative with 11 other APEC economies to support a permanent customs 

duty moratorium on electronic transmissions, including electronically transmitted content.
140 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

Supply Chain Connectivity and Performance: In 2016, APEC economies continued to make progress 

toward meeting the APEC-wide target of achieving a 10 percent improvement in supply chain performance 

in connection with the Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan (SCFAP). APEC approved the 

second phase of the SCFAP, and work in 2017 will continue to focus on areas relevant to the 

implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. In addition, APEC continued its work in this 

area by:

(1) engaging in targeted capacity building in individual economies to improve supply chain 

performance and implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement; and

(2) renewing the U.S.-led initiative known as the APEC Alliance for Supply Chain 

Connectivity, a public-private group that focuses on helping with this capacity building. 

APEC's supply chain work will make it significantly cheaper, easier, and faster for businesses to trade in 

the region. In 2016, progress was made on a number of projects in the Capacity Building Plan to Improve 

Supply Chain Performance (pre-arrival processing, advance rulings, expedited shipments, release of goods 

and electronic payments). 

Trade Secrets: APEC economies endorsed the Best Practices in Trade Secret Protection and Enforcement 

Against Misappropriation, thereby recognizing the importance of trade secrets protection and enforcement 

to innovation, foreign direct investment, and the commercialization of research and development. 

Regulatory Transparency: In 2016, APEC economies continued to build on earlier work related to good 

regulatory practices (GRP), including regulatory transparency. In August 2016, the Economic Committee 

organized the 9th Conference on Good Regulatory Practices, which included panels on simplification 

strategies, promoting high level support for reform, capacity building and stakeholder engagement, 

promoting inclusive growth, international regulatory cooperation, and cooperation that delivers results for 

business. At the GRP conference, the United States presented the preliminary results of the third update to 

the 2011 survey of GRP in the APEC region. The Food Safety Cooperation Forum Partnership Training 

Institute Network, which strengthens capacity in food safety, held a workshop on enhancing food safety 

regulation through increased transparency and public consultation. The Wine Regulatory Forum developed 

a model wine export certificate, which ministers adopted in May 2016. This certificate will reduce 

administrative burdens on wine producers and traders through the creation of a single model document that 

all APEC economies can use.

Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP): In 2016, APEC completed the Collective Strategic Study 

on issues related to the eventual realization of the FTAAP, and adopted a set of Recommendations to 

advance work in areas to enhance regional economic integration. 

Supporting the Multilateral Trading System and the World Trade Organization: APEC Leaders in 

November 2016 reaffirmed the value, centrality, and primacy of the multilateral trade system under the 

auspices of the WTO. APEC economies reiterated their commitment to strengthening the rules-based, 

transparent, non-discriminatory, open, and inclusive multilateral trading system. APEC Leaders also 

reaffirmed their commitment to roll back protectionist and trade distorting measures and extended their 

standstill commitment to refrain from protectionist measures. 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 141

4. China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mongolia

China

See 2016 USTR Report to Congress on China’s WTO Compliance: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2016-

China-Report-to-Congress.pdf 

United States-Hong Kong Trade Relations 

The United States continued its efforts to expand trade with Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region 

of the People’s Republic of China. Following a partial market expansion for beef exports to Hong Kong in 

2013 and the World Organization for Animal Health’s upgrade of the U.S. risk classification for bovine 

spongiform encephalopathy to negligible risk, Hong Kong opened its market fully to all U.S. beef and beef 

products in 2014.

United States-Taiwan Trade Relations

The United States-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council, held under the 

auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office 

in the United States, is the key forum for both economies to resolve and make progress on a wide range of 

issues affecting the U.S.-Taiwan trade and investment relationship. The 2016 TIFA Council meeting was 

held on October 4, 2016 in Washington, D.C. Prior to the October TIFA Council meeting, authorities from 

both sides convened meetings at the working group level and held expert level discussions on issues 

including intellectual property rights, agriculture, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. 

In 2016, the TIFA process yielded important concrete results for U.S. stakeholders. The United States 

welcomed efforts by Taiwan authorities to follow through on the 2015 TIFA commitments related to 

intellectual property rights (IPR), pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and registration of chemical 

substances. With respect to intellectual property, the TIFA talks took stock of progress on pharmaceutical 

IP protection and committed to strengthen engagement on Taiwan’s intellectual property rights legislation, 

promote the use of legitimate educational materials, and enhance enforcement cooperation. The 2016 TIFA 

also provided a platform for both sides to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the area of transparency. 

Both sides also agreed to continue the exchange of views on pending revisions to Taiwan’s Copyright Act. 

Furthermore, at the 2016 TIFA Council meeting, the United States and Taiwan held in-depth discussions 

on a range of agricultural issues and agreed that more needed to be done to secure meaningful progress. In 

addition, both the United States and Taiwan recognized the need for further engagement on improving the 

time-to-market of medical devices, including streamlining regulatory approvals. 

The United States continues to express serious concerns about Taiwan’s agricultural policies that are not 

based upon science. Removing Taiwan’s bans on U.S. pork and certain beef products produced using 

ractopamine, as well as continued barriers to U.S. beef offal products, are priorities. Other key areas of 

focus include Taiwan’s rice procurement systems and barriers to U.S. agricultural biotechnology products 

and certified organic products in Taiwan. 

The United States will continue to work to address and resolve the broad range of trade and investment 

issues important to U.S. stakeholders through engagement under the TIFA framework as well as through 

multilateral fora such as the WTO. In addition to agricultural issues, the United States will continue to 

engage on IPR issues as Taiwan revises its Copyright Act and works to ensure transparency and 

predictability in pharmaceutical and medical device pricing and reimbursement. The United States will 
142 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

continue to utilize the Investment Working Group for dialogue with Taiwan authorities to address a robust 

set of priority investment issues to improve Taiwan’s investment climate, and also continue to conduct 

exchanges under the TBT Working Group to ensure that technical regulations do not create excessive 

burdens for the industries that they affect, such as chemicals, cosmetics, and consumer products. 

U.S.-Mongolia Trade Relations 

The United States and Mongolia renewed their engagement under the United States.-Mongolia Trade and 

Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in 2015, holding a meeting in Ulaanbaatar on May 18. This 5th 

TIFA meeting was the first one since the two sides launched negotiations over a bilateral agreement on 

transparency in matters relating to trade and investment in 2009. The two sides reviewed Mongolia’s 

ongoing efforts to make the legal changes necessary for their bilateral transparency agreement, signed by 

the two sides in 2013 and ratified by the Mongolian Parliament in 2014, to enter into force. The TIFA 

meeting also provided the opportunity to discuss recent changes to Mongolia’s investment and mining laws 

aimed at encouraging more foreign investment into Mongolia as well as a range of investor concerns about 

Mongolia’s investment climate. 

In January 2017, the United States and Mongolia exchanged letters enabling their bilateral transparency 

agreement to enter into force, effective 60 days later. This agreement applies to matters relating to 

international trade and investment and includes joint commitments to provide opportunities for public 

comment on proposed laws and regulations and to publish final laws and regulations. This publication 

commitment includes the obligation to publish final laws and regulations in English, which should make it 

easier for U.S. and other foreign enterprises to do business in, and invest in, Mongolia. The transparency 

agreement also commits the two parties to ensure that administrative agencies apply fair, impartial and 

reasonable procedures and that persons affected by the decisions of administrative agencies have a right to 

appeal those decisions. Additional commitments address the application of disciplines on bribery and 

corruption. 

5. Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Free Trade Agreements

The United States continued to monitor and enforce its FTAs with Singapore and Australia (See Chapter 

III.A for additional information). 

Trans-Pacific Partnership

The United States and the 11 other countries (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, 

Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam) signed the TPP Agreement on February 

4, 2016, following the conclusion of TPP negotiations in October 2015 and finalization of the legal text of 

the agreement. 

Throughout 2016, the Obama Administration negotiated with the U.S. Congress and consulted with 

stakeholders to prepare for Congressional consideration of the TPP Agreement. Following the February 

signing of the TPP agreement, on April 1 the Obama Administration transmitted to Congress the expected 

list of changes to existing law required to bring the United States into compliance with obligations under 

TPP. On August 12, the Administration transmitted to Congress the draft Statement of Administrative 

Action and draft implementing legislation for TPP. President Obama never submitted the implementing 

legislation to Congress.
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 143

Meanwhile, some TPP countries are working to conclude other regional free trade agreements, including 

the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, an agreement that includes the ten ASEAN countries, 

China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand, and that other TPP countries are exploring joining. 

TPP countries are also negotiating other regional agreements, including the Pacific Alliance, an agreement 

being negotiated by Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Colombia, to which many other countries have joined as 

observers, and a number of TPP countries also are negotiating trade agreements with the European Union.

On January 24, 2017, President Trump instructed USTR to issue formal notice to the TPP countries that the 

United States intended to formally withdraw from the discussions. USTR issued formal notice on January 

30, 2017. However, USTR intends to continue strong bilateral engagement with our Asia-Pacific partners 

to maintain American influence in the region. The Trump Administration formally began this process on 

February 2, 2017, when the President invited leaders of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means 

Committees to the White House in order to begin consultations related to bilateral discussions with our 

trading partners in the region. These bilateral discussions will present unique opportunities to engage our 

Asia-Pacific partners in areas in which the TPP failed to provide adequate market access of American-made 

goods and agriculture products. 

Managing United States-Southeast Asia and Pacific Trade Relations

In 2016, the United States continued to deepen economic relations with ASEAN countries, both bilaterally 

and as a group, under a network of Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs). The United 

States has TIFAs with Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, and signed a 

TIFA with Laos in February 2016. 

The United States used these dialogues to implement initiatives designed to strengthen trade and investment 

ties and address bilateral trade issues, and monitor TIFA partners’ implementation of their WTO 

commitments. For example, under our bilateral TIFA with Thailand, the United States and Thailand agreed 

to a work plan to address concerns with Thailand’s intellectual property rights regime. The U.S. 

Government worked with Laos to support its implementation of its WTO accession commitments and 

commitments under the United States-Laos Bilateral Trade Agreement. U.S. TIFA and other bilateral 

meetings also provided opportunities to coordinate on capacity building and economic assistance projects 

in ASEAN countries, including on customs and trade facilitation, environment, and labor rights and 

protections. 

The United States also intends to use these meetings to coordinate and advance ASEAN, APEC, and WTO 

initiatives.

Expanded Economic Engagement/U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement

In addition to bilateral dialogues, the United States engaged with ASEAN under the United States-ASEAN 

TIFA and the ASEAN-United States Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) initiative, initiatives developed 

in order to deepen trade ties with ASEAN countries, which collectively represent the fourth largest U.S. 

trading partner. The United States held several high-level meetings with ASEAN in 2016 to advance 

initiatives under E3 and the U.S.-ASEAN TIFA, including in the areas of environment, transparency, 

investment, information and communications technology, trade facilitation, small- and medium-sized 

enterprise development, and the expansion of cooperative work on standards development and practices, 

including on technical barriers to trade and good regulatory practices. In follow up to the U.S.-ASEAN 

Special Leader Summit in February 2016, the United States hosted the ASEAN Ministers for meetings in 

San Francisco and Silicon Valley to showcase economic and trade policies that support innovation and 

entrepreneurship. In 2016, the United States also launched the U.S.-ASEAN Trade Workshops aimed at 
144 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

providing ASEAN information on elements of high-standard trade agreements and in cooperation with 

Singapore delivered workshops on electronic commerce and intellectual property rights. The United States 

and ASEAN also finalized joint principles with ASEAN on investment and on transparency and good 

regulatory practices. 

6. Sub-Saharan Africa

Overview

Throughout the year, USTR maintained an active program to promote U.S. trade and investment interests 

across sub-Saharan Africa through a range of events and initiatives, including by hosting the AGOA Forum, 

participating in the United States-East African Community (EAC) Trade and Investment Partnership, and 

holding meetings under Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) with certain African 

countries and regional economic communities. 

AGOA Forum 

On September 26, 2016, USTR chaired the annual AGOA Ministerial Forum in Washington, D.C. (for 

more information on AGOA, see Chapter V.B.8c). The theme of this Forum was “Maximizing United 

States-Africa Trade and Investment: AGOA and Beyond.” The discussion served both to encourage AGOA 

beneficiary countries to take full advantage of the decade-long extension of the program and to begin a 

conversation of how to move the trade and investment relationship to the next level, beyond AGOA. The 

discussion was informed by a USTR report released the week prior at the United States-Africa Business 

Forum in New York entitled, “Beyond AGOA: Looking to the Future of United States Africa Trade and 

Investment.”

World Economic Forum on Africa

During May 12-14, 2016, USTR participated in the World Economic Forum on Africa, held in Kigali, 

Rwanda. It met with African heads of state and other government and private-sector leaders to advance 

U.S. trade and investment-related issues in Africa, and, in particular, to consult on the future of United 

States-Africa trade and investment. While in Rwanda, the delegation toured a women’s cooperative that 

produces high-end bags and accessories for export under AGOA.

 

Trade Africa/U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership

The United States announced in 2013 the Trade Africa initiative, which is a partnership between the United 

States and the countries in sub-Saharan Africa that seeks to increase regional trade within Africa and expand 

trade and economic ties between Africa and the United States. Trade Africa initially focused on the Partner 

States of the East African Community (EAC) – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. 

On September 26, 2016, USTR hosted a ministerial meeting with Trade Ministers and senior officials from 

the EAC Partner States. The United States and the EAC concurred on the need to develop a strategic way 

forward on deepening the U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership beyond AGOA. The United States 

and the EAC also continued discussions on the possibility of negotiating a U.S.-EAC investment treaty to 

contribute to a more attractive investment environment in East Africa. 

On September 27, 2016, senior officials from the United States and EAC held a U.S.-EAC TIFA meeting 

where they discussed implementation of the EAC-U.S. “Cooperation Agreement on Trade Facilitation, 

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, and Technical Barriers to Trade,” signed on February 26, 2015; 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 145

efforts to increase two-way trade through the development of regional and national AGOA strategies; and

a strategic way forward on deepening the U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership.

Total two-way goods trade between the United States and the EAC was $1.5 billion in 2016, with $706 

million in U.S. goods exports, and U.S. goods imports totaling $785 million. Kenya was by far the United 

States’ top trading partner within the EAC, with two-way goods trade totaling $945 million, followed by 

Tanzania with $309 million, Uganda with $121 million, Rwanda with $100 million, and Burundi with $15 

million. Top U.S. exports to EAC countries were aircraft, machinery, and electrical machinery. Top U.S. 

imports included apparel, coffee, macadamia nuts, ores, and semi-precious stones.

U.S.-COMESA Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

On February 8, 2016, senior officials from the United States and the Common Market for Eastern and 

Southern Africa (COMESA) held the eighth meeting of the United States-COMESA TIFA in Lusaka, 

Zambia. Among the topics discussed were the U.S.-COMESA trade and investment relationship under 

AGOA, deepening U.S.-COMESA trade, enhancing agricultural productivity and trade, and the business 

climate and investment policies in COMESA.

U.S.-ECOWAS Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

On September 27, 2016, USTR hosted officials of the Economic Community of West African States 

(ECOWAS) for the second meeting of the United States-ECOWAS TIFA Council. Among the topics 

discussed were a review of current activities in support of shared trade and investment objectives, a vision 

for the ECOWAS – U.S. trade relationship in the medium- to long-term and broadening ECOWAS – U.S. 

trade and investment cooperation to new areas.

United States-Mozambique Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

On November 8, 2016, senior officials from the United States and Mozambique held the fifth meeting of 

the United States-Mozambique TIFA in Maputo, Mozambique. Among the topics discussed was the United 

States-Mozambique Trade Africa partnership, which seeks to help Mozambique meet its WTO obligations 

and address capacity issues that constrain trade, improve Mozambique’s business and investment climate, 

and expand and diversify bilateral trade and investment, including under AGOA.

7. South and Central Asia

India 

Two-way U.S.-India trade in goods and services in 1980 was only $4.8 billion; it grew to an estimated $109 

billion in 2015 (latest data available for goods and services trade) – an annual growth rate over this period 

of better than 9 percent. Although existing Indian trade and regulatory policies have inhibited an even more 

robust trade and investment relationship, India’s economic growth and development could support 

significantly more U.S. exports in the future India’s reform of its goods and services tax could help create 

a common internal market that significantly lowers transaction costs. Additionally, India’s new National 

Intellectual Property Rights policy could protect U.S. innovations. While these reforms are encouraging, 

there has also been a general trend of tariff increases in India, which reflects an active pursuit of import 

substitution policies. 

In 2017, the United States will press India to make meaningful progress in relation to these ambitious goals. 

Among other actions, USTR will follow through with work plans agreed to during the October 2016 U.S.-
146 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

India Trade Policy Forum (TPF), which will include convening digital video conferences and in-person 

meetings on intellectual property rights, promoting investment in manufacturing, agriculture, and trade in 

goods and services. This regularized engagement will provide an opportunity to achieve meaningful results 

on a wide range of trade and investment issues, and allow the United States and India to partner on issues 

of mutual interest in advance of the 2017 TPF. 

Contributing to Regional Stability

In 2016, in support of U.S. national security objectives in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and around the 

region, USTR strengthened engagement with South and Central Asia as part of a broader effort to boost 

trade, trade-fostering investment, employment, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. Working 

with other U.S. agencies, USTR participated in bilateral and other high-level meetings with officials from 

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. Key highlights from 2016 include the following:

 USTR continued its work with Afghanistan to reform its legal and regulatory regime related to 

trade and investment to provide a pathway to a more stable and growing economy. Under the 

United States-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), both sides 

focused on efforts on improving trade and investment flows, as well as continuing to assist 

Afghanistan in the implementation of the accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), a 

milestone that was achieved in 2015. We look forward to convening a TIFA Council meeting with 

Afghanistan in the spring of 2017 to promote greater trade and address the country’s critically high 

levels of unemployment and poverty.

 USTR worked with Iraq to identify ways to address the critical revenue shortfall caused by low oil 

prices and the fight against ISIS. Working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, USTR 

advised Iraqi officials on revamping Iraq’s customs procedures, an undertaking that is expected to 

increase revenues by $2 billion annually. Other discussions focused on boosting USTR’s 

cooperation with Iraqi sub-central governments such as Kurdistan and Basra, WTO accession, 

establishment of dispute resolution procedures, and the use of international standards in agriculture 

and government procurement. USTR continues to review Iraq’s eligibility for the GSP in response 

to a petition from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations that 

alleges violations of internationally recognized worker rights. During 2016, Iraq implemented 

labor reforms supported by stakeholders that directly address a number of the chief complaints in 

the GSP workers’ rights petition.

 USTR and Minister of Commerce of Pakistan convened the Eighth U.S. Pakistan Trade and 

Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting in October 2016. During the TIFA 

meeting, the U.S. delegation advocated for market access for U.S. beef products, electronic filing 

of customs documents, and tax predictability for U.S. companies. USTR also engaged directly 

with the Prime Minister, Minister Finance and other key government officials on these and other 

issues.

 During Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s October 2015 visit to the United States, USTR 

unveiled an Augmented Joint Action Plan to Increase Trade and Investment that is to be 

implemented over the next five years. We actively engaged on this plan in 2016. Among other 

initiatives, in 2017, Pakistan and the United States will intensify engagement on trade and 

investment issues by bringing together U.S. and Pakistani companies, addressing investment 

climate issues, and conducting outreach to the private sector in Pakistan to promote a better 

understanding of the U.S. GSP program. 
III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS | 147

 With USTR, the USAID Missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Central Asia have developed 

and supported implementation of cross-border trade agreements throughout the region, including 

the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement and the South Asian Free Trade Area 

Agreement. Border crossing procedures have been streamlined with joint training and 

collaboration. Afghanistan’s recent accession to the WTO will provide an impetus to efforts to 

foster improved transit trade and regional connectivity. Such efforts will be important to our work 

for 2017.

Supporting Workers’ Rights in Bangladesh

Following the 2013 suspension of Bangladesh’s GSP benefits based on shortcomings related to workers’ 

rights, USTR dedicated significant time in 2014 and 2015 to work with the government of Bangladesh and 

other stakeholders to monitor Bangladesh’s progress in addressing U.S. concerns. In September 2015, 

USTR led a senior delegation to Bangladesh to assess the status of efforts to address workers’ rights and 

workers’ safety issues. Although Bangladesh has made some progress on these issues, especially with 

respect to workplace safety, more progress is necessary before GSP benefits can be restored, particularly 

with respect to rights of association, union registration, and the protection of labor leaders from violent 

reprisals. USTR will continue to work with all stakeholders in 2017 to encourage additional progress on 

workers’ rights and workers’ safety issues. USTR continues to watch this issue carefully as there has been 

labor unrest as recently as January 2017.

In November 2015, the United States and Bangladesh met under the United States-Bangladesh Trade and 

Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA). The TICFA provides a mechanism for both 

governments to discuss trade and investment issues and areas of cooperation, and provides an additional 

means for the U.S. Government to exchange views on Bangladeshi efforts to improve workers’ safety and 

workers’ rights.

For 2017, USTR plans to continue its efforts to promote stronger respect for workers’ rights in Bangladesh. 

The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Labor, and USAID continue to implement technical 

assistance projects aimed at addressing the concerns that led to the withdrawal of GSP. USTR continues 

to coordinate its efforts with the government of Bangladesh, the European Union, the International Labour 

Organization (ILO), and multi-stakeholder initiatives, such as the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety 

and the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety. A planned meeting of the Bangladesh 

Sustainability Compact, which includes the European Union, the Bangladesh government, the U.S. 

Government, and the ILO, will be one focus of bilateral efforts, along with an envisioned meeting of the 

U.S.-Bangladesh TICFA Council the spring of 2017 in Bangladesh.

Communicating the Importance of Ensuring Women’s Economic Empowerment through Trade and 

Investment Agreements in Central and South Asia

In 2016, the United States continued to work with partner governments in the region, the private sector, 

think tanks, the media, and U.S. Embassies to effectively explain the economic importance of empowering 

women entrepreneurs and business owners to better take advantage of trade and investment opportunities. 

USTR worked to fully implement the 2014 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the governments of 

Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Women’s Economic Empowerment, and initiated discussions with a number 

of other South Asian countries on negotiating similar MOUs. 

Advancing U.S. Engagement with Central Asia

USTR’s historic support for WTO membership for the Central Asian countries helped facilitate Kazakhstan 

attaining WTO membership in 2015. Support for WTO accession of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan 
148 | III. BILATERAL AND REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

continued. For 2017, USTR plans to review accession issues for these two countries, especially considering 

that there is a new Uzbek government in place. Also, the United States-Central Asia TIFA Council meeting 

convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with the five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, 

Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan – as Members, plus Afghanistan as an Observer. We hope to 

convene the next TIFA Council meeting in the fall of 2017 and will focus on actions to boost regional 

economic cooperation and connectivity; customs issues; women’s economic empowerment; energy trade; 

and, country-specific trade/investment issues, via Bilateral Working Group consultations with each of the 

TIFA Parties.

Improving Trade and Investment Relations with Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives

In late 2014, Sri Lankan voters elected a reform-minded government focused on human rights and 

accountability for actions during Sri Lanka’s long war against Tamil insurgents. This development has 

enhanced U.S.-Sri Lankan relations. The new Sri Lankan government has committed to wide ranging 

political and economic reforms; in the latter area, Sri Lanka plans to implement a world class trade and 

investment regime within five years – a first for South Asia. In support, USTR has developed a new 

mechanism for promoting bilateral trade and investment—a Joint Action Plan to Boost Bilateral Trade and 

Investment (JAPTI). The JAPTI sets out a roadmap that could double U.S.-Sri Lanka trade and FDI flows 

over the next five years by targeting the laws, regulations, and practices that have hindered Sri Lankan 

external trade and investment. In 2016, USTR finalized and launched the JAPTI. We will have a TIFA 

intersessional meeting in spring of 2017 to coordinate the implementation of the several key actions of the 

JAPTI. 

As a follow-up to the first ever TIFA meeting with the Maldives in 2014, USTR continued to monitor 

efforts to improve workers’ rights in the Maldives, including through U.S. Department of Labor technical 

assistance. USTR also continued discussions aimed at implementing best strategies to increase bilateral 

trade and investment in the country’s fishing and tourism industries. 

Nepal is still recovering from a devastating earthquake that struck the country in 2015. In 2016, the 

United States implemented the Nepal preference program, which provides duty-free treatment for 66 

types of items from Nepal, including certain carpets, headgear, shawls, scarves, and travel goods. This 

program is authorized for ten years and is designed to improve export competitiveness and help Nepal’s 

economic recovery following the earthquakes. In 2017, the United States will continue to work with 

Nepal and provide technical assistance, aid its recovery, and deepen bilateral trade engagement. 
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 149

IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

As with the other Chapters in this report, Chapter IV focuses primarily on actions taken by the U.S. 

government during 2016. The Trump Administration continues to develop its plans with respect to the 

issues discussed below.

A. Trade and the Environment 

In 2016, the United States and 16 other WTO Members continued to work on the Environmental Goods 

Agreement (EGA) negotiations, which would eliminate tariffs on environmental technologies such as wind 

turbines, water treatment filters, and solar water heaters. In addition, the United States and 12 other WTO 

Members announced their plans to negotiate in the WTO a first of its kind, rules-based plurilateral 

agreement to prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies. 

The United States continued to prioritize implementation of the free trade agreements (FTAs) currently in 

force. In particular, in February 2016, the United States made use of an important monitoring and 

enforcement tool under the Annex on Forest Sector Governance of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion 

Agreement (PTPA) to request that the government of Peru verify that a shipment of timber products 

exported to the United States complied with all applicable Peruvian laws and regulations. The results of 

the verification demonstrated that a majority of the shipment was illegally sourced, due to challenges that 

remain in Peru’s forestry regime. The verification process catalyzed a series of actions to improve 

enforcement of Peruvian forestry laws, for example, improvements to Peru’s export documentation 

requirements for timber. In 2016, the United States also met with officials from Dominican RepublicCentral America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, 

Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic), as well as Chile, Colombia, Korea, Morocco, Panama, 

and Singapore to discuss implementation of and monitor progress under the environment chapters of our 

FTAs.

USTR also contributed significantly to implementation of the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife 

Trafficking and the Action Plan to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood 

Fraud. These initiatives call for addressing these challenges, including by using existing and future U.S. 

trade agreements, environmental cooperation mechanisms, and other trade-related initiatives.

1. Multilateral and Regional Fora 

Regional Engagement

In APEC, the United States worked to ensure that economies that had not yet implemented APEC Leaders’ 

2011 commitment to reduce tariffs on environmental goods to five percent or less fulfilled their 

commitment to cut these tariffs. As a result of USTR’s efforts, Vietnam and Thailand have joined other 

APEC economies in cutting tariffs on environmental goods, resulting in the reduction of tariffs on hundreds 

of tariff lines across the Asia-Pacific region, impacting billions of dollars of U.S. exports. 

In 2016, the United States launched a new initiative under APEC’s Regulatory Cooperation Advancement 

Mechanism aimed at facilitating trade and investment in sustainable materials management (SMM) 

solutions. This effort will catalogue APEC economy definitions of waste-related terms (e.g., municipal 

solid waste, recyclable material, renewable energy) that impact trade and investment in SMM solutions as 

a first step towards addressing the barriers these diverse and inconsistent definitions may occasionally 

create.
150 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

Through the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT), the United States 

worked with other Asia-Pacific economies to combat illegal logging and associated trade. This work 

included developing a law enforcement network, a workshop on strengthening forest control systems in 

APEC economies, and improved reporting on APEC economies’ laws and regulations based on a common 

understanding of illegal logging and associated trade agreed to by EGILAT economies. 

Additionally, in November 2016, the United States held the seventh meeting of the United States - China 

Bilateral Forum on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade. During this meeting, the United States and China 

shared information on domestic actions and advances in enforcement, including enforcement of the U.S. 

Lacey Act; discussed several specific trade flows as case studies to reflect on identified challenges and 

efforts to address them; identified areas for continued and future cooperation around sharing of trade data 

and lessons learned in enforcement and wood traceability; and highlighted our work with stakeholders on 

addressing illegal logging and promoting legal trade in timber products.

WTO and Other Multilateral Engagement

As described in more detail in Chapter II of this report, the United States continues to explore and advance 

fresh and innovative approaches to all aspects of the WTO’s trade and environment work. 

The United States and the 16 other WTO Members participating in the EGA negotiations made continued 

their discussions in 2016. Trade Ministers and other senior officials from all 17 EGA members met in 

Geneva on December 3 and 4, where negotiations stalled. Participants are currently assessing appropriate 

next steps for 2017. The In addition to the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the 

European Union, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, 

Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, and Turkey are participating in the negotiations. 

In September 2016, the United States and 12 other WTO Members (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, 

Colombia, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Singapore, Switzerland, and Uruguay), issued 

a joint statement announcing their intention to negotiate a plurilateral agreement in the WTO to prohibit 

harmful fisheries subsidies, particularly those that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity or are linked 

to IUU fishing, and to increase transparency in reporting of fisheries subsidies. Since the announcement, 

three other WTO Members (Brazil, Iceland, and Panama) have joined this initiative, and the group is 

discussing plans for advancing the negotiations in 2017. 

In 2016, USTR supported the U.S. efforts on a number of multilateral environmental agreements and related 

international initiatives to ensure consistency with international trade obligations, including: the 

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the International 

Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, International Maritime Organization conventions, the 

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Basel Convention on the Control of 

Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, Strategic Approach to International 

Chemicals Management, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the United Nations 

Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and the Rotterdam 

Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in 

International Trade. USTR is also engaged in and contributes expertise to U.S. fisheries policy 

development, regional fisheries management organizations, and the International Tropical Timber 

Organization.
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 151

2. Bilateral and Regional Activities 

In 2016, USTR continued to convene meetings of the TPSC Subcommittee on FTA Environment Chapter 

Monitoring and Implementation to consider actions taken by U.S. FTA partners, in accordance with the 

Subcommittee’s plan for monitoring implementation of FTA environment chapter obligations. The 

monitoring plan forms part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to ensure that U.S. trading partners 

comply with their FTA environmental obligations and to monitor progress achieved. USTR's actions to 

improve monitoring the forestry commitments under the PTPA were particularly noted.

T-TIP Negotiations

By the end of 2016, United States and European Union teams had met in fifteen formal T-TIP negotiating 

rounds, including four in 2016, and had engaged in a wide range of discussions and negotiating sessions 

between rounds. The T-TIP negotiations stalled in late 2016. Substantial negotiations on several critical 

issues will be required to complete the agreement during the Trump Administration. The Administration is 

currently evaluating the status of the negotiations. 

 

Bahrain FTA

In 2016, U.S. Government officials and experts engaged and worked closely with officials from Bahrain’s 

Supreme Council for Environment to develop a revised Plan of Action, pursuant to the United StatesBahrain Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation accompanying and supporting 

implementation of the Environment Chapter under the FTA. The Plan of Action identifies goals and 

cooperation activities that will help Bahrain strengthen its capacity to protect the environment while 

promoting sustainable development in concert with the trade relationship established under the FTA. The 

Plan of Action is awaiting Bahraini cabinet approval. 

CAFTA-DR

The United States and other Parties to the CAFTA-DR continued efforts to strengthen environmental 

protection and implement the commitments of the CAFTA-DR Environment Chapter. The officials 

responsible for trade and environment under CAFTA-DR met and held three in-person meetings and one 

video conference in 2016 to discuss priorities for environmental cooperation funding, monitoring and 

implementation of Environment Chapter obligations, and the preparation for senior-level meetings of the 

Environmental Affairs Council (Council). The Council met on July 7-8 in San Salvador, El Salvador, to 

commemorate the ten year anniversary of CAFTA-DR and discussed the successes and challenges of 

implementing the Environment Chapter obligations over the past ten years, with a particular focus on 

institutional strengthening, wildlife legislation, regional cooperation, public participation in environmental 

decision-making, and private sector engagement. The Council decided to focus future efforts on the illegal 

trade of timber, wildlife, and marine resources, promoting public participation, the conservation of coastal 

and marine ecosystems, solid waste management, air pollution, and water resources management. 

The Council also received an update from the independent CAFTA-DR Secretariat for Environmental 

Matters (Secretariat) and recognized the high number of public submissions as a positive demonstration of 

increased public participation and environmental awareness. Since 2007, the Secretariat has received 37 

submissions regarding effective enforcement of environmental laws and has disseminated information 

about the submission mechanism to over 3,800 people from non-governmental organizations, academia, 

the private sector, and governments. The Council also adopted the “San Salvador Declaration: United 

Protecting the Environment,” reaffirming the commitment to “promote sound environmental policies that 
152 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

ensure high levels of environmental protection and to encourage trade and investment in line with such 

policies.”

The Council also hosted a public session that included a press conference, live-streamed panel discussions, 

and an expo for approximately 300 attendees. The event provided the opportunity for an interactive 

exchange of views between government representatives, environmental groups, academia, and private 

sector representatives on monitoring and implementation of the chapter and environmental cooperation 

programs. 

Chile FTA

In 2016, Chile enacted a new wildlife law to implement its obligations under the Convention on 

International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States has long 

supported Chile’s efforts to strengthen its CITES implementing legislation as part of our ongoing 

environmental cooperation program under the auspices of the Joint Commission for Environmental 

Cooperation. The United States supported other environmental cooperation activities in Chile in 2016. For 

example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with the U.S. Department of Justice’s participation, 

trained over 400 people in Chile on environmental enforcement and compliance matters, including 

environmental crimes, continuous emissions monitoring systems, and environmental forensics. The U.S. 

Department of the Interior worked with Chilean counterparts to: (1) finalize a wildlife crime scene manual 

and produce five tutorial videos; (2) organize an “Environmental Crimes Seminar” in partnership with 

Chile’s Attorney General’s Office to explain wildlife crimes under the new wildlife law; and (3) draft a 

conflict resolution manual in partnership with Chile’s Ministry of the Environment to help park rangers and 

administrators address socio-environmental conflicts related to protected areas. The United States also 

supported preparation and completion of a study by World Wildlife Fund that compares Chile’s IUU 

fisheries law with similar laws and measures in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, and 

presented it to Chile’s Parliament, which led to a draft bill to strengthen Chile’s laws against IUU fishing.

Colombia TPA

The United States worked closely with Colombia to advance the establishment of an independent 

Secretariat to receive and consider submissions from the public on matters regarding enforcement of 

environmental laws pursuant to Article 18.8 of the United States – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement 

(CTPA). The Secretariat promotes public participation in the identification and resolution of environmental 

enforcement issues by receiving and considering submissions from the public on matters regarding 

enforcement of environmental laws. The United States and Colombia selected Fondo Accion, a Colombian 

non-governmental organization, as the host entity and the Department of State awarded a grant to Fondo 

Accion in the spring of 2016 to house the Secretariat. 

The United States provided capacity building assistance under the United States - Colombia Environmental 

Cooperation Work Program 2014-2017 to support Colombia's implementation of its environmental 

obligations under the CTPA. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supports the bulk 

of this environmental cooperation and in 2016 invested more than $20 million in activities that directly 

supported the work program. USAID worked to improve the informal mining sector’s compliance with 

law, including the development of an air-borne mercury monitoring protocol that has produced the mercury 

pollution baseline for eight municipalities. Programs supported by U.S. biodiversity funding have focused 

on conservation efforts in Colombia’s Andean Amazon, Caribbean Tropical Dry Forest and Pacific Humid 

Tropical Forest regions, including training on resource management for approximately 15,000 people from 

communities living in sensitive ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots. USAID also supported the 

development of the forest monitoring, verification, and reporting system and conducted capacity building 

for the National Forest Inventory.
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 153

Jordan FTA

In accordance with the United States-Jordan FTA and the United States-Jordan Joint Statement on 

Environmental Technical Cooperation, the United States and Jordan have worked closely together on a 

range of environmental matters under the 2014-2017 Work Program for Environmental Technical Cooperation 

which includes cooperation on institutional strengthening for the effective enforcement of environmental laws, 

biodiversity conservation, improved cleaner production processes, and increased public participation and 

transparency in environmental decision making and enforcement in Jordan. In 2016, the U.S. Forest Service 

(USFS) continued to support improved management of areas of biological significance through partnerships with 

Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. Also in 2016, the USFS provided technical assistance to 

the Ministry of Agriculture/Forestry Department to improve reforestation practices including technical assistance 

for native nurseries to grow more vigorous seedlings, increase seedling survival rates, and conserve soil and water.

Korea FTA

In accordance with the United States-Republic of Korea FTA and the United States-Republic of Korea 

Environmental Cooperation Agreement, the United States and South Korea have worked closely together 

on a range of environmental matters under the 2016-2018 Work Program. In January 2016, South Korea 

ratified the FAO Port State Measures Agreement to combat IUU fishing, which entered into force on June 

5, 2016. Also in 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) participated in 

South Korea’s fisheries training program for third country nationals, which uses materials developed by 

NOAA in conjunction with FAO and other regional fisheries organizations. In June 2016, South Korea’s 

National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) concluded a six-week study on local air quality with 

the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The study included specific air quality 

testing by three planes, ground aerial observation, air quality modeling, and satellite data analysis. Having 

installed equipment capable of remotely observing air pollutants in six locations of South Korea, NASA 

plans to provide researchers with real-time data to support particulate matter forecasting. NIER said that 

the joint research would help South Korea improve its air quality observation capacity. 

Morocco FTA 

In accordance with the United States-Morocco FTA and the United States-Morocco Joint Statement on 

Environmental Cooperation, the United States and Morocco have worked closely together on a range of 

environmental matters under the 2014-2017 Plan of Action, which identifies priority areas for cooperation, 

including: strengthening institutions and policies for effective implementation and enforcement of 

environmental laws; promoting green growth and green jobs, related research and development and the 

diffusion of environmentally sound technologies and practices; enhancing biodiversity conservation and 

improving management of protected areas and other ecologically important ecosystems while improving 

livelihoods; and increased public participation and transparency in environmental decision making and 

enforcement in Morocco. 

A key achievement in 2016 under the United States - Morocco Joint Statement was signing and launching 

a new sister park arrangement between Great Basin National Park in Nevada and Toubkal National Park in 

Morocco with support from the Department of Interior’s International Technical Assistance Program. This 

is the first National Park Service sister park arrangement with a country in the Middle East/North African 

(MENA) region.

The U.S. Forest Service also worked with the High Commission for Water, Forests, and the Fight Against 

Desertification to provide technical assistance, including by providing training on the principles of incident 

command and fire response tactics and tools, watershed management, and tree nursery and reforestation 

best practices. 
154 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worked with the Moroccan National Agency for 

Development of Aquaculture and aquaculture cooperative members to install new mussel longline 

demonstration farms, provide training on marine aquaculture, and develop siting guidelines, monitoring 

standards, and environmental models for aquaculture.

Oman FTA

In accordance with the United States-Oman FTA and the United States-Oman Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) on Environmental Cooperation, the United States and Oman have worked closely 

together on a range of environmental matters. In 2016, progress on environmental cooperation continued 

through the plan of action implementing the MOU. As part of this effort, the U.S. Department of the Interior 

worked with the Omani Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) to build technical capacity 

for the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 

Flora and to conduct a sea turtle population assessment with the aim of increasing awareness and improving 

conservation efforts. The U.S. Department of Justice worked with MECA to review Oman’s environmental 

legal regime, including ambient air quality regulations. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency 

worked with MECA to provide technical assistance and training on use of air quality monitoring equipment 

and data assessment for effective implementation of air quality regulations. 

Panama TPA

In November 2016, the United States and Panama held a meeting of the Free Trade Commission and 

discussed progress in meeting the obligations under the United States – Panama TPA, including next steps 

in staffing an independent Secretariat, pursuant to Article 17.8 of the TPA. In December 2015, the United 

States and Panama signed an agreement for the establishment of the Secretariat and the agreement entered 

into force on August 27, 2016. The secretariat mechanism is intended to promote public participation in 

the identification and resolution of environmental enforcement issues and receive and consider submissions 

from the public on matters regarding enforcement of environmental laws. The Secretariat is housed in the 

Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean, an international environmental 

organization for the region located in Panama City, Panama. The Environmental Affairs Council is in the 

process of finalizing the appointment of an Executive Director for the Secretariat.

The Department of State continued to support environmental cooperation led by the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) focused on the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws in 

Panama. In May 2016, EPA conducted a training workshop for judicial prosecutors focusing on 

management of environmental cases, remediation measures, and evaluation of environmental damages; and 

in June 2016, a compliance inspection training course. EPA is also consulting with Panama’s Environment 

Ministry on drafting improved wastewater regulations. 

In November 2016, Panama ratified the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), joining the United States, 

35 other countries, and the European Union in an international treaty to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, 

unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Peru TPA

The United States and Peru held multiple meetings to discuss and monitor implementation of obligations 

under the PTPA’s Environment Chapter and Forest Annex, with broad participation from a range of 

government agencies and stakeholders. This regular engagement provided important opportunities to 

monitor implementation and gather information about new laws, regulations, and policies that Peru is 

implementing, particularly in the forest sectors, and to gain a better understanding of their environmental 

and trade impacts. In July 2016, as part of its ongoing review of the monitoring of environmental 
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 155

commitments in FTAs (GAO-15-161), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicated it was 

encouraged by USTR’s actions to improve monitoring of forest commitments under the PTPA.

The Forest Annex has catalyzed significant reforms in Peru's forest sector; however, Peru continues to face 

challenges in combating illegal logging. In February 2016, following public reports of illegal timber 

products from Peru entering the United States, USTR, on behalf of the U.S. Interagency Committee on 

Trade and Timber in Peru (Timber Committee), invoked one of the monitoring tools provided for in the 

PTPA Forest Annex, and requested the government of Peru to verify that a specific shipment of wood 

products exported to the United States in 2015 complied with all applicable Peruvian laws and regulations. 

Peru completed the requested verification, which revealed that significant portions of the timber shipment 

were not compliant with Peru’s laws on harvest and trade in timber products. In August 2016, the Timber 

Committee issued a set of recommended actions to address the issues identified in the verification. In 

November 2016, USTR reached an understanding with Peru on a set of actions responsive to the verification 

findings that Peru committed to take to address ongoing challenges in combating illegal logging and 

associated trade. The actions include amending export documentation to improve traceability throughout 

the supply chain, risk-based measures to improve timely detection of illegally harvested timber, and steps 

to improve the accuracy of annual timber harvest plans. USTR and other agencies will continue to engage 

closely with Peru to ensure that Peru implements the actions it has committed to take and to monitor their 

impact.

