United States

International Trade Commission

The Year in Trade 2015

Operation of the Trade Agreements 

Program

67th Report

July 2016

Publication Number: 4627
United States International Trade Commission

Commissioners

Irving A. Williamson, Chairman

Dean A. Pinkert

David S. Johanson

Meredith M. Broadbent 

F. Scott Kieff

Rhonda K. Schmidtlein

Catherine B. DeFilippo

Director, Office of Operations

William Powers

Director, Office of Economics

Address all communications to

Secretary to the Commission

United States International Trade Commission

Washington, DC 20436
United States

International Trade Commission

The Year in Trade 2015

Operation of the Trade Agreements 

Program

67th Report

July 2016

Publication Number: 4627
This report was prepared principally by:

Project Leader

Joanne Guth, Office of Economics

Deputy Project Leader

Lin Jones, Office of Economics

Office of Economics

Justino De La Cruz, Austin Drenski, Jeffrey Horowitz, Danielle Nesmith,

James Stamps, Alissa Tafti, Edward Wilson, and Wen Jin Yuan

Office of General Counsel

William W. Gearhart

Office of Industries

Arthur Chambers and Laura Rodriguez

Office of Investigations

Mary Messer

Office of Operations

Yasnanhia Cabral

Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements

Naomi Freeman and Daniel Shepherdson

Office of Unfair Import Investigations

David Lloyd

Office of Analysis and Research Services

Robert Bauchspies, Russell Duncan, Peg Hausman, and Jeremy Wise

Content Reviewer

William Deese

Special Assistance

Shala Ewing, Louise Gillen, and Veronica Robinson

Under the direction of

Arona Butcher, Chief

Country and Regional Analysis Division 
U.S. International Trade Commission |1

Preface

This report is the 67th in a series of annual reports submitted to the U.S. Congress under 

section 163(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2213(c)) and its predecessor legislation. 

Section 163(c) states that “the International Trade Commission shall submit to the Congress at 

least once a year, a factual report on the operation of the trade agreements program.”

This report is one of the principal means by which the U.S. International Trade Commission 

provides Congress with factual information on trade policy and its administration for calendar 

year 2015. The trade agreements program includes “all activities consisting of, or related to, the 

administration of international agreements which primarily concern trade and which are 

concluded pursuant to the authority vested in the President by the Constitution” and by 

congressional legislation.
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U.S. International Trade Commission | 3

Table of Contents

Preface ...............................................................................................................1

Abbreviations and Acronyms............................................................................11

Executive Summary ..........................................................................................15

Key Trade Developments in 2015............................................................................................. 16

Summary of 2015 Trade Agreement Activities......................................................................... 30

Chapter 1 Introduction and Overview of U.S. Trade ..........................................41

Scope and Approach of the Report .......................................................................................... 41

Sources...................................................................................................................................... 41

Organization of the Report....................................................................................................... 42

Overview of the U.S. and Global Economies in 2015 ............................................................... 42

The U.S. Economy in 2015 .................................................................................................... 42

Global Economic Trends in 2015 .......................................................................................... 43

Exchange Rate Trends........................................................................................................... 46

Balance of Payments............................................................................................................. 47

U.S. Trade in Goods in 2015...................................................................................................... 48

U.S. Merchandise Trade by Product Category...................................................................... 49

Exports .............................................................................................................................. 49

Imports.............................................................................................................................. 50

U.S. Merchandise Trade with Leading Partners.................................................................... 51

U.S. Trade with FTA Partners................................................................................................ 52

U.S. Imports under Trade Preference Programs................................................................... 54

U.S. Trade in Services in 2015................................................................................................... 54

U.S. Services Trade by Product Category.............................................................................. 54

Exports .............................................................................................................................. 54

Imports.............................................................................................................................. 55

U.S. Services Trade with Leading Partners............................................................................ 56

Chapter 2 Administration of U.S. Trade Laws and Regulations..........................59

Import Relief Laws.................................................................................................................... 59

Safeguard Actions................................................................................................................. 59

Laws against Unfair Trade Practices......................................................................................... 59

Section 301 Investigations.................................................................................................... 59

Section 301 Investigations................................................................................................ 60

Special 301 ........................................................................................................................ 61

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations and Reviews..................................... 65

Antidumping Duty Investigations ..................................................................................... 65

Countervailing Duty Investigations................................................................................... 67
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Reviews of Outstanding Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders/Suspension 

Agreements....................................................................................................................... 68

Section 704 and 734 Investigations.................................................................................. 69

Section 129 Investigation.................................................................................................. 70

Section 337 Investigations.................................................................................................... 70

Trade Adjustment Assistance ................................................................................................... 73

Assistance for Workers......................................................................................................... 74

Assistance for Firms.............................................................................................................. 76

Tariff Preference Programs....................................................................................................... 77

Generalized System of Preferences...................................................................................... 78

African Growth and Opportunity Act.................................................................................... 81

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.............................................................................. 86

Haiti Initiatives.................................................................................................................. 88

Chapter 3 The World Trade Organization .......................................................... 93

Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference.......................................................................................... 93

General Council......................................................................................................................... 94

Work Programs, Decisions, Waivers, and Reviews............................................................... 94

Accessions............................................................................................................................. 95

Expansion of the Information Technology Agreement ............................................................ 95

Agreement on Trade Facilitation.............................................................................................. 97

Selected Plurilateral Agreements............................................................................................. 98

Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft .................................................................................... 98

Agreement on Government Procurement............................................................................ 99

Negotiations on an Environmental Goods Agreement......................................................... 99

Dispute Settlement Body........................................................................................................ 100

New Requests for Consultations and New Panels Established .......................................... 105

Requests for Consultations Filed during 2015 in which the United States was the 

Complaining Party or Named Respondent ..................................................................... 105

Panels Established during 2015 at the Request of the United States............................ 106

Panels Established during 2015 in Which the United States Was the Named 

Respondent ..................................................................................................................... 107

Panel and Appellate Body Reports Issued and/or Adopted during 2015 That Involve 

the United States ................................................................................................................ 109

Reports in Which the United States Was the Complainant............................................ 109

Reports in Which the United States Was the Respondent............................................. 112

Chapter 4 Selected Regional and Bilateral Trade Activities.............................. 115

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development................................................. 115

Ministerial Council Meeting................................................................................................ 115

Trade Committee ................................................................................................................ 116

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ........................................................................................ 117
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Background ......................................................................................................................... 117

2015 APEC Developments................................................................................................... 118

Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)................................................................... 119

Advancing Global Value Chain Development and Supply Chain Connectivity ............... 120

Environmental Goods and Services and Green Growth ................................................. 121

Negotiations on a Trade in Services Agreement .................................................................... 122

Trade and Investment Framework Agreements..................................................................... 123

Developments in TIFA Negotiations during 2015............................................................... 125

Developments in Existing TIFAs during 2015...................................................................... 126

Chapter 5 U.S. Free Trade Agreements............................................................129

U.S. Trade with FTA Partners in 2015 ..................................................................................... 129

U.S. Total Merchandise Trade with FTA Partners............................................................... 129

U.S. Imports Entered under FTAs........................................................................................ 131

Developments in FTA Negotiations during 2015.................................................................... 132

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement........................................................................ 134

TPP Negotiations during 2015 ........................................................................................ 135

About the Agreement..................................................................................................... 136

U.S. Trade with TPP Countries........................................................................................ 139

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Agreement.................................. 140

Developments in the North American Free Trade Agreement .............................................. 143

Commission for Labor Cooperation.................................................................................... 144

Commission for Environmental Cooperation ..................................................................... 145

Dispute Settlement............................................................................................................. 147

Chapter 11 Dispute Settlement Developments.............................................................. 147

Chapter 19 Dispute Panel Reviews................................................................................. 147

Developments in Other FTAs Already in Force during 2015 .................................................. 148

CAFTA-DR ............................................................................................................................ 149

Dispute Settlement......................................................................................................... 150

Environment ................................................................................................................... 151

U.S.-Chile FTA...................................................................................................................... 151

Environment ................................................................................................................... 152

U.S.-Colombia TPA .............................................................................................................. 152

U.S.-Jordan FTA................................................................................................................... 153

U.S.-Korea FTA (KORUS)...................................................................................................... 154

Environment ................................................................................................................... 155

U.S.-Morocco FTA ............................................................................................................... 155

U.S.-Panama TPA................................................................................................................. 156

Environment ................................................................................................................... 156

U.S.-Peru TPA ...................................................................................................................... 156

Labor ............................................................................................................................... 157

Environment ................................................................................................................... 157
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Chapter 6 U.S. Trade Relations with Major Trading Partners........................... 159

European Union ...................................................................................................................... 160

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)..................................................... 162

Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC)................................................................................. 162

Safe Harbor ......................................................................................................................... 164

China ....................................................................................................................................... 165

Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement .......................................................................... 169

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Security Policy ................................. 170

ICT Rules for the Banking Sector..................................................................................... 171

Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals Market Access....................................................... 172

Medical Devices.............................................................................................................. 173

Canada .................................................................................................................................... 174

Softwood Lumber Agreement ............................................................................................ 177

Regulatory Cooperation Council......................................................................................... 177

Mexico..................................................................................................................................... 178

High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) ................................................................................ 180

2015 Achievements ........................................................................................................ 180

Cross-Border Trucking between the United States and Mexico ........................................ 182

Japan ....................................................................................................................................... 183

TPP Negotiations and Dialogue........................................................................................... 185

Passenger Motor Vehicle Market Access ....................................................................... 185

Agricultural Products ...................................................................................................... 186

Insurance and Express Delivery Markets........................................................................ 187

Republic of Korea.................................................................................................................... 188

U.S.-Korea FTA .................................................................................................................... 190

Trans-Pacific Partnership .................................................................................................... 191

Taiwan..................................................................................................................................... 191

U.S.-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.............................................. 193

Agricultural Market Access................................................................................................. 194

Agricultural Biotechnology.................................................................................................. 195

India ........................................................................................................................................ 196

Trade and Investment Dialogue.......................................................................................... 199

Intellectual Property Rights ................................................................................................ 200

Brazil........................................................................................................................................ 201

U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue ........................................................................................ 203

Third Brazil-U.S. Business Summit and Presidential Official Working Visit ........................ 204

Bibliography ................................................................................................... 205

Appendix A Data Tables.................................................................................. 235

Appendix B Additional Tables Corresponding to Figures in the Report............ 307
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Boxes

Box 3.1 Overview of the WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures................................................. 101

Box 5.1 Trade Promotion Authority ........................................................................................... 133

Figures

Figure ES.1 U.S. trade balance in goods and services, 1996–2015 .............................................. 16

Figure 1.1 U.S. real gross domestic product, percentage change, 2006–15................................ 43

Figure 1.2 Economic growth trends in the world, the United States, and selected 

economies, 2013–15..................................................................................................................... 44

Figure 1.3 Indexes of U.S. dollar exchange rates for selected major foreign currencies, daily, 

2015 .............................................................................................................................................. 47

Figure 1.4 U.S. merchandise trade with the world, 2013–15....................................................... 49

Figure 1.5 Leading U.S. merchandise export markets, by share, 2015 ........................................ 53

Figure 1.6 Leading U.S. merchandise import sources, by share, 2015......................................... 53

Figure 1.7 U.S. private cross-border services trade with the world, 2013–2015......................... 55

Figure 1.8 Leading U.S. export markets for private services, by share, 2015 .............................. 57

Figure 1.9 Leading U.S. import sources for private services, by share, 2015............................... 57

Figure 6.1: Map of selected major U.S. trading partners.......................................................... 159

Figure 6.2 U.S. merchandise trade with the EU, 2011–15 ......................................................... 161

Figure 6.3 U.S. private services trade with the EU, 2011–15 ..................................................... 161

Figure 6.4 U.S. merchandise trade with China, 2011–15 ........................................................... 167

Figure 6.5 U.S. private services trade with China, 2011–15....................................................... 167

Figure 6.6 U.S. merchandise trade with Canada, 2011–15 ........................................................ 175

Figure 6.7 U.S. private services trade with Canada, 2011–15.................................................... 175

Figure 6.8 U.S. merchandise trade with Mexico, 2011–15 ........................................................ 179

Figure 6.9 U.S. private services trade with Mexico, 2011–15 .................................................... 179

Figure 6.10 U.S. merchandise trade with Japan, 2011–15......................................................... 184

Figure 6.11 U.S. private services trade with Japan, 2011–15..................................................... 184

Figure 6.12 U.S. merchandise trade with South Korea, 2011–15 .............................................. 189

Figure 6.13 U.S. private services trade with South Korea, 2011–15 .......................................... 189

Figure 6.14 U.S. merchandise trade with Taiwan, 2011–15....................................................... 192

Figure 6.15 U.S. private services trade with Taiwan, 2011–15 .................................................. 192

Figure 6.16 U.S. merchandise trade with India, 2011–15 .......................................................... 198

Figure 6.17 U.S. private services trade with India, 2011–15...................................................... 198

Figure 6.18 U.S. merchandise trade with Brazil, 2011–15 ......................................................... 202

Figure 6.19 U.S. private services trade with Brazil, 2011–15..................................................... 202
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Tables

Table 1.1 U.S. merchandise trade with major trading partners and the world, 2015 (million 

dollars) .......................................................................................................................................... 51

Table 1.2 U.S. merchandise trade with major trading partners and the world, 2014–15 

(million dollars) ............................................................................................................................. 52

Table 1.3 U.S. private services trade with major trading partners and the world, 2015 

(million dollars) ............................................................................................................................. 56

Table 2.1 Antidumping duty orders that became effective during 2015a.................................... 67

Table 2.2 Countervailing duty orders that became effective during 2015a................................. 68

Table 2.3 TAA Certifications, FY 2015........................................................................................... 76

Table 2.4 U.S. imports for consumption from GSP beneficiaries, 2013–15................................. 81

Table 2.5 U.S. imports for consumption from AGOA beneficiaries, 2013–15 ............................. 84

Table 2.6 U.S. imports for consumption from CBERA/CBTPA beneficiaries, 2013–15 ................ 88

Table 2.7 U.S. imports for consumption of apparel from Haiti, 2013–15.................................... 90

Table 3.1 WTO members in 2015 ................................................................................................. 96

Table 3.2 WTO observers in 2015................................................................................................. 96

Table 3.3 WTO dispute settlement panels established during 2015 ........................................ 102

Table 3.4 WTO dispute settlement panel and Appellate Body (AB) reports circulated or 

adopted in 2015 in which the United States was a party........................................................... 109

Table 4.1 U.S. trade and investment framework agreements in 2015 ...................................... 124

Table 5.1 U.S. merchandise trade with FTA partners, by FTA partner, 2013–15....................... 130

Table 5.2 U.S. imports for consumption entered under FTAs, by FTA partner, 2013–15.......... 132

Table 5.3 TPP chapters ............................................................................................................... 137

Table 5.4 U.S. trade with TPP countries, 2013–15 ..................................................................... 139

Table 5.5 Timetable of major TTIP negotiations and leaders’ meetings, 2015.......................... 140

Table 5.6 Active files as of yearend 2015 under Articles 14 and 15 of the North American 

Agreement on Environmental Cooperation ............................................................................... 146

Table 5.7 NAFTA Chapter 19 binational panels, active reviews through 2015.......................... 148

Table A.1 U.S. total exports to the world, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ............................. 237

Table A.2 U.S. general imports from the world, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15.................... 237

Table A.3 Leading U.S. total exports to the world, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ......... 238

Table A.4 Leading U.S. general imports from the world, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 239

Table A.5 U.S. trade with top 15 single-country trading partners, 2015 ................................... 240

Table A.6 Top 15 U.S. single-country export markets, 2015...................................................... 241

Table A.7 Top 15 U.S. single-country import sources, 2015 ...................................................... 241

Table A.8 U.S. private services exports to the world, by category, 2013–15 (million dollars) .. 242
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Table A.9 U.S. private services imports from the world, by category, 2013–15 (million 

dollars) ........................................................................................................................................ 242

Table A.10 Antidumping cases active in 2015, by USITC investigation number........................ 243

Table A.11 Antidumping duty orders and suspension agreements in effect as of December 

31, 2015 ...................................................................................................................................... 245

Table A.12 Countervailing duty cases active in 2015, by USITC investigation number ............. 250

Table A.13 Countervailing duty orders and suspension agreements in effect as of December 

31, 2015 ...................................................................................................................................... 251

Table A.14 Reviews of existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders and suspended 

investigations completed in 2015, by date of completion ......................................................... 253

Table A.15 Section 337 investigations and related proceedings completed by the 

Commission during 2015 and those pending on December 31, 2015 ....................................... 254

Table A.16 Outstanding section 337 exclusion orders as of December 31, 2015..................... 258

Table A.17 U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by source, 2013–15. 262

Table A.18 Value of U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by USITC 

digest sector, 2013–15................................................................................................................ 263

Table A.19 Share of U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by USITC 

digest sector, 2013–15................................................................................................................ 263

Table A.20 Leading U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by HTS 6-

digit subheading, 2013–15.......................................................................................................... 264

Table A.21 U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under AGOA, by source, 2013–

15 ................................................................................................................................................ 265

Table A.22 Leading U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under AGOA, by HTS 6-

digit subheading, 2013–15.......................................................................................................... 266

Table A.23 U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under CBERA, by source, 2013–

15 ................................................................................................................................................ 267

Table A.24 Leading U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under CBERA, by HTS 

6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ...................................................................................................... 268

Table A.25 WTO dispute settlement cases to which the United States was a party, 

developments in 2015 ................................................................................................................ 269

Table A.26 NAFTA Chapter 19 substantive challenges to original and five-year review 

determinations of USITC and USDOC, developments in 2015 ................................................... 278

Table A.27 U.S. total exports to the EU, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15................................ 279

Table A.28 U.S. general imports from the EU, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ...................... 279

Table A.29 Leading U.S. total exports to the EU, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ............ 280

Table A.30 Leading U.S. general imports from the EU, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15... 281

Table A.31 U.S. total exports to China, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15.................................. 282

Table A.32 U.S. general imports from China, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ........................ 282

Table A.33 Leading U.S. total exports to China, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15.............. 283
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Table A.34 Leading U.S. general imports from China, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15..... 284

Table A.35 U.S. total exports to Canada, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15............................... 285

Table A.36 U.S. general imports from Canada, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ..................... 285

Table A.37 Leading U.S. total exports to Canada, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ........... 286

Table A.38 Leading U.S. general imports from Canada, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15.. 287

Table A.39 U.S. total exports to Mexico, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15............................... 288

Table A.40 U.S. general imports from Mexico, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ..................... 288

Table A.41 Leading U.S. total exports to Mexico, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ........... 289

Table A.42 Leading U.S. general imports from Mexico, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15.. 290

Table A.43 U.S. total exports to Japan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ................................. 291

Table A.44 U.S. general imports from Japan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15........................ 291

Table A.45 Leading U.S. total exports to Japan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15.............. 292

Table A.46 Leading U.S. general imports from Japan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 .... 293

Table A.47 U.S. total exports to South Korea, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15....................... 294

Table A.48 U.S. general imports from South Korea, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ............. 294

Table A.49 Leading U.S. total exports to South Korea, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ... 295

Table A.50 Leading U.S. general imports from South Korea, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 

2013–15 ...................................................................................................................................... 296

Table A.51 U.S. total exports to Taiwan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ............................... 297

Table A.52 U.S. general imports from Taiwan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15...................... 297

Table A.53 Leading U.S. total exports to Taiwan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ........... 298

Table A.54 Leading U.S. general imports from Taiwan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 .. 299

Table A.55 U.S. total exports to India, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15................................... 300

Table A.56 U.S. general imports from India, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ......................... 300

Table A.57 Leading U.S. total exports to India, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 ............... 301

Table A.58 Leading U.S. general imports from India, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15...... 302

Table A.59 U.S. total exports to Brazil, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15.................................. 303

Table A.60 U.S. general imports from Brazil, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15 ........................ 303

Table A.61 Leading U.S. total exports to Brazil, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15 .............. 304

Table A.62 Leading U.S. general imports from Brazil, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15..... 305

Table B.1 U.S. trade balance in goods and services, 1996–2015 (millions of dollars) ............... 309

Table B.2 U.S. real gross domestic product, percent change, 2006–15..................................... 310

Table B.3 Economic growth trends in the world, the United States, and selected economies, 

2013-15 ....................................................................................................................................... 310

Table B.4 U.S. merchandise trade with major trading partners, 2011–15 ................................ 311

Table B.5 U.S. merchandise trade with selected major trading partners and the world, 2015 312

Table B.6 U.S. private services trade with major trading partners, 2011–15 ............................ 313

Table B.7 U.S. private services trade with major trading partners and the world, 2015 .......... 314
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Abbreviations and Acronyms 

Acronyms Term

AB Appellate Body (WTO)

AGOA African Growth and Opportunity Act

APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA)

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations

ATPA Andean Trade Preference Act

ATPDEA Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act

BEA Bureau of Economic Analysis (USDOC)

BECC Border Environment Cooperation Commission (NAFTA)

BIT bilateral investment treaty

BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDOL)

BOP balance of payments

CAFTA-DR Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement

CARICOM Caribbean Community and Common Market

CBERA Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act

CBTPA Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act

CEC Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA)

CFDA China Food and Drug Administration

CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

CLC Commission for Labor Cooperation (NAFTA)

CNL competitive need limitation

COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

COOL country of origin labeling

CRS Congressional Research Service

CSQ country-specific quota

CTI Committee on Trade and Investment (APEC)

CTMO Commission Tripartite pour la Mise en Œuvre de la loi Hope (HOPE Act)

DDA Doha Development Agenda (WTO)

DFAT Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)

DSB Dispute Settlement Body (WTO)

DSU Dispute Settlement Understanding (WTO)

EAC Environmental Affairs Council

EC European Commission

ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States

EDA Economic Development Administration (USDOC)

EGA Environmental Goods Agreement

EIAP Earned Import Allowance Program

EIU Economist Intelligence Unit

ETA Employment and Training Administration (USDOL)

EU European Union

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FAS Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA)

Fed. Reg. Federal Register

FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA)

FSSA Food Safety and Sanitation Act

FTA free trade agreement

FTAAP Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific
Acronyms and Abbreviations

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Acronyms Term

FTZ Foreign Trade Zone

FY fiscal year

FYROM Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

G20 Group of 20 

GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GC General Council

GCC Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

GDP gross domestic product

GE genetically engineered

GI geographic indicator

GPA Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO)

GSP Generalized System of Preferences

GTIS Global Trade Information Services

GVC global value chain

GW gigawatt

HELP Haiti Economic Lift Program

HLED High Level Economic Dialogue (U.S.-Mexico)

HOPE Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act

HS Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (international)

HTS Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States

ICTSD International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development

ICT information and communications technology

ILAB Bureau of International Labor Affairs (U.S. Department of Labor)

IMF International Monetary Fund

IMPS U.S. Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications

IPEC Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (U.S.)