In November 2016, the United States and Peru held senior-level meetings of the Environmental Affairs 

Council (EAC), the Environmental Cooperation Commission (ECC), and the Subcommittee on Forest 

Sector Governance in Lima, Peru. U.S. and Peruvian officials also held a public session with stakeholders 

to share information and exchange views on implementation of the chapter and environmental cooperation.

 

During the meetings of the EAC and Subcommittee on Forest Sector Governance, Peru presented 

information on measures taken to implement its environmental commitments, including the issuance of the 

Forest and Wildlife Regulations which implement the Forest and Wildlife Law 29763; the implementation 

of the National System on Forest and Wildlife Management; and the passage of legislative decrees 1220 

and 1237 which enhance the authority of Peruvian enforcement agencies to seize timber and increase 

penalties for illegal logging and related crimes, among other actions. The United States discussed progress 

in implementing the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the establishment of new marine protected areas, 

and ongoing efforts to enforce environmental laws. The United States and Peru also engaged in detailed 

discussions on the results of the Timber Committee’s verification request, resulting in agreement on the set 

of actions referenced above. During the EAC, the United States and Peru also approved and announced the 

hiring of a new Executive Director for the independent Secretariat established to receive submissions from 

the public on effective enforcement of environmental laws. The Secretariat is housed in Washington, D.C. 

in the Organization of American States, a regional organization with 35 member states from the Western 

Hemisphere. 

The United States and Peru continued to make progress implementing the Environmental Cooperation 

Agreement Work Program (2015-2018), including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding 

between the United States and the Environmental Protection Agency and the Peruvian Agency for 

Environmental Assessment and Enforcement to support Peru's efforts to strengthen enforcement of and 

compliance with environmental laws. The United States, through USAID, continued to support the 

implementation of an electronic system to verify and track the legal origin and proper chain of custody of 

timber harvested from Peru's forests, from stump to port. USAID and USFS are also supporting the 

development of a public database that will include land use and mapping information for natural resource 

management and land use decision-making and the analysis and publication of near real-time deforestation 

information, including detection of illegal logging activities. USAID and USFS have assisted with the 

training of Forest Regents, who approve forest management plans in publicly awarded timber concessions 
156 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

and thus serve as one of the first points of control in legal forest management as well as management by 

local communities. To support the prosecution of environmental cases, U.S. Government assistance has 

supported training for environmental prosecutors and has helped to launch satellite monitoring in Loreto 

which will allow prosecutors to build stronger cases against illegal logging. 

Singapore FTA

In accordance with the United States-Singapore FTA and the United States-Singapore Memorandum of 

Intent on Cooperation in Environmental Matters, the United States and Singapore have worked closely 

together on a range of environmental matters under the 2016-2017 Plan of Action for Environmental 

Cooperation. The Plan of Action includes: (1) cooperation on strengthening institutions for the effective 

implementation and enforcement of environmental laws; (2) participating in regional initiatives related to 

the conservation and sustainable use of and trade in natural resources; and (3) exchanging information on 

environmental policies, best practices and use of innovative environmental technology and pollution 

management techniques. Notable achievements in 2016 include cooperative investigations with Singapore 

authorities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations to help 

facilitate Singapore’s interdiction of illegal wildlife products. The Energy Market Authority of Singapore 

and the U.S. Department of Energy also signed a Joint Statement of Intent on Clean Energy Cooperation, 

which provides a framework to identify and achieve shared energy goals. The U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided 

technical assistance to Singapore's Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and National 

Environment Agency on emergency preparedness and crisis management with respect to hurricanes, floods, 

oil spills, and volcanic ash.

B. Trade and Labor

The U.S. Government continued to engage with trade partners on labor rights through the formal 

mechanisms of trade agreements and trade preference programs, as well as through innovative initiatives, 

capacity building, and technical assistance. In 2016, labor issues were an aspect of trade and investment 

negotiations and dialogue with the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, China, and the European Union, including 

through Labor Affairs Council or labor affairs subcommittee meetings under existing trade agreements, 

Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs), and multilateral fora, such as the International 

Labor Organization (ILO), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Organisation for 

Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The United States has used available trade policy tools to improve labor rights in trading partners including 

pursuing dispute settlement against Guatemala, removing trade preference benefits from Bangladesh and 

Swaziland, placing labor experts full-time in Bangladesh, Colombia, and Vietnam and negotiating an 

extensive monitoring and action plan with Honduras. 

The Administration has supported the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which assists 

American workers adversely affected by global competition and helps to ensure that they are given the best 

opportunity to acquire skills and credentials to get good jobs, as an essential component of trade policy (for 

additional information, see Chapter V.B.7).
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 157

1. Bilateral Agreements and Preference Programs

FTAs

Since 2007, U.S. trade agreements have included obligations to ensure the consistency of each party’s labor 

laws with fundamental labor rights as stated in the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and 

Rights at Work. These agreements include obligations not to fail to effectively enforce each party’s labor 

laws and not to waive or derogate from those laws in a manner affecting trade or investment. The 

Department of Labor’ s (DOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), along with USTR’s Office 

of Labor Affairs serves as the contact point for the labor chapters of U.S. free trade agreements. For 

additional information on ILAB, its Procedural Guidelines, the responsible office within ILAB (the Office 

of Trade and Labor Affairs), and the process for filing a communication, visit 

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/about-us/offices#otla. The Procedural Guidelines are also available in 

Arabic, French, and Spanish.

The U.S. Government has historically engaged on labor issues as part of our ongoing monitoring and 

implementation of U.S. trade agreements. It has also worked with trading partners to advance labor rights 

through technical cooperation efforts, including in the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States 

Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) countries, Morocco, Jordan, Peru, Korea, Mexico, and Colombia (for 

additional information, see Chapter III.A). In 2016, consultations continued with Bahrain under the Labor 

Chapter of the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement on concerns about freedom of association and 

employment discrimination. In November 2016, USTR and DOL officials met with government officials 

and stakeholders in Korea to follow up on the labor commitments under the United States-Korea Free Trade 

Agreement (KORUS). In particular, discussions were held with respect to Korea’s commitments to adopt 

and maintain the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and the elimination of 

discrimination in employment (for additional information see Chapter III.A.8).

In 2016, the United States worked closely with Colombia to continue implementation of the Colombian 

Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, which focuses on improving protection of labor rights, preventing 

violence against trade unionists, and prosecuting perpetrators of such violence. The Colombian government 

continued to take steps to implement the Action Plan, including by issuing a Presidential Decree to address 

abusive forms of subcontracting. The Colombian Ministry of Labor began to implement the decree and 

took steps to levy significant fines against employers that use illegal subcontracting arrangements to 

undermine labor rights. In October, a USTR official visited Colombia to monitor the implementation of 

the Action Plan, and held meetings with high-level government officials, including the Vice Minister of 

Labor, and extensive discussions with interested stakeholders. Officials from USTR and the DOL also met 

with a team from the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia to discuss ongoing initiatives to prosecute 

perpetrators of violence against trade unionists. In May 2016, the DOL received a public submission under 

the Labor Chapter of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, from labor unions and 

NGOs in the United States and Colombia. The submission alleged that the government of Colombia has 

failed to effectively enforce its labor laws and to adopt and maintain laws that protect fundamental labor 

rights. The DOL accepted the submission for review in July and per its internal procedures, will issue a 

public report based on its review by January 11, 2017, which recommended undertaking consultations 

between the contact points designated under the Labor chapter to address concerns raised in the report 

including with respect to labor inspections and improving labor law enforcement (for additional 

information, see Chapter III.A.5).

In February 2015, the DOL released a report on labor issues in Honduras based on a submission by the 

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and 26 Honduran labor unions, 

pursuant to the CAFTA-DR Labor Chapter. The report addressed allegations that the government of 
158 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

Honduras (GOH) failed to effectively enforce its labor laws, and included recommendations for actions by 

the GOH to improve enforcement efforts in the agriculture, manufacturing, and port sectors. Pursuant to 

the report’s recommendations, in December 2015, the United States and Honduras signed a labor 

Monitoring and Action Plan that includes commitments to increase inspection resources, provide training 

for inspectors, and establishes timeframes for improvements to labor enforcement mechanisms. The GOH 

took important steps to implement the Plan in 2016, including hiring more than 25 new inspectors, doubling 

the budget of the labor inspectorate (an increase of $1.6 million), and passing a comprehensive legal reform 

for labor inspections that significantly increases fines for violations of labor rights. The GOH also 

continued an intensive consultation process and sharing of labor law enforcement information with 

stakeholders and the public, per commitments in the Plan (for additional information, see Chapter III.A.3). 

Labor officials from the United States and Morocco continued to strengthen areas of cooperation under the 

United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. Officials from the DOL visited Morocco on multiple 

occasions during 2016 to oversee technical assistance projects, including the two funded by DOL designed 

to address child labor and gender equity, and to explore areas of continued cooperation, building on 

discussions held during the 2014 Labor Subcommittee meeting (for additional information, see Chapter 

III.A.9). 

In September 2016, the dispute settlement panel adjudicating the dispute brought by the United States 

against Guatemala issued its non-public initial report to the disputing Parties for their review and comment. 

In this case, the United States maintains that Guatemala has failed to effectively enforce its labor laws 

contrary to Guatemala’s obligations under the CAFTA-DR. Also in 2016, the United States noted ongoing 

concerns with similar labor enforcement issues in Guatemala in the context of an Article 26 complaint 

before the ILO. At the ILO Governing Body meeting in November, the United States recognized progress 

by Guatemala in the area of pending labor legislation to restore the authority of labor inspectors to impose 

penalties, but also noted serious concerns regarding enforcement of labor court orders, as well as impunity 

for violence against trade unionists (for additional information, see Chapter III.A.3).

In 2016, the United States continued to monitor and assess progress towards addressing the labor concerns 

identified in a 2013 public report issued by the DOL concerning labor rights in the Dominican Republic. 

This report was issued following a review by DOL a public submission it received pursuant to the labor 

chapter of the CAFTA-DR. In October, the DOL, in consultation with USTR and State, issued a public 

update on its findings, noting a number of positive steps taken by the government and by industry designed 

to address the labor issues identified in the 2013 report and pointing to areas of potential collaboration. 

Among other areas of note, the Ministry of Labor of the Dominican Republic added 15 vehicles to its 

inspection fleet to help reach more remote areas and developed plans to extend labor inspections of the 

sugar industry throughout the year.

Also in 2016, the DOL issued reports for two additional public submissions on labor rights, one involving 

Mexico and the other involving Peru. The DOL’s report on the Mexico submission under the North 

American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (the NAFTA labor side agreement), recommends expeditious 

passage and effective implementation of constitutional and legislative initiatives that the government of 

Mexico introduced in 2016 to reform and modernize the system of labor justice administration. In 

November, Mexico’s Congress passed constitutional reforms to create new labor courts and significantly 

reform Mexico’s system of labor justice administration. In January 2017, the reforms were approved by a 

majority of Mexican states, as required by the ratification process, and will be implemented over the course 

of the year. In addition, legislative reforms to address concerns with registration of collective bargaining 

agreements and with the voting process to decide union representation challenges were pending before 

Mexico’s Congress at year’s end.

The DOL’s report on the Peru submission under the United State-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement 

recommends that the government of Peru take steps to address problems with temporary contracts in special 
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 159

export regimes, primarily textiles and agriculture, where there are increasing concerns that employers use 

these arrangements to undermine the free exercise of labor rights (for additional information, see Chapter 

III.A.3). 

Other Bilateral Agreements and Preference Programs

Pursuant to requirements of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through the Partnership Encouragement 

Act of 2008 (HOPE II), producers eligible for duty-free treatment under HOPE II must comply with core 

labor standards. The DOL, in consultation with USTR, is charged with publically identifying noncompliant 

producers on a biennial basis and providing assistance to such producers to come into compliance. In 

addition, DOL provides support to at-risk producers to help ensure that they do not fall out of compliance. 

In the 2015/2016 reporting period, DOL did not identify any new non-compliant producers for the biennial 

reporting period, but continued to provide support to at-risk producers throughout 2015 and 2016. During 

2016, DOL worked with several producers to address preliminary concerns related to industrial relations 

and the proper payment of wages and benefits to prevent non-compliance. USTR and DOL also continued 

to work closely with the government of Haiti, the ILO, and other U.S. Government agencies on 

implementation of the Technical Assistance Improvement and Compliance Needs Assessment and 

Remediation (TAICNAR) program to monitor factories’ compliance with core labor standards. (For 

additional information, view the 2016 USTR Annual Report on the Implementation of the TAICNAR 

program at: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/USTR-Report-Haiti-HOPE-II-2016.pdf).

U.S. trade preference programs, including the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Caribbean 

Basin Trade Partnership Act, trade preferences for Haiti, Nepal, and the Generalized System of Preferences 

(GSP), require beneficiaries to meet statutory eligibility criteria pertaining to worker rights and child labor. 

In 2015, the GSP program was reauthorized after a lapse of two years. Congress also extended both the 

AGOA and HOPE preference programs and subsequently authorized trade preferences for Nepal. 

During 2016, USTR renewed its engagement with governments and stakeholders involved in ongoing GSP 

worker rights-related reviews of Fiji, Georgia, Iraq, Niger, Burma, and Uzbekistan, and began its review of 

Thailand. The U.S. Government has provided technical assistance to a number of countries to help them 

address the concerns raised under GSP worker rights reviews. For example, the DOL provided technical 

assistance to Georgia during the year to help re-establish a labor inspectorate in that country and funded a 

labor rights program in Uzbekistan to help address forced and child labor in the cotton sector. The 

Department of State funded the creation of a labor consultative mechanism for stakeholders in Burma to 

advise the government on continuing labor reforms. Based on recent reforms in law and practice, and other 

important progress made by the government of Burma with respect to workers’ rights, President Obama 

restored GSP eligibility for Burma in November 2016. USTR also announced the closure of worker rights 

reviews of Fiji and Niger in January2017, reflecting progress made by both countries in addressing labor 

rights concerns. In Fiji, a tripartite agreement brokered by the ILO between trade unions, employers, and 

the government addressed all of the concerns raised in the third party petition submitted by the AFL-CIO. 

In Niger, the USTR announced a closure of the review citing progress by the government in raising 

awareness of and combatting forced and child labor. 

Bangladesh was suspended from GSP eligibility in June 2013 based on worker rights concerns. At the time 

of the suspension, USTR provided Bangladesh with an Action Plan which, if implemented, could provide 

a basis for the restoration of benefits. In July 2013, the Administration also joined the Sustainability 

Compact for continuous improvements in labor rights and factory safety, a public declaration of 

commitments that now includes the governments of Bangladesh, the European Union, the U.S., Canada, 

and the ILO, that was substantially similar to the GSP Action Plan. In January 2016, USTR led an 

interagency delegation to Bangladesh to assess progress towards the goals of the Sustainability Compact 

and GSP Action Plan and to reiterate to the government of Bangladesh that although some initial steps had 
160 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

been taken more needs to be done to improve worker rights and worker safety issues in the country. During 

the year, Compact participants continued to communicate regularly to assess progress and identify areas 

for priority action, such as continued reports of unfair labor practices in the ready-made garment sector, 

increasing rejections of independent union applications, and the need to ensure freedom of association and 

collective bargaining rights in the country’s export processing zones. USTR also coordinated with the two 

private sector safety initiatives, the Alliance and the Accord, in their efforts to ensure worker safety and 

factory remediation. 

The United States continued to engage with African countries on AGOA workers’ rights criteria through 

the AGOA annual eligibility review and bilateral and multilateral fora. USTR and the DOL also organized 

and hosted a Trade and Labor Ministerial as a part of the annual AGOA Forum. The two-day roundtable 

discussion at DOL featured the participation of both African trade and labor ministers in order to highlight 

the need for better coordination between trade and labor ministries in the effort to promote and sustain 

inclusive economic growth. The DOL announced several new technical assistance projects as part of the 

forum to better integrate trade and labor strategies in Africa and to increase productivity and exports while 

pulling people out of poverty. 

The United States and China committed to a dialogue on labor and employment issues in 2009 during the 

first United States-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. In May 2016, the DOL and the China Ministry 

of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) held this annual dialogue, and discussed topics such 

as labor and employment challenges at the national level, workers’ rights to freedom of association and 

collective bargaining, entrepreneurship and skills training, and strategic enforcement of labor laws. 

The fourteenth meeting of the United States-Vietnam Labor Dialogue took place in November 2016 in 

Hanoi, at which the DOL and Vietnam’s Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA) 

discussed the 2016 list of goods produced by child labor and ways to cooperate in the future to monitor and 

enforce laws prohibiting child labor in Vietnam. They also discussed continuation of U.S. assistance to the 

ILO Better Work program in Vietnam, as well as U.S. technical assistance for Vietnam to address 

consistency with international labor standards within its system of industrial relations more broadly. 

USTR also engaged with several countries in 2016 on labor issues in the context of TIFA meetings and 

other bilateral trade mechanisms. For example, discussions with Chile, Philippines, Thailand, and Sri 

Lanka highlighted the importance of ensuring that labor laws are compliant with internationally recognized 

workers’ rights and that government agencies have the capacity to enforce domestic labor laws. 

In 2016, USTR continued to coordinate U.S. Government engagement around the Initiative to Promote 

Fundamental Labor Rights and Practices in Myanmar, including through organization and participation in 

the second annual multi-stakeholder meeting in Burma. The Initiative, an innovative multi-stakeholder 

effort launched by the government of Burma and USTR in 2014, aims to improve the respect for and 

protection of labor rights in Burma, with development assistance and advice from interested governments, 

worker organizations, business interests and civil society. The September 2016 forum brought together 

partner governments, including the governments of Burma, the United States, Japan, Denmark, and the 

European Union, with the ILO and business and labor interests to provide practical input into and to affirm 

the commitment of the newly elected democratic government of Burma to ongoing labor and social reforms. 

In support of the Initiative, the DOL and State announced technical assistance programs aimed at assisting 

Burma’s own comprehensive labor reforms and efforts to establish productive and cooperative industrial 

relations among social stakeholders. 
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 161

2. Multilateral and Regional Fora

In 2016, the United States furthered its efforts to broaden international consensus on the relationship 

between trade and labor and the benefit of ensuring protection of labor provisions as part of trade policy. 

In the Ministerial Declaration adopted during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference 

in Singapore (1996) and reaffirmed in Ministerial Declarations adopted during Ministerial Conferences in 

Doha (2001) and Hong Kong (2005), WTO Members renewed their commitment to observe internationally 

recognized core labor standards and took note of collaboration between the WTO and the International 

Labor Organization (ILO) Secretariats. In support of this collaboration, in 2016, USTR and DOL officials 

continued their participation in ILO-led research and dialogue as part of a multi-year project to study the 

inclusion of labor provisions in trade and investment agreements. In 2016, the ILO also issued an 

Assessment of Labour Provisions in Trade and Investment Arrangements 

(http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_498944/lang--en/index.htm), in which the ILO 

found, among other things, that labor provisions have been an important tool for raising awareness and 

improving laws and legislations with respect to workers’ rights and developing domestic institutions to 

better monitor and enforce labor standards.

The United States also continued to promote labor rights as one of the topics relevant to the effort to 

strengthen economic integration and to build high quality trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region. In 

APEC, the United States has continued to support inclusion by APEC economies of labor and social issues 

in next generation trade agreements. This includes, in particular, emphasis on non-discrimination in the 

workplace and gender-related issues.

C. Small and Medium Size Business Initiative

USTR has implemented a Small Business Initiative to increase export opportunities for U.S. small and 

medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and has expanded efforts to address the specific export challenges and 

priorities of SMEs and their workers in our trade policy and enforcement activities. During 2016, USTR 

continued to engage with its interagency partners and with trading partners to develop and implement new 

and continuing initiatives that support small business exports.

U.S. small businesses are key engines for our economic growth, jobs, and innovation, and USTR is focused 

on making trade work for the benefit of American SMEs, helping them increase their sales to customers 

abroad, access and participate in global supply chains, and support jobs at home. USTR does this by 

negotiating with foreign governments to open their markets and by enforcing our existing trade agreements 

to ensure a level playing field for U.S. workers and businesses of all sizes. USTR is working to better 

integrate specific SME issues and priorities into our trade policy development, increase outreach to SMEs 

around the country, and expand collaboration and coordination with our interagency colleagues.

USTR is supporting efforts to help more American companies – especially SMEs – reach overseas markets 

by improving data, leveraging new technology applications, and empowering local export efforts. USTR 

works closely with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Department of Commerce and 

other agencies to help provide U.S. SMEs information, assistance, and counselling on specific export 

opportunities. In 2016, USTR undertook significant actions in continued support of our SME objectives.

1. USTR SME-Related Trade Policy Activities 

Tariff barriers, burdensome customs procedures, discriminatory or arbitrary standards, and lack of 

transparency relating to relevant regulations in foreign markets present particular challenges for our SMEs 

in selling abroad. Under the SME Initiative, USTR’s small business office, regional offices, and functional 
162 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

offices are pursuing initiatives and advancing efforts to address these issues. For example, USTR is hopeful 

that the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement will eliminate red tape and bureaucratic delay for goods 

shipped around the globe. Small businesses would benefit tremendously from such a development since 

their size poses unique challenges in navigating restrictive rules around the world. USTR is also leading 

efforts to strengthen and enforce intellectual property rights, reduce services market barriers, and simplify 

government procurement rules. 

U.S. trade agreements, as well as other trade dialogues and fora, provide a critical opportunity to address 

specific concerns of U.S. SMEs and facilitate their participation in export markets. For example: 

 In the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, APEC continues to implement the 2015 

Boracay Action Agenda to Globalize Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as the 

APEC Iloilo Initiative: Growing Global SMEs for Inclusive Development, a guiding framework for 

integrating SMEs into international trade and Global Value Chains (GVCs). APEC also advanced the 

U.S.- led initiative on the Digital Economy Action Plan for MSMEs to further assist SMEs' access to 

international markets. The United States, through the APEC Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity 

(A2C2), continued supporting capacity building activities closely linked to the WTO's Trade 

Facilitation Agreement, including assistance for economies to further simplify customs procedures and 

document requirements that will in turn benefit SMEs that often lack the resources necessary to 

navigate overly complex requirements to deliver their goods to overseas markets in the region. APEC's 

new website called the APEC Trade Repository (APECTR) at http:/tr.apec.org, should continue to help 

SMEs seeking tariff rates, customs procedures, and other information for doing business in APEC 

markets. 

 With respect to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners in the Western Hemisphere, USTR is working 

with SBA, the U.S. Department of State, and other agencies to support the Small Business Network of 

the Americas (SBNA), which helps small businesses participate in international trade by linking U.S. 

small business development centers (SBDCs) with international counterparts via web-based platforms 

and facilitates direct contacts between centers and small business clients seeking foreign customers and 

partners. USTR worked with SBA and the State Department on preparations for the America’s Small 

Business Development Centers annual meeting in Orlando, and supported the SBNA matchmaking 

workshop of SBDCs in the United States with potential sister centers in countries in the Western 

Hemisphere and other regions. 

 In the WTO context, USTR is exploring the development of further work with other WTO members 

on issues of interest to SME stakeholders, such as tariff bindings, duty-free treatment of digital goods, 

transparency of regulatory processes, and implementation of trade facilitation measures.

 USTR also discussed SME issues in other bilateral fora with trading partners in Europe and the Middle 

East. In the U.S.-Georgia High Level Dialogue on Trade and Investment, parties are exploring further 

work on SME issues with a particular focus on best practices and policies for expanding SME ecommerce and digital trade. USTR also discussed SME issues in a meeting under the U.S.-Qatar Trade 

and Investment Framework Agreement, with a particular focus on best practices with Small Business 

Development Centers and training.

 

2. USTR Interagency SME Activities 

USTR participates in the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee’s (TPCC) Small Business Working 

Group, collaborating with agencies including the U.S. Department of Commerce, SBA, the U.S. 

Department of State, U.S. Export-Import Bank, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and others across the 
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 163

U.S. Government to promote small business exports. The TPCC Small Business Working Group connects 

SMEs to trade information and resources to help them begin or expand their exports and take advantage of 

existing trade agreements. USTR collaborates as a key member of the TPCC SME Task Force, which is 

chaired by SBA, on formulating policies to connect SMEs to international trade opportunities and increase 

their ability to compete in international markets. As a result of work by the Task Force, USTR, the U.S. 

Department of Commerce and SBA created the FTA Tariff Tool. This free, online tool 

(http://export.gov/FTA/ftatarifftool/index.asp) was designed to help small businesses take better advantage 

of the reduction and elimination of tariffs under U.S. FTAs. The FTA Tariff Tool has been expanded to 

include tariff information on textiles and apparel products as well as rules of origin under U.S. FTAs. 

Additionally, the TPCC SME Task Force worked to eliminate registration costs for USA Trade Online, a 

data tool provided by the U.S. Census Bureau that gives users access to current and cumulative U.S. export 

and import data. Users can create customized reports and charts detailing international trade data at different 

levels, which can be especially helpful for small businesses.

3. USTR’s SME Outreach and Consultations 

In 2016, USTR participated in engagements around the country to hear from local stakeholders about the 

trade opportunities and challenges they face. On an interagency basis, USTR is working with the TPCC to 

improve trade information relevant for SMEs and highlight interagency programs to assist SMEs with their 

individual export needs. 

USTR staff regularly consult with the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Small and Minority Business 

(ITAC 11) to seek its advice and input on U.S. trade policy negotiations and initiatives, and meets frequently 

with individual SMEs and associations representing SME members on specific issues. USTR spoke at 

several SME events around the country and abroad in 2016 regarding the U.S. trade agenda, including at 

the Kansas World Trade Center in Kansas City, MO; the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business 

Global Summit in Columbus, OH, the National District Export Council meeting in Washington, D.C., the 

Friedrich Ebert Foundation meeting in Austin, Texas; small businesses from around the country convening 

at the White House Business Council; the Small Business Committee of the President’s Export Council; 

and other events aimed at apprising small businesses of international trade opportunities and encouraging 

them to begin or expand their exports.

D. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 

Thirty-five democracies in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim comprise the 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), established in 1961 and headquartered 

in Paris. The OECD is a grouping of economically significant countries and serves as a policy forum 

covering a broad spectrum of economic, social, environmental, and scientific areas, from macroeconomic 

analysis to education to biotechnology. The OECD helps countries, both OECD Members and nonMembers, reap the benefits and confront the challenges of a global economy by promoting economic 

growth, free markets, and the efficient use of resources. A committee of Member government officials, 

supported by Secretariat staff, covers each substantive area. The emphasis is on discussion and peer review 

rather than negotiation. However, some OECD instruments, such as the Anti-Bribery Convention, are 

legally binding. Most OECD decisions require consensus among Member governments. The likemindedness of the OECD’s membership on the core values of democratic institutions, the rule of law, and 

open markets uniquely positions the OECD to serve as a valuable policy forum to address issues relevant 

to the global economy and the multilateral trading system. In the past, analysis of issues in the OECD has 

often been instrumental in forging a consensus among OECD countries to pursue specific negotiating goals 

in other international fora, such as the WTO. 
164 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

The United States has a longstanding interest in trade issues studied by the OECD. On trade and trade 

policy, the OECD engages in meaningful research, and provides a forum in which OECD Members can 

discuss complex and sometimes difficult issues. The OECD is also active in studying the balance between 

domestic objectives and international trade. 

1. Trade Committee Work Program 

In 2016, the OECD Trade Committee, its subsidiary Working Party, and its joint working parties on 

environment and agriculture, continued to address a number of issues of significance to the multilateral 

trading system. The Trade Committee met in April and November 2016, and its Working Party met in 

March, June, October, and December. The Trade Committee and its subsidiary groups paid significant 

attention to trade facilitation, government procurement, global value chains and trade in value-added, 

services trade, data localization, technology transfer, local content policies, state-owned enterprises, and 

international regulatory cooperation. The trade page on the OECD website (http://www.oecd.org/trade) 

contains up-to-date information on published analytical work and other trade-related activities.

The Trade Committee continued its analysis and work surrounding barriers affecting trade in services. In 

2016, the Committee initiated consideration of two horizontal themes; work on trade policy-making in the 

digital economy, which dovetails with the OECD-wide horizontal project on Digital Policy, and work on 

trade and investment, which includes close collaboration and coordination with the Investment Committee, 

the Committee on Industry, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Statistics Directorate. Looking ahead, 

the Trade Committee will also continue its work on participation in global value chains, trade facilitation, 

trade in services, the digital economy, export credits, environmental policies, and trade-related international 

regulatory cooperation. 

The OECD Ministerial Council Meeting took place in June 2016 in Paris. USTR participated in the Trade 

Session, which focused on implementing the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial agreements and enabling a more 

productive future at the WTO. As part of this session, ministers recognized the need to boost trade and 

investment to foster productivity and achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. Ministers welcomed WTOconsistent and WTO-supportive bilateral, regional, and plurilateral initiatives aimed at promoting trade. 

They also encouraged the integration of new and emerging issues, such as digital trade, regulatory 

coherence, competition and investment, in the post-Nairobi multilateral negotiating agenda. Ministers 

urged the OECD to deepen its analytical work on the provisions of regional trade agreements to better 

understand them and their impact. Ministers welcomed the formal launch of the LAC Regional Programme, 

which aims to shape strategic responses related to increasing productivity, advancing social inclusion, and 

strengthening institutions and governance.

2. Trade Committee Dialogue with Non-OECD Members 

The OECD conducts wide-ranging activities to reach out to non-Member countries, business, and civil 

society, in particular through its series of workshops and “Global Forum” events held around the world 

each year. Non-Members may participate as committee observers when Members believe that participation 

will be mutually beneficial. Key partners—Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa—participate 

to varying degrees in OECD activities through the Enhanced Engagement program, which seeks to establish 

a more structured and coherent partnership, based on mutual interest, between these five major economies 

and OECD Members. Argentina, Brazil, and Hong Kong (China) are regular invitees to the Trade 

Committee and its Working Party. The OECD also carries out a number of regional and bilateral 

cooperation programs with non-Members. 
IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES | 165

The OECD Trade Committee continued its contacts with non-Member countries in 2016. The Committee 

has embarked on an active outreach effort with G20 countries as well as major economies in Southeast 

Asia, with modest but growing success. Contributing to trade-related discussions at the G20 and other 

relevant international fora (G7, APEC, ASEAN, etc.), through the timely use of the Committee’s evidencebased analysis and policy insights, remains a high priority. 

Latvia became a full member of the OECD in July 2016. Also in 2016, the Trade Committee continued 

discussions on the draft Market Openness Reviews of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Lithuania. At the April 

2016 Trade Committee meeting, Members considered Lithuania’s draft Formal Opinion and a revised 

Market Openness Review of Colombia. The Market Openness Review of Costa Rica was submitted for 

discussion at the April 2016 Trade Committee meeting, and the Formal Opinion of the Trade Committee 

on the Accession of Costa Rica was approved for adoption under written procedure in January. 

At the 2013 Ministerial Council Meeting, OECD Ministers called for the establishment of a comprehensive 

OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme, the main objective of which is to strengthen engagement 

between the OECD and Southeast Asian countries with a view to supporting regional integration and 

national reform priorities. The OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum 2016 on Boosting Productivity and 

Inclusiveness in Southeast Asia and the Second Steering Group Meeting of the OECD Southeast Asia 

Regional Programme took place in Hanoi, Vietnam in June 2016. The forum focused on raising 

productivity growth, integrating SMEs into global value chains, and promoting a more inclusive social 

agenda.

The OECD held a Global Forum on Trade in November 2016. The Forum focused on “International trade 

and investment: How to keep pace with new business models and the emerging digital economy?” The 

purpose of the forum was to identify ways the OECD can contribute to bolstering the role of trade in 

productivity improvement and growth, particularly in regard to regulatory coherence.

The Trade Committee also continued its dialogue with civil society and discussed aspects of its work and 

issues of concern with representatives of civil society, including Members of the OECD’s Business and 

Industry Advisory Council and Trade Union Advisory Council. 

3. Other OECD Work Related to Trade

Representatives of the OECD Member countries meet in specialized committees to advance ideas and 

review progress in specific policy areas, such as economics, trade, science, employment, education, and 

financial markets. There are about 200 committees, working groups, and expert groups. 

E. Localization Barriers to Trade

A growing number of America’s trading partners have imposed or are contemplating what are called 

“localization barriers to trade”—measures designed to protect, favor, or stimulate domestic industries, 

service providers, or intellectual property (IP) at the expense of goods, services, or IP from other 

countries. Localization barriers can serve as trade barriers when they unreasonably differentiate between 

domestic and foreign products, services, IP, or suppliers, and may or may not be consistent with WTO 

rules. Examples of localization barriers include: 

 Local content requirements, i.e., requirements to purchase domestically manufactured goods or 

domestically supplied services;
166 | IV. OTHER TRADE ACTIVITIES

 Subsidies or other preferences that are only received if producers use local goods, locally owned 

service providers, or domestically owned or developed IP, or IP that is first registered in that 

country; 

 Requirements to provide services using local facilities or infrastructure; 

 Measures to force the transfer of technology or IP; 

 Requirements to comply with country- or region-specific or design-based standards that create 

unnecessary obstacles to trade; and,

 Unjustified requirements to conduct or carry out duplicative conformity assessment procedures incountry.

Disadvantaging or excluding foreign goods, services, or IP in a market compared to domestic goods, 

services, or IP distorts trade, discourages foreign direct investment, and pushes other trading partners to 

impose similarly detrimental measures. Consequently, often over the long term, these measures can 

actually stand in the way of the economic growth and competitiveness objectives that they were intended 

to achieve.

For these reasons, the United States has historically advocated against localization barriers and has

encouraged trading partners to pursue instead policy approaches that help their economic growth and 

competitiveness without discriminating against imported goods or services.

In 2016, USTR worked with U.S. industry and other stakeholders, along with trading partners around the 

world, to reduce market access challenges posed to U.S. goods, services, and IP by localization barriers. In 

2017, the United States will seek to build on the APEC and OECD initiatives and take additional steps to 

continue to address localization barriers around the world.

F. Trade in Services Agreement

Twenty-three economies participated in negotiations on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) in 2016: 

Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, 

Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Republic of Korea, 

Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United States. Negotiations are held in Geneva, Switzerland, but 

there is no relationship between TiSA and the World Trade Organization. 

Negotiations intensified during 2016, focusing on market access and the text of additional disciplines. 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 167

V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

The focus of this chapter is on actions taken by the U.S. government in 2016. As discussed in Chapter I, 

trade enforcement will be a major priority of the Trump Administration.

A. Enforcing U.S. Trade Agreements 

1. Overview

USTR coordinates the U.S. Government monitoring of foreign government compliance with trade 

agreements to which the United States is a party and pursues enforcement actions using dispute settlement 

procedures and applying the full range of U.S. trade laws when appropriate. Vigorous monitoring and 

investigation efforts by USTR and relevant expert agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, 

Commerce, Justice, Labor, and State, help ensure that these agreements yield the maximum benefits in 

terms of ensuring market access for Americans, advancing the rule of law internationally, and creating a 

fair, open, and predictable trading environment. The Interagency Center on Trade Implementation, 

Monitoring, and Enforcement, the successor to the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC), brings 

together research, analytical resources, and expertise from across the Federal Government into one 

organization within USTR, significantly enhancing the capability of the United States to investigate foreign 

trade practices that are potentially unfair or adverse to U.S. commercial interests.

Ensuring full implementation of U.S. trade agreements is one of the strategic priorities of the United States. 

USTR seeks to achieve this goal through a variety of means, including:

 Asserting U.S. rights through the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the WTO bodies and 

committees charged with monitoring implementation and surveillance of agreements and 

disciplines;

 Vigorously monitoring and enforcing bilateral and plurilateral agreements; 

 Invoking U.S. trade laws in conjunction with bilateral, plurilateral, and WTO mechanisms to 

promote compliance;

 Providing technical assistance to trading partners, especially in developing countries, to ensure that 

key agreements such as the Agreement on Basic Telecommunications and the Agreement on TradeRelated Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) are implemented on schedule; and, 

 Promoting U.S. interests under free trade agreements (FTAs) through work programs, accelerated 

tariff reductions, and use or threat of use of dispute settlement mechanisms, including with respect 

to labor and environmental obligations.

Through the vigorous application of U.S. trade laws and active use of WTO dispute settlement procedures, 

the United States opens foreign markets to U.S. goods and services and helps defend U.S workers, 

businesses, and farmers against unfair practices. The United States also has used the incentive of 

preferential access to the U.S. market to encourage improvements in the protection of workers’ rights and 

reform of intellectual property laws and practices in other countries. These enforcement efforts have 

resulted in major benefits for U.S. firms, farmers, and workers, and workers around the world.
168 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

Favorable Resolutions or Settlements 

By filing disputes, the United States aims to secure benefits for U.S. stakeholders rather than to engage in 

prolonged litigation. Therefore, whenever possible, the United States has sought to reach favorable 

resolutions or settlements that eliminate the foreign breach without having to resort to panel proceedings. 

The United States has been able to achieve this preferred result in 34 disputes concluded so far, involving: 

Argentina’s protection and enforcement of patents; Australia’s ban on salmon imports; Belgium’s duties 

on rice imports; Brazil’s automotive investment measures; Brazil’s patent law; Canada’s antidumping and 

countervailing duty investigation on corn; China’s value-added tax exemptions for certain domestically 

produced aircraft; China’s Demonstration Base / Common Service Platform export subsidy program; 

China’s Automobile and Automobile Parts Export Bases prohibited subsidy program; China’s value-added 

tax on integrated circuits; China’s use of prohibited subsidies for green technologies; China’s treatment of 

foreign financial information suppliers; China’s subsidies for so-called Famous Brands; China’s support 

for wind power equipment; Denmark’s civil procedures for intellectual property enforcement; Egypt’s 

apparel tariffs; the EU’s market access for grains; an EU import surcharge on corn gluten feed; Greece’s 

protection of copyrighted motion pictures and television programs; Hungary’s agricultural export subsidies; 

India’s compliance regarding its patent protection; Indonesia’s barriers to the importation of horticultural 

products (2 disputes); Ireland’s protection of copyrights; Japan’s protection of sound recordings; Korea’s 

shelf-life standards for beef and pork; Mexico’s restrictions on hog imports; Pakistan’s protection of 

patents; the Philippines’ market access for pork and poultry; the Philippines’ automotive regime; Portugal’s 

protection of patents; Romania’s customs valuation regime; Sweden’s enforcement of intellectual property 

rights; and Turkey’s box office taxes on motion pictures.

Litigation Successes

When U.S. trading partners have not been willing to negotiate settlements, the United States has pursued 

its cases to conclusion, prevailing in 47 cases to date. In 2016, the United States prevailed in a dispute 

involving India’s discriminatory local-content requirements for solar cells and modules under its National 

Solar Mission (two merged complaints). The United States also prevailed before panels in two ongoing 

proceedings: a dispute challenging Indonesia’s barriers on the importation of horticultural products, beef, 

poultry, and animals; and a compliance challenge on the subsidies to Airbus for large civil aircraft granted 

by the European Union, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain that continue to breach WTO 

rules. In prior years, the United States prevailed in complaints involving: Argentina’s import licensing 

restrictions and other trade-related requirements; Argentina’s tax and duties on textiles, apparel, and 

footwear; Australia’s export subsidies on automotive leather; Canada’s barriers to the sale and distribution 

of magazines; Canada’s export subsidies and an import barrier on dairy products; Canada’s law protecting 

patents; China’s charges on imported automobile parts; China’s measures restricting trading rights and 

distribution services for certain publications and audiovisual entertainment products; China’s enforcement 

and protection of intellectual property rights; China’s measures related to the exportation of raw materials; 

China’s countervailing and antidumping duties on grain oriented flat-rolled electrical steel from the United 

States; China’s claim of compliance in the dispute involving China’s countervailing and antidumping duties 

on grain oriented flat-rolled electrical steel from the United States; China’s measures affecting electronic 

payment services; China’s countervailing and antidumping duties on broiler parts from the United States; 

China’s countervailing and antidumping duties on automobiles from the United States; China’s export 

restrictions on rare earths and other materials; the EU’s subsidies to Airbus for large civil aircraft; the EU’s 

import barriers on bananas; the EU’s ban on imports of beef; the EU’s regime for protecting geographical 

indications; the EU’s moratorium on biotechnology products; the EU’s non-uniform classification of LCD 

monitors; the EU’s tariff treatment of certain information technology products; India’s ban on poultry meat 

and various other U.S. agricultural products allegedly to protect against avian influenza; India’s import bans 

and other restrictions on 2,700 items; India’s protection of patents on pharmaceuticals and agricultural 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 169

chemicals; India’s and Indonesia’s discriminatory measures on imports of U.S. automobiles; Japan’s 

restrictions affecting imports of apples, cherries, and other fruits; Japan’s barriers to apple imports; Japan’s 

and Korea’s discriminatory taxes on distilled spirits; Korea’s restrictions on beef imports; Mexico’s 

antidumping duties on high fructose corn syrup; Mexico’s telecommunications barriers; Mexico’s 

antidumping duties on rice; Mexico’s discriminatory soft drink tax; the Philippines’ discriminatory taxation 

of imported distilled spirits; and Turkey’s measures affecting the importation of rice.

USTR also works in consultation with other U.S. Government agencies to ensure the most effective use of 

U.S. trade laws to complement its litigation strategy and to address problems that are outside the scope of 

the WTO and U.S. free trade agreements. USTR has applied Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to 

address unfair foreign government measures, “Special 301” for intellectual property rights protection and 

enforcement, and Section 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 for 

telecommunications trade problems (the application of these trade law tools is described in greater detail 

in Chapter V.B.).

ITEC

On February 28, 2012, Executive Order 13601 established the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center, or 

ITEC, to bring additional approaches to addressing unfair trade practices and foreign trade barriers, and to 

significantly enhance the Government’s capabilities to challenge such barriers and practices around the 

world. ITEC increased the efforts devoted to trade enforcement, as well as leveraged existing resources 

more efficiently across the Administration. Personnel from various contributing Government agencies 

comprise a deep pool of analytical support for trade enforcement efforts. 

On February 24, 2016, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 was signed into law. 

Section 604 of it establishes at USTR the Interagency Center on Trade Implementation, Monitoring, and 

Enforcement (ICTIME). ICTIME is to support the activities of USTR in investigating potential disputes 

under the auspices of the WTO and pursuant to bilateral and regional trade agreements; monitoring and 

enforcing trade agreements to which the United States is a party; and monitoring implementation by foreign 

parties to trade agreements. The statute expressly provides that federal agencies may detail employees to 

ICTIME to support its functions. 

In 2016, ITEC/ICTIME continued its work. ITEC/ICTIME has played a role in providing research and 

analysis in support of multiple important WTO matters including Argentina’s import licensing restrictions 

and other trade-related requirements; China’s export subsidies in export bases for automobiles and 

automotive parts; Indonesia’s restrictive import licensing; India’s local content restrictions on certain solar 

energy products; China’s export subsidies in demonstration bases for various industries; China’s use of 

hidden and discriminatory tax exemptions for certain Chinese-produced aircraft; China’s domestic support 

for corn, wheat, and rice production; and China’s administration of tariff-rate quotas for corn, wheat, and 

rice. USTR took action at the WTO to address these practices that the United States considers are 

inconsistent with WTO rules and affect opportunities for U.S. exporters. In addition, ITEC/ICTIME has 

also provided research and analysis to assist in defending disputes brought against the United States at the 

WTO and acquired translations of hundreds of foreign laws, regulations, and other measures related to 

trading partners’ adherence to international trade obligations.

ITEC/ICTIME has provided an important monitoring and analysis function to evaluate China’s compliance 

with the WTO reports regarding the raw materials, rare earths, and electronic payment services cases. In 

addition, ITEC/ICTIME, in coordination with the Department of Labor, provided extensive analysis, 

translations, and other critical support for the case filed under the Dominican Republic – Central American 

Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) involving labor rights in Guatemala.
170 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

In coordination with other offices at USTR and other agencies, ITEC/ICTIME has identified priority 

projects for research and analysis regarding a number of countries and issues. ITEC/ICTIME staff are 

researching those projects intensively and these efforts are being supplemented by research conducted by 

other agencies in coordination with ITEC/ICTIME.

2. WTO Dispute Settlement

The United States had some enforcement successes in 2016. Most notably: (i) The United States prevailed 

in a challenge (also resolving two previous complaints) to Indonesia’s import barriers against U.S. 

agricultural products from beef to fruits and vegetables to poultry. The panel agreed Indonesia’s import 

restrictions and prohibitions were against WTO rules. Those import barriers are limiting opportunities for 

American farmers. (ii) The United States successfully challenged the EU’s claim of compliance in the 

large civil aircraft dispute. A WTO compliance panel issued a report finding that the European Union, 

Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain continue to breach WTO rules through subsidies the 

WTO previously found to have caused adverse effects to the United States. The compliance panel also 

found that these European governments further breached WTO rules by granting more than $4 billion in 

new subsidized financing for the A350 XWB – causing tens of billions of dollars in additional adverse 

effects to the U.S. industry. (iii) The United States prevailed in a dispute (covering two complaints) to 

India’s “localization” rules that discriminate against U.S. solar cells and modules by requiring use of Indian 

products. American solar exports to India dropped 90 percent after the prohibited requirements took effect.

The United States also resolved three WTO disputes in 2016 without undertaking panel proceedings: (i) 

The United States reported that China has ended discriminatory value-added tax exemptions for certain 

aircraft produced in China. China had exempted domestic aircraft from a 17 percent value-added tax (VAT) 

while imposing those taxes on imported aircraft. (ii) China signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 

the United States in which China agreed to take specific actions that would remove all the WTOinconsistent elements of its “Demonstration Bases-Common Service Platform” export subsidy program. 

Those prohibited export subsidies were being given to manufacturers and producers across seven economic 

sectors and dozens of sub-sectors located in more than one hundred and fifty industrial clusters throughout 

China. (iii) The United States had challenged a Chinese export subsidies program to auto and auto parts 

enterprises in China and reported that the instruments challenged in this dispute are no longer supporting 

these programs. 

The United States launched four WTO actions in 2016, with USTR requesting WTO consultations: (i) With 

China on its administration of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for rice, wheat, and corn. China’s administration 

of these TRQs is not transparent, predictable, or fair, and China’s TRQ administration restricts imports. (ii) 

With China regarding its excessive support for farmers. By setting prices for rice, wheat, and corn well 

above market levels, China encourages overproduction by its farmers, disadvantaging U.S. farmers seeking 

export opportunities in China. (iii) With China on its export duties and quotas on various forms of nine 

different raw materials. These raw materials are key inputs into a variety of Made-in-America products

from a range of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, chemicals, and more. (iv) With China 

following China’s failure to bring its AD/CVD orders against imports of U.S. chicken broiler products into 

compliance with WTO rules. 

The cases described in Chapter II.H of this report provide further detail about U.S. involvement in the WTO 

dispute settlement process. Further information on WTO disputes to which the United States is a party is 

available on the USTR website: https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforcement/overview-dispute-settlementmatters
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 171

3. Other Monitoring and Enforcement Activities

Subsidies Enforcement

The WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (Subsidies Agreement) establishes 

multilateral disciplines on subsidies. Among its various disciplines, the Subsidies Agreement provides 

remedies for subsidies that have adverse effects not only in the importing country’s market, but also in the 

subsidizing government’s market and in third-country markets. Prior to the Subsidies Agreement coming 

into effect in 1995, the U.S. countervailing duty law was, in effect, the only practical mechanism for U.S. 

companies to address subsidized foreign competition. However, the countervailing duty law focuses 

exclusively on the effects of foreign subsidized competition in the United States. Although the procedures 

and remedies are different, the multilateral remedies of the Subsidies Agreement provide an alternative tool 

to address foreign subsidies that affect U.S. businesses in an increasingly global marketplace. 

Section 281 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act of 1994 (URAA) and other authorities set out the 

responsibilities of USTR and the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) in enforcing U.S. rights in 

the WTO under the Subsidies Agreement. USTR coordinates the development and implementation of 

overall U.S. trade policy with respect to subsidy matters; represents the United States in the WTO, including 

the WTO Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and in WTO dispute settlement relating to 

subsidies disciplines; and leads the interagency team on matters of policy. The role of Commerce’s 

Enforcement and Compliance (E&C) is to enforce the countervailing duty (CVD) law, and in accordance 

with responsibilities assigned by the Congress in the URAA, to pursue certain subsidies enforcement 

activities of the United States with respect to the disciplines embodied in the Subsidies Agreement. The 

E&C’s Subsidies Enforcement Office (SEO) is the specific office charged with carrying out these duties. 

The primary mandate of the SEO is to examine subsidy complaints and concerns raised by U.S. exporting 

companies and to monitor foreign subsidy practices to determine whether there is reason to believe they are 

impeding U.S. exports to foreign markets and are inconsistent with the Subsidies Agreement. Once 

sufficient information about a subsidy practice has been gathered to permit it to be reliably evaluated, USTR 

and Commerce confer with an interagency team to determine the most effective way to proceed. It is 

frequently advantageous to pursue resolution of these problems through a combination of informal and 

formal contacts, including, where warranted, dispute settlement action in the WTO. Remedies for 

violations of the Subsidies Agreement may, under certain circumstances, involve the withdrawal of a 

subsidy program or the elimination of the adverse effects of the program. 

During 2016, USTR and E&C staff have handled numerous inquiries and met with representatives of U.S. 

industries concerned with the subsidization of foreign competitors. These efforts continue to be importantly 

enhanced by E&C officers stationed overseas (e.g., in China), who help gather, clarify, and check the 

accuracy of information concerning foreign subsidy practices. U.S. Government officers stationed at 

posts where E&C staff are not present have also handled such inquiries.

The SEO’s electronic subsidies database continues to fulfill the goal of providing the U.S. trading 

community with a centralized location to obtain information about the remedies available under the 

Subsidies Agreement and much of the information that is needed to develop a CVD case or a WTO subsidies 

complaint. The website (http://esel.trade.gov) includes an overview of the SEO, helpful links, and an easily 

navigable tool that provides information about each subsidy program investigated by Commerce in CVD 

cases since 1980. This database is frequently updated, making information on subsidy programs quickly 

available to the public. 
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Monitoring and Challenging Foreign Antidumping, Countervailing Duty, and Safeguard Actions 

The WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI (Antidumping Agreement) and the WTO Subsidies 

Agreement permit WTO Members to impose antidumping (AD) duties or CVDs to offset injurious dumping 

or subsidization of products exported from one Member to another. The United States actively monitors, 

evaluates, and where appropriate, participates in ongoing AD and CVD cases conducted by foreign 

countries in order to safeguard the interests of U.S. industry and to ensure that Members abide by their 

WTO obligations in conducting such proceedings. 

To this end, the United States works closely with U.S. companies affected by foreign countries’ AD and 

CVD investigations in an effort to help them better understand Members’ AD and CVD systems. The 

United States also advocates on their behalf in connection with ongoing investigations, with the goal of 

obtaining fair and objective treatment that is consistent with the WTO Agreements. In addition, with regard 

to CVD cases, the United States provides extensive information in response to questions from foreign 

governments regarding the subsidy allegations at issue in a particular case.

Further, E&C tracks foreign AD and CVD actions, as well as safeguard actions involving U.S. exporters, 

enabling U.S. companies and U.S. Government agencies to monitor other Members’ administration of such 

actions. Information about foreign trade remedy actions affecting U.S. exports is accessible to the public 

via E&C’s website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/trcs/index.html. The stationing of E&C officers to 

certain overseas locations and close contacts with U.S. Government officers stationed in embassies 

worldwide has contributed to the Administration’s efforts to monitor the application of foreign trade remedy 

laws with respect to U.S. exports. In addition, E&C promotes fair treatment, transparency, and consistency 

with WTO obligations through technical exchanges and other bilateral engagements.

During the past year, over 100 trade remedy actions involving exports from the United States were closely 

monitored, notable examples of which include: (Antidumping) Brazil’s investigation of acetic esters; 

Canada’s investigation of gypsum board; China’s separate investigations of distilled dried grains and ironbased amorphous alloy ribbon (strip); El Salvador’s investigation of latex paint; and Korea’s investigation 

of butyl glycol ether; and Turkey’s investigation of cotton, (Countervailing Duty) China’s investigation of 

distilled dried grains, (Safeguards) Chile’s separate investigations of steel wire and steel nails; Malaysia’s 

investigation of steel concrete reinforcing bar; the Gulf Cooperation Council’s separate investigations of 

flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, and ferro silico manganese; Vietnam’s investigation of semifinished and certain finished products of alloy and non-alloy steel; and Zambia’s investigation of flat-rolled 

products of iron, non-alloy steel, trailers and semi-trailers. 

Members must notify, on an ongoing basis and without delay, their preliminary and final determinations to 

the WTO. Twice a year, WTO Members must also notify the WTO of all AD and CVD actions they have 

taken during the preceding six-month period. The actions are identified in semiannual reports submitted 

for discussion in meetings of the relevant WTO committees. Finally, Members are required to notify the 

WTO of changes in their AD and CVD laws and regulations. These notifications are accessible through 

the USTR and E&C website links to the WTO’s website.

Disputes under Free Trade Agreements

CAFTA – DR: In the Matter of Guatemala – Issues Relating to the Obligations under Article 16.2.1(a) of 

the CAFTA-DR

On July 30, 2010, the United States requested cooperative labor consultations with Guatemala pursuant to 

Article 16.6.1 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTADR). In its request, the United States stated that Guatemala appeared to be failing to meet its obligations 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 173

under Article 16.2.1(a) with respect to the effective enforcement of Guatemalan labor laws directly related 

to the right of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, and acceptable conditions of work. 

The request specifically stated that the United States had identified significant failures by Guatemala to 

enforce its labor laws, through a sustained or recurring course of action or inaction, in a manner affecting 

trade, including: (1) the Ministry of Labor’s (MOL) failure to investigate alleged labor law violations; (2) 

the MOL’s failure to take enforcement action once it had identified a labor law violation; and (3) the judicial 

system’s failure to enforce labor court orders in cases involving labor law violations. 

The United States and Guatemala held consultations on September 8-9, 2010, and on December 6, 2010, 

but were unable to resolve the matter. On May 16, 2011, the United States requested a meeting of the Free 

Trade Commission (FTC) under CAFTA-DR Article 20.5.2. The FTC met on June 7, 2011, but was unable 

to resolve the dispute. 

On August 9, 2011, the United States requested the establishment of a panel under CAFTA-DR Article 

20.6.1. The Panel was constituted on November 30, 2012, with Mr. Kevin Banks as Chair and with Mr. 

Theodore Posner and Mr. Mario Fuentes Destarac serving as the other members. 

The Parties agreed to suspend the work of the Panel while they negotiated a Labor Enforcement Plan in 

which Guatemala agreed to take significant actions to strengthen its enforcement of its labor laws. On April 

26, 2013, the Parties signed the 18-point Enforcement Plan and agreed to maintain the arbitral panel’s 

suspension during its implementation and review.

On September 19, 2014, after having concluded that Guatemala had not achieved sufficient progress in 

realizing the commitments and aims of the Enforcement Plan, the United States proceeded with the dispute 

settlement proceedings. Both disputing Parties presented a series of written submissions to the Panel in 

accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Chapter 20 (Dispute Settlement) of the CAFTA-DR. Eight 

non-governmental entities also submitted written views to the Panel as provided under the CAFTA-DR. 

The Panel held a hearing in Guatemala City on June 2, 2015. On November 4, 2015, the proceedings were 

temporarily suspended after Mr. Fuentes Destarac resigned from the Panel for reasons of availability. The 

Panel resumed work on November 27, 2015, when Mr. Ricardo Ramírez Hernández accepted his 

nomination to serve as a member of the Panel. The Panel’s final report in the proceedings is expected in 

2017.

CAFTA – DR: United States – Dehydrated Ethyl Alcohol 

On April 1, 2014, Costa Rica requested formal consultations under the dispute settlement provisions of the 

CAFTA-DR regarding the tariff treatment by the United States of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) dehydrated in 

Costa Rica from non-originating feedstock. On April 8, 2014, El Salvador notified the United States that 

it considers it has a substantial trade interest in the matter and would therefore participate in the 

consultations. Formal consultations were held on June 11, 2014. On September 29, 2014, Costa Rica 

requested a meeting of the Free Trade Commission, and the FTC meeting took place on November 6, 2014. 

The United States is continuing to engage with Costa Rica on the matter.

4. Monitoring Foreign Standards-related Measures and SPS Barriers

The Administration deploys significant resources to identify and confront unjustified barriers stemming 

from sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures as well as from technical regulations, standards, and 

conformity assessment procedures (standards-related measures) that restrict U.S. exports of safe, highquality products. SPS measures, technical regulations, and standards serve a vital role in safeguarding 
174 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

countries and their people, including by protecting health, safety, and the environment. Conformity 

assessment procedures are procedures such as testing and certification requirements used to determine that 

products comply with underlying standards and technical requirements. 

U.S. trade agreements provide that SPS and standards-related measures enacted by U.S. trading partners to 

meet legitimate objectives, such as the protection of health and safety as well as the environment, must not 

act as unnecessary obstacles to trade. Greater engagement with U.S. trading partners and increased 

monitoring of their practices can help ensure that U.S. trading partners are complying with their obligations. 

This engagement helps facilitate trade in safe, high-quality U.S. products. USTR, through its Trade Policy 

Staff Committee (TPSC) works to ensure that SPS and standards-related measures do not act as 

discriminatory or otherwise unwarranted restrictions on market access for U.S. exports. 

USTR uses tools, including its annual reports and the National Trade Estimate Report (NTE), to bring 

greater attention and focus to addressing SPS and standards-related measures that may be inconsistent with 

international trade agreements to which the United States is a party or that otherwise act as significant 

barriers to U.S. exports. These reports describe the actions that USTR and other agencies have taken to 

address the specific trade concerns identified through their outreach, as well as ongoing processes for 

monitoring SPS and standards-related actions that affect trade. USTR’s activities in the WTO SPS 

Committee and the WTO TBT Committee are at the forefront of these efforts (for additional information, 

see Chapter II.E.3 and Chapter II.E.8.). USTR also engages on these issues with U.S. trading partners 

through mechanisms established by free trade agreements, such as NAFTA, and through regional and 

multilateral organizations, such as the APEC and the OECD.

In 2017, USTR will continue to deploy significant resources to identify and confront unjustified SPS and 

standards-related barriers. The NTE Report will continue to highlight the increasingly critical nature of 

these issues to U.S. trade policy, to identify and call attention to problems resolved during the past year, in 

part as models for resolving ongoing issues, and to signal new or existing areas in which more progress 

needs to be made. 

B. U.S. Trade Laws

1. Section 301 

Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act) is designed to address foreign unfair practices affecting 

U.S. exports of goods or services. Section 301 may be used to enforce U.S. rights under bilateral and 

multilateral trade agreements and also may be used to respond to unreasonable, unjustifiable, or 

discriminatory foreign government practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce. For example, Section 

301 may be used to obtain increased market access for U.S. goods and services, to provide more equitable 

conditions for U.S. investment abroad, and to obtain more effective protection worldwide for U.S. 

intellectual property.

Operation of the Statute 

The Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act provide a domestic procedure whereby interested persons may 

petition the USTR to investigate a foreign government act, policy, or practice that may be burdening or 

restricting U.S. commerce and take appropriate action. USTR also may self-initiate an investigation.

In each investigation, USTR must seek consultations with the foreign government whose acts, policies, or 

practices are under investigation. If the acts, policies, or practices are determined to violate a trade 

agreement or to be unjustifiable, USTR must take action. If they are determined to be unreasonable or 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 175

discriminatory and to burden or restrict U.S. commerce, USTR must determine whether action is 

appropriate and if so, what action to take.

Actions that USTR may take under Section 301 include to: (1) suspend trade agreement concessions; (2)

impose duties or other import restrictions; (3) impose fees or restrictions on services; (4) enter into 

agreements with the subject country to eliminate the offending practice or to provide compensatory benefits 

for the United States; and/or (5) restrict service sector authorizations. After a Section 301 investigation is 

concluded, USTR is required to monitor a foreign country’s implementation of any agreements entered 

into, or measures undertaken, to resolve a matter that was the subject of the investigation. If the foreign 

country fails to comply with an agreement or USTR considers that the country fails to implement a WTO 

dispute panel recommendation, USTR must determine what further action to take under Section 301.

Developments during 2016 

USTR received no Section 301 petitions during 2016. As described below, there were developments in the 

following Section 301 matter. 

European Union – Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products (Hormones) 

The European Union (EU) prohibits imports into the EU of animals and meat from animals to which certain 

hormones have been administered (the “hormone ban). The result is a ban on all but specially produced 

U.S. beef. In 1996, the United States initiated a WTO dispute with respect to the ban (at that time, as 

embodied in a directive of the European Communities (EC), the predecessor to the EU). A WTO panel and 

the Appellate Body found that the hormone ban was inconsistent with WTO obligations because the ban 

was not based on scientific evidence, a risk assessment, or relevant international standards. Under WTO 

procedures, the EC was to have come into compliance with its obligations by May 13, 1999, but it failed to 

do so. Accordingly, in May 1999, the United States requested authorization from the Dispute Settlement 

Body (DSB) to suspend the application to the EC, and Member States thereof, of tariff concessions and 

related obligations under the GATT 1994. The EC did not contest that it had failed to comply with its WTO 

obligations, but it objected to the level of suspension proposed by the United States.

On July 12, 1999, a WTO arbitrator determined that the level of nullification or impairment suffered by the 

United States as a result of the WTO-inconsistent hormone ban was $116.8 million per year. Accordingly, 

on July 26, 1999, the DSB authorized the United States to suspend the application to the EC and its Member 

States of tariff concessions and related obligations under the GATT 1994, covering trade up to $116.8 

million per year. In a notice published in the Federal Register in July 1999, USTR announced that the 

United States was exercising this authorization by using authority under Section 301 to impose 100 percent 

ad valorem duties on a list of certain products of certain EC Member States.

In February 2005, a WTO panel was established to consider the EU’s claims that it had brought its hormone 

ban into compliance with its WTO obligations and that the increased duties imposed by the United States 

were no longer covered by the DSB authorization. The WTO panel concluded its work in 2008, and the 

panel report was appealed to the WTO Appellate Body. In October 2008, the Appellate Body confirmed 

that the July 1999 DSB authorization to the United States to suspend the application of tariff concessions 

and related obligations remained in effect.

In January 2009, USTR decided to modify the action taken in July 1999 by: (1) removing some products 

from the list of products subject to 100 percent ad valorem duties since July 1999; (2) imposing 100 percent 

ad valorem duties on some new products from certain EU Member States; (3) modifying the coverage with 

respect to particular EU Member States; and (4) raising the level of duties on one of the products that was 

being maintained on the product list. The trade value of the products subject to the modified action 
176 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

continued not to exceed the $116.8 million per year level authorized by the WTO in July 1999. The effective 

date of the modifications was to be March 23, 2009.

In March 2009, USTR decided to delay the effective date of the additional duties (items two through four 

above) imposed under the January 2009 modifications in order to allow additional time for reaching an 

agreement with the EU that would provide benefits to the U.S. beef industry. The effective date of the 

removal of duties under the January modifications remained March 23, 2009. Accordingly, subsequent to 

March 23, 2009, the additional duties put in place in July 1999 remained in place on a reduced list of 

products.

In May 2009, the United States and the EU announced the signing of an MOU in the EU-Beef Hormones 

dispute. Under the first phase of the MOU, which was scheduled to conclude in August 2012, the EU was 

obligated to open a new beef tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for beef not produced with certain growth-promoting 

hormones in the amount of 20,000 metric tons at zero rate of duty. The United States in turn was obligated 

not to increase additional duties above those in effect as of March 23, 2009. The MOU provides for a 

possible second phase in which the EU would expand the beef TRQ to 45,000 metric tons, and the United 

States would suspend all additional duties imposed in connection with the Beef Hormones dispute.

On August 3, 2012, the United States and the EU, by mutual agreement, entered into the second phase of 

the MOU. USTR met the second phase obligations of the United States by terminating the remaining 

additional duties. As provided in the MOU, the EU in turn expanded the TRQ for beef produced without 

certain growth promoting hormones.

Under the MOU, phase two originally was to last for a period of one year. In August 2013, USTR 

announced that the United States and the EU planned to extend phase two for an additional two years, or 

until August 2015. In October 2013, the United States and the EU formally amended the MOU to reflect 

the extension of phase two. Since that time, USTR has monitored the operation of the TRQ. 

On December 9, 2016, representatives of the U.S. beef industry requested that USTR reinstate trade action 

against the EU because the TRQ is not providing benefits sufficient to compensate for the harm caused by 

the EU’s hormone ban. On December 28, 2016, USTR published a Federal Register notice seeking public 

comments and scheduling a hearing in connection with the request. 

2. Special 301

Pursuant to Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness 

Act of 1988, the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (enacted in 1994), and the Trade Facilitation and Trade 

Enforcement Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. § 2242), USTR must identify those countries that deny adequate and 

effective protection for intellectual property rights (IPR) or deny fair and equitable market access for 

persons that rely on intellectual property protection. Countries that have the most onerous or egregious 

acts, policies, or practices and whose acts, policies, or practices have the greatest adverse impact (actual or 

potential) on relevant U.S. products are designated as “Priority Foreign Countries” (PFC), unless those 

countries are entering into good faith negotiations or are making significant progress in bilateral or 

multilateral negotiations to provide adequate and effective protection of IPR. Priority Foreign Countries 

are subject to an investigation under the Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act of 1974, unless USTR 

determines that the investigation would be detrimental to U.S. economic interests.

In addition, USTR has created a Special 301 “Priority Watch List” (PWL) and “Watch List” (WL). 

Placement of a trading partner on the PWL or WL indicates that particular problems exist in that country 

with respect to IPR protection, enforcement, or market access for persons relying on intellectual property. 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 177

Countries placed on the PWL receive increased attention in bilateral discussions with the United States 

concerning problem areas.

Additionally, under Section 306 of the Trade Act of 1974, USTR monitors whether U.S. trading partners 

are in compliance with bilateral intellectual property agreements with the United States that are the basis 

for resolving investigations under Section 301. USTR may take action if a country fails to satisfactorily 

implement such an agreement.

The Special 301 list not only indicates those trading partners whose intellectual property protection and 

enforcement regimes most concern the United States, but also alerts firms considering trade or investment 

relationships with such countries that their IPR may not be adequately protected.

2016 Special 301 Review Results

On April 27, 2016, USTR announced the results of the 2016 Special 301 Review. The 2016 Special 301 

Report was the result of stakeholder input and interagency consultation. 

In 2016, USTR continued to enhance public engagement in the Special 301 process, to facilitate sound, 

well balanced assessments of IPR protection and enforcement efforts of particular trading partners, and to 

help ensure that the Special 301 Review is based on a full understanding of the various IPR issues in trading 

partner markets. USTR requested written submissions from the public through a notice published in the 

Federal Register on January 11, 2016 (https://www.regulations.gov, Docket Number USTR-2015-0022). 

In addition, on March 2, 2016, USTR conducted a public hearing that provided the opportunity for 

interested persons to testify before the interagency Special 301 Subcommittee about issues relevant to the 

review. The hearing featured testimony from representatives of foreign governments, industry groups, and 

nongovernmental organizations. The USTR posted on its website the transcript and video of the Special 

301 hearing, and also offered a post-hearing comment period during which hearing participants and 

interested parties could submit additional information in support of, or in response to, hearing testimony. 

The 2016 Federal Register notice – and post hearing comment period – drew submissions from 62 

interested parties, including 16 trading partner governments. The submissions that USTR received were 

available to the public online at https://www.regulations.gov. 

For more than 25 years, the Special 301 Report has identified positive advances as well as areas of continued 

concern. The Report has reflected changing technologies, promoted best practices, and situated these 

critical issues in their policy context, underscoring the importance of intellectual property rights protection 

and enforcement to the United States and our trading partners. 

During this period, there has been significant progress in a variety of countries. For instance, Korea, which 

appeared on the Priority Watch List in the original 1989 Fact Sheet, has since been removed from both the 

Priority Watch List and the Watch List. There have also been important advances in many other markets 

over the past 27 years that have been reflected in the Special 301 Report, including in Australia, Israel, 

Italy, Japan, Philippines, Qatar, Spain, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay. 

Still, considerable concerns remain. In 2016, USTR received stakeholder input on nearly 100 trading 

partners, but focused the review on the 73 nominations contained in submissions that complied with the 

requirement in the Federal Register notice to identify whether a particular trading partner should be 

designated as PFC, or placed on the PWL or WL, or not listed in the Report, and that were filed by the 

deadlines provided in the notice. Following extensive research and analysis, USTR listed 11 countries on 

the Priority Watch List and 23 countries on the Watch List. Several countries, including Chile, China, 

India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Turkey, have been listed every year since the Report’s inception. The 2016 

listings are as follows:
178 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

Priority Watch List: Algeria; Argentina; Chile; China; India; Indonesia; Kuwait; Russia; Thailand; 

Ukraine; and Venezuela.

Watch List: Barbados; Bolivia; Brazil; Bulgaria; Canada; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; 

Ecuador; Egypt; Greece; Guatemala; Jamaica; Lebanon; Mexico; Pakistan; Peru; Romania; Switzerland; 

Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan; and Vietnam.

When appropriate, USTR may conduct an Out-of-Cycle Review (OCR) to encourage progress on IPR issues 

of concern. OCRs provide an opportunity for heightened engagement with trading partners and others to 

address and remedy such issues. In the case of a country specific OCR, successful resolution of identified 

IPR concerns can lead to a change in a trading partner’s status on the Special 301 list outside of the typical 

time frame for the annual Special 301 Report. In some cases, USTR calls for the OCR; in others, the trading 

partner governments can request an OCR based on projections for improvements in IPR protection and 

enforcement. For example, in 2015-2016, USTR removed Tajikistan from the Watch List in 2016 after 

conducting an OCR which identified steps Tajikistan had taken to improve IPR protection and enforcement 

including providing ex officio authority to customs authorities. Although Spain is not listed in the 2016 

Special 301 Report, USTR determined that the OCR first announced in 2013 focusing on whether Spain 

had met certain specific benchmarks related to tackling copyright piracy on the Internet should continue. 

USTR also announced that it would conduct OCRs of Watch List countries Colombia and Pakistan, as well 

as of Tajikistan which was not listed. These four reviews are ongoing. 

USTR also conducts an OCR focused on online and physical marketplaces that are reportedly engaged in 

piracy and counterfeiting and have been the subject of enforcement action or that may merit further 

investigation for possible IPR infringements. USTR has identified notorious markets in the Special 301 

Report since 2006. In 2010, USTR announced that it would begin to publish the Notorious Markets List 

separately from the Special 301 Report, as an “Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets,” in order to 

increase public awareness and guide related enforcement efforts. The results of the 2016 Notorious Markets 

OCR were published on December 21, 2016 and highlight developments since the issuance of the previous 

Notorious Markets OCR in December 2015. Since publication of the first Notorious Markets List, several 

online markets closed or saw their business models disrupted as a result of enforcement efforts. In some 

instances, in an effort to legitimize their overall business, companies made the decision to close down 

problematic aspects of their operations; others cooperated with authorities to address unauthorized conduct 

on their site. Notwithstanding the progress that has occurred, online piracy and counterfeiting continue to 

grow, requiring robust, sustained, and coordinated responses by governments, private sector stakeholders, 

and consumers. 

The Special 301 Review, including its country specific and Notorious Markets OCRs, serves a critical 

function by identifying opportunities and challenges facing U.S. innovative and creative industries in 

foreign markets. Special 301 promotes the job creation, economic development, and many other benefits 

that adequate and effective intellectual property protection and enforcement support. The Special 301 

Report and Notorious Markets List inform the public and our trading partners and serves as a positive 

catalyst for change. USTR remains committed to meaningful and sustained engagement with our trading 

partners, with the goal of resolving these challenges. Information related to Special 301 (including 

transcripts and video), the Notorious Markets List, and USTR’s overall IPR efforts can be found at 

https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/intellectual-property. 
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3. Section 1377 Review of Telecommunications Agreements

Section 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 requires USTR to review by March 

31 of each year the operation and effectiveness of U.S. telecommunications trade agreements. The purpose 

of this review is to determine whether any act, policy, or practice of a foreign country that has entered into 

a telecommunications-related agreement with the United States: (1) is not in compliance with the terms of 

the agreement; or (2) otherwise denies, within the context of the agreement, to telecommunications products 

and services of U.S. firms, mutually advantageous market opportunities in that country.

In its 2016 Section 1377 Review, USTR focused on barriers for Internet-enabled services, including 

restrictions on cross-border data flows; independent and effective regulators; limits on foreign investment; 

barriers to competition; international termination rates; satellites services; telecommunications equipment 

trade; and local content requirements. USTR described these issues in its annual National Trade Estimate 

report. This approach allowed USTR to describe, in one comprehensive report, all of the overlapping 

barriers concerning telecommunications services and goods, along with related digital trade issues. 

4. Antidumping Actions

Under the antidumping law, duties are imposed on imported merchandise when the U.S. Department of 

Commerce (Commerce) determines that the merchandise is being dumped (sold at “less than fair value)

and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) determines that there is material injury or threat of 

material injury to the domestic industry, or material retardation of the establishment of an industry, “by 

reason of” those imports. The antidumping law’s provisions are incorporated in Title VII of the Tariff Act 

of 1930 and have been substantially amended by the Trade Agreements Act of l979, the Trade and Tariff 

Act of 1984, the Trade and Competiveness Act of 1988, and the 1994 Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

An antidumping investigation usually starts when a U.S. industry, or an entity filing on its behalf, submits 

a petition alleging, with respect to certain imports, the dumping and injury elements described above. If 

the petition meets the applicable requirements, Commerce initiates an antidumping investigation. In special 

circumstances, Commerce also may initiate an investigation on its own motion.

After initiation, the USITC decides, generally within 45 days of the filing of the petition, whether there is 

a “reasonable indication” of material injury or threat of material injury to a domestic industry, or material 

retardation of an industry’s establishment, “by reason of” the allegedly dumped imports. If this preliminary 

injury determination by the USITC is negative, the investigation is terminated and no duties are imposed; 

if it is affirmative, Commerce will make preliminary and final determinations concerning the allegedly 

dumped sales into the U.S. market. If Commerce’s preliminary determination is affirmative, Commerce 

will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries and require 

importers to post a bond or cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin.

If Commerce’s final determination regarding dumping is negative, the investigation is terminated and no 

duties are imposed. If affirmative, the USITC makes a final injury determination. If the USITC determines 

that there is material injury or threat of material injury, or material retardation of an industry’s 

establishment, by reason of the dumped imports, an antidumping order is issued and CBP collects 

antidumping duties on imported goods. If the USITC’s final injury determination is negative, the 

investigation is terminated and the cash deposits are refunded or the bonds posted are released. 

Upon request of an interested party, Commerce conducts annual reviews of dumping margins pursuant to 

Section 751 of the Tariff Act of 1930. Section 751 also provides for Commerce and USITC review in cases 
180 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

of changed circumstances and periodic review in conformity with the five-year “sunset” provisions of the 

U.S. antidumping law and the WTO Antidumping Agreement.

Most antidumping determinations may be appealed to the U.S. Court of International Trade, with further 

judicial review possible in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. For certain investigations 

involving Canadian or Mexican merchandise, appeals may be made to a binational panel established under 

the NAFTA.

The United States initiated 35 antidumping investigations in 2016 and imposed 30 antidumping orders.

5. Countervailing Duty Actions 

The U.S. countervailing duty (CVD) law dates back to late 19th century legislation authorizing the 

imposition of CVDs on subsidized sugar imports. The current CVD provisions are contained in Title VII 

of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by subsequent legislation including the Uruguay Round Agreements 

Act. As with the antidumping law, the USITC and the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) jointly 

administer the CVD law, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects and enforces CVD orders 

on imported goods.

The CVD law’s purpose is to offset certain foreign government subsidies that benefit imports into the 

United States. CVD procedures under Title VII are very similar to antidumping procedures, and CVD 

determinations by Commerce and the USITC are subject to the same system of judicial review as 

antidumping determinations. Commerce normally initiates investigations based upon a petition submitted 

by a U.S. industry or an entity filing on its behalf. The USITC is responsible for investigating material 

injury issues. The USITC makes a preliminary finding as to whether there is a reasonable indication of 

material injury or threat of material injury, or material retardation of an industry’s establishment, by reason 

of imports subject to investigation. If the USITC’s preliminary determination is negative, the investigation 

terminates; otherwise, Commerce issues preliminary and final determinations on subsidization. If 

Commerce’s final determination of subsidization is affirmative, the USITC proceeds with its final injury 

determination. If the USITC’s final determination is affirmative, Commerce will issue a CVD order. CBP 

collects CVDs on imported goods. 

The United States initiated 16 CVD investigations and imposed 16 new CVD orders in 2016.

6. Other Import Practices

Section 337 

Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, makes it unlawful to engage in unfair acts or unfair 

methods of competition in the importation of goods or sale of imported goods. Most Section 337 

investigations concern alleged infringement of intellectual property rights, such as U.S. patents.

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) conducts Section 337 investigations through 

adjudicatory proceedings under the Administrative Procedure Act. The proceedings normally involve an 

evidentiary hearing before a USITC administrative law judge who issues an Initial Determination that is 

subject to review by the USITC (all sitting commissioners). If the USITC finds a violation, it can order 

that imported infringing goods be excluded from the United States and/or issue cease and desist orders 

requiring firms to stop unlawful conduct in the United States, such as the sale or other distribution of 

imported infringing goods in the United States. A limited exclusion order covers only certain imports from 

particular named sources, namely some or all of the parties who are respondents in the proceeding. A 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 181

general exclusion order, on the other hand, covers certain products from all sources. Cease and desist orders 

are generally directed to entities maintaining inventories of infringing goods in the United States. The 

USITC is also authorized to issue temporary exclusion or cease and desist orders before it completes an 

investigation if it determines that there is reason to believe there has been a violation of Section 337. 

Additionally, seizure orders can be issued for repeat or multiple attempts to import merchandise already 

subject to a general or limited exclusion order. Many Section 337 investigations are terminated after the 

parties reach settlement agreements or agree to the entry of consent orders.

In cases in which the USITC finds a violation of Section 337, it must decide whether certain public interest 

factors nevertheless preclude the issuance of a remedial order. The four public interest considerations are 

the order’s effect on public health and welfare, on competitive conditions in the U.S. economy, on the 

production of similar or directly competitive U.S. products, and on U.S. consumers. If the USITC issues 

an affirmative determination and concomitant remedial order(s), it transmits the determination, order, and 

supporting documentation to the President for policy review. In July 2005, President Bush assigned these 

policy review functions, which are set out in Section 337(j)(1)(B), Section 337(j)(2), and Section 337(j)(4) 

of the Tariff Act of 1930, to the USTR. The USTR conducts these reviews in consultation with other 

agencies. Importation of the subject goods may continue during this review process if the importer pays a 

bond in an amount determined by the USITC. If the President (or the USTR, exercising the functions 

assigned by the President) does not disapprove the USITC’s determination within 60 days, the USITC’s 

order becomes final. If the President or the USTR disapproves or formally approves a determination before 

the end of the 60 day review period, the order is nullified, or becomes final, as the case may be, on the date 

the President or the USTR notifies the USITC. USITC Section 337 determinations are subject to judicial 

review on the merits in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, with possible appeal to the U.S. 

Supreme Court.

During calendar year 2016, the USITC instituted 54 new Section 337 investigations and commenced 17 

proceedings based on requests for modification or rescission of outstanding Commission orders. The 

USITC also issued, in calendar year 2016, remedial orders in ten investigations, as follows: Certain 

Beverage Brewing Capsules, 337-TA-929; Certain Stainless Steel, 337-TA-933; Certain Dental Implants,

337-TA-934; Certain Personal Transporters, 337-TA-935; Certain Footwear Products, 337-TA-936; 

Certain Three-Dimensional Cinema Systems, 337-TA-939; Certain Network Devices, 337-TA-944; Certain 

Ink Cartridges, 337-TA-946; Certain Document Cameras, 337-TA-967; Certain Computer Cables, 337-

TA-975. All of these orders became final after presidential review.

Section 201

Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 provides a procedure whereby the President may grant temporary 

import relief to a domestic industry if increased imports are a substantial cause of serious injury or the threat 

of serious injury. Relief may be granted for an initial period of up to four years, with the possibility of 

extending the relief to a maximum of eight years. Import relief is designed to redress the injury and to 

facilitate positive adjustment by the domestic industry; it may consist of increased tariffs, quantitative 

restrictions, or other forms of relief. Section 201 also authorizes the President to grant provisional relief in 

cases involving “critical circumstances” or certain perishable agricultural products.

For an industry to obtain relief under Section 201, the USITC must first determine that a product is being 

imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause (a cause which is 

important and not less than any other cause) of serious injury, or the threat thereof, to the U.S. industry 

producing a like or directly competitive product. If the USITC makes an affirmative injury determination 

(or is equally divided on injury) and recommends a remedy to the President, the President may provide 

relief either in the amount recommended by the USITC or in such other amount as he finds appropriate. 
182 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

The criteria for import relief in Section 201 are based on Article XIX of the GATT 1994—the so-called 

“escape clause”—and the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.

As of January 1, 2017, the United States had no measures in place under Section 201. The United States 

did not impose any Section 201 measures during 2016, and did not commence any safeguard investigations.

7. Trade Adjustment Assistance

Overview and Assistance for Workers

The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers, Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA), 

and Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) programs are authorized under Title II of the 

Trade Act of 1974, as amended. These programs, collectively referred to as the Trade Adjustment 

Assistance Program (TAA Program), provide assistance to workers who have been adversely affected by 

foreign trade. 

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TAARA 2015), title IV of the Trade 

Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-27), was signed into law on June 29, 2015. The TAA 

Program offers trade-affected workers an opportunity to retrain and retool for new jobs. 

The TAA Program currently offers the following services to eligible workers: rapid response, employment 

and case management services, tailored training, out of area job search and relocation allowances, weekly 

income support through Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), ATAA/RTAA wage supplements for 

older workers, and a health coverage tax credit to eligible TAA recipients.

In FY 2016, $626,806,000 was allocated to State Governments to fund aspects of the TAA program. This 

included $391,452,000 for “Training and Other Activities,” which includes funds for training, job search 

allowances, relocation allowances, employment and case management services, and related state 

administration; $209,374,000 for TRA benefits; and $25,980,000 for ATAA/RTAA benefits.

For a worker to be eligible to apply for TAA, the worker must be part of a group of workers that is the 

subject of a petition filed with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Three workers of a company, a 

company official, a union or a duly authorized representative, or the American Job Center operator or 

partner may file a petition with the DOL. In response to the filing, DOL conducts an investigation to 

determine whether foreign trade was an important cause of the workers’ job loss or threat of job loss. If 

the DOL determines that the workers meet the statutory criteria for group certification of eligibility for the 

workers in the firm to apply for TAA, DOL will issue a certification. In FY 2016, the program served an 

estimated 126,844 workers.

The DOL administers the TAA Program through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), 

with State Governments administering TAA benefits on behalf of the United States for members of TAAcertified worker groups. Once covered by a certification, individual workers apply for benefits and services 

through the American Job Center network. American Job Centers can be located on the Internet at 

http://www.careeronestop.org/ReEmployment/, or by calling 1-877-US2-JOBS. Most benefits and services 

have specific individual eligibility criteria that must be met, such as prior work history, unemployment 

insurance eligibility, and individual skill levels.
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 183

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers

On January 6, 2015, the U.S. Congress passed the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, which 

reauthorized the TAA for Farmers Program for fiscal years 2015 through 2021. However, the U.S. 

Congress did not appropriate funding for new participants for FY 2016. As a result, USDA did not accept 

any new petitions or applications for benefits in FY 2016.

Assistance for Firms and Industries 

The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms 

Program (the TAAF Program) is authorized by chapters 3 and 5 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as 

amended (19 U.S.C. § 2341 et seq.) (Trade Act). Public Law 93-618, as amended, provides for trade 

adjustment assistance for firms and industries (19 USC §§2341-2355; 2391). The Trade Preferences 

Extension Act (P.L. 114-27), Title IV of the Act, entitled the “Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization 

Act of 2015,” authorizes the TAAF Program through June 30, 2022.