IP intellectual property

IPO initial public offering

IPRs intellectual property rights

IT information technology

ITA Information Technology Agreement (WTO)

ITA International Trade Administration (USDOC)

JCCT Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade

JCEC Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation

JECFA Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

JFP Joint Forward Plan

JNNSM Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (India)

JP Japan Post

KORUS U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement

LAC Labor Affairs Council

LCIA London Court of International Arbitration

LCR local-content requirements

LDBDC least-developed beneficiary developing country

LDC least-developed country

LTFV less than fair value

MFAT Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

MFN most favored nation

MOFCOM Ministry of Commerce (China)

MOU memorandum of understanding
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U.S. International Trade Commission | 13

Acronyms Term

MRL maximum residue limit

mt metric tons

NAAEC North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA)

NAALC North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAFTA)

NADB North American Development Bank (NAFTA)

NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement

NAO National Administrative Office (NAFTA)

n.e.s.o.i. not elsewhere specified or included

NGFA National Grain and Feed Association (U.S.)

n.i.e. not included elsewhere

NTM nontariff measure

NTR normal trade relations

OCR Out-of-Cycle Review

OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

OIE World Organisation for Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties)

OTEXA Office of Textiles and Apparel (USDOC)

OTLA Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (NAFTA)

Pub. L. Public Law

PV photovoltaic (solar energy)

RCC Regulatory Cooperation Council

RPS Regulatory Partnership Statement

RTA regional trade agreement

S&ED Strategic and Economic Dialogue (U.S.-China)

SBS simultaneous buy-sell

SCM Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (Agreement)

SEM Submissions on Environmental Measures (NAFTA)

SLA Softwood Lumber Agreement

SMEs small and medium-sized enterprises

SPS sanitary and phytosanitary (standards)

SSA sub-Saharan Africa

TAA Trade Adjustment Assistance

TAD Trade and Agriculture Directorate (OECD)

TAAF TAA for Firms

TAAEA Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act

TBT technical barriers to trade

TC Trade Committee (OECD)

TFA Agreement on Trade Facilitation

TICFA Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement

TIFA Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

TISA Trade in Services Agreement

TIVA Trade in Value Added 

TNC Trade Negotiations Committee

TPA Trade Promotion Agreement

TPF U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum

TPP Trans-Pacific Partnership

TRAI Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

TRIMs Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures

TRIPS Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (WTO)

TRQ tariff-rate quota
Acronyms and Abbreviations

14 | www.usitc.gov

Acronyms Term

TTIP Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (EU)

UN United Nations

U.S.C. United States Code

USD United States dollar

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USDHS United States Department of Homeland Security

USDOC United States Department of Commerce

USDOL United States Department of Labor

USDOS United States Department of State

USDOT United States Department of Transportation

USITC United States International Trade Commission

USTR United States Trade Representative

WAEMU West African Economic and Monetary Union

WHO World Health Organization (UN)

WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization

WTO World Trade Organization
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 15

Executive Summary

This report is the 67th in a series of annual 

reports on the operation of the United 

States’ trade agreements program. It covers 

key U.S. trade developments for 2015: 

summaries can be accessed using the links 

in the column on the right. 

Global economic growth slowed but remained moderate, 

declining from 3.4 percent in 2014 to 3.1 percent in 2015. 

Economic growth in the United States in 2015 remained 

largely stable, with the real growth rate of the U.S. gross 

domestic product at 2.4 percent, unchanged from 2014. 

The economies of most major U.S. trading partners—e.g., 

the European Union (EU), Canada, Mexico, and Japan—

underperformed the world average, China and India 

excepted. 

Key Trade Developments

Administration of U.S. Trade Laws 

and Regulations 

Trade Preference Programs

World Trade Organization

OECD, APEC, TISA, and TIFAs

U.S. Free Trade Agreements

Trade Activities with Major Trading 

Partners

Timeline of 2015 Trade Activities

Reflecting the United States’ strong and stable economic performance compared to other 

major partners, the U.S. dollar appreciated 10.0 percent during 2015 against a broad tradeweighted index of foreign currencies. By yearend 2015, the dollar had appreciated against a 

number of major currencies: 18.0 percent against the Canadian dollar, 16.1 percent against the 

Mexican peso, 10.6 percent against the euro, 4.4 percent against the Chinese yuan, 4.2 percent 

against the British pound, and 0.1 percent against the Japanese yen. The appreciation of the 

U.S. dollar could affect U.S. trade by making U.S. products and services more expensive in 

foreign markets and thus discouraging U.S. exports. Meanwhile, it could make foreign products 

and services cheaper on the U.S. market, encouraging more imports. 

In 2015, U.S. two-way merchandise trade was valued at $3,746.3 billion, representing a decline 

of 5.6 percent from 2014. The value of U.S. merchandise exports fell by 7.2 percent, from 

$1,620.5 billion in 2014 to $1,504.6 billion in 2015, while the value of U.S. merchandise imports 

fell by 4.5 percent, from $2,347.7 billion in 2014 to $2,241.7 billion in 2015. The drop of 

petroleum prices in 2015 was a major factor in the decline in the value of both exports and 

imports, although the quantity of U.S. exports of crude and refined petroleum products 

increased. Two other reasons for the declining value of U.S. exports were the appreciation of 
Executive Summary

16 | www.usitc.gov

the U.S. dollar and lower demand from key U.S. trading partners due to the underperformance 

of their economies. 

U.S. two-way private services trade increased 1.4 percent to $1,159.2 billion in 2015. U.S. 

exports of private services were virtually unchanged from the previous year at $690.1 billion, 

while U.S. imports of private services grew 3.5 percent to reach $469.1 billion in 2015. 

On a balance-of-payments basis, the U.S. trade deficit for goods and services rose from $508.3 

billion in 2014 to $539.8 billion in 2015. The goods deficit rose from $741.5 billion in 2014 to 

$759.3 billion in 2015, an increase of 2.4 percent but well below the $837.3 billion record set in 

2006. At the same time, the U.S. services surplus fell from $233.1 billion in 2014 to $219.6 

billion in 2015 (figure ES.1).

Figure ES.1 U.S. trade balance in goods and services, 1996–2015

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Economic Accounts, “Table 1: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, Exports, Imports, and 

Balances,” updated April 5, 2016, http://www.bea.gov/international/. 

Note: Merchandise trade data are on a balance-of-payments basis. 

Key Trade Developments in 2015

Administration of U.S. Trade Laws and Regulations

Safeguard actions: The U.S. International Trade Commission (the Commission) conducted no 

new safeguard investigations during 2015, and no U.S. safeguard measures under these 

provisions were in effect during any part of 2015.

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

Billion $

U.S. services trade balance

U.S. goods trade balance
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 17

Section 301: There was one ongoing investigation in 2015 under section 301 of the Trade Act of 

1974. This investigation was instituted in 1987 and concerned various meat hormone directives 

of the EU, which prohibit the use of certain hormones that promote growth in farm animals.

Special 301: Special 301 is referenced in the Trade Act of 1974. In the 2015 Special 301 Report, 

the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) examined the adequacy and effectiveness of 

intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in 72 countries. The 2015 Special 301 Report listed

13 countries on the priority watch list (Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, Ecuador, India, 

Indonesia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, and Venezuela) and 24 countries on the 

watch list. In December 2015, USTR issued the 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets 

Report, which highlighted over 20 Internet-based markets and 14 countries with physical 

marketplaces (e.g., shops) that reportedly engage in or facilitate some form of intellectual 

property infringement. 

Antidumping duty investigations: During 2015, the Commission instituted 43 new antidumping 

investigations and made 17 final determinations, and the U.S. Department of Commerce 

(USDOC) issued 14 antidumping duty orders on 8 products from 7 countries. 

Countervailing duty investigations: During 2015, the Commission instituted 23 new 

countervailing duty investigations and made 12 final determinations, and the USDOC issued 9 

countervailing duty orders on 9 products from 4 countries.

Sunset reviews: During 2015, the Commission instituted 56 sunset reviews of existing 

antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders and suspension agreements. The Commission 

also completed 55 reviews, resulting in 49 antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders 

being continued for five additional years.

Section 704 and 734 investigations: During 2015, the Commission received its first-ever 

petitions under sections 704(h) and 734(h) of the Tariff Act of 1930. The petitions asked the 

Commission to review the agreements the USDOC entered into with Mexican sugar exporters 

and the government of Mexico in December 2014 that suspended antidumping and 

countervailing duty investigations concerning sugar from Mexico. On March 24, 2015, the 

Commission determined affirmatively that the agreements completely eliminated the injurious 

effect of the imports in question. 

Section 129 investigation: The Commission instituted a section 129 proceeding effective 

November 6, 2015, in response to a written request from the USTR to issue a consistency 

determination under section 129(a)(4) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. The requested 

determination would examine the Commission’s countervailing duty determination regarding 

imports of certain hot-rolled steel flat products from India in inv. no. 701-TA-405, with the goal 
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of rendering the determination not inconsistent with the Appellate Body’s findings in the WTO 

Dispute Settlement case DS436. On September 23, 2015, USDOC commenced section 129 

proceedings to comply with the Appellate Body report. The Commission issued a section 129 

consistency determination in March 2016 and the USDOC issued its section 129 compliance 

determination in April 2016.

Section 337 investigations: In 2015, there were 88 active investigations and ancillary 

proceedings under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, 42 of which were instituted that year. 

Of the 42 new proceedings, 36 were new section 337 investigations and 6 were new ancillary 

proceedings relating to previously concluded investigations. The Commission completed a total 

of 46 investigations and ancillary proceedings under section 337 in 2015, and issued 2 general 

exclusion orders, 5 limited exclusion orders, and 17 cease and desist orders. 

Technology products continued to dominate the Commission’s section 337 investigations, with 

about 27 percent of the active proceedings involving computer and telecommunications 

equipment, 10 percent involving consumer electronics, and 8 percent involving memory chips 

or integrated circuits. At the close of 2015, 42 section 337 investigations and ancillary 

proceedings were pending at the Commission. 

Trade Adjustment Assistance: On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Trade 

Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Reauthorization Act of 2015. This law reauthorized the TAA for 

Workers program through June 30, 2021, and both the TAA for Firms and the TAA for Farmers 

programs through fiscal year (FY) 2021. 

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) administers the TAA program for workers. In FY 2015, 

USDOL received 1,024 petitions for TAA, up from 990 petitions filed in FY 2014. USDOL certified 

413 petitions covering 57,631 workers as eligible for TAA, and denied 162 petitions covering 

19,444 workers. In FY 2015, USDOC certified 113 petitions as eligible for assistance under the 

TAA for Firms program, and approved 120 adjustment proposals. These figures are slightly 

higher than in FY 2014, when USDOC certified 105 petitions and approved 107 adjustment 

proposals.

Trade Preference Programs

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): The President’s authority to provide duty-free 

treatment to developing countries under the GSP program expired on July 31, 2013, but was 

renewed retroactively on July 29, 2015, through December 31, 2017, by the Trade Preferences 

Extension Act of 2015. (The retroactive duty was applied to goods entered after July 31, 2013, 

through July 28, 2015.) Retroactivity did not apply to countries that were not covered by the 

program’s provisions as of the date of renewal (Russia and Bangladesh). Imports claiming GSP 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 19

preferences totaled $17.4 billion in 2015, accounting for 8.4 percent of total U.S. imports from 

GSP beneficiary countries and 0.8 percent of total U.S. imports.1 India was the leading supplier 

of imports under GSP in 2015, followed by Thailand and Brazil. The value of imports of crude 

petroleum, formerly the top U.S. import under GSP, dropped from substantial levels in 2013 

and 2014 to zero in 2015, contributing to the 6.9 percent decline in U.S. imports under GSP in 

2015. Angola, the United States’ former source of crude petroleum under GSP, is also an AGOA 

beneficiary; Angola supplied crude petroleum to the United States under AGOA in 2015, albeit 

at a lower value (see below).

African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 

extended AGOA for 10 years, through September 30, 2025. In 2015, 39 sub-Saharan African 

countries were designated as eligible for AGOA benefits, and 28 of these were designated as 

eligible for additional textile and apparel benefits. In December 2014, the President terminated 

the designation of Swaziland, The Gambia, and South Sudan as AGOA beneficiaries, but 

designated Guinea-Bissau as a beneficiary. This action was taken because of concerns that the 

three countries were not meeting certain legal requirements. The three terminations and the 

designation were effective on January 1, 2015. In 2015, the regular annual review of AGOA 

eligibility resulted in the withdrawal of Burundi’s AGOA eligibility, effective January 1, 2016. 