The TAAF Program provides technical assistance to help U.S. firms experiencing a decline in sales and 

employment to become more competitive in the global marketplace. To be certified for the program, a firm 

must show that an increase in imports of like or directly competitive articles contributed importantly to the 

decline in sales or production and to the separation or threat of separation of a significant portion of the 

firm’s workers. The Secretary of the U.S. Commerce Department is responsible for administering the 

TAAF Program and has delegated the statutory authority and responsibility under the Trade Act to the U.S. 

Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The U.S. Economic 

Development Administration’s regulations implementing the TAAF Program are codified at 13 CFR Part 

315 and may be accessed at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-19/pdf/2014-28806.pdf.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, EDA awarded a total of $20 million in TAAF Program funds to its national 

network of 11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers, each of which is assigned a different geographic 

service area. During FY 2016, EDA certified 67 petitions for eligibility and approved 78 adjustment 

proposals. 

Additional information on the TAAF Program (including eligibility criteria and application process) is 

available at http://www.eda.gov/about/investment-programs.htm. 

8. United States Preference Programs 

Overview

The United States has a number of programs designed to encourage economic growth in developing 

countries by offering access to the U.S. market in the form of preferential duty reduction or elimination for 

eligible imports. These programs are: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Generalized 

System of Preferences (GSP), and the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)/Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership 

Agreement (CBTPA). Individual countries may be covered by more than one program. In such countries, 

exporters may choose among programs when seeking preferential access to the U.S. market. 

U.S. imports benefiting from preferential access under these programs totaled $29.0 billion during 2016, 

up 6 percent from 2015. This compares to an overall 2.3 percent increase in total U.S. goods imports for 

consumption from the world over the same period. The increase was largely due to an 18 percent increase 

($1.4 billion) in the value of U.S. imports under AGOA (excluding GSP) due to a rise in U.S. mineral fuel 

imports (mostly oil) and a $1.0 billion increase in GSP due mainly to jewelry, plastics, and electrical 
184 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

machinery imports. The increase was somewhat offset by a $660 million decline in imports (mostly organic 

chemicals) under CBI/CBTPA. 

As a share of total U.S. goods imports for consumption, imports under the U.S. preference programs 

increased from 1.2 percent in 2015 to 1.3 percent in 2016. Each program’s respective share of total U.S. 

preferential imports in 2016 was as follows: GSP, 65 percent; AGOA (excluding GSP), 32 percent; and the 

CBI/CBTPA, 3 percent. See the sections below for more information on developments related to specific 

preference programs.

Generalized System of Preferences 

History and Purposes

The U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program was initially authorized by the Trade Act of 

1974 (19 U.S.C. §§ 2461 et seq.) for a ten-year period, beginning on January 1, 1976. Congress has 

extended the program 13 times, most recently in June 2015, continuing through December 31, 2017. 

Calendar year 2016 marked GSP’s first full year of operations since 2012, after a lapse between the 

program’s expiration in June 2013 and its renewal in June 2015.

The GSP program is designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing 

preferential duty-free entry for a wide range of products imported from designated beneficiary countries 

and territories. Through various mechanisms, the GSP program encourages beneficiaries to: (1) eliminate 

or reduce significant barriers to trade in goods, services, and investment; (2) take steps to afford workers’ 

internationally recognized worker rights; and (3) provide adequate and effective intellectual property rights 

protection and enforcement. U.S. industry has noted that a country’s participation in the GSP program 

helps to promote a business and investment environment that benefits U.S. investors as well as the 

beneficiary countries. The GSP program also helps to lower the cost of imported goods for U.S. consumers 

and businesses, including inputs used to manufacture goods in the United States. 

Beneficiaries

As of January 1, 2017, there were 120 designated GSP beneficiary developing countries (BDCs) and 

territories, including 44 countries and territories that are least-developed beneficiary developing countries 

(LDBDCs), which are eligible for a broader range of duty-free benefits. 

On September 30, 2015, the President announced that Seychelles, Uruguay, and Venezuela had become 

“high income” countries as defined by the World Bank and that, consistent with the GSP statute, they would 

become ineligible for GSP benefits effective January 1, 2017. On September 14, 2016, the President 

announced that Burma would be added to the GSP program as a LDBDC, and that Burma would also be 

added to the list for the ASEAN group (which allows cumulation with other ASEAN members, including 

non-LDBDC GSP beneficiaries, to make it easier to qualify for GSP’s value added requirement). This 

designation became effective on November 13, 2016.

Eligible Products

At the end of 2016, approximately 5,000 products were eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP, with 

nearly 1,500 products reserved for LDBDCs only. The list of GSP-eligible products from all beneficiaries 

includes most dutiable manufactures and semi-manufactures; selected agricultural and fishery products; 

and many types of chemicals, minerals, and building materials that are not otherwise duty free. The GSP 

statute precludes certain import-sensitive articles from receiving GSP treatment, including most textiles and 

apparel, watches, most footwear, glassware considered to be import-sensitive, and some gloves and leather 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 185

products.38 The products that receive preferential market access only when imported from LDBDCs include 

crude petroleum, certain refined petroleum products, certain chemicals, plastics, animal and plant products, 

prepared foods, beverages, and rum, as well as many other products. On June 30, 2016, the U.S. 

Government announced that duty-free treatment under GSP would be expanded to include “travel goods”: 

handbags, luggage, backpacks and goods found in pockets (such as wallets and eyeglass cases) for LDBDCs 

(and AGOA beneficiaries). At the same time, the United States deferred a decision on whether to also 

extend duty-free treatment for these products for other GSP beneficiaries. 

Although GSP benefits for textiles and apparel are limited, certain handmade folkloric products are among 

the textile products eligible for GSP treatment. Currently, the United States has agreements providing for 

certification and GSP eligibility of certain handmade, folkloric products with the following BDCs: 

Afghanistan, Botswana, Cambodia, Egypt, Jordan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Thailand, TimorLeste, Tunisia, Turkey, and Uruguay.

Program Results

 Value of Trade Entering the United States under the GSP program: The value of U.S. imports 

claimed under the GSP program in 2016 was 18.07 billion, a 5.69 percent increase over 2015. This 

represented roughly 0.8 percent of all U.S. goods imports; 9.2 percent of goods imports from 

beneficiary countries; and 18.2 percent of goods imports from the beneficiary countries that would 

otherwise be subject to tariffs. By comparison, total U.S. imports of all products (both GSP eligible 

and non-eligible products) from GSP beneficiary countries decreased by 2.3 percent, by value, over 

the same period.39 Top U.S. imports under the GSP program in 2016, by trade value, were motor 

vehicle parts; jewelry of precious metal; worked monumental or building stone and articles thereof; 

new pneumatic rubber tires; ferroalloys; flavored waters including mineral and aerated waters; 

electric motors and generators; air conditioning machines; optical fiber cables, insulated wire and 

electrical conductors; and taps, cocks, and valves for pipes, boiler shells, tanks and parts thereof. 

In 2016, based on trade value, the top five GSP BDC suppliers were, in order: India, Thailand, 

Brazil, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Nine of the top 50 GSP BDCs in 2015 were LDBDCs. In 

order of GSP trade value, these were Cambodia, Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Nepal, Ethiopia, 

Malawi, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar) and Madagascar.

 The GSP Program’s Contribution to Economic Development in Developing Nations: The GSP 

program helps countries diversify and expand their exports, an important development goal. A new 

USTR report on the Impact of Trade Preference on Poverty and Hunger (available at 

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/TPEA-Preferences-Report.pdf) provides statistics and examples 

that provide additional information on this contribution. For instance, Cambodia became the third 

largest bicycle exporter to the United States (though still far below China and Taiwan) as a result 

of the eligibility of bicycles for GSP for least developed countries only. Cambodia is also rapidly 

expanding its exports of the newly eligible travel goods. Several GSP beneficiaries witnessed 

significant increases in GSP trade in 2016, including Pakistan, Uruguay, Cambodia, and Ghana. 

 Efforts to promote wider distribution of the use of GSP benefits among beneficiaries: As directed 

by the U.S. Congress, the Obama Administration sought to broaden the use of the GSP program’s 

benefits among beneficiary countries. In 2016, USTR facilitated or carried out GSP outreach 

 

38 The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-27), allows certain handbags, luggage, and flat 

goods to be considered for designation for duty-free treatment under GSP. These products were previously

prohibited by law (19 USC 2463) from receiving GSP treatment.

39 Based on GSP-eligible countries as of July 31, 2016. 
186 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

activities in Armenia, Burma, Pakistan, Paraguay, and Ukraine as well as briefings at the 

government-to-government level with a number of countries. For additional details and multiplelanguage GSP guides and country-specific analyses, go to “GSP in Use – Country Specific 

Information” under “Generalized System of Preferences” on the USTR website at 

https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/generalized-systempreferences-gsp/gsp-use-%E2%80%93-coun. 

Annual Reviews

The GSP Annual Review provides an opportunity to add or remove countries and/or products from 

eligibility under GSP based on petitions submitted by stakeholders and taking into account shifting market 

conditions (with respect to products) and concerns about individual beneficiaries’ conformity with the 

statutory criteria for eligibility.

Conclusion of the 2015-2016 GSP Annual Product Review 

The results of the 2015-2016 GSP Annual Product Review were announced in a Presidential Proclamation 

dated June 30, 2016. As discussed above, there was a significant expansion of GSP eligibility for “travel 

goods” for LDBDCs and AGOA beneficiaries. Consideration of duty-free treatment for those products for 

other BDCs was deferred at that time; an additional hearing was held regarding possible duty-free benefits 

for other BDCs on October 18, 2016. This issue was still pending at the end of 2016. 

Product addition petitions for three other products were either denied or deferred. Three products were 

removed from GSP eligibility for India, and two more products of India lost GSP eligibility as a result of 

exceeding Competitive Need Limitations, as did one product from the Philippines. Three products were 

granted waivers of Competitive Need Limitations (one each from Brazil, Thailand, and Tunisia). The 

complete results of the 2015/2016 Annual Product Review and related Federal Register notices are available 

on the USTR website at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/preference-programs/generalized-system-preferencesgsp/current-reviews/gsp-20152016 and https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preferenceprograms/generalized-system-preference-gsp. 

A number of outstanding country practice petitions remained under review at year’s end including petitions 

on Indonesia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan regarding IPR protection; petitions on Georgia, Iraq, Thailand and 

Uzbekistan regarding worker rights or child labor concerns; and a petition on Ecuador regarding arbitral 

awards. USTR actively engaged with all of these countries, noting the link between their compliance with 

the GSP statutory criteria and their continued GSP eligibility. A country eligibility petition from Argentina 

was accepted for review on November 7, 2016, while the country eligibility review for Laos remained 

pending at the end of 2016. A complete list of the country practice and country eligibility petitions that 

remained under review as of December 2016 is available at https://ustr.gov/node/6526. 

USTR announced the closure of two eligibility reviews during the year. Eligibility reviews focused on 

workers’ rights were concluded for Fiji and Niger based on steps taken in those countries to address 

concerns raised in third party petitions. 

2016/2017 GSP Annual Review

On August 25, 2016, a notice was published in the Federal Register launching the 2016/2017 GSP Annual 

Review. That notice is available at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/preference-programs/generalized-systempreferences-gsp/current-reviews/gsp-20162017. USTR has decided to accept for review five petitions to 

add a product to the list of those eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP, one petition to remove a product 

from GSP eligibility for all GSP beneficiary countries, and seven petitions to waive CNLs. Petitions 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 187

submitted in response to that notice may be found at the same web site. Results from the 2016/2017 review 

are expected to be announced in June 2017.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), enacted in 2000, provides eligible sub-Saharan African 

countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products beyond those eligible under the 

GSP program. The additional products include value-added agricultural and manufactured goods such as 

processed food products, apparel, and footwear. In 2016, 38 sub-Saharan African countries were eligible 

for AGOA benefits. 

AGOA Eligibility Review

AGOA requires the President to determine annually which of the sub-Saharan African countries listed in 

the Act are eligible to receive benefits under the legislation. These decisions are supported by an annual 

interagency review, chaired by USTR, that examines whether each country already eligible for AGOA has 

continued to meet the eligibility criteria and whether circumstances in ineligible countries have improved 

sufficiently to warrant their designation as an AGOA beneficiary country. The AGOA eligibility criteria 

include, among others, establishing or making continual progress in establishing a market-based economy, 

rule of law, poverty-reduction policies, a system to combat corruption and bribery, and protection of 

internationally recognized workers’ rights. AGOA also requires that eligible countries do not engage in 

activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, or engage in gross violations of 

internationally recognized human rights. The annual review takes into account information drawn from 

U.S. Government agencies, the private sector, civil society, African governments, and other interested 

stakeholders. Through the AGOA eligibility review process, the annual AGOA Forum meeting (see below), 

and ongoing dialogue with AGOA partners, AGOA provides incentives to promote economic and political 

reform as well as trade expansion in AGOA-eligible countries in support of broad-based economic 

development. The annual review conducted in 2016 resulted in the reinstatement of the Central African 

Republic (CAR)’s AGOA eligibility, effective January 1, 2017, as a result of steps the government of CAR 

has undertaken to meet eligibility criteria related to rule of law issues.

An out-of-cycle review of South Africa’s AGOA eligibility was initiated on July 21, 2015. On November 

5, 2015, President Obama determined that South Africa had not made continual progress toward the 

elimination of several longstanding barriers to U.S. trade and investment, including unwarranted barriers 

to U.S. poultry, pork, and beef, and, therefore, was out of compliance with AGOA eligibility requirements. 

As a result, he notified Congress and the government of South Africa of his intent to suspend duty-free 

treatment for all AGOA-eligible agricultural goods from South Africa. On January 11, 2016, President

Obama issued a proclamation to suspend South Africa’s AGOA benefits in the agricultural sector on March 

15, 2016. The two-month delay in the suspension of benefits was intended to provide South Africa with 

time to implement actions negotiated with the United States to resolve the outstanding barriers to U.S. trade. 

South Africa subsequently took the necessary actions to come into compliance with the relevant AGOA 

criteria. As a result, President Obama issued a proclamation on March 14, 2016 that revoked the earlier 

proclamation, and thus allowed South Africa’s AGOA benefits in the agricultural sector to continue. 

AGOA Forum

The annual United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, informally known 

as the “AGOA Forum,” is a ministerial level meeting that brings together senior U.S. officials and their 

African counterparts to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment relations. At the September 2016 

AGOA Forum held in Washington, DC, USTR and senior officials from more than a dozen U.S. 

Government agencies met with numerous African trade ministers, leaders of African regional economic 
188 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

organizations, and representatives of the African and American private sectors and civil society to discuss 

issues and strategies for advancing trade, investment, and economic development in Africa, as well as ways 

to increase two-way U.S.-African trade in light of the recent 10 year extension of AGOA. Based on a yearlong strategic review to consider past experiences and emerging trends, and to identify paths forward toward 

a more sustainable long-term U.S.-Africa trade and investment partnership, in September 2016 USTR 

issued a report entitled “Beyond AGOA—Looking to the Future of U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment.” 

The report presents the case for deepening U.S.-Africa economic engagement beyond AGOA, explores 

substantive building blocks potentially important to a new U.S.-Africa trade architecture, and outlines 

several options for moving forward. 

Total AGOA (including GSP) imports rose to $10.58 billion in 2016 compared to $9.27 billion in 2015 

mostly due to an increase in AGOA imports of oil (up 24.6 percent) to $6.41 billion in 2016 compared to 

$5.15 billion in 2015. AGOA non-oil trade rose (1.1 percent) to $4.2 billion in 2016 from $4.1 billion in 

2015, primarily due to an increase in transportation equipment imports under AGOA (8.3 percent) to $1.65 

billion in 2016 compared to $1.52 billion in 2015. There were also increases in AGOA apparel trade ($1.01 

billion compared to $992.6 million in 2015), agriculture trade ($487.5 million compared to $480.5 million 

in 2015), miscellaneous manufactures ($114.9 million compared to $76.8 million in 2015), and footwear 

trade ($23.6 million compared to $20.2 million in 2015). These increases were partly offset by sharp 

declines in AGOA minerals and metals trade ($545.3 million in 2016 compared to $607.2 million in 2015), 

chemicals and related products ($276.9 million compared to $367.8 million in 2015), and machinery trade 

($18.4 million compared to $25.1 million in 2015),

Top U.S. imports under the AGOA program in 2016, by trade value, were mineral fuels, motor vehicles 

and parts, woven apparel, knit apparel, and iron and steel. In 2016, based on trade value, the top five AGOA 

suppliers were, in order, Nigeria, South Africa, Angola, Chad, and Kenya.

Caribbean Basin Initiative

The Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) is the term used to describe a collection of legislation that offers dutyrelief for Caribbean imports into the United States, providing Caribbean products with a tariff advantage 

over other competing producers from developed countries with which the United States does not have such 

tariff preference programs. During the review period, the CBI remained a vital element in the United States’ 

economic relations with its neighbors in Central America and the Caribbean. 

The CBI began with the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and subsequently was 

expanded through the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA). In 2016, 17 

countries and territories received benefits under the program: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, 

Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, 

St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Countries which 

enter bilateral trade agreements with the United States cease to be eligible for CBI benefits under the 

CBERA or CBTPA; Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, 

and Panama are in this category. 

CBI benefits were further expanded with the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership 

Encouragement Act of 2006 (HOPE Act), the HOPE II Act of 2008 (HOPE II Act), and the Haitian 

Economic Lift Program Act of 2010 (HELP Act), which provided Haiti preferential treatment for its textile 

and apparel products. The U.S. Government works closely with the government of Haiti and other national 

and international stakeholders to promote the viability of Haiti’s apparel sector, to facilitate producer 

compliance with labor eligibility criteria, and to ensure full implementation of the Technical Assistance 

Improvement and Compliance Needs Assessment and Remediation requirements (see 

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/Final%20Report%20Haiti%20HOPE%20II%202015.pdf) in accordance 
V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES | 189

with the provisions of the HOPE II Act. In June 2015, the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (TPEA) 

extended trade benefits provided to Haiti in the HOPE Act, HOPE II Act, and the HELP Act until September 

30, 2025. The TPEA also extended the value-added rule for apparel articles wholly assembled or knit-toshape in Haiti until December 19, 2025.

In December 2015, USTR submitted its most recent biannual report to the U.S. Congress on the operation 

of the CBERA and its companion programs under the CBI. The report can be found on the USTR website, 

https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/caribbean-basin-initiative-cbi.

Program Results:

 The total value of U.S. imports from beneficiary countries in 2014 was $8.2 billion, a decrease of 

$687.7 million from the previous year and of $3.6 billion from 2012. The decline in U.S. imports 

from CBI beneficiaries in both 2013 and 2014 was mostly due to a sharp decrease in U.S. 

imports of crude petroleum and refined petroleum products, reflecting falling U.S. consumption, 

coupled with increased U.S. production of crude petroleum. The shut down and maintenance of 

several refinery plants by Trinidad’s Petrotrin refinery may also have impacted imports.

 The CBI’s share of total U.S. imports was 0.4 percent in 2014 and 2013. 

 The total value of U.S. exports to beneficiary countries was $12.8 billion in 2014,40 up $314.6 

million from 2013, but down $6.5 billion from 2012, due primarily to the entry into force of the 

U.S.-Panama TPA. The CBI’s share of total U.S. exports was 0.9 percent in 2014 and 2013. The

CBI region as a whole ranked as the 23rd largest market for U.S. exports.

 

40 Domestic exports, free alongside ship (F.A.S.) value.
190 | V. TRADE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT | 191

VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

A. Trade Capacity Building 

Historically, the United States has provided training and technical assistance to help developing countries 

integrate into the global trading community. This section reports on these efforts.

1. The Enhanced Integrated Framework 

The Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Assistance to Least-Developed Countries (EIF) is 

a multi-organization, multi-donor program that operates as a coordination mechanism for trade-related 

assistance exclusively to least-developed countries (LDCs), with the overall objective of integrating trade 

into national development plans and integrating LDCs into the multilateral trading system. Participating 

organizations include the WTO, World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNIDO (observer), UNOPS (as 

Trust Fund Manager), World Tourism Organization (observer), and the International Trade Center. The 

mechanism incorporates a country-specific diagnostic assessment, called the Diagnostic Trade Integration 

Study (DTIS), which aims to identify constraints to competitiveness, supply chain weaknesses, and sectors 

of greatest growth or export potential. The DTIS includes an action plan, consisting of a list of priority 

reforms identified by the DTIS, which is offered to multilateral and bilateral donors. Project design and 

implementation can be accomplished through the resources of the EIF Trust Fund or through multilateral 

or bilateral donor programs in the field (as the United States does through its development assistance 

programs). 

Phase One of the EIF (2009-15) delivered 141 projects totaling $140.7 million across 51 countries. Of 

these projects, 105 supported trade and development capacity while 36 projects aimed to help countries 

address supply-side constraints and to increase their ability to trade. Phase Two, which began in 2016, is 

intended to retain the core structure of Phase One while strengthening the EIF’s efficiency and 

effectiveness. Among the key features of the new program are (1) more tailored support to enhance the 

sustainability of results; (2) a stronger partnership between LDCs, EIF donors and EIF partner agencies; 

(3) greater stakeholder communication at all levels; (4) a new focus on leveraging contributions at the 

country level; and (5) stronger governance and program management.

The United States has supported the EIF primarily through complementary bilateral assistance to EIF 

participating countries. USAID bilateral assistance to LDC participants supports initiatives both to 

integrate trade into national economic and development strategies and to address high priority capacity 

building needs designed to accelerate integration into the global trading system.

2. U.S. Trade-Related Assistance under the World Trade Organization 

Framework

International trade can play a major role in the promotion of economic growth and the alleviation of global 

poverty. Trade Capacity Building (TCB) is intended to facilitate effective integration of developing 

countries into the international trading system and enable them to benefit further from global trade. The 

United States has historically promoted trade and economic growth in developing countries through a wide 

range of TCB activities. The United States also directly supports the WTO’s trade-related technical 

assistance.
192 | VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Global Trust Fund

The United States has long supported the trade-related assistance activities of the WTO Secretariat through 

voluntary contributions to the DDA Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF). Overall, the United States has 

contributed over $16 million since 2001, with an additional contribution of $600,000 in November 2016. 

The United States serves on the Steering Committee that is evaluating WTO trade-related technical 

assistance from 2010 to 2015, including assistance funded by the DDAGTF, to assess effectiveness and 

efficiency.

WTO’s Aid for Trade Initiative

The WTO’s 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration created a new WTO framework to discuss and 

prioritize Aid for Trade. In 2006, the Aid for Trade Task Force was created to operationalize Aid for Trade 

efforts and offer recommendations to improve the efficacy and efficiency of these efforts among WTO 

Members and other international organizations. The United States has been an active partner in the Aid for 

Trade discussion.

WTO and Trade Facilitation

The United States has provided substantial assistance over the years in the areas of customs and trade 

facilitation, and remains committed to continued support in light of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement 

(TFA). Following conclusion of the TFA negotiations in December 2013, U.S. assistance helped prepare 

a number of countries to understand and implement the TFA. USAID supported over 28 countries in 

conducting WTO Trade Facilitation Needs assessments. Working with the Southern African Development 

Community, USAID assisted in creating a comprehensive trade facilitation plan for the regional economic 

community. Assistance has been provided to a number of the National Trade Facilitation Committees that 

are required under the TFA, for example in Ghana, Serbia, Vietnam, Guatemala, and Honduras. Direct 

assistance in support of simplifying customs procedures was also provided in such places as Cote d’Ivoire, 

Chile, Malaysia, Mozambique, Senegal, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia. Several governments have also 

received assistance with implementing Single Window customs procedures through ASEAN and 

throughout Southern Africa. 

On December 17, 2015, the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation was launched during the 10th Ministerial 

Conference of the WTO as a unique, multi-stakeholder platform that leverages business and development 

expertise for commercially meaningful reforms. The United States catalyzed the creation of this initiative 

and is a founding donor, joined by the governments of Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United 

Kingdom. The Secretariat of the Alliance is hosted by the Center for International Private Enterprise, the 

International Chamber of Commerce, and the World Economic Forum. The Alliance aims to accelerate 

ambitious trade facilitation reforms for robust economic growth and poverty reduction. The Alliance’s incountry projects leverage the expertise and resources of the private sector to work collaboratively with 

governments to support effective reforms. In its pilot phase, the Alliance is currently working in four 

countries: Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Vietnam.

WTO Accessions

For information on technical assistance during the accession process, see Chapter 6.J.6.

3. TCB Initiatives for Africa

Through bilateral and multilateral channels, the United States has invested more than $5.2 billion in traderelated projects in sub-Saharan Africa since 2001 to spur economic growth and alleviate poverty.
VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT | 193

Africa Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Initiative 

The United States has established an interagency Trade and Investment Capacity Building Steering Group, 

tasked with providing recommendations for the coordinated, strategic use of U.S. Government programs 

aimed at supporting trade and investment capacity building efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. In concert with 

the Steering Group’s work, the United States has now increased its commitment to trade and investment 

capacity building in the region to $75 million annually for FY 2015 and FY 2016. This increase in funding 

has permitted the broadening of the scope of the three hubs to become trade and investment hubs and the 

expansion of the Trade Africa initiative beyond the East African Community to new partnerships with Côte 

d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Zambia, and the Economic Community of West African States 

(ECOWAS). (See the section on Sub-Saharan Africa, Chapter III.B.6, for more information on the Steering 

Group and Trade Africa.)

Assistance to West African Cotton Producers

Since 2005, the United States has mobilized its development agencies, including USAID, USDA, and the 

U.S. Trade and Development Agency, to help the West African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, 

Mali, and Senegal address obstacles they face in the cotton sector. A key element in U.S. assistance to the 

cotton sector in West Africa has been USAID’s West Africa Cotton Improvement Program (WACIP), 

which was implemented from December 2006 to November 2013. The program has boosted the 

productivity and profitability of the cotton sector in these West African countries. The WACIP raised 

smallholder incomes and food security through increased cotton and rotational food crop yields. 

With the completion of WACIP, USAID created a successor program, the C-4 Cotton Partnership (C4CP), 

which also aims to increase food security and incomes for cotton farmers in targeted areas of Benin, Burkina 

Faso, Chad and Mali (known as the four cotton-producing countries, or “C-4). These programs were the 

U.S. Government’s direct response to concerns raised by the C-4 at WTO meetings. The C4CP will be 

implemented from 2014-2018 and will raise the incomes of cotton producers and processors by introducing 

competitive and sustainable strategies to boost farm productivity and improve post-harvest processes. The 

project was intended to forge partnerships with a wide array of regional and national actors and stakeholders 

in the value chains for cotton and its rotational crops in the C-4, to leverage resources and scale up the 

dissemination of technical packages produced by the project. The project was also intended to address the 

challenges women face in cotton-producing households, introducing economic and social strategies to 

benefit these farmers. 

The United States also provides complementary support to the cotton sector through other programs, 

including MCC compacts and USDA programs such as Food for Progress, the Borlaug Programs, and the 

Cochran Program.

4. Free Trade Agreements 

In addition to the WTO programs, the United States has heled U.S. FTA partners implement FTA 

commitments, and benefit over the long term through TCB working groups and other FTA-related projects. 

The United States and FTA partners have held TCB Committee meetings to prioritize and coordinate TCB 

activities during the transition and early implementation periods once an FTA enters into force. USAID 

and USDA, in Washington and through their field presence, along with a number of other U.S. Government 

assistance providers, actively participate in these working groups and committees so that identified TCB 

needs can be quickly and efficiently incorporated into ongoing regional and country assistance programs. 

The Committees on TCB also invite non-governmental organizations, representatives from the private 

sector, and international institutions to join in building the trade capacity of the countries in each region. 
194 | VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

USTR works closely with USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and other agencies to track and guide the 

delivery of TCB assistance related to FTA commitments. (For additional information, please refer to the 

individual country, region, labor, and environment-specific sections of this report.) 

5. Standards Alliance

In November 2012, the United States launched a new U.S.-sponsored assistance facility called the 

“Standards Alliance” with the goal of building capacity among developing countries to implement the WTO 

Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). The Standards Alliance, initiated as a result 

of collaboration between USTR and USAID, provides resources and expertise to enable developing 

countries to strengthen implementation of the TBT Agreement. The focus of these efforts in developing 

countries is shaped through an interagency process guided by USTR and USAID, and includes efforts: to 

improve practices related to notification of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures to 

the WTO; to strengthen domestic practices related to adopting relevant international standards; and to 

clarify and streamline regulatory processes for products. This program aims to reduce the costs and 

bureaucratic hurdles U.S. exporters face in foreign markets and increase the competitiveness of U.S. 

products, particularly in developing markets.

In May 2013, USAID entered into a public-private partnership with the American National Standards 

Institute (ANSI) to make ANSI the implementing partner of the Standards Alliance (ANSI is the official 

U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO); its membership comprises 

numerous standards stetting organizations and firms). The USAID-ANSI partnership coordinates private 

sector subject matter experts from ANSI member organizations in the delivery of training and other 

technical exchange with interested Standards Alliance countries on international standards, and best 

practices, and other subjects supporting implementation of the TBT Agreement. In coordination with 

USTR, the USAID-ANSI partnership includes activities in numerous markets representing a variety of 

geographical regions and levels of economic development. In consultation with TPSC member agencies 

and private sector experts, ANSI requested and reviewed applications for assistance based on consideration 

of bilateral trade opportunities, available private sector expertise that may be leveraged, demonstrated 

commitment and readiness for assistance, and potential development impact. Since 2013, participating 

countries and regions have included: Central America (CAFTA-DR, Panama), Colombia, the East African 

Community, Indonesia, Middle East/North Africa, Peru, Southern Africa Development Community 

(SADC), and developing ASEAN members. In September 2016, ANSI and USAID also finalized an 

expansion of the Standards Alliance to support TBT-related assistance in five countries - Cote d'Ivoire, 

Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, and Zambia – that are part of the U.S. Government’s Trade Africa initiative. 

ANSI and U.S. officials conducted needs assessment visits to these countries in 2016.

The highlights of Standards Alliance programming in 2016 include:

 A High Level Symposium to Enhance Regulator Expertise on the WTO TBT Agreement, held 

in Mexico City for Mexican regulators (February 2016); 

 A workshop on WTO transparency requirements and procedures on TBT and SPS measures, 

held in Nairobi for member states of the East African Community (EAC) (March 2016); 

 A workshop on automotive standards and regulations in the Americas, held in Guayaquil, 

Ecuador for participants from over 20 different countries who are members of the PanAmerican Standards Commission (April 2016); 

 A workshop on textiles standards and regulations, held in Lima, for Peruvian manufacturers, 

regulators, and industry associations (June 2016); 
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 Focused training on conformity assessment and its connection to trade facilitation for public 

and private sector representatives from member states of the African Regional Standards 

Organization held in Arusha, Tanzania (June 2016); and

 Dedicated assistance to the TBT national enquiry points and notification authorities in EAC 

and SADC member countries, which resulted in Zambia’s first TBT notifications to the WTO 

since 2007.

B. Public Input and Transparency

Reflecting Congressional direction, and to draw advice from the widest array of stakeholders in business, 

labor, civil society, and other groups, USTR has broadened opportunities for public input, created new 

institutional guarantees of public access including the appointment of a Chief Transparency Officer late in 

2015 and the formalization of comprehensive Guidelines for Consultation and Engagement, and worked to 

ensure the transparency of trade policy through initiatives carried out by USTR’s Office of 

Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement (IAPE). 

IAPE works with USTR’s Office of Public and Media Affairs, coordinating with the agency’s 13 regional 

and functional offices, the Office of WTO and Multilateral Affairs, Office of General Counsel, and the 

Office of Trade Policy and Economics to ensure that timely trade information is available to the public and 

disseminated widely to stakeholders. This is accomplished in part via USTR’s interactive website; online 

postings of Federal Register Notices soliciting public comment and input and publicizing public hearings 

held by the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) on such issues as Chinese and Russian implementation 

of WTO commitments; offering opportunities for public comment and interaction with negotiators during 

trade negotiations; managing the agency’s outreach and engagement to a diverse set of all stakeholder 

sectors including State and local Governments, business and trade associations, small and medium-sized 

businesses, agriculture groups, environmental organizations, industry groups, labor unions, consumer 

advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations, academia, think tanks, and others; and participating in 

discussions of trade policy at major domestic trade events and academic conferences. In addition to public 

outreach, IAPE is responsible for administering USTR’s statutory advisory committee system, created by 

the U.S. Congress under the Trade Act of 1974 as amended, as well as facilitating consultations with State 

and local Governments regarding the President’s trade priorities and the status of current trade negotiations 

which may impact them. Each of these elements is discussed in turn below.

1. Transparency Guidelines and Chief Transparency Officer

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 set a goal of improving 

Congressional oversight of negotiations and enforcement, encouraging public participation in 

policymaking, broadening stakeholder access and input, and ensuring senior-level institutional attention to 

transparency across the range of USTR work. 2016 marked the first full year in which the guidelines 

developed for compliance with the Act were in place. These included:

 Chief Transparency Officer: The Act directed USTR to appoint a senior agency official to 

serve as Chief Transparency Officer, charged with taking concrete steps to increase 

transparency in trade negotiations, engage with the public, and consult with Congress on 

transparency policy. The USTR General Counsel served in this position throughout 2016. 

 Consultation with Congress: During 2016, USTR agreed to a memorandum developed after 

passage of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, to broaden 

access to negotiating texts and further encourage Congressional participation. These included 

providing access to U.S. text proposals and consolidated text of agreements under negotiation 
196 | VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

to professional staff of the Committees on Finance and Ways and Means with an appropriate 

security clearance, to professional staff from other Committees interested in reviewing text 

relevant to that Committee’s jurisdiction, to personal office staffers with appropriate clearance 

of a member of the Committees on Finance and Ways and Means, and to personal office staff 

with appropriate clearance accompanying his or her Member of Congress. These also include 

ensuring that any member of the House or Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, or any 

member designated a congressional advisor on trade policy and negotiations by the Speaker 

of the House or the President pro tempore of the Senate (in both cases after consultation with 

the Chairman and Ranking member of the appropriate committees of jurisdiction) will be 

accredited to negotiating rounds. 

 Public Engagement: USTR also implemented new transparency guidelines providing 

additional means of access for the public and interested stakeholders to policymaking. These 

new means of access include regular release of information on the schedules of negotiating 

rounds, publishing summaries of negotiating objectives issued at least 30 days before initiating 

negotiations for a trade agreement, publication of Federal Register Notices for each agreement 

under consideration, public hearings on negotiations and other trade priorities; regular public 

events during negotiations in which stakeholders and the public can meet directly with USTR 

negotiators directly involved in particular agreements; and other means.

2. Public Outreach

Federal Register Notices Seeking Public Input/Comments and Public Hearings

Throughout 2016, USTR issued no fewer than 26 Federal Register Notices online to solicit public comment 

on negotiations and policy decisions, on a wide range of issues including the effects of the WTO accession 

agreements with China and Russia, potential listings of “Notorious Markets” of pirated and counterfeit 

goods, dispute settlement, the functioning of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Generalized 

System of Preferences, and other topics. Public comments received in response to Federal Register Notices 

are available for inspection online at http://www.regulations.gov. 

USTR also held public hearings regarding a variety of trade policy initiatives, including unprecedented 

public hearings on steel overcapacity in April 2016 and on U.S.-African economic relations beyond AGOA 

in January 2016, as well as country and product eligibility for the Generalized System of Preferences, and 

implementation of the Russian and Chinese WTO accession agreements. These hearings were web-cast 

live, and the submissions of all parties posted online.

Open Door Policy

USTR officials, including the U.S. Trade Representative, Deputies, and line officers from regional, 

functional, and multilateral offices as well as IAPE, meet frequently with a broad array of stakeholders, 

including agricultural commodity groups and farm associations, labor unions, environmental organizations, 

consumer groups, large and small businesses, faith groups, development and poverty relief organizations, 

other public interest groups, State and local Governments, NGOs, think tanks, and academics to discuss 

specific trade policy issues, subject to negotiator availability and scheduling. 
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3. The Trade Advisory Committee System

The trade advisory committee system, established by the U.S. Congress by statute in 1974, was created to 

ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiating objectives adequately reflect U.S. public and private 

sector interests. Substantially broadened and reformed over the subsequent four decades, the system 

remains in the 21st century a central means of ensuring that USTR’s senior officers and line negotiators 

receive ideas, input, and critiques from a wide range of public interests. The system now consists of 28 

advisory committees, with a total membership of up to approximately 700 advisors. USTR manages the 

advisory committee system, in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and 

Labor, to ensure compliance with legal requirements. The advisory committee system includes the 

President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN), 5 policy advisory 

committees, and 22 technical advisory committees in the areas of industry (ITACs) and agriculture 

(ATACs). 

The trade advisory committees provide information and advice on U.S. negotiating objectives, the operation 

of trade agreements, and other matters arising in connection with the development, implementation, and 

administration of U.S. trade policy. Additional information on the advisory committees can be found on 

the USTR website at https://ustr.gov/about-us/advisory-committees. 

In cooperation with the other agencies served by the advisory committees, USTR continues to look for 

ways to broaden the participation on committees to include a more diverse group of stakeholders, represent 

new interests, and fresh perspectives, and continues exploring ways to expand further representation while 

ensuring the committees remain effective. 

Recommendations for candidates for committee membership are collected from a number of sources, 

including members of the U.S. Congress, associations and organizations, publications, other Federal 

agencies, responses to Federal Register Notices, and self-nominated individuals who have demonstrated 

an interest in, and knowledge of, U.S. trade policy. Membership selection is based on qualifications, 

diversity of sectors represented and geography, and the needs of the specific committee to maintain a 

balance of the perspectives represented. Committee members are required to have a security clearance in 

order to serve and have access to confidential trade documents on a secure encrypted website. Committees 

meet regularly in Washington, D.C. to provide input and advice to USTR and other agencies. Members 

pay for their own travel and related expenses.

President’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN)

The ACTPN consists of no more than 45 members who are broadly representative of the key economic 

sectors of the economy, particularly those most affected by trade. The President appoints ACTPN members 

to four year terms not to exceed the duration of the charter. The ACTPN is the highest level committee in 

the system that examines U.S. trade policy and agreements from the broad context of the overall national 

interest.

Members of ACTPN are appointed to represent a broad variety of entities, including non-Federal 

Governments, environmental organizations, labor unions, agricultural interests, technology, small business, 

service industries, and retailers. A current roster of ACTPN members and the interests they represent is 

available on the USTR website.
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Policy Advisory Committees

Members of the five policy advisory committees are appointed by the USTR or in conjunction with other 

Cabinet officers. The Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade (IGPAC), the Trade and 

Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC), and the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA) 

are appointed and managed solely by USTR. Those policy advisory committees managed jointly with the 

U.S. Departments of Agriculture, and Labor are, respectively, the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee 

(APAC), and the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy (LAC). Each 

committee provides advice based upon the perspective of its specific area and its members are chosen to 

represent the diversity of interests in those areas. A list of all the members of the Committees and the 

diverse interests they represent is available on the USTR website.

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC)

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative appoint members jointly. APAC 

members are appointed to represent a broad spectrum of agricultural interests including the interests of 

farmers, ranchers, processors, renderers, retailers, and public advocacy from diverse sectors of agriculture, 

including commodities, fruits and vegetables, livestock, dairy, sweeteners, wine and tobacco. Members 

serve at the discretion of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative. The 

Committee consists of not more than 40 members.

Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade (IGPAC) 

The IGPAC consists of not more than 35 members appointed from, and representative of, the various States 

and other non-Federal Governmental entities within the jurisdiction of the United States. These entities 

include, but are not limited to, the executive and legislative branches of State, County, and Municipal 

Governments. Members may hold elective or appointive office. Members are appointed by, and serve at 

the discretion of, the U.S. Trade Representative. 

Labor Advisory Committee (LAC)

The LAC consists of not more than 30 members from the U.S. labor community, appointed by the U.S. 

Trade Representative and the Secretary of Labor, acting jointly. Members represent unions from all sectors 

of the economy including steel, automotive, aerospace, farmworkers, teachers, pilots, artists, machinists, 

service workers, and food and commercial workers. Members are appointed by, and serve at the discretion 

of, the U.S. Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Trade Representative. 

Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA)

TACA consists of not more than 30 members, including, but not limited to, representatives from industry, 

labor, investment, agriculture, services, academia, and non-profit development organizations. The 

members of the Committee are appointed to be broadly representative of key sectors and groups with an 

interest in trade and development in sub-Saharan Africa, including non-profit organizations, producers, and 

retailers. Members of the committee are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, the U.S. Trade 

Representative. 

Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC)

TEPAC consists of not more than 35 members, including, but not limited to, representatives from 

environmental interest groups, industry, services, academia, and non-Federal Governments. The 

Committee is designed to be broadly representative of key sectors and groups of the economy with an 
VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT | 199

interest in trade and environmental policy issues. Members of the Committee are appointed by, and serve 

at the discretion of, the U.S. Trade Representative. 

Technical and Sectoral Committees

The 22 technical and sectoral advisory committees are organized into two areas: agriculture and industry. 

Representatives are appointed jointly by the U.S. Trade Representative on the one hand and the U.S. 

Secretaries of Agriculture or Commerce, respectively, on the other. Each sectoral or technical committee 

represents a specific sector, commodity group, or functional area and provides specific technical advice 

concerning the effect that trade policy decisions may have on its sector or issue. 

Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs)

There are six ATACs, focusing on the following products: (1) Animals and Animal Products; (2) Fruits and 

Vegetables; (3) Grains, Feed, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds; (4) Processed Foods; (5) Sweeteners and 

Sweetener Products; and, (6) Tobacco, Cotton, and Peanuts. Members of each Committee are appointed 

by, and serve at the pleasure of, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative. 

Members must represent a U.S. entity with an interest in agricultural trade and should have expertise and 

knowledge of agricultural trade as it relates to policy and commodity-specific products. In appointing 

members to the committees, balance is achieved and maintained by assuring that the members appointed 

represent entities across the range of agricultural interests that will be directly affected by the trade policies 

of concern to the committee (for example, farm producers, farm and commodity organizations, processors, 

traders, and consumers). Geographical balance on each committee is also sought. A list of all the members 

of the committees and the diverse interests they represent is available on the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

website: http://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-policy/trade-advisory-committees. 

Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) 

There are 16 industry trade advisory committees (ITACs). These committees are: Aerospace Equipment 

(ITAC 1); Automotive Equipment and Capital Goods (ITAC 2); Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, 

Health/Science Products and Services (ITAC 3); Consumer Goods (ITAC 4); Distribution Services (ITAC 

5); Energy and Energy Services (ITAC 6); Forest Products (ITAC 7); Information and Communication 

Technologies Services and Electronic Commerce (ITAC 8); Building Materials, Construction and NonFerrous Metals (ITAC 9); Services and Finance Industries (ITAC 10); Small and Minority Business (ITAC 

11); Steel (ITAC 12); Textiles and Clothing (ITAC 13); Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation (ITAC 

14); Intellectual Property Rights (ITAC 15); and Standards and Technical Trade Barriers (ITAC 16).

The ITAC Committee of Chairs was established to coordinate the work of the 16 ITAC committees and 

advise the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative concerning the trade matters of 

common interest to the 16 ITACs. Members of this committee are the elected chairs from each of the 16 

ITACs.

Members of the ITACs are appointed jointly by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade 

Representative and serve at their discretion. Each of the Committees consists of not more than 50 members 

representing diverse interests and perspectives including, but not limited to, labor unions, manufacturers, 

exporters, importers, service providers, producers, and representatives of small and large business. 

Committee members should have knowledge and experience in their industry or interest area, and represent 

a U.S. entity that has an interest in trade matters related to the sectors or subject matters of concern to the 

individual committees. In appointing members to the Committees, balance is achieved and maintained by 

assuring that the members appointed represent private businesses, labor unions, and other U.S. entities 

across the range of interests as provided in law in a particular sector, commodity group, or functional area 
200 | VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

that will be directly affected by the trade policies of concern to the Committee. A list of all the members 

of the Committees and the diverse interests the Committees and their respective memberships represent is 

available on the U.S. Department of Commerce website: http://ita.doc.gov/itac/.

3. State and Local Government Relations

USTR has historically maintained consultative relationships between federal trade officials and State and 

local Governments. USTR the states, on an ongoing basis, of trade-related matters that directly relate to or 

may indirectly affect them. This is accomplished through a number of mechanisms, detailed below.

State Point of Contact System and IGPAC

State Points of Contact

For day-to-day communications, USTR has operated a State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) system to 

disseminate information received from USTR to relevant state and local offices and assist in relaying 

specific information and advice from states and localities to USTR on trade-related matters. USTR has 

worked with this point of contact, as well as the Governor’s representative in Washington, D.C., and state 

organizations and associations, to update state and local offices through formalized briefings, calls and 

other forms of communication. Governors’ staff receive USTR press releases, Federal Register Notices, 

and other pertinent information.

Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade

IGPAC makes recommendations to USTR and the Administration on trade policy matters from the 

perspective of State and local Governments. In 2016, IGPAC was briefed and consulted on trade priorities 

of interest to states and localities. 

Meetings of State and Local Associations

USTR officials participate in meetings of State and local Government associations to apprise them of 

relevant trade policy issues and solicit their views. USTR senior officials have met with the National 

Governors’ Association, regional governors’ associations such as the Council of Great Lakes Governors, 

the National Conference of State Legislatures, and other state commissions and organizations. Engaging 

with the National Association of Attorneys General is critical for understanding concerns and addressing 

issues from Attorneys General in the states, especially as issues arise that relate to state and local legislation. 

Further, the U.S. Conference of Mayors is an invaluable partner with maintaining points of contact with 

major metropolitan areas, especially as mayors develop initiatives to make their cities more global and take 

advantage of the resources from which they benefit. Additionally, USTR officials have addressed 

gatherings of state and local officials and port authorities around the country.

Consultations Regarding Specific Trade Issues

USTR initiates consultations with particular states and localities on issues arising under the WTO and other 

U.S. trade agreements and frequently responds to requests for information from State and local 

Governments. 
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C. Policy Coordination and Freedom of Information Act

The U.S. Trade Representative has primary responsibility, with the advice of the interagency trade policy 

organization, for developing and coordinating the implementation of U.S. trade policy, including on 

commodity matters (e.g., coffee and rubber) and, to the extent they are related to trade, direct investment 

matters. Under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the U.S. Congress established an interagency trade policy 

mechanism to assist with the implementation of these responsibilities. This organization, as it has evolved, 

consists of three tiers of committees that constitute the principal mechanism for developing and 

coordinating U.S. Government positions on international trade and trade-related investment issues. 

The Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG) and the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), administered and 

chaired by USTR, are the subcabinet interagency trade policy coordination groups that are central to this 

process. The TPSC is the first-line operating group, with representation at the senior civil servant level. 

Supporting the TPSC are more than 100 subcommittees responsible for specialized issues. The TPSC 

regularly seeks advice from the public on its policy decisions and negotiations through Federal Register

Notices and public hearings. In 2016, the TPSC held public hearings regarding China’s Compliance with 

its WTO Commitments (October 2016) and Russia’s Implementation of the WTO Commitments 

(September 2016). 

Through the interagency process, USTR requests input and analysis from members of the appropriate TPSC 

subcommittee or task force. The conclusions and recommendations of this group are then presented to the 

full TPSC and serve as the basis for reaching interagency consensus. If agreement is not reached in the 

TPSC, or if particularly significant policy questions are being considered, issues are referred to the TPRG 

(Deputy USTR/Under Secretary level) or to the Deputies Committee of the National Security 

Council/National Economic Council. Issues of the greatest importance move to the Principals Committee 

of the NSC/NEC for resolution by the Cabinet, with or without the President in attendance.

Member agencies of the TPSC and the TPRG consist of the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, 

State, Treasury, Labor, Justice, Defense, Interior, Transportation, Energy, Health and Human Services, 

Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Management and Budget, the 

Council of Economic Advisers, the Council on Environmental Quality, the U.S. Agency for International 

Development, the Small Business Administration, the National Economic Council, and the National 

Security Council. The U.S. International Trade Commission is a non-voting member of the TPSC and an 

observer at TPRG meetings. Representatives of other agencies also may be invited to attend meetings 

depending on the specific issues discussed.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is subject to The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Details 

of the program are available on the USTR website at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/reading-room/freedominformation-act-foia. USTR received 118 new FOIA requests in 2016 and processed 118. USTR continues 

to raise the bar as to responsiveness, efficiency, and transparency in its administration of the FOIA. 
202 | VI. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT
ANNEX I

U.S. TRADE IN 2016

I. 2016 Overview

U.S. trade (exports and imports of goods and services) decreased by 2.0 percent in 2016,41 the second 

consecutive year of nominal decreases in a row (figure 1). U.S. exports of goods and services declined by 

2.3 percent while U.S. imports of goods and services declined by 1.8 percent. As a percent of GDP, total 

trade (exports plus imports) declined as well, representing 26.5 percent in 2016, down from 27.8 percent in 

2015, and down from the high of 30.9 percent in 2011 (figure 2). Exports represented 11.9 percent of GDP 

in 2016, down from 12.5 percent in 2015 and from the high of 13.7 percent in 2013. Imports represented 

for 14.6 percent in 2016, down from 15.3 percent in 2015, and down from the high of 17.3 percent in 2008.

42

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

Although trade was down in nominal terms for 2016, it was up 0.8 percent in real terms (adjusting for price 

fluctuations), though down from the 2.5 percent growth rate in 2016.43 Real exports of goods and services 

were up 0.4 percent (up from 0.1 percent growth in 2015), while real imports of goods and services were 

 

41 On a balance of payments (BOP) basis.

42 The broadest measure of commercial trade is from the Current Account and includes goods and services as well as 

earnings/payments on foreign investment (but not transfer payments). Earnings are considered trade because they 

are the payment made/received to foreign/U.S. residents for the service rendered by the use of foreign/U.S. capital. 

Based on the Current Account, trade declined by 2.0 percent in 2016 and accounted for 36.0 percent of GDP, down 

from 37.7 percent in 2015 and the high of 42.1 percent in 2008. Data are annualized based on the first 3 quarters of 

2016.

43 On a National Income Products Account basis.

$1.01 $0.98 $1.02 $1.16 $1.29 $1.46 $1.65 $1.84 $1.58 $1.85 $2.13 $2.22 $2.29 $2.38 $2.26 $2.21

$1.37 $1.40 $1.51 $1.77 $2.00 $2.22 $2.36 $2.55 $1.97 $2.35 $2.68 $2.76 $2.76 $2.87 $2.76 $2.71

Total Trade, 

$2.37 $2.38 $2.53

$2.93

$3.29

$3.68

$4.01

$4.39

$3.55

$4.20

$4.80 $4.97 $5.05 $5.24 $5.02 $4.92

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

$Trillions

Figure 1 - Value of Goods and Services Trade, Exports, Imports 

and Total

Exports Imports
up 1.1 percent (down from 4.6 percent growth in 2015). Exports contributed very little to economic 

growth in 2016 (0.04 percentage points of the 1.6 percent growth of the economy).

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

The deficit on goods and services trade increased by $1.9 billion (0.4 percent) in 2016 to $502.3 billion. 

Although this was the third consecutive year of the deficit increasing, it was still 29.3 percent lower than 

its pre-recession level of $708.7 billion in 2008 and 34.1 percent lower than the 2006 high of $761.7 billion. 

As a share of GDP, the deficit decreased from 2.8 percent of GDP in 2015 to 2.7 percent of GDP in 2016, 

and is down from its high of 5.5 percent in 2006.

The U.S. deficit in goods trade alone decreased by $12.5 billion (1.6 percent) from $762.6 billion in 2015 

to $750.1 billion in 2016, while the services trade surplus decreased by $14.4 billion (5.5 percent), from 

$262.2 billion in 2015 to $247.8 billion in 2016. As a share of GDP, the goods deficit declined from 4.2 

percent to 4.0 percent, and the services surplus declined from 1.5 percent in 2015 to 1.3 percent in 2016. 

II. Export Growth

U.S. exports of goods and services were down by 2.3 percent in 2016 (but up 3.9 percent since 2011), to 

$2.2 trillion (table 2). Goods exports were down 3.3 percent ($50.5 billion) to $1.5 trillion, while services 

exports were down 0.2 percent ($1.3 billion) to $749.6 billion (table 1). 

U.S. exports to related parties (either to a foreign parent or affiliate) accounted for 30 percent of goods 

exports in 2014 (latest year available) and 29 percent of U.S. exports of services, in 2015 (latest year 

available). 

9.5% 8.9% 8.9% 9.5% 9.8% 10.5% 11.4% 12.5% 11.0% 12.4% 13.7% 13.7% 13.7% 13.7% 12.5% 11.9%

12.9% 12.7% 13.2% 14.4% 15.3% 16.0% 16.3% 17.3% 13.6% 15.7% 17.2% 17.1% 16.5% 16.5% 15.3% 14.6%

Total Trade, 

22.3% 21.6% 22.0%

23.9% 25.1% 26.5% 27.7%

29.8%

24.6%

28.1%

30.9% 30.8% 30.2% 30.1%

27.8% 26.5%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Share of GDP

Figure 2 - Goods and Services Trade as a Share of GDP, 

Exports,Imports and Total Trade 

Export share of GDP Import Share of GDP
A. Goods Exports

Goods exports decreased in 2016, by 3.3 percent to $1.46 trillion (table 1 and figure 3). Manufacturing 

exports, which accounted for 87 percent of total goods exports, were down 3.9 percent in 2016. Agricultural 

exports, which accounted for 9.5 percent of total goods exports, were up 1.5 percent in 2016. U.S. goods 

exports decreased for four of the six major end-use categories in 2016, with the largest decrease in industrial 

supplies, down 6.6 percent ($28.2 billion). U.S. petroleum exports, a subset of industrial supplies, were 

down 8 percent ($7.7 billion), due to the decline in oil prices. The next largest decreases were in capital 

goods, down 3.7 percent ($20 billion), consumer goods, down 2.1 percent ($4.1 billion), and automotive 

vehicles and parts, down 1.3 percent ($1.9 billion). Increases were led by foods, feeds, and beverages, up 

2.3 percent ($3.0 billion).

Over the last 5 years, between 2011 and 2016, U.S. goods exports have increased by 3.9 percent ($82.4 

billion). U.S. agricultural exports decreased by 0.7 percent ($1 billion) and manufacturing exports 

decreased by 1 percent ($12.5 billion), over the same time period. Of the major end-use categories, capital 

goods saw the largest increase (up $25.4 billion, or 5.1 percent), the second largest increase was in consumer 

goods, up $18.3 billion (10.5 percent), and the third largest increase in automotive vehicles and parts, up 

$16.9 billion (12.7 percent). Industrial Supplies and materials was the only major end-use category with a 

decrease, down $103.3 billion (20.6 percent). U.S. petroleum exports, a subset of industrial supplies and 

materials, decreased by 21.1 percent ($24.0 billion) from 2011 to 2016. 

2011 2015 2016 11-16 15-16

Total Goods and Services 2,127.0 2,261.2 2,209.4 3.9% -2.3%

Goods on a BOP Basis 1,499.2 1,510.3 1,459.8 -2.6% -3.3%

Foods, Feeds, Beverages 126.2 127.7 130.7 3.5% 2.3%

Industrial Supplies 501.1 426.0 397.8 -20.6% -6.6%

Capital Goods 494.0 539.4 519.4 5.1% -3.7%

Automotive Vehicles 133.0 151.9 150.0 12.7% -1.3%

Consumer Goods 175.3 197.7 193.6 10.5% -2.1%

Other Goods 52.9 59.8 63.2 19.4% 5.6%

Petroleum (Addendum) 113.7 97.4 89.7 -21.1% -8%

Manufacturing (Addendum) 1,277.8 1,316.3 1,265.4 -1.0% -3.9%

Agriculture (Addendum) 140.4 137.3 139.4 -0.7% 1.5%

Services 627.8 750.9 749.6 19.4% -0.2%

Maintenance and repair services 16.4 24.0 26.3 60.1% 9.5%

Transport 79.8 87.2 84.7 6.1% -2.9%

Travel 150.9 204.5 207.9 37.8% 1.6%

Insurance services 15.1 17.1 17.9 18.3% 4.3%

Financial services 78.3 102.5 95.1 21.6% -7.1%

Charges for the use of intellectual property 123.3 124.7 120.3 -2.4% -3.5%

Telecom, computer, and information services 29.2 35.9 37.7 29.1% 4.9%

Other business services 112.6 134.6 139.9 24.2% 3.9%

Government goods and services 22.2 20.3 19.8 -10.7% -2.3%

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Balance of Payments basis for total, Census basis for sectors.

Table 1 - U.S. Exports

Value ($Billions) % Change
In 2016, U.S. goods exports decreased to the top 3 export markets, Canada (down 5.2percent), Mexico (2.0 

percent), and China (0.3 percent), while they increased to the fourth largest market Japan (up 1.3 percent) 

(table 2). In addition, U.S. goods exports to our 20 FTA partners decreased by 4.7 percent44. U.S. goods 

exports to advanced economies, accounting for 60.0 percent of U.S. total goods exports, decreased by 2.3 

percent, while goods exports to emerging markets and developing economies decreased by 4.4 percent. 

B. Services Exports

U.S. exports of services increased by 0.8 percent to a record $716.4 billion in 2014 (table 1). U.S. services 

exports accounted for 32.1 percent of the level of U.S. goods and services exports in 2015.

The decline in U.S. services exports was led by financial services (down 7.1 percent, $7.3 billion), and 

intellectual property (down 3.5 percent, $4.4 billion). While the top increases were in other business 

services (e.g. professional and management consulting services, and research and development services) 

(up 3.9 percent, $5.3 billion) and travel services (up 1.6 percent, $3.3 billion). 

U.S. services exports have increased by 19.4 percent over the past 5 years. Of the $121.8 billion increase 

in U.S. services exports between 2011 and 2016, travel services accounted for 46.8 percent ($57 billion) of 

the increase, while other business services and financial services accounted for 22.4 percent ($27.3 billion) 

and 13.8 percent (16.9 billion), respectively.

Detailed services exports to countries/regions are available only through 2015. The United Kingdom was 

the largest purchaser of U.S. services exports in 2015, accounting for 8.9 percent ($66.9 billion) of total 

U.S. services exports. The next 5 largest purchasers of services exports in 2015 were: Canada ($56.4 

billion), China ($48.4 billion), Japan ($44.3 billion), Ireland ($41.9 billion), and Mexico ($31.5 billion). 

Regionally, in 2015, the United States exported $226.8 billion in services to the EU, $214.5 billion to the

 

44 The 20 FTA countries currently entered into force accounted for 46.5 percent of total goods exports in 2016.

2011 2015 2016 11-16 15-16

Canada 281.3 280.6 266.0 -5.5% -5.2%

Mexico 198.3 235.7 231.0 16.5% -2.0%

China 104.1 116.1 115.8 11.2% -0.3%

Japan 65.8 62.4 63.3 -3.9% 1.3%

European Union (28) 269.6 272.0 270.3 0.3% -0.6%

Latin America (excluding Mexico) 169.0 152.5 136.6 -19.2% -10.4%

Pacific Rim (excluding Japan and China) 198.5 191.8 183.4 -7.6% -4.4%

FTA Countries (Addendum) 679.9 710.3 676.6 -0.5% -4.7%

Advanced Economies (Addendum) 895.8 894.0 873.1 -2.5% -2.3%

Emerging Markets and Developing Economies 

(Addendum) 586.7 608.6 581.5 -0.9% -4.4%

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census basis

Advanced Economies and Emerging Markets as defined by the IMF

Table 2 - U.S. Goods Exports to Selected Countries/Regions

Value ($Billions) % Change
Asia/Pacific region ($121.7 billion excluding Japan and China), $87.9 billion to NAFTA countries, and 

$69.8 billion to South and Central America (excluding Mexico).

III. Imports

U.S. imports of goods and services were down by 1.8 percent in 2016, due in large part to the decline in 

oil prices (but up 1.3 percent since 2011), to $2.7 trillion. Goods imports were down 2.8 percent ($63.0 

billion) to $2.2 trillion and services imports are up 2.7 percent ($13.1 billion) to a record $501.8 billion 

(table 3). 

U.S. imports from related parties (either from a foreign parent or affiliate) accounted for 51% of U.S. goods 

imports for consumption, in 2014 (latest year available) and 29% of U.S. imports of services, in 2015 (latest 

data available). 

A. Goods Imports 

U.S. goods imports decreased by 2.8 percent in 2016 to $2.2 trillion, accounting for 81% of total imports 

(table 3 and figure 4). U.S. manufacturing imports, which accounted for 87 percent of total goods imports, 

decreased by 1.7 percent in 2016. Agriculture imports, accounting for 5.2 percent of total goods imports, 

increased by 0.7 percent. 

2011 2015 2016 11-16 15-16

Total Goods and Services 2,675.6 2,761.5 2,711.7 1.3% -1.8%

Goods on a BOP Basis 2,239.9 2,272.9 2,209.9 -1.3% -2.8%

Foods, Feeds, Beverages 107.5 127.8 130.3 21.2% 1.9%

Industrial Supplies 755.8 485.8 443.8 -41.3% -8.6%

Capital Goods 510.8 602.0 590.0 15.5% -2.0%

Automotive Vehicles 254.6 349.2 350.3 37.6% 0.3%

Consumer Goods 514.1 594.3 583.8 13.6% -1.8%

Other Goods 65.2 89.2 90.9 39.5% 2.0%

Petroleum (Addendum) 439.3 182.0 146.5 -66.6% -19%

Manufacturing (Addendum) 1,717.5 1,946.3 1,913.1 11.4% -1.7%

Agriculture (Addendum) 99.1 113.8 114.6 15.6% 0.7%

Services 435.8 488.7 501.8 15.1% 2.7%

 Maintenance and repair services 8.2 9.0 8.2 0.1% -8.3%

 Transport 81.4 97.1 97.0 19.3% 0.0%

 Travel 89.7 112.9 121.6 35.6% 7.8%

 Insurance services 55.7 47.8 47.9 -13.9% 0.3%

 Financial services 17.4 25.2 24.9 43.4% -1.0%

 Charges for the use of intellectual property 36.1 39.5 42.4 17.4% 7.3%

 Telecom, computer, and information services 32.8 36.4 37.4 14.1% 2.6%

 Other business services 83.3 99.4 101.5 21.9% 2.2%

 Government goods and services 31.3 21.5 20.7 -33.7% -3.6%

Source: U.S. Departnment of Commerce, Balance of Payments basis, Census basis for goods sectors.

Table 3 - U.S. Imports

Value ($Billions) % Change
By end-use category, the decline in goods imports was led by industrial supplies and materials which 

declined (down 8.6 percent, $42 billion). Petroleum imports, a subset of industrial goods imports, declined 

by 19 percent ($35.5 billion), 100 percent of this decrease in petroleum imports was driven by price. The 

next largest decreases were in capital goods (down 2.0 percent, $12.0 billion), and consumer goods (down 

1.8 percent, $10.5 billion). Increases were seen in food feeds and beverages (up 1.9 percent, $2.5 billion) 

and automotive vehicles and parts (up 0.3 percent, $1.1 billion).

U.S. goods imports have decreased by 1.3 percent since 2011. Over this same time period imports of 

agriculture and manufactured goods have increased by 15.6 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively. For the 

major end-use categories, U.S. imports of industrial supplies and materials (down 41.3 percent, $312 

billion), more than accounted for the decline in goods imports. Petroleum products, a subset of this category, 

decreased by 66.6 percent ($292.8 billion). The other 5 end-use categories saw increases, led by automotive 

vehicles and parts (up 37.6 percent, $95.6 billion), and capital goods (up 15.5 percent, $79.2 billion). 

In 2016, U.S. goods imports decreased from 3 of our top 4 import suppliers, Mexico (down 0.8%), Canada 

(down 6.1%) and China (down 4.2%) (table 4), while they increased with Japan (up 0.6%). U.S. goods 

imports from our 20 FTA partners shrunk by 3.3 percent in 2016.45 U.S. goods imports from advanced 

economies, accounting for 67.2% of U.S. total goods imports, decreased by 3.2 percent, while goods 

imports from emerging markets and developing economies decreased by 1.5 percent. 

B. Services Imports

U.S. services imports increased by 2.7 percent ($13.1 billion) to $501.8 billion in 2016 (table 3). Increases 

in services imports were led by travel services, up 7.8 percent ($8.8 billion), intellectual property, up by 7.3 

percent ($2.9 billion) and other business services (e.g. professional and management consulting services, 

and research and development services), up 2.2 percent ($2.1 billion). The largest decreases in broad 

services categories were in government goods and services (down 3.6 percent, $781 million) and

 

45 The 20 FTA countries currently entered into force accounted for 34.2 percent of total goods imports in 2016. 

2011 2015 2016 11-16 15-16

China 399.4 483.2 462.8 15.9% -4.2%

Mexico 262.9 296.4 294.2 11.9% -0.8%

Canada 315.3 296.2 278.1 -11.8% -6.1%

Japan 128.9 131.4 132.2 2.5% 0.6%

European Union (28) 368.9 427.6 416.7 12.9% -2.5%

Latin America (excluding Mexico) 174.3 115.9 107.8 -38.1% -7.0%

Pacific Rim (excluding Japan and China) 189.3 217.0 214.2 13.1% -1.3%

FTA Countries (Addendum) 759.8 774.3 748.8 -1.5% -3.3%

Advanced Economies (Addendum) 1,376.5 1,518.2 1,469.9 6.8% -3.2%

Emerging Markets and Developing Economies 

(Addendum) 831.4 730.1 719.1 -13.5% -1.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census basis

Advanced Economies and Emerging Markets as defined by the IMF

Table 4 - U.S. Goods Imports from Selected Countries/Regions

Value ($Billions) % Change
maintenance and repair services (down 8.3 percent, $751 million). U.S. services imports accounted for 

roughly 19 percent of the level of U.S. goods and services imports in 2016.

U.S. services imports have increased by 15.1% ($66.0 billion) since 2011. Travel services for all purposes 

(including education) accounted for 48 percent of the total increase in services imports over the last 5 years, 

while other business services, and transport accounted for 27.6 and 23.6 percent, respectively. 

As with exports, services imports from countries/regions are available only through 2015. The United 

Kingdom remained our largest supplier of services, accounting for 10.8 percent of total U.S. services 

imports in 2015. The next 5 largest suppliers of U.S. services imports in 2015 were: Germany ($31.7 

billion), Japan ($29.4 billion), Canada ($29.0 billion), Bermuda ($25.1 billion), and India ($24.7 billion). 

Regionally, the United States imported $172.8 billion of services from the European Union in 2015, $129.3 

billion from the Asia/Pacific region ($84.8 billion, excluding Japan and China), $50.9 billion from NAFTA, 

and $28.2 billion from South and Central America (excluding Mexico).

IV. The U.S. Trade Balance

The total deficit in goods and services trade46 increased by $1.9 billion in 2016 to $502.3 billion. The 

deficit was 29.3 percent lower than its pre-recession level of $708.7 billion in 2008 and 34.1percent lower 

than the 2006 high of $761.7 billion. While as a share of GDP the deficit decreased, from 2.8 percent of 

GDP in 2015 to 2.7 percent of GDP in 2016, substantially lower than its high of 5.5% in 2006.

The U.S. deficit in goods trade alone decreased by $12.5 billion from $762.6 billion in 2015 (4.2 percent 

of GDP) to $750.1 billion in 2016 (4.0 percent of GDP), while the services trade surplus decreased by $14.4 

billion, from $262.2 billion in 2015 (1.5 percent of GDP) to $247.8 billion in 2016 (1.3 percent of GDP). 

In 2016, the increase in the overall deficit was more than accounted for by an increase in the nonpetroleum 

goods deficit (up $15.2 billion, 2.2 percent) and the decrease in the services surplus, (down $14.4 billion, 

5.5 percent), offset somewhat by the petroleum deficit which continued to decline in 2016, by $27.7 billion 

(32.8 percent). The U.S. deficit in petroleum accounted for 11.3 percent of the overall goods and services 

trade deficit in 2016, down from 16.9 percent, in 2015. 

 

46 On a balance of payments basis.

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Goods and Services -3.5% -3.3% -2.8% -2.8% -2.8% -2.7%

Goods -4.8% -4.6% -4.2% -4.3% -4.2% -4.0%

Services 1.2% 1.3% 1.4% 1.5% 1.5% 1.3%

Goods and Services -548.6 -536.8 -461.9 -490.2 -500.4 -502.3

Goods -740.6 -741.2 -702.2 -752.2 -762.6 -750.1

Services 192.0 204.4 240.4 262.0 262.2 247.8

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Trade Balances as a share of GDP

U.S. Trade Balances with the World ($Billions)

Table 5 - U.S. Trade Balances

ANNEX II

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

ON THE WTO

Negotiated Outcomes

1. Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health (see table)

2. Doha Declaration on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns (see table)

3. Bali Ministerial Declaration and Related Decisions (see table)

4. Nairobi Ministerial Declaration and Related Decisions (see table)

5. Amendment of the TRIPS Agreement 

Institutional Issues

1. Membership of the WTO

2. 2014 Budgets for the WTO

3. 2014 WTO Budget Contributions

4. Waivers Currently in Force

5. WTO Secretariat Personnel Statistics

6. WTO Accession Application and Status

7. Indicative List of Governmental and Non-Governmental Panelists

8. Proposed Nomination for the Indicative List of Governmental and Non-Governmental Panelists

9. Appellate Body Membership

10. Where to Find More Information on the WTO
NEGOTIATED OUTCOMES

Document Name Document Number

Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement 

and Public Health

WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2 (Nov. 20, 2001)

Doha Declaration on Implementation-Related 

Issues and Concerns

WT/MIN(01)/17 (Nov. 20, 2001)

Bali Ministerial Declaration WT/MIN(13)/DEC (Dec. 7, 2015)

Nairobi Ministerial Declaration and Related 

Decisions

N/A

__________
WORLD TRADE

ORGANIZATION

WT/L/641

8 December 2005

(05-5842)

AMENDMENT OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 

Decision of 6 December 2005

The General Council;

Having regard to paragraph 1 of Article X of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World 

Trade Organization (the WTO Agreement);

Conducting the functions of the Ministerial Conference in the interval between meetings pursuant 

to paragraph 2 of Article IV of the WTO Agreement;

Noting the Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2) and, in 

particular, the instruction of the Ministerial Conference to the Council for TRIPS contained in paragraph 6 

of the Declaration to find an expeditious solution to the problem of the difficulties that WTO Members with 

insufficient or no manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector could face in making effective use 

of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement;

Recognizing, where eligible importing Members seek to obtain supplies under the system set out in 

the proposed amendment of the TRIPS Agreement, the importance of a rapid response to those needs 

consistent with the provisions of the proposed amendment of the TRIPS Agreement;

Recalling paragraph 11 of the General Council Decision of 30 August 2003 on the Implementation 

of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health; 

Having considered the proposal to amend the TRIPS Agreement submitted by the Council for 

TRIPS (IP/C/41);

Noting the consensus to submit this proposed amendment to the Members for acceptance;

Decides as follows:

1. The Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement attached to this Decision is hereby adopted and 

submitted to the Members for acceptance.

2. The Protocol shall be open for acceptance by Members until 1 December 2007 or such later date 

as may be decided by the Ministerial Conference. 

3. The Protocol shall take effect in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article X of the 

WTO Agreement.

_______________
ATTACHMENT

PROTOCOL AMENDING THE TRIPS AGREEMENT

Members of the World Trade Organization;

Having regard to the Decision of the General Council in document WT/L/641, adopted pursuant 

to paragraph 1 of Article X of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (the 

WTO Agreement);

Hereby agree as follows:

 The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual 

Property Rights (the "TRIPS Agreement) shall, upon the 

entry into force of the Protocol pursuant to paragraph 4, 

be amended as set out in the Annex to this Protocol, by 

inserting Article 31bis after Article 31 and by inserting 

the Annex to the TRIPS Agreement after Article 73. 

 Reservations may not be entered in respect of any of the 

provisions of this Protocol without the consent of the 

other Members. 

 This Protocol shall be open for acceptance by Members 

until 1 December 2007 or such later date as may be 

decided by the Ministerial Conference.

 This Protocol shall enter into force in accordance with 

paragraph 3 of Article X of the WTO Agreement.

 This Protocol shall be deposited with the DirectorGeneral of the World Trade Organization who shall 

promptly furnish to each Member a certified copy thereof 

and a notification of each acceptance thereof pursuant to 

paragraph 3.

 This Protocol shall be registered in accordance with the 

provisions of Article 102 of the Charter of the United 

Nations.

Done at Geneva this sixth day of December two thousand and five, in a single copy in the 

English, French and Spanish languages, each text being authentic.

_______________
ANNEX TO THE PROTOCOL AMENDING THE TRIPS AGREEMENT

Article 31bis

1. The obligations of an exporting Member under Article 31(f) shall not apply with respect to the 

grant by it of a compulsory license to the extent necessary for the purposes of production of a 

pharmaceutical product(s) and its export to an eligible importing Member(s) in accordance with the terms 

set out in paragraph 2 of the Annex to this Agreement.

2. Where a compulsory licence is granted by an exporting Member under the system set out in this 

Article and the Annex to this Agreement, adequate remuneration pursuant to Article 31(h) shall be paid in 

that Member taking into account the economic value to the importing Member of the use that has been 

authorized in the exporting Member. Where a compulsory licence is granted for the same products in the 

eligible importing Member, the obligation of that Member under Article 31(h) shall not apply in respect of 

those products for which remuneration in accordance with the first sentence of this paragraph is paid in the 

exporting Member.

3. With a view to harnessing economies of scale for the purposes of enhancing purchasing power for, 

and facilitating the local production of, pharmaceutical products: where a developing or least-developed 

country WTO Member is a party to a regional trade agreement within the meaning of Article XXIV of the 

GATT 1994 and the Decision of 28 November 1979 on Differential and More Favourable Treatment 

Reciprocity and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries (L/4903), at least half of the current 

membership of which is made up of countries presently on the United Nations list of least-developed 

countries, the obligation of that Member under Article 31(f) shall not apply to the extent necessary to enable 

a pharmaceutical product produced or imported under a compulsory licence in that Member to be exported 

to the markets of those other developing or least-developed country parties to the regional trade agreement 

that share the health problem in question. It is understood that this will not prejudice the territorial nature 

of the patent rights in question.

4. Members shall not challenge any measures taken in conformity with the provisions of this Article 

and the Annex to this Agreement under subparagraphs 1(b) and 1(c) of Article XXIII of GATT 1994.

5. This Article and the Annex to this Agreement are without prejudice to the rights, obligations and 

flexibilities that Members have under the provisions of this Agreement other than paragraphs (f) and (h) of 

Article 31, including those reaffirmed by the Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health 

(WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2), and to their interpretation. They are also without prejudice to the extent to which 

pharmaceutical products produced under a compulsory licence can be exported under the provisions of 

Article 31(f).

__________
ANNEX TO THE TRIPS AGREEMENT

1. For the purposes of Article 31bis and this Annex:

(a) "pharmaceutical product" means any patented product, or product manufactured through a 

patented process, of the pharmaceutical sector needed to address the public health problems 

as recognized in paragraph 1 of the Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health 

(WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2). It is understood that active ingredients necessary for its 

manufacture and diagnostic kits needed for its use would be included47;

(b) "eligible importing Member" means any least-developed country Member, and any other 

Member that has made a notification48 to the Council for TRIPS of its intention to use the 

system set out in Article 31bis and this Annex (system) as an importer, it being understood 

that a Member may notify at any time that it will use the system in whole or in a limited 

way, for example only in the case of a national emergency or other circumstances of 

extreme urgency or in cases of public non-commercial use. It is noted that some Members 

will not use the system as importing Members49 and that some other Members have stated 

that, if they use the system, it would be in no more than situations of national emergency 

or other circumstances of extreme urgency;

(c) "exporting Member" means a Member using the system to produce pharmaceutical 

products for, and export them to, an eligible importing Member.

2. The terms referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 31bis are that:

(a) the eligible importing Member(s)50 has made a notification2to the Council for TRIPS, that:

(i) specifies the names and expected quantities of the product(s) needed51;

(ii) confirms that the eligible importing Member in question, other than a 

least-developed country Member, has established that it has insufficient or no 

manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector for the product(s) in 

question in one of the ways set out in the Appendix to this Annex; and

 

47 This subparagraph is without prejudice to subparagraph 1(b).

48 It is understood that this notification does not need to be approved by a WTO body in order to use the system.

49 Australia, Canada, the European Communities with, for the purposes of Article 31bis and this Annex, its member 

States, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.

50 Joint notifications providing the information required under this subparagraph may be made by the regional 

organizations referred to in paragraph 3 of Article 31bis on behalf of eligible importing Members using the system 

that are parties to them, with the agreement of those parties.

51 The notification will be made available publicly by the WTO Secretariat through a page on the WTO website 

dedicated to the system.
(iii) confirms that, where a pharmaceutical product is patented in its territory, it has 

granted or intends to grant a compulsory licence in accordance with Articles 31 

and 31bis of this Agreement and the provisions of this Annex52;

(b) the compulsory licence issued by the exporting Member under the system shall contain the 

following conditions:

(i) only the amount necessary to meet the needs of the eligible importing Member(s) 

may be manufactured under the licence and the entirety of this production shall be 

exported to the Member(s) which has notified its needs to the Council for TRIPS;

(ii) products produced under the licence shall be clearly identified as being produced 

under the system through specific labelling or marking. Suppliers should 

distinguish such products through special packaging and/or special 

colouring/shaping of the products themselves, provided that such distinction is 

feasible and does not have a significant impact on price; and

(iii) before shipment begins, the licensee shall post on a website53 the following 

information:

- the quantities being supplied to each destination as referred to in indent (i) 

above; and

- the distinguishing features of the product(s) referred to in indent (ii) above;

(c) the exporting Member shall notify54 the Council for TRIPS of the grant of the licence, 

including the conditions attached to it.55 The information provided shall include the name 

and address of the licensee, the product(s) for which the licence has been granted, the 

quantity(ies) for which it has been granted, the country(ies) to which the product(s) is (are) 

to be supplied and the duration of the licence. The notification shall also indicate the 

address of the website referred to in subparagraph (b)(iii) above.

3. In order to ensure that the products imported under the system are used for the public health 

purposes underlying their importation, eligible importing Members shall take reasonable measures within 

their means, proportionate to their administrative capacities and to the risk of trade diversion to prevent reexportation of the products that have actually been imported into their territories under the system. In the 

event that an eligible importing Member that is a developing country Member or a least-developed country 

Member experiences difficulty in implementing this provision, developed country Members shall provide, 

on request and on mutually agreed terms and conditions, technical and financial cooperation in order to 

facilitate its implementation.

4. Members shall ensure the availability of effective legal means to prevent the importation into, and 

sale in, their territories of products produced under the system and diverted to their markets inconsistently 

with its provisions, using the means already required to be available under this Agreement. If any Member 

 

52 This subparagraph is without prejudice to Article 66.1 of this Agreement.

53 The licensee may use for this purpose its own website or, with the assistance of the WTO Secretariat, the page on 

the WTO website dedicated to the system.

54 It is understood that this notification does not need to be approved by a WTO body in order to use the system.

55 The notification will be made available publicly by the WTO Secretariat through a page on the WTO website 

dedicated to the system.
considers that such measures are proving insufficient for this purpose, the matter may be reviewed in the 

Council for TRIPS at the request of that Member.

5. With a view to harnessing economies of scale for the purposes of enhancing purchasing power for, 

and facilitating the local production of, pharmaceutical products, it is recognized that the development of 

systems providing for the grant of regional patents to be applicable in the Members described in paragraph 3 

of Article 31bis should be promoted. To this end, developed country Members undertake to provide 

technical cooperation in accordance with Article 67 of this Agreement, including in conjunction with other 

relevant intergovernmental organizations.

6. Members recognize the desirability of promoting the transfer of technology and capacity building 

in the pharmaceutical sector in order to overcome the problem faced by Members with insufficient or no 

manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector. To this end, eligible importing Members and 

exporting Members are encouraged to use the system in a way which would promote this objective. 

Members undertake to cooperate in paying special attention to the transfer of technology and capacity 

building in the pharmaceutical sector in the work to be undertaken pursuant to Article 66.2 of this 

Agreement, paragraph 7 of the Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health and any other 

relevant work of the Council for TRIPS.

7. The Council for TRIPS shall review annually the functioning of the system with a view to ensuring 

its effective operation and shall annually report on its operation to the General Council.
APPENDIX TO THE ANNEX TO THE TRIPS AGREEMENT

Assessment of Manufacturing Capacities in the Pharmaceutical Sector

Least-developed country Members are deemed to have insufficient or no manufacturing capacities in the 

pharmaceutical sector.

For other eligible importing Members insufficient or no manufacturing capacities for the product(s) in 

question may be established in either of the following ways:

(i) the Member in question has established that it has no manufacturing capacity in 

the pharmaceutical sector;

or

(ii) where the Member has some manufacturing capacity in this sector, it has examined 

this capacity and found that, excluding any capacity owned or controlled by the patent 

owner, it is currently insufficient for the purposes of meeting its needs. When it is 

established that such capacity has become sufficient to meet the Member's needs, the 

system shall no longer apply.