U.S. duty-free imports under AGOA were valued at $9.3 billion in 2015, a 35.0 percent decrease 

from 2014. The sharp drop was driven primarily by a decline in both the value and the quantity 

of U.S. imports of crude petroleum, which made up 64.5 percent of the value of imports under 

AGOA in 2015. Angola and South Africa were the largest suppliers of U.S. imports under AGOA 

in 2015. Crude petroleum accounted for almost 100 percent of U.S. imports under AGOA from 

Angola. Passenger motor vehicles were the leading U.S. import under AGOA from South Africa.

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA): At yearend 2015, 17 countries and 

dependent territories were eligible for CBERA preferences. Eight of those countries were 

eligible for additional preferences under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), an

amendment of CBERA enacted in 2000. U.S. imports under CBERA (including CBTPA) fell by 21.9 

percent, from $2.0 billion in 2014 to $1.5 billion in 2015. The large decrease mainly reflected a 

decline in the value of U.S. imports of methanol, crude petroleum, and polystyrene, which are 

major imports from CBERA countries. Trinidad and Tobago continued to be the leading supplier 

of U.S. imports under CBERA in 2015, accounting for 53.7 percent of the total value, followed by 

Haiti (28.1 percent) and The Bahamas (5.7 percent). Crude petroleum was the leading U.S. 

 1 Except for imports from AGOA beneficiary countries, U.S. imports claiming GSP treatment prior to July 29, 2015, 

did not actually enter duty-free, but importers still claimed GSP status to facilitate receiving refunds in case GSP 

were renewed. After GSP’s retroactive renewal, importers were eligible to receive refunds for duties paid during 

the lapse.
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import under CBERA from Trinidad and Tobago, while apparel was the leading U.S. import 

under CBERA from Haiti.

Haiti initiatives: U.S. imports of textiles and apparel from Haiti rose 8.4 percent to $913.7

million in 2015. Virtually all U.S. imports of apparel from Haiti received duty-free treatment 

under trade preference programs, including the CBTPA; the Haitian Hemisphere Opportunity 

through Partnership Encouragement Acts of 2006 and of 2008 (the HOPE Acts); and the Haitian 

Economic Lift Program of 2010 (HELP Act). In June 2015, President Obama signed the Trade 

Preferences Extension Act, which extended the duty-free provisions of the HOPE Acts through 

September 30, 2025. In 2015, the number of apparel jobs in Haiti reached the highest level—

41,200—since the HOPE and HELP Acts were signed in 2006.

WTO 

World Trade Organization (WTO) developments: In 2015, progress on trade issues under the 

15-year-old Doha Development Agenda (Doha Round) was limited. The Tenth WTO Ministerial 

Conference, held in Nairobi, Kenya, December 15–19, 2015, did adopt the “Nairobi Package,” 

which addressed core agricultural as well as least-developed-country issues. However, 

members disagreed on how to resolve remaining issues going forward, especially in terms of 

whether to continue to work on them within the Doha Round framework or not.

In other areas, a number of WTO members reached agreement in July 2015 to expand coverage 

of and liberalize tariffs on information and communications technology (ICT) products under 

the WTO Information Technology Agreement. Efforts also continued in 2015 toward securing 

the needed majority of members to bring the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation into force. 

Finally, a group of WTO members continued negotiations toward completing a plurilateral 

Agreement on Environmental Goods.

WTO dispute settlement: During 2015, WTO members filed 13 requests for WTO dispute 

settlement consultations in new disputes, compared with 14 in 2014. Sixteen new dispute 

settlement panels were established during 2015. 

The United States was the complainant in 2 of the 13 requests filed during 2015, and the 

named respondent in 1. The two new requests filed by the United States during 2015 

concerned (1) measures taken by China that provide subsidies contingent on export 

performance to enterprises in several industries in China, and (2) China’s value-added tax 

exemption for certain types of domestically produced aircraft. The United States was the 

named respondent in 1 new dispute filed by Indonesia during 2015 concerning U.S. 

countervailing duty and antidumping measures on certain coated paper products from 

Indonesia. 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 21

OECD, APEC, TISA, and TIFAs

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) developments: The 34 

OECD members held their ministerial council meeting on June 3–4, 2015, in Paris, France. The 

meeting focused on how to promote economic growth and job creation through public and 

private investment. The OECD Trade Committee and its Working Parties continued to work on 

developing trade-related measures (e.g., the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index, Trade 

Facilitation Indicators), as well as the OECD-WTO Trade in Value Added database and global 

value chains analysis. The Working Parties also worked on other subjects, such as trade-related 

international regulatory cooperation, export controls, and competitiveness in raw materials 

industries, as well as trade and investment by state enterprises.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) developments: Under the Philippines’ leadership in 

2015, cooperation among APEC member economies focused on “promoting and advancing 

inclusive growth in the Asia-Pacific region” by pursuing the following four priorities: (1) 

investing in human capital development; (2) fostering small and medium-sized enterprises’

participation in regional and global markets; (3) building sustainable and resilient communities; 

and (4) enhancing the regional economic integration agenda. 

In 2015, highlights of progress made in advancing APEC’s objectives included the acceptance of 

the Agreement on Trade Facilitation by 11 APEC economies; the launch of the APEC Trade 

Repository, a one-stop online source of APEC economy and trade information; substantial 

progress made by member economies in reducing the applied tariff rates to 5 percent or less 

for each of the 54 goods subheadings on the APEC list of environmental goods; the 

establishment of a Model E-Port Network and related technical support mechanisms to share 

best practices in applying information technology to improve maritime port efficiency; the 

extension of the validity period of the APEC Business Travel Card from three to a maximum of 

five years from September 1, 2015; and the launch of a Collective Strategic Study on Issues 

Related to the Realization of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, among others. In 2015, 

APEC economies also made progress in achieving a 10 percent improvement in supply chain 

performance.

Trade in Services Agreement (TISA): Negotiations toward a Trade in Services Agreement 

continued in 2015 among 23 participants. Areas discussed in the negotiations included delivery 

services, direct selling services, domestic regulation and transparency, electronic commerce, 

energy services, environmental services, financial services, government procurement services, 

localization requirements, patient mobility, professional services, telecommunications services, 

temporary entry of businesspersons, trade rules and disciplines, and transport services (air, 

maritime, and road).
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Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs): As of yearend 2015, the United States 

had entered into 53 TIFAs. During that year, the United States signed a TIFA with Armenia and 

renewed negotiations about a TIFA with Mongolia. A number of TIFA Council meetings also

took place in 2015, including those with Pakistan, Ukraine, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.

U.S. Free Trade Agreements 

U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) in force in 2015: The United States was a party to 14 FTAs 

involving a total of 20 countries as of December 31, 2015. Starting with the most recent, these 

included the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) (which entered into force in 

2012); the U.S.-Colombia TPA (2012); the U.S.-Korea FTA, or KORUS (2012); the U.S.-Oman FTA 

(2009); the U.S.-Peru TPA (2009); a multiparty FTA with several Central American countries and 

the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR) that includes the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, 

Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (entered into force 2006–07) and Costa Rica (2009); the 

U.S.-Bahrain FTA (2006); the U.S.-Morocco FTA (2006); the U.S.-Australia FTA (2005); the U.S.-

Chile FTA (2004); the U.S.-Singapore FTA (2004); the U.S.-Jordan FTA (2001); the North 

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with Canada and Mexico (1994); and the U.S.-Israel

FTA (1985).

FTA negotiations: In 2015, the United States continued to participate in negotiations for two 

regional FTAs—the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations with 11 Pacific Rim partners, 

and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations with the EU. 

Following additional rounds of talks during 2015, the 12 TPP countries announced the 

successful conclusion of their negotiations on October 5, 2015. The TPP trade ministers signed 

the final agreement text on February 4, 2016. The next step toward TPP implementation is for 

the agreement to be approved in accordance with the applicable legal procedures of each 

party. Besides establishing new commitments among the TPP parties, USTR reports that the 

TPP agreement in certain cases will broaden or improve upon commitments in existing U.S. 

FTAs with TPP members Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile, Peru, and Singapore. Associated with 

the TPP agreement is a joint declaration by the macroeconomic policy authorities of the 12 TPP 

countries that addresses unfair currency practices through commitments made to promote 

transparency and accountability in macroeconomic and exchange rate policies.

The United States and the EU held four formal rounds of TTIP negotiations in 2015. Talks 

covered a variety of areas, including market access for goods and services; investment 

liberalization; horizontal (across sectors) regulatory issues, including sanitary and phytosanitary 

issues, technical barriers to trade, and regulatory coherence; regulatory compatibility in nine 

selected sectors; and various topics in the rules area, including customs and trade facilitation, 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 23

IPRs, competition, state-owned enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, and state-tostate dispute settlement.

FTA merchandise trade flows with FTA partners: Two-way merchandise trade (exports and 

imports) between the United States and its 20 FTA partners amounted to $1.5 trillion, 

accounting for 41.2 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade with the world in 2015. The NAFTA 

countries—Canada and Mexico—continued to dominate U.S. trade with FTA partners in 2015, 

accounting for 74.6 percent of such trade, or $1.1 trillion. U.S. exports to NAFTA countries 

totaled $516.4 billion in 2015, down 6.6 percent from 2014; however, U.S. imports from NAFTA 

countries fell 8.1 percent to $590.0 billion in 2015. As a result, the U.S. merchandise trade 

deficit with its NAFTA partners fell 17.6 percent to $73.5 billion in 2015.

Total U.S. two-way trade with FTA partners other than the NAFTA countries amounted to 

$376.8 billion in 2015, down 5.4 percent from 2014. U.S. exports to these FTA partners fell 8.0 

percent to $195.0 billion in 2015, while U.S. imports fell 2.5 percent to $181.8 billion in 2015. 

The United States registered a merchandise trade surplus with these FTA partners of $13.2 

billion in 2015, down from $25.3 billion in 2014. 

The value of U.S. imports entered under FTAs totaled $371.9 billion in 2015, down $42.6 billion 

or 10.3 percent from 2014. These imports accounted for 16.6 percent of total U.S. imports from 

the world and 48.2 percent of total imports from FTA partners in 2015. Canada was responsible 

for the largest decline in U.S. imports entered under FTAs in 2015, reflecting lower world prices 

and reduced U.S. demand for imported energy-related products and other commodities. FTA 

imports from Canada fell by $33.8 billion or 19.4 percent to $140.5 billion in 2015.

NAFTA developments: All of NAFTA’s provisions were implemented by the United States, 

Canada, and Mexico as of January 1, 2008, with the exception of the NAFTA cross-border 

trucking provisions, which were implemented in January 2015 following the successful 

completion of a pilot program. At the end of 2015, four complaints remained active under 

Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, three of 

which were submitted in 2015. In 2015, two complaints were submitted under the North 

American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, one against the United States and the other 

against Mexico.

NAFTA dispute settlement: In 2015, there were four active cases under Chapter 11 (investorstate disputes) filed against the United States, three of which were filed by Canadian investors 

and one by Mexican investors. There were seven cases filed by U.S. investors, six of them 

against Canada and one against Mexico. In addition, at the end of 2015, the NAFTA Secretariat 

listed five review cases under Chapter 19 (Review and Dispute Settlement in Anti-dumping and 

Countervailing Duty Matters). Three of them challenged the Mexican agency’s determinations 
Executive Summary

24 | www.usitc.gov

on products from the United States, and two challenged U.S. agencies’ determinations on 

products from Canada and Mexico.