_______________
MEMBERSHIP OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

As of 30 December, 2016 (164 Members)

Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Afghanistan July 29, 2016 Cambodia October 12, 2004

Albania September 8, 2000 Cameroon December 13, 1995

Angola November 23, 1996 Canada January 1, 1995

Antigua and Barbuda January 1, 1995 Cape Verde July 23, 2008

Argentina January 1, 1995 Central African Republic May 31, 1995

Armenia February 5, 2003 Chad October 19, 1996

Australia January 1, 1995 Chile January 1, 1995

Austria January 1, 1995 China December 11, 2001

Bahrain January 1, 1995 Colombia April 30, 1995

Bangladesh January 1, 1995 Congo March 27, 1997

Barbados January 1, 1995 Costa Rica January 1, 1995

Belgium January 1, 1995 Côte d’Ivoire January 1, 1995

Belize January 1, 1995 Croatia November 30, 2000

Benin February 22, 1996 Cuba April 20, 1995

Bolivia September 12, 1995 Cyprus July 30, 1995

Botswana May 31, 1995 Czech Republic January 1, 1995

Brazil January 1, 1995 Democratic Republic of 

Congo

January 1, 1997

Brunei Darussalam January 1, 1995 Denmark January 1, 1995

Bulgaria December 1, 1996 Djibouti May 31, 1995

Burkina Faso June 3, 1995 Dominica January 1, 1995

Burundi July 23, 1995 Dominican Republic March 9, 1995
Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Ecuador January 21, 1996 Ireland January 1, 1995

Egypt June 30, 1995 Israel April 21, 1995

El Salvador May 7, 1995 Italy January 1, 1995

Estonia November 13, 1999 Jamaica March 9, 1995

European Union January 1, 1995 Japan January 1, 1995

Fiji January 14, 1996 Jordan April 11, 2000

Finland January 1, 1995 Kazakhstan November 30, 2015

France January 1, 1995 Kenya January 1, 1995

Gabon January 1, 1995 Korea, Republic of January 1, 1995

Georgia June 14, 2000 Kuwait January 1, 1995

Germany January 1, 1995 Kyrgyz Republic December 20, 1998

Ghana January 1, 1995 Latvia February 10, 1999

Greece January 1, 1995 Lao People’s Democratic 

Republic

February 2, 2013

Grenada February 22, 1996 Lesotho May 31, 1995

Guatemala July 21, 1995 Liberia July 14, 2016

Guinea October 25, 1995 Luxembourg January 1, 1995

Guinea Bissau May 31, 1995 Macao, China January 1, 1995

Guyana January 1, 1995 Macedonia April 4, 2003

Haiti January 30, 1996 Madagascar November 17, 1995

Honduras January 1, 1995 Malawi May 31, 1995

Hong Kong, China January 1, 1995 Malaysia January 1, 1995

Hungary January 1, 1995 Maldives May 31, 1995

Iceland January 1, 1995 Mali May 31, 1995

India January 1, 1995 Malta January 1, 1995

Indonesia January 1, 1995 Mauritania May 31, 1995
Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Mauritius January 1, 1995 Portugal January 1, 1995

Mexico January 1, 1995 Qatar January 13, 1996

Moldova July 26, 2001 Romania January 1, 1995

Mongolia January 29, 1997 Russian Federation August 22, 2012

Montenegro April 29, 2012 Rwanda May 22, 1996

Morocco January 1, 1995 Saint Kitts and Nevis February 21, 1996

Mozambique August 26, 1995 Saint Lucia January 1, 1995

Myanmar January 1, 1995 Saint Vincent and the 

Grenadines

January 1, 1995

Namibia January 1, 1995 Samoa May 10, 2012

Nepal April 23, 2004 Saudi Arabia December 11, 2005

Netherlands (for the 

Kingdom in Europe and 

Netherlands Antilles)

January 1, 1995 Senegal January 1, 1995

New Zealand January 1, 1995 Seychelles April 26, 2015

Nicaragua September 3, 1995 Sierra Leone July 23, 1995

Niger December 13, 1996 Singapore January 1, 1995

Nigeria January 1, 1995 Slovak Republic January 1, 1995

Norway January 1, 1995 Slovenia July 30, 1995

Oman November 9, 2000 Solomon Islands July 26, 1996

Pakistan January 1, 1995 South Africa January 1, 1995

Panama September 6, 1997 Spain January 1, 1995

Papua New Guinea June 9, 1996 Sri Lanka January 1, 1995

Paraguay January 1, 1995 Suriname January 1, 1995

Peru January 1, 1995 Swaziland January 1, 1995

Philippines January 1, 1995 Sweden January 1, 1995

Poland July 1, 1995 Switzerland July 1, 1995
Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Government Entry Into 

Force/Membership

Taiwan (referred to in the 

WTO as Chinese Taipei)

January 1, 2002 Ukraine May 16, 2008

Tajikistan March 2, 2013 United Arab Emirates April 10, 1996

Tanzania January 1, 1995 United Kingdom January 1, 1995

Thailand January 1, 1995 United States of America January 1, 1995

The Gambia October 23, 1996 Uruguay January 1, 1995

Togo May 31, 1995 Vanuatu August 24, 2012

Tonga July 27, 2007 Venezuela January 1, 1995

Trinidad and Tobago March 1, 1995 Vietnam January 11, 2007

Tunisia March 29, 1995 Yemen June 26, 2014

Turkey March 26, 1995 Zambia January 1, 1995

Uganda January 1, 1995 Zimbabwe March 5, 1995

__________
Consolidated 2016 Budget for the WTO Secretariat

and the Appellate Body and its Secretariat

(in thousand Swiss francs)

Part Section Line 2016 2017

Inc/

Dec 2017

A Staffing Resources 1. Staff Expenditure i) Staff Remuneration 90,482 90,482 0

ii) Staff Pension & 

Post-Employment Benefits

22,110 22,110 0

iii) Staff Health & Invalidity 

Insurance

5,944 5,944 0

iv) Staff Family & International 

Benefits

11,069 11,069 0

v) Other Staff Expenditure 1,810 1,810 0

1. Staff Expenditure Total 131,415 131,415 0

2. Temporary Assistance i) Short-Term Staff 9,013 9,013 0

ii) Consulting 6,770 6,770 0

iii) Panelists & Appellate Body 

Members Fees

1,506 1,506 0

2. Temporary Assistance Total 17,289 17,289 0

A Staffing Resources Total 148,705 148,705 0

B Other Resources 3. General Services i) Telecommunication & Post 831 831 0

ii) Contractual Services & 

Maintenance

10,681 10,681 0

iii) Energy & Supplies 2,251 2,251 0

iv) Documentation & Publication 1,479 1,479 0

v) Other / Miscellaneous 89 89 0

3. General Services Total 15,331 15,331 0

4. Travel & Hospitality i) Travel 7,135 7,135 0

ii) Hospitality 216 216 0

4. Travel & Hospitality Total 7,351 7,351 0

5. Implementing Partners i) Implementing Partners 213 213 0

5. Implementing Partners Total 213 213 0

6. Capital Expenditure i) Procurement of Fixed Assets 1,430 1,430 0

ii) Rental & Leasing of 

Equipment

920 920 0

6. Capital Expenditure Total 2,350 2,350 0

7. Financial Expenditure i) Bank & Interest Charges 80 80 0

ii) Building Loan 

Reimbursement

1,200 1,200 0
7. Financial Expenditure Total 1,280 1,280 0

B Other Resources Total 26,524 26,524 0

C Operating Funds 

and ITC

8. Contributions to ITC & Special 

Reserves

i) Contribution to ITC 18,775 18,775 0

ii) Appellate Body Operating 

Fund

2,000 2,000 0

iii) Ministerial Conference 

Operating Fund

600 600 0

iv) Building Renovation Fund 600 600 0

8. Contributions to ITC & Special Reserves Total 21,975 21,975 0

C Operating Funds and ITC Total 21,975 21,975 0

Grand Total 197,204 197,204 0
2016 Budget for the WTO Secretariat

(in thousand Swiss francs)

Part Section Line 2016 2017

Inc/

Dec 2017

A Staffing 

Resources

1. Staff Expenditure i) Staff Remuneration 87,221 87,157 -65

ii) Staff Pension & Post-Employment 

Benefits

21,400 21,380 -20

iii) Staff Health & Invalidity Insurance 5,770 5,765 -5

iv) Staff Family & International Benefits 10,773 10,773 0

v) Other Staff Expenditure 1,767 1,767 0

1. Staff Expenditure Total 126,931 126,842 -89

2. Temporary Assistance i) Short-Term Staff 8,958 8,958 0

ii) Consulting 6,745 6,745 0

iii) Panellists 715 715 0

2. Temporary Assistance Total 16,418 16,418 0

A Staffing Resources Total 143,349 143,260 -89

B Other 

Resources

3. General Services i) Telecommunication & Post 822 822 0

ii) Contractual Services & Maintenance 10,663 10,663 0

iii) Energy & Supplies 2,231 2,231 0

iv) Documentation & Publication 1,469 1,469 0

v) Other / Miscellaneous 87 87 0

3. General Services Total 15,271 15,271 0

4. Travel & Hospitality i) Travel 7,085 7,085 0

ii) Hospitality 215 215 0

4. Travel & Hospitality Total 7,300 7,300 0

5. Implementing Partners i) Implementing Partners 213 213 0

5. Implementing Partners Total 213 213 0

6. Capital Expenditure i) Procurement of Fixed Assets 1,405 1,405 0

ii) Rental & Leasing of Equipment 920 920 0

6. Capital Expenditure Total 2,325 2,325 0

7. Financial Expenditure i) Bank & Interest Charges 80 80 0

ii) Building Loan Reimbursement 1,200 1,200 0

7. Financial Expenditure Total 1,280 1,280 0
B Other Resources Total 26,388 26,388 0

C Operating 

Funds and ITC

8. Contributions to ITC & 

Special Reserves

i) Contribution to ITC 18,775 18,775 0

iii) Ministerial Conference Operating 

Fund

600 600 0

iv) Building Renovation Fund 600 600 0

8. Contributions to ITC & Special Reserves Total 19,975 19,975 0

C Operating Funds and ITC Total 19,975 19,975 0

Grand Total 189,713 189,624 -89
2016 Budget for the Appellate Body Secretariat

(in thousand Swiss francs)

Part Section Line 2016 2017

Inc/

Dec 

2017

A Staffing 

Resources

1. Staff Expenditure i) Staff Remuneration 3,261 3,326 65

ii) Staff Pension & Post-Employment 

Benefits

710 730 20

iii) Staff Health & Invalidity Insurance 174 179 5

iv) Staff Family & International Benefits 296 296 0

v) Other Staff Expenditure 43 43 0

1. Staff Expenditure Total 4,484 4,573 89

2. Temporary Assistance i) Short-Term Staff 55 55 0

ii) Consulting 25 25 0

iii) Appellate Body Member Fees 791 791 0

2. Temporary Assistance Total 871 871 0

A Staffing Resources Total 5,355 5,444 89

B Other 

Resources

3. General Services i) Telecommunication & Post 10 10 0

ii) Contractual Services & Maintenance 18 18 0

iii) Energy & Supplies 20 20 0

iv) Documentation & Publication 10 10 0

v) Other / Miscellaneous 2 2 0

3. General Services Total 60 60 0

4. Travel & Hospitality i) Travel 50 50 0

ii) Hospitality 1 1 0

4. Travel & Hospitality Total 51 51 0

6. Capital Expenditure i) Procurement of Fixed Assets 25 25 0

ii) Rental & Leasing of Equipment 0 0 0

6. Capital Expenditure Total 25 25 0

B Other Resources Total 136 136 0

C Operating 

Funds and ITC

8. Contributions to ITC & Special 

Reserves

ii) Appellate Body Operating Fund 2,000 2,000 0

8. Contributions to ITC & Special Reserves Total 2,000 2,000 0

C Operating Funds and ITC Total 2,000 2,000 0

Grand Total 7,491 7,580 89
Scale of Contributions for 2016

Member

2016

Contribution

CHF

2016

Contribution

%

2017 

Contribution

CHF

201756

Contribution

%

Afghanistan - - 48,875 0.025%

Albania 48,875 0.025% 44,965 0.023%

Angola 504,390 0.258% 496,570 0.254%

Antigua and Barbuda 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Argentina 805,460 0.412% 780,045 0.399%

Armenia 33,235 0.017% 35,190 0.018%

Australia 2,772,190 1.418% 2,754,595 1.409%

Austria 2,046,885 1.047% 1,978,460 1.012%

Bahrain, Kingdom of 170,085 0.087% 168,130 0.086%

Bangladesh 287,385 0.147% 297,160 0.152%

Barbados 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Belgium 3,884,585 1.987% 3,800,520 1.944%

Belize 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Benin 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Bolivia, Plurinational State of 86,020 0.044% 93,840 0.048%

Botswana 64,515 0.033% 72,335 0.037%

Brazil 2,568,870 1.314% 2,586,465 1.323%

Brunei Darussalam 72,335 0.037% 80,155 0.041%

Bulgaria 318,665 0.163% 316,710 0.162%

Burkina Faso 29,325 0.015% 31,280 0.016%

Burundi 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Cabo Verde 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Cambodia 82,110 0.042% 86,020 0.044%

Cameroon 70,380 0.036% 64,515 0.033%

Canada 5,069,315 2.593% 5,022,395 2.569%

Central African Republic 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Chad 48,875 0.025% 44,965 0.023%

Chile 791,775 0.405% 787,865 0.403%

China 17,927,350 9.170% 18,756,270 9.594%

 

56 Due to the fact that the WTO banks introduced negative interest rates in 2015, no interest was earned in 2015. 

Therefore, no adjustments are made to the 2017 contributions due from any Member.
Member

2016

Contribution

CHF

2016

Contribution

%

2017 

Contribution

CHF

201756

Contribution

%

Colombia 561,085 0.287% 576,725 0.295%

Congo 89,930 0.046% 91,885 0.047%

Costa Rica 132,940 0.068% 142,715 0.073%

Côte d'Ivoire 101,660 0.052% 105,570 0.054%

Croatia 240,465 0.123% 224,825 0.115%

Cuba 148,580 0.076% 146,625 0.075%

Cyprus 107,525 0.055% 119,255 0.061%

Czech Republic 1,407,600 0.720% 1,397,825 0.715%

Democratic Republic of the Congo 93,840 0.048% 103,615 0.053%

Denmark 1,567,910 0.802% 1,515,125 0.775%

Djibouti 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Dominica 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Dominican Republic 156,400 0.080% 154,445 0.079%

Ecuador 234,600 0.120% 240,465 0.123%

Egypt 541,535 0.277% 510,255 0.261%

El Salvador 76,245 0.039% 74,290 0.038%

Estonia 175,950 0.090% 179,860 0.092%

European Union57 0 0.000% 0 0.000%

Fiji 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Finland 983,365 0.503% 944,265 0.483%

France 7,606,905 3.891% 7,470,055 3.821%

Gabon 64,515 0.033% 68,425 0.035%

The Gambia 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Georgia 62,560 0.032% 64,515 0.033%

Germany 14,805,215 7.573% 14,294,960 7.312%

Ghana 148,580 0.076% 152,490 0.078%

Greece 692,070 0.354% 672,520 0.344%

Grenada 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Guatemala 138,805 0.071% 140,760 0.072%

Guinea 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Guinea-Bissau 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

 

57 The European Union is not subject to contributions. However, its 28 members are assessed individually. The total 

share of members of the European Union represents 34.04% of the total assessed contributions for 2017.
Member

2016

Contribution

CHF

2016

Contribution

%

2017 

Contribution

CHF

201756

Contribution

%

Guyana 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Haiti 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Honduras 78,200 0.040% 76,245 0.039%

Hong Kong, China 5,126,010 2.622% 5,157,290 2.638%

Hungary 1,067,430 0.546% 1,030,285 0.527%

Iceland 60,605 0.031% 60,605 0.031%

India 4,371,380 2.236% 4,463,265 2.283%

Indonesia 1,788,825 0.915% 1,800,555 0.921%

Ireland 1,955,000 1.000% 1,955,000 1.000%

Israel 832,830 0.426% 832,830 0.426%

Italy 5,677,320 2.904% 5,436,855 2.781%

Jamaica 56,695 0.029% 52,785 0.027%

Japan 8,476,880 4.336% 8,345,895 4.269%

Jordan 164,220 0.084% 164,220 0.084%

Kazakhstan 631,465 0.323% 639,285 0.327%

Kenya 111,435 0.057% 121,210 0.062%

Korea, Republic of 5,890,415 3.013% 5,947,110 3.042%

Kuwait, the State of 682,295 0.349% 694,025 0.355%

Kyrgyz Republic 37,145 0.019% 39,100 0.020%

Lao People's Democratic Republic 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Latvia 152,490 0.078% 156,400 0.080%

Lesotho 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Liberia - - 29,325 0.015%

Liechtenstein 60,605 0.031% 62,560 0.032%

Lithuania 301,070 0.154% 310,845 0.159%

Luxembourg 789,820 0.404% 848,470 0.434%

Macao, China 277,610 0.142% 303,025 0.155%

Madagascar 31,280 0.016% 29,325 0.015%

Malawi 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Malaysia 2,191,555 1.121% 2,084,030 1.066%

Maldives 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Mali 31,280 0.016% 29,325 0.015%

Malta 103,615 0.053% 125,120 0.064%
Member

2016

Contribution

CHF

2016

Contribution

%

2017 

Contribution

CHF

201756

Contribution

%

Mauritania 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Mauritius 60,605 0.031% 58,650 0.030%

Mexico 3,436,890 1.758% 3,503,360 1.792%

Moldova, Republic of 37,145 0.019% 37,145 0.019%

Mongolia 50,830 0.026% 54,740 0.028%

Montenegro 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Morocco 355,810 0.182% 351,900 0.180%

Mozambique 58,650 0.030% 62,560 0.032%

Myanmar 82,110 0.042% 91,885 0.047%

Namibia 56,695 0.029% 56,695 0.029%

Nepal 39,100 0.020% 41,055 0.021%

Netherlands 5,671,455 2.901% 5,821,990 2.978%

New Zealand 443,785 0.227% 451,605 0.231%

Nicaragua 48,875 0.025% 48,875 0.025%

Niger 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Nigeria 752,675 0.385% 785,910 0.402%

Norway 1,569,865 0.803% 1,530,765 0.783%

Oman 377,315 0.193% 391,000 0.200%

Pakistan 344,080 0.176% 340,170 0.174%

Panama 236,555 0.121% 254,150 0.130%

Papua New Guinea 54,740 0.028% 64,515 0.033%

Paraguay 111,435 0.057% 113,390 0.058%

Peru 412,505 0.211% 416,415 0.213%

Philippines 652,970 0.334% 660,790 0.338%

Poland 2,103,580 1.076% 2,107,490 1.078%

Portugal 823,055 0.421% 793,730 0.406%

Qatar 735,080 0.376% 791,775 0.405%

Romania 660,790 0.338% 666,655 0.341%

Russian Federation 4,379,200 2.240% 4,418,300 2.260%

Rwanda 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Saint Kitts and Nevis 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Saint Lucia 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Samoa 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%
Member

2016

Contribution

CHF

2016

Contribution

%

2017 

Contribution

CHF

201756

Contribution

%

Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of 2,449,615 1.253% 2,490,670 1.274%

Senegal 44,965 0.023% 43,010 0.022%

Seychelles 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Sierra Leone 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Singapore 4,703,730 2.406% 4,723,280 2.416%

Slovak Republic 778,090 0.398% 764,405 0.391%

Slovenia 318,665 0.163% 308,890 0.158%

Solomon Islands 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

South Africa 1,069,385 0.547% 1,051,790 0.538%

Spain 4,078,130 2.086% 3,800,520 1.944%

Sri Lanka 152,490 0.078% 158,355 0.081%

Suriname 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Swaziland 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Sweden 2,183,735 1.117% 2,142,680 1.096%

Switzerland 3,460,350 1.770% 3,554,190 1.818%

Chinese Taipei 2,991,150 1.530% 3,000,925 1.535%

Tajikistan 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Tanzania 89,930 0.046% 91,885 0.047%

Thailand 2,359,685 1.207% 2,367,505 1.211%

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 52,785 0.027% 52,785 0.027%

Togo 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Tonga 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Trinidad and Tobago 121,210 0.062% 115,345 0.059%

Tunisia 226,780 0.116% 217,005 0.111%

Turkey 1,968,685 1.007% 1,998,010 1.022%

Uganda 54,740 0.028% 54,740 0.028%

Ukraine 782,000 0.400% 746,810 0.382%

United Arab Emirates 2,699,855 1.381% 2,774,145 1.419%

United Kingdom 7,446,595 3.809% 7,366,440 3.768%

United States of America 21,974,200 11.240% 21,968,335 11.237%

Uruguay 117,300 0.060% 119,255 0.061%

Vanuatu 29,325 0.015% 29,325 0.015%

Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 711,620 0.364% 705,755 0.361%
Member

2016

Contribution

CHF

2016

Contribution

%

2017 

Contribution

CHF

201756

Contribution

%

Viet Nam 1,024,420 0.524% 1,114,350 0.570%

Yemen 101,660 0.052% 99,705 0.051%

Zambia 78,200 0.040% 86,020 0.044%

Zimbabwe 50,830 0.026% 48,875 0.025%

TOTAL 195,500,000 100.000% 195,500,000 100.000%
WAIVERS CURRENTLY IN FORCE (as of December 20, 2016)

 

58 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.

59 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; China; and, European Union.

60 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China; Dominican 

Republic; European Union; Israel; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Switzerland; and, Thailand.

61 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; 

China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; European Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong 

Kong, China; India; Israel; Korea, Republic of; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan;

Philippines; Russian Federation; Singapore; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen 

and Matsu; Thailand; and, United States.

62 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; Canada; China; 

Colombia; Costa Rica; El Salvador; European Union; Hong Kong, China; Korea, Republic of; New Zealand; Norway; 

Paraguay; Russian Federation; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; 

United States; and, Uruguay.

WAIVER DECISION

DATE of 

ADOPTION 

of 

DECISION

GRANTED 

UNTIL

REPORT 

in 201658

Granted in 2015

Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 

Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 

Concessions59

WT/L/996 7 December 

2016

31 December 

2017 -

Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 

Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 

Concessions60

WT/L/997 7 December 

2016

31 December 

2017 -

Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 

Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 

Concessions61

WT/L/998 7 December 

2016

31 December 

2017 -

Introduction of Harmonized System 2017 

Changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 

Concessions62

WT/L/999 7 December 

2016

31 December 

2017 -

United States – Former Trust Territory of the 

Pacific Islands

WT/L/100

0

7 December 

2016

31 December 

2026 -

United States – Trade Preferences granted to 

Nepal

WT/L/100

1

7 December 

2016

31 December 

2025 -

European Union – Application of Autonomous 

Preferential Treatment to the Western Balkans

WT/L/100

2

7 December 

2016

31 December 

2021 -

Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver WT/L/100

3

7 December 

2016

31 December 

2021 -
WAIVER DECISION

DATE of 

ADOPTION 

of 

DECISION

GRANTED 

UNTIL

REPORT 

in 201663

Previously granted – in force in 2016

Implementation of Preferential Treatment in favour 

of Services and Service Suppliers of LDCs and 

Increasing LDC Participation in Services Trade64

WT/L/982

WT/MIN(1

5)/48

19 December 

2015 

31 December 

203065 -

Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes 

into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions66 WT/L/967

30 

November 

2015

31 December 

2016 -

Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes 

into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions67 WT/L/968

30 

November 

2015

31 December 

2016 -

Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes 

into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions68 WT/L/969

30 

November 

2015

31 December 

2016 -

United States – African Growth and Opportunity Act WT/L/970

30 

November 

2015

30 September 

2025 -

Least-Developed country Members – Obligations 

under Article 70.8 and Article 70.9 of the TRIPS 

Agreement with respect to Pharmaceutical Products

WT/L/971

30 

November 

2015

1 January 203

3

-

Canada - CARIBCAN WT/L/958 28 July 2015 31 December

2023

WT/L/98

7

United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery 

Act WT/L/950 5 May 2015 31 December2019

WT/L/98

8

Philippines – Special Treatment for Rice WT/L/932 24 July 2014 30 June 2017 -

 

63 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.

64 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services and Service 

Suppliers of Least-developed Countries adopted in 2011 (WT/L/847) and of the subsequent Decision on the 

Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to Services and Service Suppliers of Leastdeveloped countries adopted in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/43 - WT/L/918). See also below.

65 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to extend the 2011 waiver on Preferential Treatment to 

Services and Service Suppliers of Least-developed Countries (WT/L/847). See also below.

66 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; China; and, European Union.

67 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China; Dominican 

Republic; El Salvador; European Union; Israel; Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Switzerland; 

and, Thailand.

68 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; 

China; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; European Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; 

India; Israel; Korea, Republic of; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Philippines; 

Russian Federation; Singapore; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; 

Thailand; and, United States.
WAIVER DECISION

DATE of 

ADOPTION 

of 

DECISION

GRANTED 

UNTIL

REPORT 

in 201663

Previously granted – in force in 2016

Operationalization of the Waiver concerning 

Preferential Treatment to Services and Service 

Suppliers of Least-Developed Countries69

WT/MIN(1

3)/43

WT/L/918

7 December 

2013 - -

Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough 

Diamonds - Extension of Waiver70 WT/L/876 11 December 2012

31 December 

2018 -

Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver WT/L/850 14 February 

2012

31 December 

2016

WT/L/99

4

Preferential Treatment to Services and Service 

Suppliers of Least-developed countries71 WT/L/847 17 December 2011

15 years from 

the date of its 

adoption72

-

European Union – Application of Autonomous 

Preferential Treatment to the Western Balkans WT/L/836

30 

November 

2011

31 December 

2016

WT/L/99

3

Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least-Developed 

Countries – Decision on Extension of waiver WT/L/759 27 May 2009 30 June 2019 -

United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific 

Islands WT/L/694 27 July 2007 31 December 2016

WT/L/99

0 and 

Corr.1

Implementation of Para. 6 of the Doha Declaration 

on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health

WT/L/540 

and Corr.1

30 August 

2003

See 

WT/L/540 

and Corr.1

-

 

69 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services and Service 

Suppliers of Least-developed Countries adopted in 2011 (WT/L/847). It does not represent a new waiver. See above 

in addition to the decision in WT/L/847, above.

70 Annex: Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, European Union, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New 

Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Turkey, United States, and 

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

71 Two decisions were subsequently adopted by the Ministerial Conference in furtherance of this waiver: in 2013 

(WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918) and in 2015 (WT/MIN(15)/48 – WT/L/982). See also page 3 and the decision in 

WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918, above. 

72 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to extend the waiver until 31 December 2030

(WT/MIN(15)/48 – WT/L/982) - see also page 2, above.
Number of WTO Staff Members by Country on January 1, 2017

(as per information available on January 1, 2017)

Country Senior Professional Support Total

American 1 27 7 35

Argentine 2 5 7

Australian 7 1 8

Austrian 4 4

Bangladeshi 1 1

Barbadian 1 1

Belgian 1 3 4

Beninese 2 2

Bolivian 1 1

Brazilian 1 10 1 12

British 20 34 54

Bulgarian 3 3

Burundian 1 1

Canadian 16 16

Chadian 1 1

Chilean 1 1

Chinese 1 13 1 15

Colombian 6 2 8

Congolese, RDC 1 2 3

Costa Rican 2 2

Croatian 1 1

Cuban 1 1

Czech 1 1

Danish 2 1 3

Dutch 4 1 5

Ecuadorian 1 1

Egyptian 5 5

Estonia 1 1

Finnish 3 3

French 52 116 168

Gambian 1 1

German 1 20 2 23

Ghanaian 2 2

Greek 3 1 4

Guatemalan 1 1 2

Guinean 2 2

Honduran 2 2

Hungarian 2 1 3

Indian 12 1 13

Irish 4 8 12

Italian 20 3 23

Jamaican 1 1

Japanese 4 4

Jordanian 1 1

Kenyan 1 1
Malawian 1 1

Malaysian 2 2

Mauritian 1 1 2

Mexican 7 1 8

Moroccan 3 1 4

Motswana 1 1

Nepalese 2 2

New Zealand 1 1

Nigerian 1 1 2

Norwegian 1 1 2

Pakistani 3 1 4

Paraguayan 1 1

Peruvian 4 5 9

Philippine 9 5 14

Polish 2 1 3

Portuguese 2 2 4

Republic of Korea 4 4

Romanian 1 1 2

Russian 3 3

Rwandan 1 1

Senegalese 1 1 2

Sierra Leonean 1 1

South African 2 2

Spanish 24 15 39

Swedish 3 3

Swiss 27 23 50

Tanzanian 1 1

Trinidad and Tobago 1 1

Tunisian 3 1 4

Turkish 3 3

Ugandan 3 3

Ukrainian 1 1

Uruguayan 2 3 5

Venezuelan 3 1 4

Vietnamese 1 1

Zambian 1 1

Zimbabwean 2 2

Grand Total 5 391 259 655

Note: Senior Management includes the Director-General and Deputies 

Director-General
WTO ACCESSION APPLICATIONS AND STATUS

(as of December 31, 2016)

Applicant1 Status of Multilateral and Bilateral Work 

Afghanistan*

(2004) Afghanistan completed its accession negotiations at the fifth Working Party (WP) meeting on 

November 11, 2015, and its accession package was approved by the 10th Ministerial Conference on 

December 15, 2015. The United States provided technical assistance throughout the negotiations. 

Afghanistan became the 164th Member of the WTO on July 29, 2016.

Algeria

(1987) Inactive. The last WP meeting convened in March 2014, but there have been no meetings or work 

since that time.

Andorra

(1997) Inactive. The last WP meeting in October 1999 reviewed Andorra’s legislative implementation 

schedule and goods and services market access offers.

Azerbaijan 

(1997) The thirteenth WP meeting was held in July 2016 to continue bilateral market access negotiations as 

well as discussions on how to bring Azerbaijan’s trade regime into compliance with WTO disciplines. 

The date of the next WP meeting will depend on Azerbaijan’s submission of inputs, including 

responses to Members’ questions, additional draft/adopted legislation to implement WTO obligations, 

and an updated Legislative Action Plan. Completion of the process will require active efforts by 

Azerbaijan on market access negotiations and legislative implementation of WTO disciplines.

The Bahamas

(2001)

Inactive. The second WP meeting was held in June 2012, and the Bahamas circulated responses to 

questions from Members in August 2013. Bilateral market access negotiations are ongoing on the 

basis of an initial market access offer on goods, circulated in March 2012, and a revised market access 

offer on services, circulated in August 2013. The WTO Secretariat has encouraged the Bahamas to 

resume negotiations.

Belarus

(1993) Belarus’ next formal WP meeting—and the first since May 2005—is scheduled for January 2017. An 

informal WP discussion was last held in May 2013. In December 2016 Belarus submitted updated 

documentation, including a draft Working Party Report, a legislative action plan, and revised 

checklists on the implementation of various agreements. Belarus is expected to provide additional 

information on its participation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with Russia, Kazakhstan, the 

Kyrgyz Republic, and Armenia. 

Bhutan *

(1999) Inactive. The fourth WP meeting was held in January 2008 to review additional documentation and

to conduct market access negotiations for goods and services. Bhutan has not requested further work 

on its WTO accession since that time, and no WP meetings are scheduled.

 

* Designates “least developed country” applicant.

1

“Applicant” column includes date the Working Party was formed. Pre-1995 dates indicate that the original WP was 

formed under the GATT 1947, but was reformed as a WTO Working Party in 1995.
Applicant1 Status of Multilateral and Bilateral Work 

Bosnia and 

Herzegovina

(1999)

Inactive. The twelfth WP meeting convened in June 2013. Few issues remain and bilateral market 

access negotiations with interested WTO Members are close to completion, but there have been no 

meetings or work on this accession since that time. 

Comoros *

(2007)

The first meeting of Comoros’ WP was held in December 2016. In September and October 2016, 

Comoros submitted to WP Members a full set of inputs, including Questions and Replies, a legislative 

action plan, questionnaires on import licensing and state trading, information on technical barriers to 

trade, the implementation and administration of the Customs Valuation Agreement, and the 

implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, and illustrative SPS issues. Members have provided a 

thorough set of questions and comments for Comoros to review and address. Additional work is 

expected in 2017.

Equatorial* 

Guinea

(2008)

Inactive. Equatorial Guinea’s application for membership was accepted at the February 2008 General 

Council meeting. However, Equatorial Guinea has not yet submitted initial documentation to activate 

accession negotiations.

Ethiopia*

(2003) Inactive. The third meeting of Ethiopia’s WP was held in March 2012. Bilateral market access 

negotiations were initiated on goods, but Ethiopia must still provide its initial market access offer on 

services, data on agricultural supports and export subsidies, and a legislative action plan for 

implementation of WTO obligations.

Iran

(2005) Inactive. The Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) was circulated in November 

2009. Replies to written questions from WTO Members on that document were circulated in 2011. 

Before a WP meeting can be convened, consultations with Members would need to be undertaken by 

the Chairperson of the General Council for the designation of a Chairperson of the Working Party.

Iraq

(2004) Inactive. Iraq’s last WP meeting was held in April 2008. Additional documents on agriculture, SPS 

and TBT were circulated in 2010. A third WP meeting will be scheduled following Iraq’s submission 

of initial market access offers for goods and services; updated information on agricultural supports and 

export subsidies, TBT and SPS; and written responses to questions and comments from the previous 

meeting.

Lebanon

(1999)

Inactive. There have been no WP meetings on Lebanon’s WTO accession since October 2009. 

Domestic political issues and regional turmoil have delayed Lebanon’s efforts on legislative 

implementation and progress towards completion of the accession process. Lebanon has not provided 

revised market access offers for some time. In late 2016, Lebanon signaled its intent to submit inputs 

in 2017 for review by the WP.

Liberia*

(2007) Liberia’s WTO accession package was adopted by the Working Party on October 5, 2015 and

approved by the 10th Ministerial Conference on December 15, 2015. Liberia became the 163rd

Member of the WTO on July 14, 2016.

Libya

(2004) Inactive. Libya’s application was accepted at the July 2004 General Council meeting. Libya has not 

circulated any documentation or market access offers to date.

Sao Tome

and Principe* 

(2005)

Inactive. Sao Tome and Principe’s application was accepted at the May 2005 General Council 

meeting; Sao Tome and Principe has not yet submitted initial documentation to activate accession 

negotiations.
Applicant1 Status of Multilateral and Bilateral Work 

Serbia

(2005)

Inactive. The thirteenth Meeting of the WP was held in June 2013 and negotiations on the text of the 

draft WP report are largely complete. Bilateral market access negotiations with interested Members 

are substantially concluded, pending agreement on some agricultural tariffs. The WP will not adopt 

the package, however, until outstanding domestic legislation has been enacted (pertaining to, inter alia, 

commodity reserves; commodity exchange; genetically modified organisms; and services) and 

implemented.

Somalia*

(2016) Somalia's Working Party was established on December 7, 2016. The Working Party has not yet met.

Sudan*

(1995)

The third WP meeting—and the first since March 2004—is scheduled for January 2017. Sudan tabled 

market access offers for goods and services in November 2016.

Syria

(2010) Inactive. Syria’s application for accession to the WTO was first circulated in October 2001. Syria’s 

application was accepted at the May 2010 General Council meeting. Syria has not yet submitted 

initial documentation to activate accession negotiations.

Timor-Leste*

(2016)

Timor-Leste’s Working Party was established on December 7, 2016. The Working Party has not yet 

met.

Uzbekistan

(1995) Inactive. The third WP meeting was held in October 2005 to review additional documentation and 

initial market access offers. No meetings have been held since that time.
WT/DSB/44/Rev.36

7 December 2016

INDICATIVE LIST OF GOVERNMENTAL AND

NON-GOVERNMENTAL PANELISTS

Revision

1. To assist in the selection of panelists, the DSU provides in Article 8.4 that the Secretariat shall maintain 

an indicative list of governmental and non-governmental individuals. 

2. The attached is a revised consolidated list of governmental and non-governmental panelists.73 The list is 

based on the previous indicative list issued on 27 September 2016 (WT/DSB/44/Rev.35) It includes 

additional names approved by the DSB at its meetings on 26 October 2016 and 23 November 2016.742 Any 

future modifications or additions to this list submitted by Members will be circulated in periodic revisions 

of this list. 

3. For practical purposes, the proposals for the administration of the indicative list approved by the DSB on 

31 May 1995 are reproduced as an Annex to this document. 

 

73 Curricula Vitae containing more detailed information are available to WTO Members upon request from the 

Secretariat (Council & TNC Division).

74 See documents WT/DSB/W/580 and WT/DSB/W/583. 
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

ARGENTINA CORTI, Mr. Arístides H. M. Trade in Goods

LUNAZZI, Mr. Gustavo Nerio Trade in Goods

MONTOYA, Ms. Beatriz I. Trade in Goods

NUÑEZ, Mr. Fernando B. Trade in Goods

PIZZANO, Mr. Germán A. Trade in Goods and Services

SERRA, Mr. Adrián Trade in Goods and Services

AUSTRALIA BENNETT, Ms. Annabelle Trade in Goods and Services

CHURCHE, Mr. Milton Trade in Goods

FARBENBLOOM, Mr. Simon Trade in Goods and Services

GALLAGHER, Mr. Peter Trade in Goods; TRIPS

GOSPER, Mr. Bruce Trade in Goods

HOLMES, Ms. Patricia Ann Trade in Goods

JENNINGS, Mr. Mark Trade in Goods; TRIPS

MITCHELL, Mr. Andrew Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

MORETTA, Mr. Remo Trade in Goods and Services

MULGREW, Mr. Michael Trade in Goods

MYLER, Mr. Paul Trade in Goods and Services

O'CONNOR, Mr. Paul Richard Trade in Goods

RAPER, Ms. Cathy Trade in Goods and Services

SIN FAR LEE, Ms. Stephanie Trade in Goods

STOLER, Mr. Andrew Trade in Goods and Services

VOON, Ms. Tania Su Lien Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

WITBREUK, Ms. Trudy Trade in Goods and Services

YOUNG, Ms. Elizabeth Trade in Goods

BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF 

VENEZUELA ESCOBAR, Mr. José Benjamín Trade in Services

MARQUEZ, Mr. Guillermo Trade in Services

ROJAS PENSO, Mr. Juan Francisco Trade in Goods and Services

BOLIVIA, PLURINATIONAL 

STATE OF ZELADA CASTEDO, Mr. Alberto Trade in Goods
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

BRAZIL ABREU, Mr. Marcelo de Paiva Trade in Goods and Services

BARRAL, Mr. Welber Oliveira Trade in Goods

BARTHEL-ROSA, Mr. Paulo Trade in Goods

BASSO, Ms. Maristela Trade in Goods; TRIPS

LEMME, Ms. Marta Calmon Trade in Goods

MAGALHÃES, Mr. José Carlos Trade in Goods

MARCONINI, Mr. Mario Trade in Services

MOURA ROCHA, Mr. Bolívar Trade in Services

NAIDIN, Ms. Leane Cornet Trade in Goods

RIOS, Ms. Sandra Polônia Trade in Goods

THORSTENSEN, Ms. Vera Helena Trade in Goods

CAMEROON NGANGJOH HODU, Mr. Yenkong Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

CANADA BERNIER, Mr. Ivan Trade in Goods and Services

BRADFORD, Mr. Meriel V. M. Trade in Goods and Services

BROWN, Ms. Catherine Anne Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

CLARK, Mr. Peter James Trade in Goods and Services

CLOSE, Ms. Patricia Margaret Trade in Goods

DE MESTRAL, Mr. Armand Trade in Goods

EYTON, Mr. Anthony T. Trade in Goods

GHERSON, Mr. Randolph Trade in Goods

GOODWIN, Ms. Kirsten M. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

HALLIDAY, Mr. Anthony L. Trade in Goods and Services

HERMAN, Mr. Lawrence L. Trade in Goods

HINES, Mr. Wilfred Roy Trade in Goods

MacMILLAN, Ms. Kathleen E. Trade in Goods

McRAE, Mr. Donald Malcolm Trade in Goods

OSTRY, Ms. Sylvia Trade in Goods

RITCHIE, Mr. Gordon Trade in Goods
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

THOMAS, Mr. Christopher Trade in Goods and Services

WINHAM, Mr. Gilbert R. Trade in Goods

CHILE BIGGS, Mr. Gonzalo Trade in Goods

ERNST, Mr. Felipe Trade in Goods and Services

ESCUDERO, Mr. Sergio TRIPS

ESPINOZA, Mr. Alvaro Trade in Goods

MATUS, Mr. Mario Trade in Goods

MLADINIC, Mr. Carlos Trade in Goods

PEÑA, Ms. Gloria Trade in Goods

SAEZ, Mr. Sebastián Trade in Goods and Services

SATELER, Mr. Ricardo TRIPS

SOSA, Ms. Luz Trade in Goods and Services

TIRONI, Mr. Ernesto Trade in Goods

CHINA CHEN, Mr. Yusong Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

DONG, Mr. Shizhong Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

E, Mr. Defeng Trade in Goods

GONG, Mr. Baihua Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

HAN, Mr. Liyu Trade in Goods; TRIPS

HONG, Mr. Xiaodong Trade in Services

HUANG, Mr. Dongli Trade in Goods; TRIPS

LI, Mr. Enheng Trade in Goods and Services

LI, Ms. Yongjie Trade in Goods and Services

LI, Mr. Zhongzhou Trade in Goods

SHI, Ms. Xiaoli Trade in Goods

SUO, Mr. Bicheng Trade in Goods

YANG, Mr. Guohua Trade in Goods; TRIPS

ZENG, Mr. Lingliang Trade in Goods

ZHANG, Ms. Liping Trade in Goods and Services

ZHANG, Mr. Naigen TRIPS
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

ZHANG, Mr. Xiangchen Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ZHANG, Mr. Yuqing Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ZHAO, Ms. Hong Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ZHU, Ms. Lanye Trade in Services; TRIPS

COLOMBIA IBARRA PARDO, Mr. Gabriel Trade in Goods

JARAMILLO, Mr. Felipe Trade in Goods and Services

LOZANO FERRO, Ms. Olga Lucia Trade in Goods; TRIPS

OROZCO GOMEZ, Ms. Angela María Trade in Goods

OROZCO, Ms. Claudia Trade in Goods

PRIETO, Mr. Diego Trade in Goods and Services

ROJAS ARROYO, Mr. Santiago Trade in Goods; TRIPS

TANGARIFE, Mr. Marcel Trade in Goods; TRIPS

CÔTE D'IVOIRE GOSSET, Ms. Marie Trade in Goods; TRIPS

CUBA COBO ROURA, Mr. Narciso A. Trade in Goods 

LABORA RODRÍGUEZ, Ms. Celia M. Trade in Goods and Services

VÁZQUEZ De ALVARÉ, Ms. Dánice TRIPS

DJIBOUTI PIQUEMAL, Mr. Alain Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DE LOS SANTOS DE PIANTINI, Ms. Roxana Trade in Goods; TRIPS

NAUT, Ms. Katrina Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ECUADOR ESPINOSA CAÑIZARES, Mr. Cristian Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

MONTAÑO HUERTA, Mr. César Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

EGYPT FAWZY, Mr. Abdelrahman Trade in Goods and Services

HATEM, Mr. Samy Affify Trade in Goods

RIAD, Mr. Tarek Fouad Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

SHAHIN, Ms. Magda Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

SHARAF ELDIN, Mr. Ahmed Trade in Goods; TRIPS

ZAHRAN, Mr. Mohamed Mounir Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

EUROPEAN UNION

AUSTRIA BENEDEK, Mr. Wolfgang Trade in Goods

REITERER, Mr. Michael G. K. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ZEHETNER, Mr. Franz Trade in Goods

BELGIUM DIDIER, Mr. Pierre Trade in Goods

PAUWELYN, Mr. Joost Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

VAN CALSTER, Mr. Geert Trade in Goods

VAN DER BORGHT, Mr. Kim Trade in Goods

VANDER SCHUEREN, Ms. Paulette Trade in Goods and Services

WOUTERS, Mr. Jan Trade in Goods and Services

ZONNEKEYN, Mr. Geert A. Trade in Goods

CZECH REPUBLIC PALEĈKA, Mr. Peter Trade in Goods and Services

DENMARK NIELSEN, Ms. Laura Trade in Goods and Services

OLSEN, Ms. Birgitte Egelund Trade in Goods

SMIDT, Mr. Steffen Trade in Goods and Services

WEGENER, Mr. Christian Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

EUROPEAN UNION BRAKELAND, Mr. Jean-François Trade in Goods and Services

CARL, Mr. Mogens Peter Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

KUIJPER, Mr. Pieter Jan Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

WHITE, Mr. Eric Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

FINLAND HIMANEN, Mr. Vesa Trade in Goods
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

LUOTONEN, Mr. Yrjö Kim David Trade in Goods

FRANCE ARMAIGNAC, Ms. Marie-Christine Trade in Services; TRIPS

BOISSON DE CHAZOURNES, Mrs. Laurence Trade in Goods and Services

JENNY, Mr. Frédéric Yves Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

METZGER, Mr. Jean-Marie Trade in Goods

MONNIER, Mr. Pierre Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

FRANCE (cont'd) RIEGERT, Mr. François Trade in Goods

RUIZ-FABRI, Ms. Hélène Trade in Goods and Services

STERN, Ms. Brigitte Trade in Goods

GERMANY DELBRÜCK, Mr. Kilian Trade in Goods

HERRMANN, Mr. Christoph Walter Trade in Goods; TRIPS

HILF, Mr. Meinhard Trade in Goods and Services

MENG, Mr. Werner Trade in Goods, TRIPS

PETERSMANN, Mr. Ernst-Ulrich Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