Trade Activities with Major Trading Partners 

European Union

The EU as a single entity continued to be the United States’ largest merchandise trading 

partner. Two-way U.S. merchandise trade (exports and imports) with the EU was valued at 

$698.7 billion, accounting for 18.7 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade. U.S. exports to the 

EU were $272.7 billion, ranking the EU second to Canada, while U.S. merchandise imports from 

the EU were $426.0 billion, second to China. As a result, the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with 

the EU was $153.3 billion, up from $142.1 billion in 2014. Leading U.S. exports to the EU 

included civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; medicaments (medicines); refined petroleum 

products; blood fractions (e.g., antiserum) and vaccines; medical instruments; and passenger 

motor vehicles. Leading U.S. imports were passenger motor vehicles; medicaments; refined 

petroleum products; turbojets (engines) and parts; and airplanes and other aircraft (of an 

unladen weight above 15,000 kilograms) and parts. The EU was also the United States’ largest 

trading partner in terms of services in 2015, accounting for 32.7 percent of total trade in private 

services. The United States registered a trade surplus in services with the EU of $49.3 billion in 

2015, down from $58.2 billion in 2014.

The major focus of the U.S.-EU trade relationship in 2015 was negotiations to advance the TTIP 

agreement. The Transatlantic Economic Council also continued its work in parallel to TTIP. 

Another notable development in 2015 was a ruling by the European Court of Justice that 

effectively invalidated the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Agreement, which governs protection of EU 

personal data flows to the United States.

China

In 2015, China surpassed Canada to become the United States’ largest single-country trading 

partner based on two-way merchandise trade, accounting for 16.0 percent of total U.S. 

merchandise trade. The U.S. merchandise trade deficit with China, which rose by 6.6 percent, or 

$22.6 billion, to $365.7 billion in 2015, remained higher than the U.S. merchandise trade deficit 

with any other trading partner. U.S. merchandise exports to China amounted to $116.2 billion, 

and U.S. merchandise imports from China amounted to $481.9 billion in 2015. Leading U.S. 

exports were civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; soybeans; passenger motor vehicles; 

processors or controllers; grain sorghum; and waste and scrap metal. Leading U.S. imports were 

computers and parts; cellphones; telecommunications equipment; toys; electrical static 

converters; and video game consoles and machines. 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 25

In addition, in 2015, China was the United States’ fourth-largest single-country trading partner 

based on two-way private services trade, accounting for 5.2 percent of total U.S. services trade. 

The U.S. services trade surplus with China increased by 4.8 percent, from $27.8 billion in 2014 

to $29.1 billion in 2015.

China’s compliance with its WTO commitments remained a focus of U.S.-China trade relations 

in 2015. Top bilateral trade issues between the two countries were China’s IPR protection and 

enforcement; China’s ICT security policy; and access to China’s medical devices and 

pharmaceuticals market, among others. In 2015, the United States and China also held the 

inaugural meeting of the annual U.S.-China Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue in 

Washington, DC. This series of meetings will focus on the policy and regulatory framework for 

agricultural technologies. 

Canada

Canada was the United States’ second largest single-country merchandise trading partner in 

2015 after China, falling from the top position it held in 2014 and previous years. U.S. 

merchandise trade with Canada fell by 12.9 percent to $575.2 billion in 2015, accounting for 

15.4 percent of total U.S. trade. The decline in oil prices was largely responsible for the drop in 

bilateral trade. Both U.S. exports and imports with Canada shrank significantly, but U.S. imports 

from Canada fell more sharply, resulting in a trade deficit of $15.2 billion that was less than half 

the value of the 2014 deficit. U.S. exports to Canada amounted to $280.0 billion in 2015, and 

U.S. imports from Canada totaled $295.2 billion. Leading U.S. merchandise exports to Canada 

included passenger motor vehicles; crude petroleum; civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; motor 

vehicles for goods transport; and refined petroleum products. Leading U.S. imports from 

Canada included crude petroleum; passenger motor vehicles; natural gas; and refined 

petroleum products. 

Canada remained the United States’ second-largest single-country trading partner in services in 

2015, after the United Kingdom. Two-way private services trade was valued at $86.9 billion, 

accounting for 7.5 percent of U.S. trade in private services with the world. The United States 

ran a services trade surplus with Canada of $27.0 billion in 2015, down 13.6 percent from $31.3 

billion in 2014.

In trade policy matters, no major movement toward a renewal or renegotiation of the U.S.-

Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement was evident in the months following its expiration in 

October 2015. The expired agreement contained a one-year grace period for renegotiation in 

which no trade litigation may be filed. Also, in December 2015, the U.S. Congress repealed U.S. 

country of origin labeling requirements for beef and pork, helping to settle a longstanding WTO 

dispute-settlement case with Canada and others regarding these measures.
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Mexico 

In 2015, Mexico was the United States’ third-largest single-country merchandise trading 

partner. With total two-way merchandise trade valued at $531.1 billion, Mexico accounted for 

14.2 percent of U.S. trade with the world. U.S. merchandise exports to Mexico totaled $236.4 

billion in 2015, and U.S. merchandise imports from Mexico amounted to $294.7 billion, 

resulting in a merchandise trade deficit of $58.4 billion, up from $53.8 billion in 2014. In 2015, 

leading U.S. exports to Mexico included refined petroleum products; computer parts and 

accessories; parts and accessories for motor vehicles; telecommunications equipment; and 

civilian aircraft, engines, and parts. Leading U.S. imports from Mexico included passenger motor 

vehicles; computers; motor vehicles for goods transport; crude petroleum; color TV reception 

apparatus; and telecommunications equipment. The United States had a services trade surplus 

of $8.9 billion with Mexico in 2015, down from $10.3 billion in 2014.

U.S.-Mexican trade relations are governed in large part by NAFTA, as well as a new High Level 

Economic Dialogue established in 2013. In 2015, under these frameworks, the two countries 

focused on issues including modernizing border infrastructure, addressing cross-border 

trucking, and strengthening energy regulatory cooperation. The two countries also established 

the United States-Mexico Energy Business Council in 2015 to strengthen the economic ties 

between the energy industries of both countries.

Japan 

In 2015, Japan was the United States’ fourth-largest single-country merchandise trading 

partner. Two-way U.S. merchandise trade with Japan was valued at $193.6 billion, accounting 

for 5.2 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade. U.S. merchandise exports to Japan were $62.5 

billion and U.S. merchandise imports from Japan were $131.1 billion, resulting in a merchandise 

trade deficit of $68.6 billion in 2015; this represented a 2.2 percent increase over the $67.2 

billion deficit recorded in 2014. Leading U.S. merchandise exports to Japan included civilian 

aircraft, engines, and parts; corn; certain medicaments; machines for the production of 

semiconductor devices or electronic integrated circuits; and medical instruments. Leading U.S. 

imports from Japan included passenger motor vehicles; parts of airplanes or helicopters; 

gearboxes and other parts and accessories for motor vehicles; and parts for printers and 

copying machines. In addition, the United States ran a services trade surplus of $16.6 billion 

with Japan in 2015, down from $17.8 billion in 2014.

Economic dialogue between the United States and Japan in 2015 centered on trying to 

conclude the TPP negotiations. In particular, the two sides held bilateral negotiations in parallel 

to TPP negotiations on issues related to passenger motor vehicles and insurance, as well as 

other nontariff measures in areas such as express delivery, transparency, government 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 27

procurement, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. These issues were resolved and 

incorporated into the final TPP agreement, which was officially concluded in October 2015. 

Republic of Korea

In 2015, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was the United States’ sixth-largest single-country 

merchandise trading partner after Germany. Two-way U.S. merchandise trade with South Korea 

was valued at $115.3 billion in 2015, accounting for 3.1 percent of U.S. merchandise trade with 

the world. U.S. merchandise exports to South Korea were valued at $43.5 billion, and U.S. 

merchandise imports from South Korea totaled $71.8 billion. This resulted in a trade deficit of 

$28.3 billion in 2015, a 13.1 percent increase from $25.0 billion in 2014. Leading U.S. exports to 

South Korea during the year included civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; processors or 

controllers; machines for the production of semiconductor devices or electronic integrated 

circuits; corn; and passenger vehicles. Leading U.S. imports to South Korea during the year 

included passenger vehicles; cellphones; refined petroleum products; parts and accessories for 

computers; and electronic integrated circuits. The United States ran a services trade surplus 

with South Korea of $13.4 billion in 2015, up from $12.5 billion in 2014. 

U.S.-South Korea trade relations in 2015 focused on the KORUS FTA and on South Korea’s 

interest in joining TPP negotiations.

Taiwan

In 2015, Taiwan was the United States’ ninth-largest single-economy trading partner, and 

accounted for 1.8 percent of U.S. trade with the world. U.S. two-way merchandise trade with 

Taiwan amounted to $66.6 billion in 2015, a slight decrease of 0.9 percent from $67.3 billion in 

2014. U.S. merchandise exports to Taiwan amounted to $25.9 billion, a 2.8 percent decrease 

from $26.7 billion in 2014; U.S. merchandise imports from Taiwan amounted to $40.7 billion, a 

0.3 percent increase from $40.6 billion in 2014. As a result, the U.S. merchandise trade deficit 

with Taiwan grew by 6.2 percent, or $0.9 billion, rising from $13.9 billion in 2014 to $14.8 

billion in 2015. Leading U.S. exports to Taiwan included civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; 

machines for the production of semiconductor devices or electronic integrated circuits; 

ammunition; memory chips; processors or controllers; electronic integrated circuits; other 

agricultural products such as soybeans, corn, and wheat; and ferrous waste and scrap. Leading 

U.S. imports from Taiwan included electronic integrated circuits; memory chips; parts and 

accessories for computers; cellphones; telecommunications equipment; and processors or 

controllers. The United States ran a services trade surplus with Taiwan in 2015 that totaled $4.3 

billion, compared to $5.0 billion the year before.
Executive Summary

28 | www.usitc.gov

In 2015, U.S.-Taiwan trade relations focused on access to Taiwan’s agricultural market and 

Taiwan’s agricultural biotechnology regulations. 

India

In 2015, India was the United States’ 10th-largest single-country merchandise trading partner. 

Two-way merchandise trade with India was valued at $66.3 billion in 2015, accounting for 1.8 

percent of total U.S. merchandise trade with the world. U.S. merchandise exports to India were 

$21.5 billion and U.S. merchandise imports from India were $44.7 billion, resulting in a U.S. 

merchandise trade deficit with India of $23.2 billion in 2015, slightly down from $23.6 billion in 

2014. Top U.S. exports to India were nonindustrial diamonds; nonmonetary gold; civilian 

aircraft, engines, and parts; coal; and almonds. Leading U.S. imports from India were 

nonindustrial diamonds; certain medicaments; refined petroleum products; jewelry; and frozen 

shrimp. India was the United States’ seventh-largest single-country partner for services and 

continued to be the only top U.S. trading partner with which the United States had a services 

trade deficit in 2015. The services trade deficit with India rose 14.3 percent in 2015, to $6.8 

billion.

In 2015, the United States and India continued dialogue on improving bilateral trade and 

investments through the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum and other bilateral meetings. IPR 

protection is among the top bilateral trade issues between the two countries.

Brazil 

In 2015, Brazil was the United States’ 12th-largest single-country merchandise trading partner, 

dropping from the 9th position in 2014. Two-way merchandise trade between the United States 

and Brazil decreased by 19.0 percent to $59.1 billion, which represented 1.6 percent of total 

U.S. merchandise trade with the world. This steep decline was most likely due to a recession in 

Brazil, which affected Brazil’s demand for U.S. exports, and the lower price of crude oil, which 

affected trade in both directions. U.S. exports to Brazil in 2015 were $31.7 billion, while U.S. 

imports from Brazil were $27.4 billion. As a result, the United States recorded a merchandise 

trade surplus with Brazil of $4.3 billion, down from $11.9 billion in 2014. Leading U.S. exports 

to Brazil included civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; refined petroleum products; certain 

medicaments; and telecommunications equipment. Leading U.S. imports from Brazil included 

crude petroleum; airplanes and other aircraft of unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kg; 

unroasted coffee; and semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products. In 2015, the U.S. trade 

surplus in services with Brazil slightly declined from $19.6 billion in 2014 to $19.2 billion in 

2015.
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U.S. International Trade Commission | 29

In 2015, the United States and Brazil held various bilateral official meetings, such as the U.S.-

Brazil Commercial Dialogue and the Brazil-U.S. Business Summit. At these meetings, they 

continued discussing topics such as trade facilitation, standards and conformity assessment, 

and economic cooperation. 
Executive Summary

30 | www.usitc.gov

Summary of 2015 Trade Agreement Activities

January

1: A fourth round of tariff cuts is made 

under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement 

(KORUS FTA).

5: Following the completion of the threeyear U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Long-Haul 

Trucking Pilot Program, the U.S. 

Department of Transportation submits to 

Congress a report that shows that Mexican 

carriers demonstrate a level of safety at 

least as high as their American and 

Canadian counterparts.

6: The U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic 

Dialogue is held in Washington, DC, to 

discuss energy and climate change 

cooperation and regulatory cooperation, 

among other topics.

15: As a result of the successful completion 

of the pilot program, the Federal Motor 

Carrier Safety Administration begins 

accepting applications from Mexicodomiciled motor carriers interested in 

conducting long-haul operations beyond 

the U.S. commercial zones.

16: The WTO Dispute Settlement Body 

(DSB) adopts the Appellate Body (AB) and 

dispute panel reports in the complaint by 

China regarding U.S. countervailing duty 

measures on certain products from China 

(DS437).

21–24: The World Economic Forum annual 

meeting is held in Davos, Switzerland.

23: USTR delivers the United States’ letter 

of acceptance of the WTO Trade Facilitation 

Agreement to WTO Director-General 

Roberto Azevêdo in Davos, Switzerland.

25–27: President Obama travels to India for 

bilateral meetings with Indian Prime 

Minister Modi to discuss expanding trade 

and investment, among other things.

26: The WTO DSB adopts the AB and 

dispute panel reports in a complaint by the 

United States regarding Argentina’s 

measures affecting the import of goods 

(DS444).

26: India appeals the WTO DSB panel 

report in the complaint by the United States 

regarding India’s import measures on 

certain agricultural products (DS430).

26–30: The fourth round of negotiations on 

the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) 

takes place in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Discussions feature products for renewable 

energy.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 31

January—continued 

26–1: Chief negotiators from the 12 TransPacific Partnership (TPP) countries meet in 

New York City. Progress is made on market 

access for goods, and discussions are held 

on intellectual property, investment, nonconforming measures, state-owned 

enterprises, rules of origin, environment, 

and financial services.

February

2–6: The eighth round of U.S.-EU 

negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and 

Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement 

takes place in Brussels, Belgium.

9–13: The 11th round of Trade in Services 

Agreement (TISA) negotiations takes place 

in Geneva, Switzerland. Issues of interest 

include financial services, 

telecommunications, and domestic 

regulations.

11: The United States requests WTO 

dispute settlement consultations with China 

over China’s measures related to progress 

involving demonstration bases and 

common service platforms (DS489).

12: USTR Froman meets with Brazil’s 

Minister of Development, Industry, and 

Trade, Armando Monteiro, in Washington, 

DC, to discuss a comprehensive strategic 

agenda under the Commercial Dialogue.

17: The U.S.-Algeria Trade and Investment 

Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council 

meeting is held in Algiers, Algeria.

20: The U.S.-Morocco Free Trade 

Agreement (FTA) Joint Committee meeting 

is held in Rabat, Morocco.

23: The WTO DSB establishes a dispute 

panel requested by the EU to examine 

conditional U.S. tax incentives for large civil 

aircraft (DS487).

25: USTR Froman signs a U.S.-East African 

Community (EAC) Cooperation Agreement 

on Trade Facilitation, Sanitary and 

Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, and 

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and hosts 

a ministerial meeting with EAC ministers in 

Washington, DC.

27: A U.S. government report is released on 

labor issues in Honduras related to the U.S.-

Central America-Dominican Republic FTA 

(CAFTA-DR).

March

2: USTR releases President Obama’s 2015 

Trade Policy Agenda and the 2015 Annual 

Report.

5–6: The United States hosts South African 

officials to discuss issues regarding the 

renewal of the African Growth and 

Opportunity Act (AGOA), including 

agriculture and SPS.

9–15: TPP chief negotiators meet in Hawaii 

to discuss market access and legal issues.

10: President Obama meets with WTO 

Director-General Roberto Azevêdo 

regarding implementation of the WTO 

Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
Executive Summary

32 | www.usitc.gov

March—continued 

12: The U.S.-Pakistan TIFA Council meets to 

review progress under the bilateral Joint 

Action Plan.

13: Indonesia requests WTO dispute 

settlement consultations with the United 

States over antidumping and countervailing 

measures on coated paper from Indonesia 

(DS491).

16–20: The fifth round of the EGA 

negotiations takes place in Geneva,

Switzerland, focusing on products for 

environmental monitoring, analysis and 

assessment, and resource efficiency, as well 

as environmentally preferable products.

25: The WTO DSB establishes a dispute 

panel requested by South Korea regarding 

U.S. antidumping measures on oil country 

tubular goods from South Korea (DS488).

26: The third meeting of the CAFTA-DR 

Free Trade Commission is held in Santo 

Domingo, Dominican Republic.

April

1: USTR releases three reports on foreign 

trade measures: the 2015 National Trade 

Estimate Report (NTE), 2015 Report on

Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, 

and 2015 Report on Technical Barriers to 

Trade (TBT). 

13: The 12th round of TISA negotiations 

takes place in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Discussions focus on financial services, 

telecommunications, disciplines concerning 

domestic services regulations, and 

temporary movement of professionals.

15: The second meeting of the U.S.-South 

Africa TIFA Council convenes to discuss 

market access, eliminating barriers to U.S. 

agricultural goods, improving South Africa’s 

business climate and investment policies, 

and intellectual property rights (IPR) 

protection. 

20–24: The ninth round of U.S.-EU 

negotiations on the TTIP agreement takes 

place in New York City. 

22: The WTO DSB establishes a dispute 

panel requested by the United States to 

examine China’s measures related to 

demonstration bases and common service 

platforms programs (DS489).

22: The WTO DSB adopts the AB and 

dispute panel reports in the complaint by 

Vietnam regarding U.S. antidumping 

measures on shrimp from Vietnam (DS429).

23–26: TPP chief negotiators meet in Chevy 

Chase, MD to discuss market access, 

intellectual property, rules of origin, 

investment, and textiles.

30: USTR releases its 2015 Special 301 

Report on the adequacy and effectiveness 

of U.S. trading partners’ protection and 

enforcement of IPR.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 33

May

4–10: The sixth round of the EGA 

negotiations is held in Geneva, Switzerland,

to review the substantive list of product 

nominations developed in previous 

negotiation rounds.

7: The United States and Armenia sign a 

TIFA agreement.

14–28: TPP chief negotiators meet on the 

island of Guam. Main topics of discussion 

include intellectual property, textiles, rules 

of origin, investment, state-owned 

enterprises, labor, e-commerce, and market 

access.

18: The fifth round of the U.S.-Mongolia 

TIFA negotiations is held in Ulaanbaatar, 

Mongolia. Discussions focus on increasing 

cooperation on legal and regulatory 

frameworks and implementing the U.S.-

Mongolia Transparency Agreement.

20: The WTO DSB establishes a dispute 

panel requested by the United States to 

examine Indonesia’s measures on imports 

of horticultural products, animals, and 

animal products (DS478).

22: The U.S. Senate passes the Bipartisan 

Congressional Trade Priorities and 

Accountability Act of 2015, which would 

provide new trade agreements authority to 

the President potentially through July 1, 

2021.

23–24: The Asia-Pacific Economic 

Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible 

for Trade Meeting is held in Boracay, the 

Philippines.

26–28: TPP ministers meet in the 

Philippines for negotiations following the 

APEC and chief negotiators meetings.

28–29: The fifth meeting of the U.S.-

Ukraine Trade and Investment Council is 

held in Kyiv, Ukraine.

29: The WTO DSB adopts the AB and 

dispute panel reports in the complaint by 

Canada and Mexico regarding U.S. country 

of origin labeling (COOL) requirements 

(DS384, DS386).

June

2: USTR releases the Leveling the Playing 

Field report detailing tariff barriers that will 

be addressed in the TPP, with a focus on 

leveling the playing field for U.S. workers 

and businesses by gaining access to new 

markets.

2: A hearing is held on the U.S. labor 

enforcement case against Guatemala 

regarding its obligations under article 

16.2.1(a) of CAFTA-DR.

3–4: The Organization for Economic 

Cooperation and Development (OECD) 

holds its annual Ministerial Meeting in 

Paris, France.

5: USTR announces country-specific 

reallocations of the fiscal year (FY) 2015 inquota quantity of the WTO tariff-rate quota 

(TRQ) for imported raw cane sugar.
Executive Summary

34 | www.usitc.gov

June—continued

5: The United States and South Africa reach 

an agreement that lifts South African 

antidumping duties on a large amount of 

U.S. poultry exports and resolves other 

outstanding disagreements over SPS 

measures affecting U.S. chicken, beef, and 

pork. 

8-12: The United States and China 

exchange negative-list offers at the 19th 

Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) negotiating

round in Beijing, China. 

9: The Environmental Affairs Council 

meeting under the U.S.-Peru Trade 

Promotion Agreement is held in Lima, Peru.

11: The 10th meeting of the U.S.-Chile Free 

Trade Commission under the U.S.-Chile Free 

Trade Agreement is held in Washington, DC.

15–22: The seventh round of EGA 

negotiations is held in Geneva, Switzerland, 

to continue discussions on the list of 

product groups nominated in previous 

rounds. 

18: The United States signs a memorandum 

of understanding on IPR with Paraguay 

during the U.S.-Paraguay Partnership 

Dialogue in Washington, DC.

19: The WTO DSB adopts the AB and 

dispute panel reports in the complaint by 

the United States regarding India’s 

measures on imports of certain agricultural 

products (DS430).

23–24: The seventh U.S.-China Strategic 

and Economic Dialogue is held in 

Washington, DC.

29: President Obama signs into law the 

Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities 

and Accountability Act of 2015, which 

provides new Trade Promotion Authority, 

as well as the Trade Preferences Extension 

Act of 2015, which includes the extension of 

the Generalized System of Preferences 

(GSP), African Growth and Opportunity Act 

(AGOA), Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity 

through Partnership and Encouragement 

Act (HOPE II), and Trade Adjustment 

Assistance (TAA).

30: The United States and Peru establish an 

environmental secretariat to receive public 

submissions concerning environmental 

enforcement, providing an outlet for the 

public to voice views and concerns relating 

to the environment under the U.S.-Peru 

Trade Promotion Agreement.

July

1: The United States Export-Import Bank’s 

charter expires.

6: The 13th round of TISA negotiations 

takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, to 

discuss financial services, 

telecommunications, disciplines concerning 

domestic services regulations, and the 

temporary movement of professionals.

10: The Environmental Affairs Council 

under CAFTA-DR meets in Guatemala City, 

Guatemala.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 35

July—continued

13–17: The United States and the EU 

participate in the 10th round of TTIP 

negotiations in Brussels, Belgium.

14–17: WTO members meet for a new 

round of negotiations to expand the 

Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

23: USTR initiates an out-of-cycle review of 

South Africa’s eligibility to be a beneficiary 

of AGOA.