TANGERMANN, Mr. Stefan Trade in Goods

GREECE STANGOS, Mr. Petros N. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

HUNGARY HALGAND DANI, Ms. Virág

Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

LAKATOS, Mr. Andrés Trade in Goods and Services

IRELAND MATTHEWS, Mr. Alan Henry Trade in Goods

ITALY GIARDINA, Mr. Andrea Trade in Goods and Services

MALAGUTI, Ms. Maria Chiara Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

MENSI, Mr. Maurizio Trade in Goods

LITHUANIA ALISAUSKAS, Mr. Raimondas Trade in Goods and Services
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

MALTA BONELLO, Mr. Michael C. Trade in Services

NETHERLANDS BRONCKERS, Mr. Marco Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

GENEE, Mr. Otto Trade in Goods; TRIPS

HOEKMAN, Mr. Bernard Marco Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

POLAND PIETRAS, Mr. Jaroslaw Trade in Services

PORTUGAL CALHEIROS DA GAMA, Mr. José Sérgio TRIPS

ROMANIA BERINDE, Mr. Mihai Trade in Goods

CAMPEANU, Ms. Victoria Trade in Goods

FRATITA, Ms. Carmen Florina Trade in Goods

SPAIN DÍAZ MIER, Mr. Miguel Ángel Trade in Services

LÓPEZ DE SILANES MARTÍNEZ, Mr. Juan Pablo Trade in Goods and Services

PÉREZ SANCHEZ, Mr. José Luis Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

RIGO, Mr. Andrés Trade in Services

SWEDEN AHNLID, Mr. Anders Gustav Ragnar Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ANELL, Mr. Lars Trade in Goods; TRIPS

KLEEN, Mr. Peter Trade in Goods

TAURIAINEN, Mr. Teppo Markus Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

UNITED KINGDOM BETHLEHEM, Mr. Daniel Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

JOHNSON, Mr. Michael David Clarke Trade in Goods

MUIR, Mr. Tom Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

PLENDER, Mr. Richard Trade in Goods

QURESHI, Mr. Asif Hasan Trade in Goods

ROBERTS, Mr. Christopher William Trade in Goods and Services

ROBERTS, Mr. David F. Trade in Goods
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

SAROOSHI, Mr. Dan Trade in Services

TOULMIN, Mr. John Kelvin Trade in Services

GHANA NIMAKO-BOATENG, Ms. Gertrude Trade in Goods and Services

OPOKU AWUKU, Mr. Emmanuel Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

HONG KONG, CHINA CARTLAND, Mr. Michael David Trade in Goods and Services

CHEUNG, Mr. Peter Kam Fai TRIPS

LEUNG, Ms. Ada Ka Lai TRIPS

LITTLE, Mr. David Trade in Goods and Services

MILLER, Mr. Tony J.A. Trade in Goods and Services

ICELAND BJÖRGVINSSON, Mr. David Thór Trade in Goods and Services

JÓHANNSSON, Mr. Einar M. Trade in Goods

SANDHOLT, Mr. Brynjolfur Trade in Goods

INDIA AGARWAL, Mr. Vinod Kumar Trade in Goods; TRIPS

AGRAWAL, Mr. Rameshwar Pal Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

BHANSALI, Mr. Sharad Trade in Goods

BHATNAGAR, Mr. Mukesh Trade in Goods

BHATTACHARYA, Mr. G. C. Trade in Goods

CHANDRASEKHAR, Mr. Kesava Menon Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

CHAUDHURI, Mr. Sumanta Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

DAS, Mr. Abhijit Trade in Goods

DAS, Mr. Bhagirath Lal Trade in Goods

DASGUPTA, Mr. Jayant Trade in Goods

GOPALAN, Mr. Rajarangamani Trade in Goods

GOYAL, Mr. Arun Trade in Services

KAUSHIK, Mr. Atul Trade in Goods; TRIPS

KHER, Mr. Rajeev Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

KHULLAR, Mr. Rahul Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

KUMAR, Mr. Mohan Trade in Goods and Services

MOHANTY, Mr. Prasant Kumar Trade in Goods

MUKERJI, Mr. Asoke Kumar Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

NARAYANAN, Mr. Srinivasan Trade in Goods; TRIPS

PARTHASARATHY, Mr. R. Trade in Goods; TRIPS

PRABHU, Mr. Pandurang Palimar Trade in Goods; TRIPS

PRASAD, Ms. Anjali Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

RAMAKRISHNAN, Mr. N. Trade in Goods

RAO, Mr. Pemmaraju Sreenivasa Trade in Goods

REGE, Mr. Narayan Vinod Trade in Goods

SABHARWAL, Mr. Narendra TRIPS

SAJJANHAR, Mr. Ashok Trade in Goods

SESHADRI, Mr. V.S. Trade in Goods

SHARMA, Mr. Lalit Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

INDIA (cont'd) VENUGOPAL, Mr. Krishnan Trade in Goods; TRIPS

YADAV, Mr. Amit Trade in Services

ZUTSHI, Mr. B. K. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ISRAEL ALTUVIA, Mr. Magen Trade in Goods

BROUDE, Mr. Tomer Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

FRID DE VRIES, Ms. Rachel Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

GABAY, Mr. Mayer TRIPS

HARAN, Mr. Ephraim F. Trade in Services

HARPAZ, Mr. Guy Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

HOROVITZ, Mr. Dan Trade in Goods and Services

POLINER, Mr. Howard Zvi TRIPS

REICH, Mr. Arie Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

RIVAS, Mr. Rodolfo C. Trade in Goods; TRIPS

SEMADAR, Mr. Moshe Trade in Goods

SHATON, Mr. Michael Marcel Trade in Goods and Services
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

TALBAR, Mr. Michael Adin Trade in Goods

WEILER, Mr. Joseph H.H. Trade in Goods

JAMAICA ROBINSON, Mr. Patrick L. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

JAPAN ARAKI, Mr. Ichiro Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

ASAKAI, Mr. Kazuo Trade in Goods

ASAKURA, Mr. Hironori Trade in Goods

HASEBE, Mr. Masamichi Trade in Goods and Services

ISHIGE, Mr. Hiroyuki Trade in Goods

ISHIGURO, Mr. Kazunori Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

IWASAWA, Mr. Yuji Trade in Goods

KANDA, Mr. Hideki Trade in Services

KAZEKI, Mr. Jun Trade in Goods and Services

KEMMOCHI, Mr. Nobuaki Trade in Goods and Services

KOMETANI, Mr. Kazumochi Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

OHARA, Mr. Yoshio Trade in Goods; TRIPS

SAITO, Mr. Koji Trade in Goods

JAPAN (cont'd) SANO, Mr. Tadakatsu Trade in Goods 

SHIMIZU, Mr. Akio Trade in Goods

SUZUKI, Mr. Masabumi Trade in Goods; TRIPS

TAKAHASHI, Ms. Misako Trade in Services

TSURUOKA, Mr. Koji Trade in Services

YAMANE, Ms. Hiroko Trade in Goods; TRIPS

KENYA GATHII, Mr. James T. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

KOREA AHN, Mr. Dukgeun Trade in Goods

AHN, Mr. Ho-Young Trade in Goods

AHN, Mr. Myung-soo Trade in Goods

CHO, Mr. Tae-Yul Trade in Goods
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

CHOI, Mr. Byung-il Trade in Services

CHOI, Mr. Won-Mog Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

KIM, Mr. Jong Bum Trade in Goods

LEE, Mr. Jaemin Trade in Goods

PARK, Mr. Nohyoung Trade in Goods

WOO, Mr. Jooha Trade in Goods and Services

LIECHTENSTEIN ZIEGLER, Mr. Andreas R. Trade in Services; TRIPS

MADAGASCAR ANDRIANARIVONY, Mr. Minoarison Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

MALAYSIA HARUN, Mrs. Hiswani Trade in Goods

KASIMIR, Mr. Merlyn Trade in Goods and Services

YACOB, Mr. Muhammad Noor Trade in Goods

MAURITIUS BEEKARRY, Mr. Navin Trade in Goods and Services

BHUGLAH, Mr. Achad Trade in Goods and Services

MEXICO AGUILAR ÁLVAREZ, Mr. Guillermo Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

DE LA PEÑA, Mr. Alejandro Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

DE MATEO VENTURINI, Mr. Fernando Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

DE ROSENZWEIG, Mr. Francisco Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

MEXICO (cont'd) FERRARI, Mr. Bruno Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

JASSO TORRES, Mr. Humberto Trade in Goods

LEYCEGUI, Ms. Beatriz Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

PEREZCANO DÍAZ, Mr. Hugo Manuel Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

PÉREZ GÁRATE, Mr. Orlando Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

POBLANO, Mr. José F. Trade in Services; TRIPS

REYES, Ms. Luz Elena Trade in Goods

TRASLOSHEROS HERNÁNDEZ, Mr. José Gerardo Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

VÉJAR, Mr. Carlos Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

ZABLUDOVSKY KUPER, Mr. Jaime Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

MOLDOVA FOLTEA, Ms. Marina Trade in Goods; TRIPS

NEPAL PANDEY, Mr. Posh Raj Trade in Goods and Services

SUBEDI, Mr. Surya P. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

NEW ZEALAND ARMSTRONG, Mr. Wade Mowatt Valentine Trade in Goods; TRIPS

CARSON, Mr. Christopher Barr Trade in Goods

FALCONER, Mr. Crawford Dunlop Trade in Goods

FALCONER, Mr. William John Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

GROSER, Mr. Tim Trade in Goods

HARVEY, Mr. Martin Wilfred Trade in Goods

HIGGIE, Ms. Dell Clark Trade in Goods

KENNEDY, Mr. Peter Douglas Trade in Goods

MACEY, Mr. Adrian Trade in Goods; TRIPS

McPHAIL, Mr. Alexander Hugh Trade in Goods

NOTTAGE, Mr. Richard Frederick Trade in Goods

SLADE, Ms. Michelle Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

TRAINOR, Mr. Mark Julian Trade in Goods; TRIPS

WALKER, Mr. David John Trade in Goods and Services

WOODFIELD, Mr. Edward A. Trade in Goods

NIGER TANKOANO, Mr. Amadou Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

NIGERIA AGAH, Mr. Yonov Frederick Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

NNONA, Mr. George C. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

NORWAY BRYN, Mr. Kåre Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

GLENNE, Mr. Eirik Trade in Goods and Services

HOLTEN, Ms. Inger Trade in Goods; TRIPS
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

LILLERUD, Mr. Kjell Trade in Goods and Services

SELAND, Mr. Helge A. Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

TØNSETH, Mr. Didrik Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

PAKISTAN ARIF, Mr. Muhammad Ikram Trade in Goods

BASHIR, Mr. Shahid Trade in Goods

HAMID ALI, Mr. Muhammad Trade in Goods; TRIPS

HUSAIN, Mr. Ishrat Trade in Services

KHAN, Mr. Mujeeb Ahmed Trade in Goods; TRIPS

MALIK, Mr. Riaz Ahmad Trade in Goods

MUKHTAR, Mr. Ahmad Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

PANAMA ALVAREZ DE SOTO, Mr. Francisco Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

FERRER, Mr. Alejandro Trade in Goods and Services

FRANCIS LANUZA, Ms. Yavel Mireya Trade in Goods and Services

GONZALEZ, Mr. Carlos Ernesto Trade in Goods and Services

HARRIS ROTKIN, Mr. Norman Trade in Goods and Services

SALAZAR FONG, Ms. Diana Alejandrina Trade in Goods

SHEFFER MONTES, Mr. Leroy Jhon Trade in Goods and Services

PERU BELAÚNDE G., Mr. Victor Andres TRIPS

DE LA PUENTE LEON, Mr. Jose A. Trade in Goods and Services

DIEZ LIZARDO, Mr. Juan Trade in Goods

LEÓN-THORNE, Mr. Raúl Trade in Goods and Services

PHILIPPINES CONEJOS, Mr. Esteban B. Trade in Goods

QATAR AL-ADBA, Mr. Nasser M. Trade in Goods and Services

MAKKI, Mr. Fadi Trade in Goods and Services

SRI LANKA JAYASEKERA, Mr. Douglas Trade in Goods; TRIPS
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

SWITZERLAND ADDOR, Mr. Felix TRIPS

CHAMBOVEY, Mr. Didier Trade in Goods

COTTIER, Mr. Thomas Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

HÄBERLI, Mr. Christian Trade in Goods

HOLZER, Mr. Patrick Edgar Trade in Goods; TRIPS

INEICHEN-FLEISCH, Ms. Marie-Gabrielle Trade in Goods and Services

KAUFMANN, Ms. Christine Trade in Services

LEGLER, Mr. Thomas TRIPS

MÄCHLER, Ms. Monica Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

MEYER, Mr. Matthias Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

PANNATIER, Mr. Serge Nicolas Trade in Goods

SCHMID, Mr. Michael Trade in Goods and Services

TSCHÄENI, Mr. Hanspeter Trade in Goods

WASESCHA, Mr. Luzius Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

WEBER, Mr. Rolf H. Trade in Services

ZULAUF, Mr. Daniel Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS 

TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, 

PENGHU, KINMEN AND MATSU

CHANG, Ms. Yie-Yun TRIPS

KAO, Mr. Pei-Huan Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

LI, Ms. Catherine Trade in Goods

LIN, Ms. Tsai-Yu Trade in Goods 

LO, Mr. Chang-Fa Trade in Goods and Services

NI, Mr. Kuei-Jung Trade in Goods; TRIPS

PENG, Ms. Shin-Yi Trade in Goods and Services

YANG, Ms. Guang-Hwa Trade in Goods and Services

YANG, Ms. Jen-Ni Trade in Goods and Services

TURKEY DILEMRE, Mr. Hüsnü Trade in Goods

GÜRAKAN, Ms. Tulû Trade in Goods

KABAALİOĞLU, Mr. A. Haluk Trade in Goods and Services

KAÇAR, Mr. Bayram Trade in Goods
MEMBER NAME SECTORAL EXPERIENCE

MOLLASALIHOĞLU, Mr. Yavuz Trade in Goods

YAMAN, Mr. Şahin Trade in Goods

YAPICI, Mr. Murat Trade in Goods

TURKEY (cont'd) YENAL, Mr. Aytaç Trade in Goods

UNITED STATES BROWN-WEISS, Ms. Edith Trade in Goods and Services

CONNELLY, Mr. Warren Trade in Goods

GANTZ, Mr. David A. Trade in Goods

GORDON, Mr. Michael Wallace Trade in Goods

HODGSON, Ms. Mélida Trade in Goods and Services

KASSINGER, Mr. Theodore W. Trade in Goods and Services

KHO, Mr. Stephen Trade in Goods and Services; TRIPS

LAYTON, Mr. Duane Trade in Goods

LICHTENSTEIN, Ms. Cynthia Crawford Trade in Services

McGINNIS, Mr. John Oldham Trade in Goods; TRIPS

PARTAN, Mr. Daniel G. Trade in Goods

POWELL, Mr. Stephen J. Trade in Goods

SANDSTROM, Mr. Mark R. Trade in Goods and Services

THOMPSON, Mr. George W. Trade in Goods

TROSSEVIN, Ms. Marguerite Trade in Goods

VERRILL, Jr. Mr. Charles Owen Trade in Goods

URUGUAY AMORÍN, Mr. Carlos Trade in Goods; TRIPS

CAYRÚS, Mr. Hugo Trade in Goods and Services

EHLERS, Mr. William Trade in Goods

ROSSELLI, Mr. Elbio Trade in Goods

VANERIO, Mr. Gustavo Trade in Goods and Services
ANNEX

Administration of the Indicative List

1. To assist in the selection of panelists, the DSU provides in Article 8.4 that the Secretariat shall maintain 

an indicative list of qualified governmental and non-governmental individuals. Accordingly, the Chairman 

of the DSB proposed at the 10 February meeting that WTO Members review the roster of non-governmental 

panelists established on 30 November 1984 (BISD 31S/9) (hereinafter referred to as the "1984 GATT 

Roster) and submit nominations for the indicative list by mid-June 1995. On 14 March, The United States 

delegation submitted an informal paper discussing, amongst other issues, what information should 

accompany the nomination of individuals, and how names might be removed from the list. The DSB further 

discussed the matter in informal consultations on 15 and 24 March, and at the DSB meeting on 29 March. 

This note puts forward some proposals for the administration of the indicative list, based on the previous 

discussions in the DSB.

General DSU requirements

2. The DSU requires that the indicative list initially include "the roster of governmental and nongovernmental panelists established on 30 November 1984 (BISD 31S/9) and other rosters and indicative 

lists established under any of the covered agreements, and shall retain names of persons on those rosters 

and indicative lists at the time of entry into force of the WTO Agreement" (DSU 8.4). Additions to the 

indicative list are to be made by Members who may "periodically suggest names of governmental and nongovernmental individuals for inclusion on the indicative list, providing relevant information on their 

knowledge of international trade and of the sectors or subject matter of the covered agreements". The 

names "shall be added to the list upon approval by the DSB" (DSU 8.4).

Submission of information

3. As a minimum, the information to be submitted regarding each nomination should clearly reflect the 

requirements of the DSU. These provide that the list "shall indicate specific areas of experience or expertise 

of the individuals in the sectors or subject matter of the covered agreements" (DSU 8.4). The DSU also 

requires that panelists be "well-qualified governmental and/or non-governmental individuals, including 

persons who have served on or presented a case to a panel, served as a representative of a Member or of a 

contracting party to GATT 1947 or as a representative to the Council or Committee of any covered 

agreement or its predecessor agreement, or in the Secretariat, taught or published on international trade law 

or policy, or served as a senior trade policy official of a Member" (DSU 8.1).

4. The basic information required for the indicative list could best be collected by use of a standardized 

form. Such a form, which could be called a Summary Curriculum Vitae, would be filled out by all nominees 

to ensure that relevant information is obtained. This would also permit information on the indicative list to 

be stored in an electronic database, making the list easily updateable and readily available to Members and 

the Secretariat. As well as supplying a completed Summary Curriculum Vitae form, persons proposed for 

inclusion on the indicative list could also, if they wished, supply a full Curriculum Vitae. This would not, 

however, be entered into the electronic part of the database.

Updating of indicative list
5. The DSU does not specifically provide for the regular updating of the indicative list. In order to maintain 

the credibility of the list, it should however be completely updated every two years. Within the first month 

of each two-year period, Members would forward updated Curricula Vitae of persons appearing on the 

indicative list. At any time, Members would be free to modify the indicative list by proposing new names 

for inclusion, or specifically requesting removal of names of persons proposed by the Member who were 

no longer in a position to serve, or by updating the summary Curriculum Vitae. 

6. Names on the 1984 GATT Roster that are not specifically resubmitted, together with up-to-date 

summary Curriculum Vitae, by a Member before 31 July 1995 would not appear after that date on the 

indicative list. 

Other rosters

7. The Decision on Certain Dispute Settlement Procedures for the GATS (S/L/2 of 4 April 1995), adopted 

by the Council for Trade in Services on 1 March 1995, provides for a special roster of panelists with sectoral 

expertise. It states that "panels for disputes regarding sectoral matters shall have the necessary expertise 

relevant to the specific services sectors which the dispute concerns". It directs the Secretariat to maintain 

the roster and "develop procedures for its administration in consultation with the Chairman of the Council". 

A working document (S/C/W/1 of 15 February 1995) noted by the Council for Trade in Services states that 

"the roster to be established under the GATS pursuant to this Decision would form part of the indicative 

list referred to in the DSU". The specialized roster of panelists under the GATS should therefore be 

integrated into the indicative list, taking care that the latter provides for a mention of any service sectoral 

expertise of persons on the list.

8. A suggested format for the Summary Curriculum Vitae form for the purposes of maintaining the 

Indicative List is attached.
SUMMARY CURRICULUM VITAE

FOR PERSONS PROPOSED FOR THE INDICATIVE LIST75

1. Name: full name

2. Sectoral Experience

List here any particular sectors of 

expertise:

(e.g. technical barriers, dumping, 

financial services, intellectual 

property, etc.)

3. Nationality(ies) all citizenships

4. Nominating Member: the nominating Member

5. Date of birth: full date of birth

6. Current occupations: year beginning, employer, title, 

responsibilities

7. Post-secondary education year, degree, name of institution

8. Professional qualifications year, title

9. Trade-related experience in 

Geneva in the WTO/GATT system

a. Served as a panelist year, dispute name, role as 

chairperson/member

b. Presented a case to a panel year, dispute name, representing which party

c. Served as a representative of a 

contracting party or member to a 

WTO or GATT body, or as an 

officer thereof

year, body, role

d. Worked for the WTO or GATT 

Secretariat

year, title, activity

10. Other trade-related experience

 

75 Members putting forward an individual for inclusion on the indicative list are requested to provide full contact 

details for this individual separately. The Summary Curriculum Vitae and the contact details should be sent 

electronically to the Secretariat.
a. Government trade work year, employer, activity

b. Private sector trade work year, employer, activity

11. Teaching and publications

a. Teaching in trade law and policy year, institution, course title

b. Publications in trade law and 

policy

year, title, name of periodical/book, 

author/editor (if book)

12. Language capabilities ability to work as a panelist in WTO-official 

languages and any other language capability

a. English

b. French

c. Spanish

d. Other language(s)

__________
WT/DSB/W/585

6 December 2016

PROPOSED NOMINATION FOR THE INDICATIVE LIST OF GOVERNMENTAL AND NONGOVERNMENTAL PANELISTS

The following additional name has been proposed for inclusion on the Indicative List of 

Governmental and Non-Governmental Panelists, in accordance with Article 8.4 of the DSU.76

NOMINATING 

MEMBER 

NAME SECTORAL 

EXPERIENCE 

MEXICO MALPICA SOTO, Mr. Guillermo Trade in Services 

 

76 The Curriculum Vitae containing more detailed information is available upon request from the WTO 

Secretariat (Council & TNC Division). 
MEMBERSHIP OF THE WTO APPELLATE BODY

To December 31, 2016

In a December 22, 2015, communication, the Appellate Body informed Members that, pursuant to Rule 5.1 

of the Working Procedures for Appellate Review, the Members of the Appellate Body elected Mr. Thomas 

Graham to serve as Chair of the Appellate Body, from January 1 through December 31, 2016.

From January 1, 2016, to May 31, 2016, the membership of the WTO Appellate Body was as follows (in 

alphabetical order): Mr. Ujal Singh Bhatia (India), Mr. Seung Wha Chang (Korea), Mr. Thomas Graham 

(United States), Mr. Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández (Mexico), Mr. Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing 

(Mauritius), Mr. Peter Van den Bossche (Belgium) and Ms. Yuejiao Zhang (China).

From June 1, 2016 to November 30, 2016, the membership of the WTO Appellate Body was as follows (in 

alphabetical order): Mr. Ujal Singh Bhatia (India), Mr. Thomas Graham (United States), Mr. Ricardo 

Ramírez-Hernández (Mexico), Mr. Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing (Mauritius), and Mr. Peter Van den 

Bossche (Belgium).

From December 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, the membership of the WTO Appellate Body was as follows 

(in alphabetical order): Mr. Ujal Singh Bhatia (India), Mr. Thomas Graham (United States), Mr. Hyun 

Chong Kim (Korea), Mr. Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández (Mexico), Mr. Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing 

(Mauritius), Mr. Peter Van den Bossche (Belgium), and Ms. Hong Zhao (China).

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:

Ujal Singh Bhatia

Born in India on 15 April 1950, Ujal Singh Bhatia is currently an independent consultant and academic 

engaged in developing a policy framework for Indian agricultural investments overseas, while at the same 

time working with the Commonwealth Secretariat on multilateral trade issues.

From 2004 to 2010, Mr. Bhatia was India’s Permanent Representative to the WTO. During his tenure as 

Permanent Representative, he was an active participant in the dispute settlement process, representing India 

in a number of dispute settlement cases both as a complainant and respondent in disputes relating to 

antidumping, as well as taxation and import duty issues. He also has adjudicatory experience having served 

as a WTO dispute settlement panelist.

Mr. Bhatia previously served as Joint Secretary in the Indian Ministry of Commerce, where he focused on 

the legal aspects of international trade. During this period, he was also a Member of the Appellate 

Committee under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act. The Committee heard appeals of 

exporters and importers against the orders of the Director General Foreign Trade. Mr. Bhatia was also Joint 

Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and held various positions in the public and 

private sectors of the Indian state of Orissa.

Mr. Bhatia’s legal and adjudicatory experience spans three decades. He has focused on addressing domestic 

and international legal/jurisprudence issues, negotiating trade agreements and policy issues at the bilateral, 

regional and multilateral levels, and formulating and implementing trade and development policies for a 

range of agriculture, industry and service sector activities.
Mr. Bhatia is a frequent lecturer on international trade issues, and has published numerous papers and 

articles in Indian and foreign journals on a wide range of trade and economic issues.

Mr. Bhatia holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Manchester and from Delhi University, as 

well as a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics, also from Delhi University.

Seung Wha Chang

Born in Korea on 1 March 1963, Seung Wha Chang is currently Professor of Law at Seoul National 

University where he teaches International Trade Law and International Arbitration.

He has served on several WTO dispute settlement panels, including U.S. — FSC, Canada — Aircraft 

Credits and Guarantees, and EC — Trademarks and Geographical Indications. He has also served as 

Chairman or Member of several arbitral tribunals dealing with commercial matters. In 2009, he was 

appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) as a Member of the International Court of 

Arbitration.

Professor Chang began his professional academic career at the Seoul National University School of Law in 

1995, and was awarded professorial tenure in 2002. He has taught international trade law and, in particular 

WTO dispute settlement, at more than 10 foreign law schools, including Harvard Law School, Yale Law 

School, Stanford Law School, New York University, Duke Law School, and Georgetown University. In 

2007, Harvard Law School granted him an endowed visiting professorial chair title, Nomura Visiting 

Professor of International Financial Systems.

In addition, Professor Chang previously served as a Seoul District Court judge, handling many cases 

involving international trade disciplines. He also practiced as a foreign attorney at an international law firm 

in Washington D.C., handling international trade matters, including trade remedies and WTO-related 

disputes.

Professor Chang has published many books and articles in the field of International Trade Law in 

internationally recognized journals. In addition, he serves as an Editorial or Advisory Board Member of 

the Journal of International Economic Law (Oxford University Press) and the Journal of International 

Dispute Settlement (Oxford University Press).

Professor Chang holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from Seoul 

National University School of Law; and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) as well as a Doctorate in 

International Trade Law (S.J.D.) from Harvard Law School.

Thomas R. Graham

Born in the United States on November 23, 1942, Tom Graham is the former head of the international trade 

practice at a large international law firm and the founder of the international trade practice at another large 

international law firm. He was one of the first U.S. lawyers to represent respondents in trade remedy cases 

in various countries around the world, and he was among the first to bring economists, accountants, and 

other non-lawyer professionals into the international trade practices of private law firms. Most recently, 

Mr. Graham also headed his international trade practice group’s committee on long-term planning and 

development.

In private law practice, Mr. Graham has participated in trade remedy proceedings, often collaborating with 

local counsel and national authorities in various countries to develop legal interpretations of laws and 
regulations consistent with GATT/WTO agreements, and negotiating the resolution of international trade 

disputes.

Mr. Graham served as Deputy General Counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative where he 

was instrumental in the negotiation of the Tokyo Round Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and 

where he represented the U.S. Government in dispute settlement proceedings under the GATT.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Graham served for three years in Geneva as a Legal Officer at the United Nations 

Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Mr. Graham was the first chairman of the American Society of International Law’s Committee on 

International Economic Law and the chair of the American Bar Association’s Subcommittee on Exports. 

He has been a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina Law School and an adjunct professor 

at the Georgetown Law Center and the American University Washington College of Law. He has edited 

books on international trade policy, and international trade and environment, and he has written many 

articles and monographs on international trade law and policy as a Guest Scholar at the Brookings 

Institution and as a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 

Mr. Graham holds a BA in International Relations and Economics from Indiana University and a J.D. from 

Harvard Law School.

Hyun Chong Kim

Mr. Kim received his Degrees of Bachelor, Masters and Juris Doctor from Columbia University in New 

York. He served as Trade Minister for Korea from 2004 to 2007, during which time Korea negotiated free 

trade agreements with more than 40 countries, including Korea’s biggest trading partners. As minister, Mr. 

Kim was appointed Facilitator for the services negotiations at the WTO’s December 2005 Hong Kong 

Ministerial Conference and helped Korea host the November 2005 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 

(APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Busan. He served as Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations from 2007 

to 2008 and was elected Vice President of the UN Economic and Social Council in 2008, where he worked 

towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Between 1999 and 2003, Mr. Kim was a senior lawyer in the WTO’s Appellate Body Secretariat and Legal 

Affairs Division, where he worked on cases related to IPR, services, TRIMs, safeguards, and 

subsidies/countervailing measures, among others. More recently, Mr. Kim oversaw patent and anti-trust 

litigation with a major Korean corporation and is currently a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign 

Studies in Seoul, where he focuses on trade law and trade policies.

Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández

Born in Mexico on October 17, 1968, Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández holds the Chair of International Trade 

Law at the Mexican National University (UNAM) in Mexico City. He was Head of the International Trade 

Practice for Latin America of an international law firm in Mexico City. His practice focused on issues 

related to NAFTA and trade across Latin America, including international trade dispute resolution. 

Prior to practicing with a law firm, Mr. Ramírez-Hernández was Deputy General Counsel for Trade 

Negotiations of the Ministry of Economy in Mexico for more than a decade. In this capacity, he provided 

advice on trade and competition policy matters related to 11 free trade agreements signed by Mexico, as
well as with respect to multilateral agreements, including those related to the WTO, the Free Trade Area of 

the Americas (FTAA), and the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI).

Mr. Ramírez-Hernández also represented Mexico in complex international trade litigation and investment 

arbitration proceedings. He acted as lead counsel to the Mexican government in several WTO disputes. 

He has also served on NAFTA panels and International Centre for Settlements of Investment Disputes 

(ICSID) arbitral tribunals.

Mr. Ramírez-Hernández holds an LL.M. degree in International Business Law from American University 

Washington College of Law, and a law degree from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana.

Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing

Born in Mauritius on April 22, 1955, Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing enjoyed a long and distinguished 

career with the Mauritian civil service. From 2004 to 2012, Mr. Servansing was Mauritius’ Ambassador 

and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in 

Geneva, including the WTO. During his tenure as Permanent Representative, he served on various 

Committees at the WTO, and chaired the Committees on Trade and Environment, and Trade and 

Development. He also chaired the Work Programme on Small Economies, the dedicated session on Aidfor-Trade, and the African Group, and was coordinator of the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group.

Mr. Servansing previously worked, in various capacities, for the Mauritius Ministry of Foreign Affairs in

Mauritius, India and Belgium. During his tenure at the Mauritius Embassy in Belgium, he was intensively 

involved in the ACP-EU negotiations leading to the Cotonou Agreement and subsequently in the Economic 

Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. Mr. Servansing also served as the personal representative of 

the Prime Minister of Mauritius on the Steering Committee of the New Partnership for Africa's 

Development (NEPAD). In this capacity he was engaged in the strategic formulation of Africa's flagship 

development framework.

Upon retiring from civil service, Mr. Servansing served as the head of the ACP-EU Programme on 

Technical Barriers to Trade in Brussels from 2012 to 2014. In this position, he was responsible for 

facilitating the building of capacity among ACP countries in order to enhance their export competitiveness, 

and improve their Quality Infrastructure to comply with technical regulations.

Mr. Servansing's experience in trade policy, trade negotiations, and the multilateral trading system spans

three decades. He has frequently spoken on international trade issues, and has published numerous papers 

and articles in Mauritian and foreign journals on a variety of trade-related issues.

Mr. Servansing holds an M.A. from the University of Sussex, a Postgraduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs 

and International Trade from Australian National University, and a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of 

Mauritius.

Peter Van den Bossche

Born in Belgium on March 31, 1959, Peter Van den Bossche is Professor of International Economic Law 

at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges, 

Belgium. Mr. Van den Bossche is a member of the Board of Editors of the Journal of International 

Economic Law. 

Mr. Van den Bossche holds a Doctorate in Law from the European University Institute, Florence, an LL.M. 

from the University of Michigan Law School, and a Licentiate in de Rechten magna cum laude from the 
University of Antwerp. From 1990 to 1992, he served as a référendaire of Advocate General W. van Gerven 

at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Van den Bossche was Counsellor 

and subsequently Acting Director of the WTO Appellate Body Secretariat. In 2001, he returned to 

academia, and from 2002 to 2009 frequently acted as a consultant to international organizations and 

developing countries on issues of international economic law. He also served and serves on the faculty of 

the World Trade Institute in Berne, Switzerland; the China-EU School of Law (CESL) at the China 

University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) in Beijing, China; the IELPO Programme of the University 

of Barcelona, Spain; the Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (trapca) in Arusha, Tanzania; the IEEM 

Academy of International Trade and Investment Law in Macau, China; and the Koç University School in 

Istanbul, Turkey.

Mr. Van den Bossche has published extensively in the field of international economic law. The third edition 

of his textbook, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization, was published by Cambridge 

University Press in 2013. 

Yuejiao Zhang

Born in China on 25 October 1944, Ms. Yuejiao Zhang is Professor of Law at Shantou University in China. 

She is an Arbitrator on China’s International Trade and Economic Arbitration Commission and practices 

law as a private attorney. Ms. Zhang also serves as Vice President of China's International Economic Law 

Society.

Between 1998 and 2004, Ms. Zhang held various positions at the Asian Development Bank. Prior to this, 

Ms. Zhang held several positions in government and academia in China, including as Director-General of 

Law and Treaties at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (1984-1997) where she was 

involved in drafting many of China’s trade laws, such as the Foreign Trade Law, the Anti-Dumping 

Regulation and the Anti-Subsidy Regulation.

From 1987 to 1996, Ms. Zhang was one of China’s chief negotiators on intellectual property and was 

involved in the preparation of China’s patent law, trade mark law, and copyright law. She also served as 

the chief legal counsel for China’s GATT resumption and WTO accession. Between 1982 and 1985, Ms. 

Zhang worked as legal counsel at the World Bank.

Ms. Zhang was a Member of UNIDROIT from 1987-1999. She has a Bachelor of Arts from China High 

Education College and a Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law.

Hong Zhao

Ms. Zhao received her Degrees of Bachelor, Masters and PhD in Law from the Law School of Peking 

University in China. She currently serves as Vice President of the Chinese Academy of International Trade 

and Economic Cooperation. Previously she served as Minister Counsellor in charge of legal affairs at 

China’s mission to the WTO, during which time she served as Chair of the WTO’s Committee on TradeRelated Investment Measures (TRIMs). Ms. Zhao then served as Commissioner for Trade Negotiations at 

the Chinese Ministry of Commerce’s Department for WTO Affairs, where she participated in a number of 

important negotiations on international trade, including the Trade Facilitation Agreement negotiations, and 

negotiations on expansion of the Information Technology Agreement.

Domestically, Ms. Zhao helped formulate many important Chinese legislative acts on economic and trade 

areas adopted since the 1990s and has experience in China’s judiciary system, serving as Juror at the 

Economic Tribunal of the Second Intermediate Court of Beijing between 1999 and 2004. She has also 

taught and supervised law students on international economic Law, WTO law and intellectual property 

rights (IPR) at various universities in China.
Source: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/ab_members_descrp_e.htm
Where to Find More Information on the WTO

Information about the WTO and trends in international trade is available to the public at the following 

websites:

The USTR home page: http://www.ustr.gov

The WTO home page: http://www.wto.org

U.S. submissions are available electronically on the WTO website using Documents Online, which can 

retrieve an electronic copy by the “document symbol”. Electronic copies of U.S. submissions are also 

available at the USTR website.

Examples of information available on the WTO home page include:

Descriptions of the Structure and Operations of the WTO, such as:

 WTO Organizational Chart

 Biographic backgrounds

 Budgets for the WTO

 WTO Budget Contributions

WTO News, such as:

 Membership

 General Council activities

 WTO Secretariat Statistics

 Status of dispute settlement cases

 Press Releases on Appointments to WTO 

Bodies, Appellate Body Reports and Panel 

Reports, and others

 Schedules of future WTO meetings

 Trade Policy Review Mechanism reports on 

individual Members’ trade practices

Resources including Official Documents, such as:

 Notifications required by the Uruguay Round 

Agreements

 Working Procedures for Appellate Review

 Special Studies on key WTO issues

 On-line document database where one can find 

and download official documents

 Legal Texts of the WTO agreements

 WTO Annual Reports

Community/Fora, such as:

 Media and NGOs  General public news and chat rooms

 Facebook

 YouTube

 Twitter

 Flickr

 Google+

 Pinterest

Trade Topics, such as:

 Briefing Papers on WTO activities in individual 

sectors, including goods, services, intellectual 

property, other topics

 Disputes and Dispute Reports
WTO publications may be ordered directly from the following sources:

1. The World Trade Organization

Publications Services

Centre William Rappard

154 rue de Lausanne 154

Geneva, Switzerland

Tel: (41-22) 739 51 05 

Fax: (41-22) 739 57 92

e-mail: publications@wto.org

See also for more information about WTO publications:

http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/publications_e.htm

2. Bernan Associates

4501 Forbes Blvd, Suite 200

Lanham, Maryland 20706

United States of America

Toll Free: +1 800 865 3457

Fax, Toll Free: +1 800 865 3450

Local Tel: 301 459 7666

Local Fax: 301 459 6988

E-mail: query@bernan.com

E-mail: order@bernan.com

Internet: http://www.bernan.com

3. The Brookings Institution Press

1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

20036-2103

Toll free: +1 800 537 5487

Tel: +1 410 516 6956 

hfscustserv@press.jhu.edu

http://www.brookings.edu/about/press

ANNEX III

U.S. TRADE-RELATED AGREEMENTS AND 

DECLARATIONS

I. Agreements That Have Entered Into Force

Following is a list of trade agreements entered into by the United States since 1984 and monitored by the 

Office of the United States Trade Representative for compliance.