24: The United States and 54 partners 

agree to expand the products covered by 

the ITA by eliminating tariffs on an 

additional list of 201 products.

24–27: TPP Chief Negotiators meet in 

Maui, HI, to discuss rules related to financial 

services, state-owned enterprises, legal 

issues, and trade in industrial goods, 

agriculture, and textiles. 

27–31: The eighth round of the EGA 

negotiations takes place in Geneva,

Switzerland. Participants identify their 

support for priority products and draft a 

text of the agreement.

31: TPP Trade Ministers release a joint 

statement reporting they had made 

“significant progress” and that they would 

continue to work on resolving “a limited 

number of remaining issues” to successfully 

conclude the TPP negotiations.

August

18: USTR determines Curaçao eligible for 

CBTPA.

22: USTR initiates annual reviews of the 

GSP and the AGOA.

22–24: USTR Froman hosts talks between 

the 10 ASEAN Economic Ministers in Kuala 

Lumpur, Malaysia, to deepen trade and 

investment ties between the United States 

and countries in the region.

24–27: USTR Froman attends the 2015 

U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and 

Economic Cooperation Forum (the 14th 

AGOA Forum) in Libreville, Gabon.

25: U.S. and Mexican officials inaugurate 

the West Rail Bypass International Bridge in 

Brownsville, TX. The bridge is the first new 

international rail crossing between the 

United States and Mexico in 105 years, 

connecting Brownsville, TX, and 

Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Crossing times 

between both countries for passenger and 

cargo vehicles will be reduced, boosting 

regional economic development.

27: The inaugural meeting of the U.S.-

Economic Community of West African 

States (ECOWAS) TIFA Council is held to 

discuss progress on reducing trade barriers 

within ECOWAS and deepening U.S.-

ECOWAS trade, as well as the status of the 

West Africa-EU Economic Partnership 

Agreement.
Executive Summary

36 | www.usitc.gov

August—continued

31: The WTO DSB adopts the dispute panel 

report in the complaint by Argentina 

regarding U.S. import measures on animals, 

meats, and other animal products from 

Argentina (DS447).

September

15–16: The United States and six other 

WTO members meet in Geneva, 

Switzerland, to discuss what possible 

outcomes from the Doha Round could be 

achieved by the December ministerial 

meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

16–22: The ninth round of the EGA is held. 

Negotiators split products into two lists 

based on the level of support for their 

inclusion in the final agreement.

18: The U.S.-Indonesia TIFA Council meets 

to discuss a report on the status of the 

Regional Comprehensive Economic 

Partnership negotiations to which Indonesia 

is a party, and a report on the status of TPP.

22: USTR Froman hosts EU Commissioner 

for Trade Cecilia Malmström for meetings 

on the TTIP negotiations in Washington, DC.

22: U.S. and Indian officials meet for the 

U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial 

Dialogue in Washington, DC.

24: The United States hosts China at the 

inaugural meeting of the annual U.S.-China 

Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue in 

Washington, DC.

26–29: TPP Chief Negotiators meet in 

Atlanta, GA, in what is to be their final 

round of TPP negotiations.

28: The WTO DSB establishes a dispute 

panel requested by Indonesia to examine 

U.S. antidumping and countervailing 

measures on coated paper from Indonesia 

(DS491).

30: The President announces the 

graduation of Seychelles, Venezuela, and 

Uruguay from the GSP program based on 

income as of January 1, 2017; the addition 

of certain cotton products to the GSP

program for least-developed beneficiary 

developing countries; and the granting of 

new competitive need limitation (CNL) 

waivers and the revocation of CNL waivers

for certain products from certain countries. 

30–1: TPP Trade Ministers meet in Atlanta, 

GA, to conclude negotiations.

October

1: U.S. and Taiwan officials meet at the 

ninth TIFA Council meeting in Taipei, 

Taiwan, to discuss Taiwan’s efforts to fulfill 

TIFA commitments, including on IPR, 

agricultural, and pharmaceutical issues.

5: The United States and 11 other Pacific 

Rim nations announce they have reached a 

final agreement on the TPP.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 37

October—continued

6–13: The 14th round of TISA negotiations 

takes place in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Discussions focus on financial services, 

domestic regulation and transparency, 

telecommunications, e-commerce, 

localization, and delivery services.

12: The 2006 Canada-United States 

Softwood Lumber Agreement officially 

expires.

15: U.S. and Mexican officials announce a 

cargo pre-inspection pilot program that 

aims to facilitate trade between the two 

nations. The program began operations at 

the Laredo International Airport in Laredo, 

TX, and the Mesa de Otay Customs Facility 

in Baja California.

19–23: The 11th round of TTIP negotiations 

is held in Miami, FL.

28–4: The United States and China hold the 

22nd round of negotiations for a bilateral 

investment treaty (BIT) in Qingdo, China.

29: USTR Froman hosts the 9th ministeriallevel meeting of the U.S.-India Trade Policy 

Forum in Washington, DC.

29–4: The 10th round of the EGA 

negotiations takes place in Geneva, 

Switzerland. Discussions focus on selecting 

environmental products to which the 

agreement would apply, practical 

implications for customs, and the protocol 

adopting the EGA into the WTO agreement.

November

4: The 12th meeting of the U.S.-Paraguay 

Joint Council on Trade and Investment is 

held in Asunción, Paraguay, to discuss 

several bilateral issues, including IPRs.

5: The United States and least-developed 

countries (LDCs) agree on a 17-year 

extension of a waiver exempting LDCs from 

implementing WTO obligations on the 

protection of pharmaceutical patents and 

undisclosed clinical test data.

5: Macroeconomic policy authorities of the 

12 TPP countries release a joint declaration 

on the TPP agreement that addresses unfair 

currency practices by promoting 

transparency and accountability on 

macroeconomic and exchange rate policies.

5: Text of the TPP agreement is released to 

the public. President Obama notifies 

Congress of the Administration’s intent to 

sign the TPP agreement.

6: The United States suspends benefits to 

South African agricultural products under 

AGOA.

9: The United States and South Korea 

convene a meeting of the Automotive 

Working Group under the KORUS FTA in 

Geneva, Switzerland.

10: The U.S.-Korea Environmental Affairs 

Council meeting under the KORUS FTA is 

held in Seoul, South Korea.
Executive Summary

38 | www.usitc.gov

November—continued

12: The fifth meeting of the U.S.-Peru Free 

Trade Commission takes place in 

Washington, DC.

16–17: The APEC Ministerial Meeting is 

held in Manila, the Philippines. 

17: The first meeting of the U.S.-Armenia 

TIFA Council takes place in Yerevan, 

Armenia, to discuss IPRs, customs 

clearances, technical barriers to trade, 

sanitary measures, investment promotion 

efforts, private sector engagement, 

government procurement, the WTO Trade 

Facilitation Agreement, and environmental 

and labor issues.

18–19: The APEC Economic Leaders’ 

Meeting is held in Manila, the Philippines. 

21–23: The United States and China hold 

the 26th session of the U.S.-China Joint 

Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) 

in Guangzhou, China.

23: The second meeting of the U.S.-

Bangladesh Trade and Investment 

Cooperation Forum Agreement Council is 

held. Discussions include labor rights and 

workplace safety concerns, capital controls, 

and market access.

25: USTR announces that it will hold a 

hearing in January 2016 on several Country 

Practices Reviews of worker rights under 

the GSP.

29–4: The 15th round of the TISA 

negotiations is held in Geneva, Switzerland,

to discuss domestic regulation, 

transparency in legislative processes, and 

financial services.

30–4: The 11th round of the EGA 

negotiations is held in Geneva, Switzerland,

to continue discussions on the final list of 

goods to be included in the agreement.

December

7: Arbitration in the complaint by Canada 

and Mexico regarding U.S. COOL 

requirements (DS384, DS386) determines 

that nullification and impairment of trade 

benefits were caused by these 

requirements.

8: The United States requests WTO dispute 

settlement consultations with China over 

tax measures affecting domestically 

produced aircraft (DS501).

8–11: USTR Froman travels to the United 

Kingdom and Belgium for meetings on TTIP.

15: Arbitration in the complaint by Vietnam 

over U.S. antidumping measures on shrimp 

from Vietnam (DS429) determines the 

reasonable period of time to implement the 

DSB decisions to be 15 months from 

adoption of the AB and dispute panel 

reports. 

15–19: The WTO’s 10th Ministerial 

Conference is held in Nairobi, Kenya.

16: The United States and WTO partners 

announce final agreement on the landmark 

expansion of ITA.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 39

December – continued

16: The U.S. Congress lifts the 40-year ban 

on exports of U.S. crude oil.

17: USTR announces findings of the Special 

301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious 

Markets for 2015.

17: USTR publishes a notice requesting 

comments on the negotiated EGA.

18: The U.S. Congress repeals U.S. COOL 

requirements for beef and pork, in 

anticipation of forthcoming WTO 

authorization for Canada and Mexico to 

suspend tariff concessions in dispute cases 

DS384 and DS386.

21: The WTO DSB authorizes Canada and 

Mexico to suspend tariff concessions to the 

United States concerning COOL 

requirements (DS384, DS386).

23: USTR releases its 2015 Report to 

Congress on China’s WTO compliance.

Source: Compiled from official and private sources, including the U.S. Department of 

Commerce, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Trade Representative, White House, World Trade 

Organization, European Commission, Global Affairs Canada, Inside U.S. Trade, and Washington 

Trade Daily.
Executive Summary

40 | www.usitc.gov
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 41

Chapter 1

Introduction and Overview of U.S. 

Trade

Scope and Approach of the Report

This report provides factual information on the operation of the U.S. trade agreements program 

and its administration for calendar year 2015. Trade agreement activities during 2015 include 

the administration of U.S. trade laws and regulations; U.S. participation in the World Trade 

Organization (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 

and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum; U.S. negotiation of and participation in free 

trade agreements (FTAs) and trade and investment framework agreements; and trade-related 

bilateral developments with major trading partners. This report also includes an overview of 

the international economic and trade environment within which U.S. trade policy was 

conducted in 2015.

Sources

This report is based on primary source materials about U.S. trade programs and administrative 

actions pertaining to them. These materials chiefly encompass U.S. government reports, 

Federal Register notices, and news releases, including publications and news releases by the 

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or the Commission) and the Office of the United 

States Trade Representative. Other primary sources of information include publications of 

international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, OECD, WTO, 

United Nations, and foreign governments. The report draws on professional journals, trade 

publications, and news reports for supplemental factual information when primary source 

information is unavailable.

The Year in Trade 2015 report, as with past reports, relies on U.S. Census Bureau (U.S. Census) 

data for the U.S. merchandise trade statistics presented throughout the report. Most tables in 

the report present U.S. merchandise trade statistics using “total exports” and “general imports”

as measures,2 except for data on U.S. imports entered with a claim of eligibility under trade 

 2 “Total exports” measures the total physical movement of goods out of the United States to foreign countries,

whether such goods are exported from the U.S. customs territory or from a U.S. Customs bonded warehouse or a 

U.S. Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). Total exports is the sum of domestic exports and “foreign exports” (also known as 

re-exports). “General imports” measures the total physical arrivals of merchandise from foreign countries, whether 
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of U.S. Trade

42 | www.usitc.gov

preference programs and free trade agreements. Such data require an analysis of U.S. “imports 

for consumption”—goods that have been cleared by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to 

enter the customs territory of the United States with required duties paid.3 Most of the 

merchandise trade data used in this report can be accessed using the USITC’s DataWeb 

database (https://dataweb.usitc.gov/). 

Chapters 1 and 6 also offer data on services trade. The information on services trade is based 

on data for cross-border trade in private services, which exclude government sales and 

purchases of services. The source of these data is the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the 

U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC or Commerce). 