Multilateral and Plurilateral Agreements

 Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO) (signed April 15, 1994), the 

Ministerial Decisions and Declarations adopted by the Uruguay Round Trade Negotiations Committee 

on December 15, 1993, and subsequent WTO agreements.

a. Multilateral Agreements on Trade in Goods

i. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994

ii. Agreement on Agriculture

iii. Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

iv. Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

v. Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures

vi. Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs 

and Trade 1994

vii. Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs 

and Trade 1994

viii. Agreement on Preshipment Inspection

ix. Agreement on Rules of Origin

x. Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures

xi. Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures

xii. Agreement on Safeguards

b. General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

i. Fourth Protocol to the GATS (Basic Telecommunication Services) (February 5, 

1998)

ii. Fifth Protocol to the GATS (Financial Services) (March 1, 1999)

c. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

d. Plurilateral Trade Agreements

i. Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft (April 12, 1979; amended in 1986)

ii. Agreement on Government Procurement (April 15, 1994; amended in 2014)

 WTO Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products (Information Technology 

Agreement (ITA)) (March 26, 1997)

 Declaration on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products (July 28, 2015)
 International Tropical Timber Agreement (successor to the 1994 International Tropical Timber 

Agreement, December 7, 2011)

 International Coffee Agreement 2007 (successor to the 2001 International Coffee Agreement; entered 

into force February 2, 2011)

 North American Free Trade Agreement (January 1, 1994)

i. Agreement with Mexico and Canada to a first round of NAFTA Accelerated Tariff 

Elimination (March 26, 1997)

ii. Agreement with Mexico and Canada to a second round of NAFTA Accelerated Tariff 

Elimination (July 27, 1998)

iii. Agreement with Mexico to a third round of NAFTA Accelerated Tariff Elimination 

(November 29, 2000)

iv. Agreement with Mexico to a fourth round of NAFTA Accelerated Tariff Elimination 

(December 5, 2001)

v. Agreement with Mexico and Canada on adjustments to the NAFTA Rules of Origin 

(November 27, 2002)

vi. Agreement with Mexico and Canada on adjustments to the NAFTA Rules of Origin 

(October 8, 2004)

vii. Agreement with Mexico and Canada on adjustments to the NAFTA Rules of Origin (March 

8, 2006)

viii. Agreement with Mexico and Canada on adjustments to the NAFTA Rules of Origin (April 

11, 2008)

ix. Agreement with Mexico and Canada on adjustments to the NAFTA Rules of Origin (April 

9, 2009)

 North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (January 1, 1994)

 North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (January 1, 1994)

 Statement Concerning Semiconductors by the European Commission and the Governments of the 

United States, Japan, and Korea (June 10, 1999)

 Agreement on Mutual Acceptance of Oenological Practices (December 18, 2001)

 The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (Costa Rica (January 

1, 2009); the Dominican Republic (March 1, 2007); El Salvador (March 1, 2006); Guatemala (July 1, 

2006); Honduras (April 1, 2006); and Nicaragua (April 1, 2006))

i. Amendment to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 

Agreement relating to Article 22.5 (March 29, 2006)

ii. Amendment to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 

Agreement relating to Textiles Matters (August 15, 2008)

iii. Amendment to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 

Agreement relating to Guatemala Tariffs on Beer (February 4, 2009)

iv. Decision Regarding the Rules of Origin for Textile and Apparel Goods (Feb. 23, 2011)

v. Decision Regarding Appendix 4.1-B (Feb. 23, 2011)

vi. Decision Regarding Annex 9.1.2(b)(i) (Feb. 23, 2011)

vii. Decision Regarding Common Guidelines for the Interpretation, Application and 

Administration of Chapter Four (October 27, 2012)

viii. Decision Regarding the Specific Rules of Origin of Annex 4.1 (March 26, 2015)
ix. Decision Regarding the Special Rules of Origin of Appendix 3.3.6 (March 26, 2015)

x. Decision Regarding The Tariff Elimination for Lines 15071000, 15121100 and 15152100 

of Annex 3.3 (Tariff Schedule of Costa Rica) (March 26, 2015)

 Agreement Establishing a Secretariat for Environmental Matters Under the Dominican RepublicCentral America-United States Free Trade Agreement (August 25, 2006)

 Agreement on Duty-Free Treatment of Multi-Chips Integrated Circuits (MCPs) (January 18, 2006) 

(Korea, Taiwan, Japan, European Union, and the United States)

 Agreement on Requirements for Wine Labeling (January 23, 2007) (Australia, Argentina, Canada, 

Chile, New Zealand, and the United States)
Bilateral Agreements

Albania

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (May 14, 1992)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (January 4, 1998)

Argentina

 Private Courier Mail Agreement (May 25, 1989)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (October 20, 1994)

Armenia

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (April 7, 1992)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (March 29, 1996)

Australia

 Settlement on Leather Products Trade (November 25, 1996)

 Understanding on Automotive Leather Subsidies (June 20, 2000)

 Agreement to Implement Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 

Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (October 

19, 2002)

 United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement (January 1, 2005)

Azerbaijan

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (April 21, 1995)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (August 2, 2001)

Bahrain

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (May 30, 2001)

 United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (August 1, 2006)

Bangladesh

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (July 25, 1989)

Belarus

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (February 16, 1993)
Bolivia

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (June 6, 2001)

Brazil

 Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of Brazil and the Government of the United 

States Concerning Trade Measures in the Automotive Sector (March 16, 1998)

 Exchange of Letters between the United States and Brazil Regarding Certain Distinctive Products 

(April 9, 2012)

 Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States and the Government 

of the Federative Republic of Brazil Related to the Cotton Dispute (WT/DS267) (October 1, 2014)

Bulgaria

 Agreement on Trade Relations (November 22, 1991)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (June 2, 1994; amended January 1, 2007)

 Agreement Concerning Intellectual Property Rights (July 6, 1994)

Cambodia

 Agreement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Cambodia on Trade Relations 

and Intellectual Property Rights Protection (October 8, 1996)

Cameroon

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (April 6, 1989)

Canada

 Agreement on Salmon & Herring (May 11, 1993)

 Agreement Regarding Tires (May 25, 1993)

 Memorandum of Understanding on Provincial Beer Marketing Practices (August 5, 1993) 

 Agreement on Ultra-High Temperature Milk (September 1993)

 Agreement on Beer Market Access in Quebec and British Columbia Beer Antidumping Cases (April 

4, 1994)

 Agreement on Salmon & Herring (April 1994)

 Agreement on Barley Tariff-Rate Quota (September 8, 1997)

 Record of Understanding on Agriculture (December 1998)

 Agreement on Magazines (Periodicals) (May 1999)
 Agreement on Implementation of the WTO Decision on Canada’s Dairy Support Programs (December 

1999)

 Agreement to Implement Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 

Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (January 

17, 2002)

 Agreement to Implement Phase II of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 

Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (January 

28, 2003)

 United States-Canada Understanding on Implementation of the Decision of the WTO General Council 

of August 30, 2003, on “Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 

Agreement and Public Health” as Interpreted by the Accompanying Statement of the Chairman of the 

General Council of the Same Date (July 16, 2004)

 Technical Arrangement between the United States and Canada concerning Trade in Potatoes 

(November 1, 2007)

 Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada on 

Government Procurement (February 16, 2010)

 United States-Canada Exchange of Letters on Milk Equivalence (February 4, 2016)

Chile

 United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (January 1, 2004)

 United States-Chile Agreement on Accelerated Tariff Elimination (November 14, 2008)

 United States-Chile Agreement on Trade in Table Grapes (November 21, 2008)

 United States-Chile Agreement on Beef Grade Labeling (March 26, 2009)

 United States-Chile Exchange of Letters on Chapter 17 of United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement 

(March 17, 2011)

 United States-Chile Exchange of Letters on Salmonid Eggs (February 4, 2016)

China

 Accord on Industrial and Technological Cooperation (January 12, 1984)

 Memorandum of Understanding on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (January 17, 1992)

 Memorandum of Understanding on Prohibiting Import and Export in Prison Labor Products (June 18, 

1992)

 Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Market Access (October 10, 1992)

 Agreement on Trade Relations between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of 

China (February 1, 1980)

 Agreement on Providing Intellectual Property Rights Protection (February 26, 1995)
 Report on China’s Measures to Enforce Intellectual Property Protections and Other Measures (June 

17, 1996)

 Interim Agreement on Market Access for Foreign Financial Information Companies (Xinhua) 

(October 24, 1997)

 Bilateral Agriculture Agreement (April 10, 1999)

 Memorandum of Understanding between China and the United States Regarding China’s ValueAdded Tax on Integrated Circuits (July 14, 2004)

 Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of the United States of America and the 

People’s Republic of China Concerning Trade in Textile and Apparel Products (November 8, 2005)

 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of 

China Regarding Certain Measures Granting Refunds, Reductions, or Exemptions from Taxes or Other 

Payments (November 29, 2007)

 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of 

China Regarding Certain Measures Affecting Foreign Suppliers of Financial Information Services 

(November 13, 2008)

 Memorandum of Understanding between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of 

America Regarding Films for Theatrical Release (April 25, 2012)

Colombia

 Memorandum of Understanding on Trade in Bananas (January 9, 1996)

 Exchange of Letters between the United States and Colombia on Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures 

and Technical Barriers to Trade Issues (February 27, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters between the United States and Colombia on Beef Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary 

Issues (August 21, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters between United States and Colombia on Control Measures on Avian Influenza 

(April 15, 2012)

 Exchange of Letters between United States and Colombia on Control Measures on Salmonella in 

Poultry and Poultry Products (April 15, 2012)

 Exchange of Letters between United States and Colombia on Phyto-sanitary Measures for Paddy Rice 

(April 15, 2012)

 Exchange of Letters between United States and Colombia related to Constitutional Court Review of 

Certain IPR Treaties (April 15, 2012)

 United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (May 15, 2012)

i. Decision of the Free Trade Commission of the United States – Colombia Trade Promotion 

Agreement Regarding Clarification of the Definition of Poultry in the Context of Appendix I, 

Paragraph 6, of Colombia’s Tariff Schedule (September 25, 2012)
ii. Decision No. 2 of Free Trade Commission of the United States – Colombia Trade Promotion 

Agreement by which ECOPETROL Qualifies as a Special Covered Entity Under Section D of 

Annex 9.1 (November 19, 2012)

 Exchange of Letters between the United States and Colombia Establishing the Committee of Sanitary 

and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) and SPS Committee Terms of Reference (June 14, 2012)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the (formerly Zaire)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (July 28, 1989)

Congo, Republic of the

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (August 13, 1994)

Costa Rica

 Memorandum of Understanding on Trade in Bananas (January 9, 1996)

Croatia

 Memorandum of Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights (May 26, 1998)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (June 20, 2001)

Czech Republic 

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (December 19, 1992; amended May 1, 2004)

Dominican Republic

 Exchange of Letters on Trade in Textile and Apparel Goods (October 21, 2006)

Ecuador

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights Protection (October 15, 1993)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (May 11, 1997)

Egypt

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (June 27, 1992)

Estonia

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (February 16, 1997; amended May 1, 2004)

European Economic Area – European Free Trade Association (EEA EFTA States – Norway, Iceland, 

and Liechtenstein)
 Agreement on Mutual Recognition between the United States of America and the EEA EFTA States 

Regarding Telecommunications Equipment, Electromagnetic Compatibility and Recreational Craft 

(March 1, 2006)

 Agreement between the United States of America and the EEA EFTA States on the Mutual Recognition 

of Certificates of Conformity for Marine Equipment (March 1, 2006)

European Union

 Wine Accord (July 1983)

 Agreement for the Conclusion of Negotiations between the United States and the European 

Community under GATT Article XXIV:6 (January 30, 1987)

 Agreement on Exports of Pasta with Settlement, Annex and Related Letter (September 15, 1987)

 Agreement on Canned Fruit (updated) (April 14, 1992)

 Agreement on Meat Inspection Standards (November 13, 1992)

 Corn Gluten Feed Exchange of Letters (December 4 and 8, 1992)

 Malt-Barley Sprouts Exchange of Letters (December 4 and 8, 1992)

 Oilseeds Agreement (December 4 and 8, 1992)

 Agreement on Recognition of Bourbon Whiskey and Tennessee Whiskey as Distinctive U.S. Products 

(March 28, 1994)

 Memorandum of Understanding on Government Procurement (April 15, 1994)

 Letter on Financial Services Confirming Assurances to Provide Full MFN and National Treatment 

(July 14, 1995)

 Agreement on EU Grains Margin of Preference (signed July 22, 1996; retroactively effective 

December 30, 1995)

 Exchange of Letters Concerning Implementation of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World 

Trade Organization and Related Matters (June 26, 1996)

 Exchange of Letters between the United States of America and the European Community on a 

Settlement for Cereals and Rice, and Accompanying Exchange of Letters on Rice Prices (July 22, 

1996)

 Agreement for the Conclusion of Negotiations between the United States of America and the European 

Community under GATT Article XXIV:6, and Accompanying Exchange of Letters (signed July 22, 

1996; retroactively effective December 30, 1995)

 Tariff Initiative on Distilled Spirits (February 28, 1997)

 Agreement on Global Electronic Commerce (December 9, 1997)

 Agreed Minute on Humane Trapping Standards (December 18, 1997)
 Agreement on Mutual Recognition between the United States of America and the European 

Community (December 1, 1998)

 Agreement between the United States and the European Community on Sanitary Measures to Protect 

Public and Animal Health in Trade in Live Animals and Animal Products (July 20, 1999)

 Understanding on Bananas (April 11, 2001)

 Agreement between the United States of America and the European Community on the Mutual 

Recognition of Certificates of Conformity for Marine Equipment (July 1, 2004)

 Agreement in the Form of an Exchange of Letters between the United States and the European 

Community Relating to the Method of Calculation of Applied Duties for Husked Rice (June 30, 2005; 

retroactively effective March 1, 2005)

 Agreement between the United States and European Community on Trade in Wine (March 10, 2006)

 Agreement in the Form of an Exchange of Letters between the United States and the European Union 

pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 Relating to the Modification of 

Concessions in the Schedules of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, 

the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, 

the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the Course of their 

Accession to the European Union (March 22, 2006)

 Joint Letter from the United States and the European Communities on implementation of GATS 

Article XXI procedures relating to the accession to the European Communities of the Czech Republic, 

Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, 

Finland, and Sweden (August 7, 2006)

 Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States and European Commission Regarding the 

Importation of Beef from Animals Not Treated with Certain Growth-Promoting Hormones and 

Increased Duties Applied to Certain Products of the European Communities (May 13, 2009)

 Agreement on Trade in Bananas Between the United States of America and the European Union 

(January 24, 2013)

 Agreement in the Form of an Exchange of Letters Between the United States of America and the 

European Union Pursuant to Articles XXIV:6 and XXVIII of the GATT 1994 (July 1, 2013)

Georgia

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (August 13, 1993)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (August 17, 1997)

Grenada

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (March 3, 1989)

Haiti

 Exchange of Letters on Trade in Textile and Apparel Goods (September 18, 2008)

Hong Kong
 Agreement to Implement Phase I and Phase II of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 

Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment 

(April 4, 2005)

 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Hong Kong Special 

Administrative Region Concerning Cooperation in Trade in Textile and Apparel Goods (August 1, 

2005)

Honduras

 Memorandum of Understanding on Worker Rights (November 15, 1995)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (July 11, 2001)

Hungary

 Agreement on Trade Relations (July 7, 1978)

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights Protection (September 29, 1993)

India

 Agreement Regarding Indian Import Policy for Motion Pictures (February 5, 1992)

 Reduction of Tariffs on In-Shell Almonds (May 27, 1992)

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights Protections (March 1993)

 Agreement on Import Restrictions (December 28, 1999)

 Agreement on Textile Tariff Bindings (September 15, 2000)

Indonesia

 Conditions for Market Access for Films and Videos into Indonesia (April 19, 1992)

 Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia Concerning Cooperation in Trade in Textile and 

Apparel Goods (September 26, 2006)

Israel

 United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement (August 19, 1985)

 United States-Israel Agreement Concerning Certain Aspects of Trade in Agricultural Products (July 

27, 2004; extended by Exchange of Letters (December 10, 2008; December 6, 2009; December 12, 

2010; December 6, 2011; November 19, 2012; November 26, 2013, December 8, 2014)

 Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the 

Government of the State of Israel for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment 

(December 12, 2013)

Jamaica
 Agreement on Intellectual Property (February 1994)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (March 7, 1997)

Japan

 Market-Oriented Sector-Selective (MOSS) Agreement on Medical Equipment and Pharmaceuticals 

(January 9, 1986)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Tobacco (October 6, 1986)

 Foreign Lawyers Agreement (February 27, 1987)

 Science and Technology Agreement (June 20, 1988; extended June 16, 1993)

 Procedures to Introduce Supercomputers (June 15, 1990)

 Measures Relating to Wood Products (June 15, 1990)

 Policies and Procedures Regarding Satellite Research and Development/Procurement (June 15, 1990)

 Policies and Procedures Regarding International Value-Added Network Services and Network 

Channel Terminating Equipment (July 31, 1990)

 Joint Announcement on Amorphous Metals (September 21, 1990)

 Measures Further to 1990 Policies and Procedures regarding International Value-Added Network 

Services (April 27, 1991)

 Measures Regarding International Value-Added Network Services Investigation Mechanisms (June 

25, 1991)

 United States-Japan Major Projects Arrangement (July 31, 1991; originally negotiated 1988)

 Measures Related to Japanese Public Sector Procurement of Computer Products and Services (January 

22, 1992)

 United States-Japan Framework for a New Economic Partnership (July 10, 1993)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Apples (September 13, 1993)

 United States-Japan Public Works Agreement (January 18, 1994)

 Mutual Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights between the Japanese Patent Office and the U.S. 

Patent and Trademark Office (January 20, 1994)

 Rice (April 15, 1994)

 Harmonized Chemical Tariffs (April 15, 1994)

 Copper (April 15, 1994)

 Market Access (April 15, 1994)
 Actions to be Taken by the Japanese Patent Office and the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office pursuant 

to the January 20, 1994, Mutual Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights (August 16, 1994)

 Measures by the Government of the United States and the Government of Japan Regarding Insurance 

(October 11, 1994)

 Measures on Japanese Public Sector Procurement of Telecommunications Products and Services 

(November 1, 1994)

 Measures Related to Japanese Public Sector Procurement of Medical Technology Products and 

Services (November 1, 1994)

 Measures Regarding Financial Services (February 13, 1995)

 Policies and Measures Regarding Inward Direct Investment and Buyer-Supplier Relationships (June 

20, 1995)

 Exchange of Letters on Financial Services (July 26 and 27, 1995)

 Interim Understanding for the Continuation of Japan-U.S. Insurance Talks (September 30, 1996)

 United States-Japan Insurance Agreement (December 24, 1996)

 Japan’s Recognition of U.S.-Grade marked Lumber (January 13, 1997)

 Resolution of WTO dispute with Japan on Sound Recordings (January 13, 1997)

 National Policy Agency Procurement of VHF Radio Communications System (March 31, 1997)

 United States-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy (June 19, 1997)

 United States-Japan Agreement on Distilled Spirits (December 17, 1997)

 First Joint Status Report on Deregulation and Competition Policy (May 29, 1998)

 United States-Japan Joint Report on Investment (April 28, 1999)

 Second Joint Status Report on Deregulation and Competition Policy (May 3, 1999)

 United States-Japan Agreement on NTT Procurement Procedures (July 1, 1999)

 Third Joint Status Report on Deregulation and Competition Policy (July 19, 2000)

 Fourth Joint Status Report on Deregulation and Competition Policy (June 30, 2001)

 United States-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth (June 30, 2001)

 First Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(June 25, 2002)

 Second Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(May 23, 2003)

 Third Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(June 8, 2004)
 Fourth Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(November 2, 2005)

 Fifth Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(June 29, 2006)

 Sixth Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(June 6, 2007)

 Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Results of Conformity Assessment Procedures between the 

United States of America and Japan (U.S.-Japan Telecom MRA) (January 1, 2008)

 Seventh Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(July 5, 2008)

 Eighth Report to the Leaders on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative 

(July 6, 2009)

 Memorandum Between the Relevant Authorities of the United States and the Ministry of Health, 

Labour and Welfare of Japan Concerning Enforcement of Japan’s Pesticide Maximum Residue Levels 

(July 28, 2009)

 Record of Discussion, U.S.-Japan Economic Harmonization Initiative (January 27, 2012)

 U.S.-Japan Exchange of Letters on certain distilled spirits and wine (February 4, 2016)

Jordan

 Agreement between the United States and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Establishment of a 

Free Trade Area (December 17, 2001)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (June 12, 2003)

Kazakhstan

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (February 18, 1993)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (January 12, 1994)

Korea

 Record of Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights (August 28, 1986)

 Agreement on Access of U.S. Firms to Korea's Insurance Markets (August 28, 1986)

 Record of Understanding Concerning Market Access for Cigarettes (May 27, 1988; amended October 

16, 1989)

 Agreement Concerning the Korean Capital Market Promotion Law (September 1, 1988)

 Agreement on the Importation and Distribution of Foreign Motion Pictures (December 30, 1988)

 Agreement on Market Access for Wine and Wine Products (January 18, 1989)

 Investment Agreement (May 19, 1989)
 Agreement on Liberalization of Agricultural Imports (May 25, 1989)

 Record of Understanding on Telecommunications (January 23, 1990)

 Record of Understanding on Telecommunications (February 15, 1990)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding the 1986 Intellectual Property Rights Agreement: Product Pipeline 

Protection (February 22, 1990)

 Record of Understanding on Beef (March 21, 1990)

 Exchange of Letters on Beef (April 26 and 27, 1990)

 Agreement on Wine Access (December 19, 1990)

 Record of Understanding on Telecommunications (February 7, 1991)

 Agreement on International Value-Added Services (June 20, 1991)

 Understanding on Telecommunications (February 17, 1992)

 Exchange of Letters Relating to Korea Telecom Company's Procurement of AT&T Switches (March 

31, 1993)

 Beef Agreements (June 26, 1993; December 29, 1993)

 Record of Understanding on Agricultural Market Access in the Uruguay Round (December 13, 1993)

 Exchange of Letters on Telecommunications Issues Relating to Equipment Authorization and Korea 

Telecom Company's Procurement (March 29, 1995)

 Agreement on Steel (July 14, 1995)

 Shelf-Life Agreement (July 20, 1995)

 Revised Cigarette Agreement (August 25, 1995)

 Memorandum of Understanding to Increase Market Access for Foreign Passenger Vehicles in Korea 

(September 28, 1995)

 Exchange of Letters on Implementation of the 1992 Telecommunications Agreement (April 12, 1996)

 Korean Commitments on Trade in Telecommunications Goods and Services (July 23, 1997)

 Agreement on Korean Motor Vehicle Market (October 20, 1998)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Tobacco Sector Related Issues (June 14, 2001)

 Exchange of Letters on Data Protection (March 12, 2002)

 Record of Understanding between the Governments of the United States and the Republic of Korea 

Regarding the Extension of Special Treatment for Rice (February 2005)

 Agreement to Implement Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 

Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (May 10, 

2005)
 Agreed Minutes on Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations (February 10, 2011)

 Agreed Minutes on Visa Validity Period (February 10, 2011)

 Exchange of Letters between the United States and Korea related to the United States-Korea Free 

Trade Agreement (February 10, 2011)

 United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (March 15, 2012)

Kyrgyzstan

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (May 8, 1992)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (January 12, 1994)

Latvia

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (August 21, 1992)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (November 26, 1996; amended May 1, 2004)

 Agreement on Trade & Intellectual Property Rights Protection (January 20, 1995)

Lithuania

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (November 22, 2001; amended May 1, 2004)

Laos

 Bilateral Trade Agreement (February 4, 2005)

Macao

 Memorandum of Understanding with Macao Concerning Cooperation in Trade in Textile and Apparel 

Goods (August 8, 2005)

Marshall Islands

 Compact of Free Association Agreement Between the United States of America and the Marshall 

Islands (June 25, 1983)

Mexico

 Agreement with Mexico on Tire Certification (March 8, 1996)

 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Mexico Regarding Areas of Food and 

Agriculture Trade (April 4, 2002)

 United States-Mexico Exchange of Letters Regarding Mexico’s NAFTA Safeguard on Certain Poultry 

Products (July 24-25, 2003)

 Understanding Regarding the Implementation of the WTO Decision on Mexico’s Telecommunications 

Services (June 1, 2004)

 Agreement between the U.S. Trade Representative and Secretaria de Economia of the United Mexican 

State on Trade in Tequila (January 17, 2006)
 Agreement between the U.S. Trade Representative and Secretaria de Economia of the United Mexican 

State on Trade in Cement (April 3, 2006)

 United States-Mexico Exchange of Letters Regarding Trade in Sweetener Goods (July 27, 2006)

 Bilateral Agreement on Customs Cooperation regarding Claims of Origin Under FTA Cumulation 

Provisions (January 26, 2007) 

 Customs Cooperation Agreement with Mexico relating to Textiles Matters (August 15, 2008) 

 Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the 

Government of the United Mexican States for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications 

Equipment (June 10, 2011)

Micronesia

 Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia (November 3, 1986)

Moldova

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (July 2, 1992)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (November 25, 1994)

Mongolia

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (January 23, 1991)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (January 1, 1997)

Morocco

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (May 29, 1991)

 United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (January 1, 2006)

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Kingdom of Morocco Concerning Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation (November 21, 

2013)

Mozambique

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (March 2, 2005)

Nicaragua

 Bilateral Intellectual Property Rights Agreement with Nicaragua (December 22, 1997)

 Exchange of Letters on Trade in Textile and Apparel Goods (March 24, 2006)

Norway

 Agreement on Procurement of Toll Equipment (April 26, 1990)

Oman
 United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement (January 1, 2009)

Palau

 Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau (October 1, 1994)

Panama

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (May 30, 1991)

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (1994)

 Agreement on Cooperation in Agricultural Trade (December 20, 2006)

 Agreement regarding Certain Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures and Technical Standards 

Affecting Agricultural Products (December 20, 2006) 

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Autos (June 28, 2007)

 Confirmation Letter Regarding Ship Repairs (June 28, 2007)

 Confirmation Letter Regarding Panama Joining the ITA (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Free Trade Zones (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Article 9.15 (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Investment in Specified Sectors (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Retail Sales (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Cross Border Financial Service (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Insurance (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Pensions (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Traditional Knowledge (June 28, 2007)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Taxation (June 28, 2007)

 United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (October 31, 2012)

i. Decision of the Free Trade Commission Regarding Article 3.20 and Article 6.3 (March 19, 

2013)

ii. Decision No. 2 of the Free Trade Commission Establishing a Code of Conduct (May 28, 

2014)

iii. Decision No. 3 of the Free Trade Commission to Establish the Remuneration of Panelists, 

Assistants, and Experts, and the Payment of Expenses in Dispute Settlement Proceedings 

under Chapter 20 (Dispute Settlement) (May 28, 2014)

iv. Decision No. 4 of the Free Trade Commission Establishing Model Rules of Procedure 

(May 28, 2014)

v. Decision No. 5 of the Free Trade Commission to Amend Annex 4.1 (December 6, 2016)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Multiple Services Businesses (October 31, 2012)
 Exchange of Letters Regarding Beef and Beef Product Imports (March 27, 2013)

 Exchange of Letters on Free Trade Zones (October 2, 2013)

 Exchange of Letters Regarding Pet Food Containing Animal Origin Ingredients Imports (June 24, 

2014)

 Agreement Establishing a Secretariat for Environmental Enforcement Matters Under the United States 

– Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (December 21, 2015)

Paraguay

 Memorandum of Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights Between the Government of the 

Republic of Paraguay and the Government of the United States of America (June 18, 2015)

Peru

 Memorandum of Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights (May 23, 1997)

 Exchange of Letters on Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade Issues 

(January 5, 2006) 

 Additional Letter Exchange on Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade 

Issues (April 10, 2006) 

 United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (February 1, 2009)

Philippines

 Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (April 6, 1993)

 Agreement regarding Pork and Poultry Meat (February 13, 1998)

 Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippines Concerning Cooperation in Trade in Textile and 

Apparel Goods (August 23, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters on Special Treatment for Rice and Related Agricultural Concessions (June 5, 

2014)

Poland

 Business and Economic Relations Treaty (August 6, 1994; amended May 1, 2004)

Romania

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (April 3, 1992)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (January 15, 1994; amended January 1, 2007)

Russia

 Trade Agreement Concerning Most Favored Nation and Nondiscriminatory Treatment (June 17, 1992)

 Joint Memorandum of Understanding on Market Access for Aircraft (January 30, 1996)
 Agreed Minutes regarding exports of poultry products from the United States to Russia (March 15, 

March 25, and March 29, 1996)

 Agreement on Russian Firearms & Ammunition (April 3, 1996; amended 2003)

 Protocol of the Negotiations between the Experts of Russia and the United States of America on the 

Issue of U.S. Poultry Meat Imports into the Russian Federation (March 31, 2002)

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Trade in Certain Types of Poultry, Beef and Pork (June 15, 2005; amended 

December 29, 2008)

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (November 19, 

2006)

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Market Access for Beef and Beef By-Products (November 19, 2006)

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Importation of Pork and Pork By-Products into the Russian Federation 

(November 19, 2006)

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Inspection of Facilities for Exporting Pork and Poultry to the Russian 

Federation (November 19, 2006) 

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Agricultural Biotechnology (November 19, 2006)

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Establishment of Import licensing Procedures for Imports of Goods Containing 

Encryption Technology (November 19, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of 

the Russian Federation on Tariff Treatment of Certain Aircraft Imported Under Operational Lease 

(November 19, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian 

Federation and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Tariff Treatment of Certain Combine 

Harvester-Threshers and Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters (November 19, 2006)

 Letter on Market Access between the United States and the Russian Federation for Service Suppliers 

in Certain Energy Related Sectors (November 19, 2006)

 Letter on Market Access between the United States and the Russian Federation for Certain Insurance 

Firms (November 19, 2006)

 Bilateral Agreement on Verification of Pathogen Reduction Treatments and Resumption of Trade in 

Poultry (July 14, 2010)

 Bilateral Agreement on Pre-Notification Requirements Applied to Certain Imports of Meat Products 

from the United States (applied provisionally as of December 14, 2011)
 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Russian Federation on Trade in Parts and Components of Motor Vehicles between the United States 

of America and the Russian Federation (July 12, 2013)

Rwanda

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (January 1, 2012)

Senegal

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (October 25, 1990)

Singapore

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights Protection (April 27, 1987)

 Agreement to Implement Phase I and Phase II of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 

Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment 

(October 8, 2003)

 United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (January 1, 2004)

Slovakia

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (December 19, 1992; amended May 1, 2004)

Sri Lanka

 Agreement on the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (September 20, 1991)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (May 1, 1993)

Suriname

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (1993)

Switzerland

 Exchange of Letters on Financial Services (November 9 and 27, 1995)

Taiwan

 Agreement on Customs Valuation (August 22, 1986)

 Agreement on Export Performance Requirements (August 1986)

 Agreement Concerning Beer, Wine, and Cigarettes (1987)

 Agreement on Turkeys and Turkey Parts (March 16, 1989)

 Agreement on Beef (June 18, 1990)

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Protection (June 5, 1992)

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Protection (Trademark) (April 1993)
 Agreement on Intellectual Property Protection (Copyright) (July 16, 1993)

 Agreement on Market Access (April 27, 1994)

 Telecommunications Liberalization by Taiwan (July 19, 1996)

 United States-Taiwan Medical Device Issue: List of Principles (September 30, 1996)

 Agreement on Market Access (February 20, 1998)

 Agreement to Implement Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 

Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (March 16, 

1999)

 Understanding on Government Procurement (August 23, 2001)

 Protocol of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)-Related Measures for the Importation of Beef 

and Beef Products for Human Consumption from the Territory of the Authorities Represented by the 

American Institute in Taiwan (November 2, 2009)

Tajikistan

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (November 24, 1993)

Thailand

 Agreement on Cigarette Imports (November 23, 1990)

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (December 19, 1991)

Trinidad and Tobago

 Agreement on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (September 26, 1994)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (December 26, 1996)

Tunisia

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (February 7, 1993)

Turkey

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (May 18, 1990)

 WTO Settlement Concerning Taxation of Foreign Film Revenues (July 14, 1997)

Turkmenistan

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (October 25, 1993)

Ukraine

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (June 23, 1992)

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (November 16, 1996)
 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Republic of Ukraine on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (February 21, 2007)

 Agreement between the U.S. and the Ukraine on Export Duties on Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Scrap 

Metal (February 22, 2007)

Uruguay

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (November 1, 2006) 

Uzbekistan

 Agreement on Bilateral Trade Relations (January 13, 1994)

Vietnam

 Agreement between the United States and Vietnam on Trade Relations (December 10, 2001) 

 Copyright Agreement (June 27, 1997)

 Exchange of Letters on Equivalence of Food Safety Inspection Systems (May 31, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters on Beef (May 31, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters on Biotechnology (May 31, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters on Energy Services (May 31, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters on Elimination of Prohibited Subsidies to Textile and Garment Sector (May 31, 

2006)

 Bilateral Agreement on Export Duties on Ferrous and Nonferrous Scrap Metals (May 31, 2006)

 Exchange of Letters on Shelf Life (May 31, 2006)

 Acceptance of U.S. Certificates for Exports of Poultry Meat and Meat Products (May 31, 2006)

 Agreement to Implement Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 

Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (June 19, 

2008)
II. Agreements That Have Been Negotiated,

But Have Not Yet Entered Into Force

Following is a list of trade agreements concluded by the United States since 1984 that have not yet entered 

into force.

Multilateral Agreements

 OECD Agreement on Shipbuilding (December 21, 1994; interested parties evaluating implementing 

legislation)

 Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (signed by the United States on October 1, 2011)

 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation (December 7, 2013)

Bilateral Agreements

Belarus

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (signed January 15, 1994)

El Salvador

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (signed March 10, 1999)

Estonia

 Trade and Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (April 19, 1994; requires approval by Estonian 

legislature)

Kazakhstan

 Exchange of Letters on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of Kazakhstan (signed July 2, 2015)

Lithuania

 Trade and Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (April 26, 1994; requires approval by Lithuanian 

legislature)

Mongolia

 Agreement on Transparency in Matters Related to International Trade and Investment between the 

United States of America and Mongolia (signed September 24, 2013)

Nicaragua

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (signed July 1, 1995)
Peru 

 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of the United States of America, 

the Government of the Republic of Peru, and the General Secretariat of the Organization of American 

States regarding a Secretariat for Submissions on Environmental Enforcement Matters under the 

United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (signed June 9, 2015)

 Understanding for Implementing Article 18.8 of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement 

(signed June 9, 2015)

Russia

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (signed June 17, 1992)

Uzbekistan

 Bilateral Investment Treaty (signed December 16, 1994)
III. Other Trade-Related Agreements, Understandings and 

Declarations

Following is a list of other trade-related agreements, understandings and declarations negotiated by the 

Office of the United States Trade Representative from January 1993 through December 2012. These 

documents provide the framework for negotiations leading to future trade agreements or establish 

mechanisms for structured dialogue in order to develop specific steps and strategies for addressing and 

resolving trade, investment, intellectual property, and other issues among the signatories.

Multilateral Agreements and Declarations

 Second Ministerial of the World Trade Organization, Ministerial Declaration on Global Electronic 

Commerce (May 20, 1998)

 WTO Guidelines for the Negotiation of Mutual Recognition Agreements on Accountancy (May 29, 

1997)

 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

 1st Joint Ministerial Statement (November 6-7, 1989)

 2nd Joint Ministerial Statement (July 29-31, 1990)

 3rd Joint Ministerial Statement (November 12-14, 1991)

 4th Joint Ministerial Statement (September 10-11, 1992)

 5th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 17-19, 1993)

 Leaders’ Economic Vision Statement (November 20, 1993)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (October 6, 1994)

 6th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 11-12, 199)

 Leaders’ Declaration of Common Resolve (November 15, 1994) 

 7th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 16-17, 1995)

 Leaders’ Declaration for Action (November 19, 1995)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (July 15-16, 1996)

 8th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 22-23, 1996)

 Leaders’ Declaration: From Vision to Action (November 25, 1996)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (May 8-10, 1997)

 9th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 21-22, 1997)
 Leaders’ Declaration on Connecting the APEC Community (November 25, 1997)

 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement for 

Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Agreement (June 5, 1998)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 22-23, 1998)

 10th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 14-15, 1998)

 Leaders’ Declaration on Strengthening the Foundations for Growth (November 18, 1998)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 29-30, 1999)

 11th Joint Ministerial Statement (September 9-10, 1999)

 Leaders’ Declaration: The Auckland Challenge (September 13, 1999)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 6-7, 2000)

 12th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 12-13, 2000)

 Leaders’ Declaration: Delivering to the Community (November 16, 2000)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 6-7,2001)

 13th Joint Ministerial Statement (October 17-18, 2001)

 Leaders’ Declaration: Meeting New Challenges in the New Century (October 21, 2001)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (May 29-30, 2002)

 14th Joint Ministerial Statement (October 23-24, 2002)

 Leaders’ Declaration: Expanding the Benefits of Cooperation for Economic Growth and 

Development - Implementing the Vision (October 27, 2002)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 2-3, 2003)

 15th Joint Ministerial Statement (October 17-18, 2003)

 Declaration: A World of Differences - Partnership for the Future (October 21, 2003)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 4-5, 2004)

 16th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 17-18, 2004)

 Leaders’ Declaration: One Community, Our Future (November 20-21, 2004)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 2-3, 2005)

 17th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 15-16, 2005)
 Leaders’ Declaration: Towards One Community: Meet the Challenge, Make the Change 

(November 18-19, 2005) 

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 1-2, 2006)

 18th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 15-16, 2006)

 Leaders’ Declaration: Towards a Dynamic Community for Sustainable Development and 

Prosperity (November 18-19, 2006)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (July 5-6, 2007)

 19th Joint Ministerial Statement (September 5-6, 2007)

 Leaders’ Declaration: Strengthening our Community, Building a Sustainable Future 

(September 9, 2007)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (May 31-June 1, 2008)

 20th Joint Ministerial Statement (November 19-20, 2008)

 Leaders’ Declaration: A New Commitment to Asia-Pacific Development (November 22-

23, 2008)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (July 21-22, 2009)

 21st Joint Ministerial Statement (November 11-12, 2009)

 Leaders’ Declaration: Sustaining Growth, Connecting The Region (November 14-15, 

2009)

 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement (June 5-6, 2010)

 22nd Joint Ministerial Statement (November 10-11, 2010)

 Leaders’ Declaration: The Yokohama Vision - Bogor and Beyond (November 13-14, 2010) 

 Ministers’ Responsible for Trade Statement (May 19-20, 2011)

 23rd Joint Ministerial Statement (November 11, 2011)

 Leaders’ Declaration: Toward a Seamless Regional Economy (November 12-13, 2011)

 Ministers’ Responsible for Trade Statement (June 4-5, 2012)

 24th Joint Ministerial Statement (September 5-6, 2012) 

 Leaders’ Declaration: Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper (September 8-9, 2012)

 Ministers’ Responsible for Trade Statement (April 20-21, 2013

 25th Joint Ministerial Statement (October 5, 2013)
 Leaders’ Declaration: Resilient Asia-Pacific, Engine of Global Growth (October 8, 2013)

 Cooperation Agreement Among the Partner States of the East African Community and the United States 

of America on Trade Facilitation, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, and Technical Barriers to 

Trade (February 26, 2015)

 Organization of American States (OAS), Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL) 

Mutual Recognition Agreement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment 

(October 29, 1999)

 United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement 

(August 25, 2006)

 World Wine Trade Group Memorandum of Understanding on Certification Requirements (October 20, 

2011)

Bilateral Agreements and Declarations

Afghanistan

 United States-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (September 21, 2004)

 Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Efforts to Enable the Economic Empowerment of Women 

and to Promote Women’s Entrepreneurship (June 16, 2013)

Algeria

 United States-Algeria Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 13, 2001)

Angola

 United States-Angola Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (May 19, 2009)

Argentina

 Bilateral Council on Trade and Investment (February 2002)

 United States – Argentina Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (March 23, 2016)

Armenia

 United States-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (signed November 13, 2015)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

 United States-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (August 5, 2006)

Bangladesh

 United States-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (signed November 

25, 2013)
Bolivia

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Republic of Bolivia concerning a United States-Bolivia Council on Trade and Investment (May 8, 

1990)

Brazil

 United States-Brazil Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (March 19, 2011)

Brunei Darussalam

 United States-Brunei Darussalam Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (December 16, 2002)

Burma

 United States-Myanmar Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (2013)

Cambodia

 United States-Cambodia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 14, 2006)

Canada

 The Canada-U.S. Organic Equivalency Arrangement (June 17, 2009)

Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

 United States-CARICOM Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (2013)

Central Asian Economies

 United States-Central Asian Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (June 1, 2004)

China

 United States-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade Agreements (April 21, 2004)

 United States-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade Agreements (July 11, 2005)

 Memorandum of Understanding on Combating Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (May 5, 2008)

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

 United States-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Investment Framework 

Agreement (October 2001)
East African Community

 United States-East African Community Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 16, 2008)

 Cooperation Agreement Among the Partner States of the East African Community and the United 

States of America on Trade Facilitation, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, and Technical Barriers 

to Trade (February 26, 2015)

Economic Community of West African States

 United States-Economic Community of West African States Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum 

Agreement (signed August 5, 2014)

Ecuador

 Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 

Republic of Ecuador concerning a United States-Ecuador Council on Trade and Investment (July 23, 

1990)

Egypt

 United States-Egypt Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 1, 1999)

European Union

 United States-EU Transatlantic Economic Partnership (May 18, 1998)

 United States-EU Joint Action Plan for the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (November 9, 1998)

 Decision to Establish the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth, Joint Statement 

of the U.S.-EU Summit (November 28, 2010)

 The EU - U.S. Organic Equivalency Arrangement (February 15, 2012)

Georgia

 United States-Georgia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (June 20, 2007)

 United States-Georgia Trade Principles for Information and Communication Technology Services 

(October 30, 2015)

Ghana

 United States-Ghana Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (February 26, 1999)

Gulf Cooperation Council

 Framework Agreement for Trade, Economic, Investment and Technical Cooperation (signed 

September 25, 2012)
Iceland

 United States-Iceland Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (January 15, 2009)

India

 United States-India Trade Policy Forum , Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment 

(March 17, 2010)

Indonesia

 United States-Indonesia Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the 

Council on Trade and Investment (July 16, 1996)

 Memorandum of Understanding on Combating Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (November 16, 

2006) 

 Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of American and the 

Government of the Republic of Indonesia to resolve certain outstanding issues in order to enhance the 

Parties’ bilateral trade relationship (October 3, 2014) 

Israel

 Understanding regarding Israel’s intellectual property regime for pharmaceutical products (February 

18, 2010)

Iraq

 United States-Iraq Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 11, 2005)

Japan

 United States-Japan Joint Statement on the Bilateral Steel Dialogue (September 24, 1999)

 Exchange of Letters between the United States and Japan—Letters Regarding Electro-Magnetic 

Compatibility (EMC) Testing of Unintentional Radiators and Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) 

Equipment (February 26, 2007)

 Requirements for Beef and Beef Products to be Exported to Japan from the United States of America 

(January 25, 2013)

 United States-Japan Organic Equivalency Arrangement (September 26, 2013)

Korea

 United States-Korea Organic Equivalency Arrangement (June 30, 2014)

Kuwait

 United States-Kuwait Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (February 6, 2004)
Lebanon

 United States-Lebanon Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (November 30, 2006)

Liberia

 United States-Liberia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (February 15, 2007) 

Libya

 United States-Libya Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (signed December 18, 2013)

Malaysia

 United States-Malaysia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (May 10, 2004)

 Agreement to Implement Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 

Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (June 28, 

2016)

Maldives

 United States-Maldives Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (October 17, 2009)

Mauritius

 United States-Mauritius Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (September 18, 2006)

 United States-Mauritius Trade Principles for Information and Communication Technology Services 

(June 18, 2012)

Mongolia

 United States-Mongolia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 15, 2004)

Morocco

 Kingdom of Morocco-United States Trade Principles for Information and Communication Technology 

Services (December 5, 2012)

 Statement of Principles for International Investment (December 5, 2012)

Mozambique

 United States-Mozambique Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (June 21, 2005)

Nepal

 United States-Nepal Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (April 15, 2011)
New Zealand

 United States-New Zealand Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (October 2, 1992)

Nigeria

 United States-Nigeria Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (February 16, 2000)

Oman

 United States-Oman Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 7, 2004)

Pakistan

 United States-Pakistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (June 25, 2003)

Paraguay

 Joint Commission on Trade and Investment (September 26, 2003)

Philippines

 United States-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (1989)

 United States-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Protocol Concerning Customs 

Administration and Trade Facilitation (November 13, 2011)

Qatar

 United States-Qatar Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (March 19, 2004)

Rwanda

 United States-Rwanda Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (June 7, 2006)

Saudi Arabia

 United States-Saudi Arabia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 31, 2003)

South Africa

 United States-South Africa Agreement Concerning the Development of Trade and Investment (June 

18, 2012)

Southern Africa Customs Union

 United States-Southern Africa Customs Union Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative 

Agreement (July 16, 2008)
Sri Lanka

 United States-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (July 25, 2002)

Switzerland

 United States-Switzerland Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (May 25, 2006)

 United States-Switzerland Organic Equivalency Arrangement (July 10, 2015)

Taiwan

 United States-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (September 19, 1994)

Thailand

 United States-Thailand Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (October 23, 2002)

Tunisia

 United States-Tunisia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (October 2, 2002)

Turkey

 United States-Turkey Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (September 29, 1999)

Ukraine

 United States-Ukraine Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement (March 28, 2008)

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

 United States-United Arab Emirates Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (March 15, 2004)

Uruguay

 United States-Uruguay Bilateral and Commercial Trade Review (May 20, 1999)

 Joint Commission on Trade and Investment (January 25, 2007)

 United States-Uruguay Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (January 25, 2007)

i United States-Uruguay Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Protocol Concerning 

Trade and Environment Public Participation (October 2, 2008)

ii United States-Uruguay Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Protocol Concerning 

Trade Facilitation (October 2, 2008)

Vietnam

 United States-Vietnam Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (June 21, 2007)
West African Economic and Monetary Union

 United States-West African Economic and Monetary Union Trade and Investment Framework 

Agreement (April 24, 2002)

Yemen

 United States-Yemen Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (February 6, 2004)