Organization of the Report

The rest of this chapter provides an overview of U.S. trade and includes relevant information on 

the economies of the United States and major trading partners to help explain trends in U.S. 

trade in 2015. Chapter 2 covers the administration of U.S. trade laws and regulations in 2015, 

including tariff preference programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). 

Chapter 3 focuses on U.S. participation in the WTO, including developments in major WTO 

dispute settlement cases during 2015. Chapter 4 covers 2015 developments at the OECD and 

the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as well as negotiations on an agreement on trade 

in services and developments with trade and investment framework agreements. Chapter 5 

describes U.S. negotiation of and participation in FTAs, and chapter 6 covers trade-related 

bilateral developments in 2015 with major U.S. trading partners.

Overview of the U.S. and Global Economies in 

2015 

The U.S. Economy in 2015 

The level of U.S. imports and exports of goods and services depends on the strength of the U.S. 

and global economies, respectively. For example, a rapidly growing U.S. economy increases U.S. 

demand for imports. In 2015, the overall picture of economic growth in the U.S. economy 

 

such merchandise enters the U.S. customs territory immediately or is entered into bonded warehouses or FTZs 

under U.S. Customs custody. 3 For more information about measures of U.S. merchandise exports and imports, see “Trade Metrics” section of 

USITC, Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade, 2014, June 2015; USITC, “A Note on U.S. Trade Statistics,” August 22, 2014, 

http://www.usitc.gov/publications/research/tradestatsnote.pdf. 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 43

remained largely unchanged from 2014. U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.4 

percent in 2015, identical to the growth rate in 2014 (figure 1.1).4

Figure 1.1 U.S. real gross domestic product, percentage change, 2006–15

Source: USDOC, BEA, “Gross Domestic Product: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2015 (Third Estimate),” March 25, 2016; USDOC, BEA, “Gross 

Domestic Product: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2015 (Second Estimate),” February 26, 2016, table 7.

Global Economic Trends in 2015 

Global economic growth slowed but remained moderate, declining to 3.1 percent in 2015 from 

3.4 percent in 2014 and 3.3 percent in 2013 (figure 1.2). Many factors influenced global 

economic growth during 2015, most notably lower world prices for energy and other 

commodities; a continued U.S. economic recovery and appreciation of the U.S. dollar against 

several major currencies; and a gradual slowdown and rebalancing of China’s economy away 

from investment and export-oriented manufacturing toward domestic consumption and 

services.5

 4 Real GDP is a measure of the value of the goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of 

the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes. USDOC, BEA, “Gross Domestic Product: 

Fourth Quarter and Annual 2015 (Third Estimate),” March 25, 2016, table 2. 5 IMF, “World Economic Outlook Update,” January 19, 2016, 1.

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Percent
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of U.S. Trade

44 | www.usitc.gov

Figure 1.2 Economic growth trends in the world, the United States, and selected economies, 2013–15

Sources: USDOC, BEA, “Gross Domestic Product: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2015 (Second Estimate),” February 26, 2016, table 7; OECD, 

“Country Statistic Profile: European Union 2015,” (accessed March 30, 2016); IMF, “World Economic Outlook Update,” January 19, 2016 

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/update/01/pdf/0116.pdf; IMF, World Economic Outlook: Adjusting to Lower Commodity 

Prices, October 2015, table A. 

Note: EU 2015 data is for the Euro area. 2015 data for South Korea is a projection. 

Growth performance by specific major U.S. trading partners diverged widely during 2013–15, 

affecting both their bilateral trade with the United States and their exchange rates against the 

U.S. dollar. For example, Canada and Mexico—both energy exporters with economies that are 

heavily linked to that of the United States—experienced differing growth trends during 2014–

15. Canada’s growth fell sharply during 2015, largely as a result of that country’s declining 

energy sector output and lower world energy prices.6 Mexico, by contrast, experienced an 

increase, although small, in 2015. The drag from Mexico’s declining energy sector output and 

lower world energy prices was offset by the benefits from the country’s export-based 

manufacturing sector (linked to the U.S. economy) and a depreciating exchange rate that 

helped boost exports to its main trade partners, including the United States.7

Several other important U.S. trading partners, including South Korea, the European Union (EU), 

Japan, and Brazil, experienced economic growth at or below the world average during 2013–15. 

South Korea’s economic growth largely tracked the world average, reflecting that country’s 

 

6 EIU, “Country Report: Canada,” March 2016, 9. Canada ranked as the fifth-largest energy producer in the world in 

2015 after the United States, China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. EIU, “Industry Report—Energy: Canada,” 2016, 2. 7 EIU, “Country Report: Mexico,” March 2016, 6

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

World United

States

European

Union

China Canada Mexico Japan South

Korea

India Brazil

Percent

2013 2014 2015
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 45

reliance on export-oriented manufacturing and foreign demand to power its growth.

8 Economic 

growth in the EU, Japan, and Brazil remained significantly below the world average during 

2013–15. While there were substantial differences in economic performance among EU 

countries, slow growth in the EU as a whole was the result of structural economic problems in 

several countries, such as high levels of public and private debt and high unemployment.9 Japan 

remained in a protracted period of low economic growth due to longstanding economic 

problems, such as an aging population and resulting labor shortages that limit industrial output; 

low private consumption and weak domestic demand; and slower economic growth in key 

export markets.10 Brazil’s economy, heavily dependent on oil and mining exports, sharply 

contracted in 2015 as a result of low world energy and commodity prices, declining investment, 

rising inflation, and the economic repercussions of a lengthy domestic political and fiscal 

crisis.11

Economic growth in China and India continued to significantly outperform the world average in 

2015, but the two countries were on distinctly different growth paths. China’s economic growth 

slowed from 7.7 percent in 2013 to 6.9 percent in 201512 as the country continued to rebalance 

its economy away from export-oriented manufacturing and investment to becoming a more 

domestic consumption- and service-based economy.13 Given China’s extensive linkages to 

international supply chains and its relatively high GDP per capita of $14,543, the effects of its 

economic slowdown were transmitted globally. China’s lower demand for imports added 

downward pressure on global commodity prices and reduced export opportunities for countries 

that had oriented themselves around supplying that demand.14 India’s economic growth, in 

contrast, accelerated from 6.9 percent in 2013 to 7.3 percent in 2015—one of the highest 

growth rates in the world that year. India’s strengthened economic performance was aided by a 

lower energy import bill and an expanding services sector. However, higher growth in India had 

limited spillover into the global economy. India has notably fewer linkages to the global 

economy, a relatively small manufacturing sector, significant infrastructure bottlenecks that 

undermine productivity, and a per capita income that, at $6,079, is too low to spur strong 

demand for imports.15

 8 EIU, “Country Report: South Korea,” March 2016, 7. 9 OECD, Economic Outlook, November 2015, 122–25. 10 Ibid., 166–70; OECD, “OECD Economic Surveys: Japan,” April 2015, 4. 11 EIU, “Country Report: Brazil,” February 2016, 8. 12 EIU, “Country Report: China,” February 2016, 12, 35. 13 IMF, “World Economic Outlook Update,” January 19, 2016, 1. 14 Ibid.; EIU, “Country Report: China,” February 2016, 12, 35, and March 2016, 10. 15 EIU, “Country Report: India,” March 2016, 7, 11, 13.
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of U.S. Trade

46 | www.usitc.gov

Exchange Rate Trends 

In 2015, the U.S. dollar continued its appreciation against the broad dollar index, rising by 10.0 

percent from January 2, 2015, to December 31, 2015.16 U.S. dollar appreciation reflected both 

the relatively robust U.S. economic performance, compared to that of other major trading 

partners, and global investors’ shift into U.S dollar-denominated assets, which increased global 

demand for U.S. dollars and thereby contributed to U.S. dollar appreciation. This shift reflected

investors’ concerns about economic risks in other countries—such as China’s economic 

slowdown, lagging growth in the EU countries and in Japan, and slower growth in energyexporting countries due to declining global energy prices.17 

By yearend 2015, the dollar had appreciated against a number of major currencies: 18.0 

percent against the Canadian dollar, 16.1 percent against the Mexican peso, 10.6 percent 

against the euro, 4.4 percent against the Chinese yuan, 4.2 percent against the UK pound, and 

0.1 percent against the Japanese yen (figure 1.3). The appreciation of the dollar against the 

Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso became noticeable after May, partly due to the steep fall 

in oil prices that hit both countries’ exports of crude petroleum, and partly due to the market 

expectation of an interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which materialized on 

December 16, 2015.18 The European Central Bank’s quantitative easing program, on the other 

hand, could have contributed to the decline of the euro against the dollar in 2015.19 The 

appreciation of the U.S. dollar could affect U.S. trade by making U.S. products and services 

more expensive in foreign markets and thus discouraging U.S. exports, while making foreign 

products and services cheaper in the U.S. market, encouraging more imports.

 

16 The broad dollar index is a weighted average of the foreign exchange values of the U.S. dollar against the 

currencies of a large group of major U.S. trading partners. Dollar appreciation is measured as the increase in the 

broad dollar index from January 2, 2015, to December 31, 2015. U.S. Federal Reserve, “Foreign Exchange Rates,” 

n.d. (accessed April 13, 2016). 17 Fischer, “The Transmission of Exchange Rate Changes,” November 12, 2015; IMF, World Economic Outlook: 

Adjusting to Lower Commodity Prices, October 2015, 6. 18 FT, “Mexican Peso Hits Record Low—What Now?” July 2, 2015. 19 FT, “Quantitative Easing and the Decline of the Euro,” March 13, 2015.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 47

 Figure 1.3 Indexes of U.S. dollar exchange rates for selected major foreign currencies, daily, 2015a

Source: U.S. Federal Reserve Board, “Foreign Exchange Rates,” n.d. https://www.federalreserve.gov/datadownload/Choose.aspx?rel=H10

(accessed April 13, 2016). a Units of the foreign currency per unit of the U.S. dollar. A decrease in the index represents a depreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the 

foreign currency, and an increase in the index represents an appreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the foreign currency.

Balance of Payments20 

The U.S. current-account deficit—the combined balances of trade in goods and services, 

income, and net unilateral current transfers—rose to $484.1 billion (preliminary) in 2015 from 

$389.5 billion in 2014.21 The 2015 current-account deficit was equivalent to 2.7 percent of 

current-dollar (nominal) GDP in 2015, up from 2.2 percent of GDP in 2014.22 The 2015 deficit 

 20 This section of the report relies on trade data reported by the BEA. The merchandise trade data reported by the 

BEA is derived from U.S. Census data, which the BEA then adjusts to bring it in line with the concepts and 

definitions used to prepare the international and national accounts (balance of payments basis). The merchandise 

trade data reported in all other sections of the report rely solely on U.S. Census data. The services trade data in 

this section use BEA data on U.S. cross-border trade in private services as well as transfers under U.S. military 

agency sales contracts and U.S. government purchases of miscellaneous services. Under the criteria used to 

calculate the BEA’s national accounts data, cross-border services trade occurs when firms in one country provide 

services to consumers in another country, with people, information, or money crossing U.S. boundaries in the 

process. U.S. firms also provide services to foreign consumers through affiliated companies abroad. Cross-border 

services trade is recorded as exports or imports in international balance of payments data, whereas the income 

generated through affiliate transactions is recorded as investment income. For more information on goods and 

services data, see USDOC, ITA, “Trade Data Basics” (accessed March 31, 2016).

21 USDOC, BEA, “U.S. International Transactions: Fourth Quarter and Year 2015,” March 17, 2015. 22 Ibid.

90

95

100

105

110

115

120

125

Depreciation

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

$ Appreciation

Euro Pound Canadian dollar Yuan Yen Peso

January 2, 2015 = 100
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of U.S. Trade

48 | www.usitc.gov

was the largest U.S. current-account deficit since 2008, when it totaled $690.8 billion.23 The 

increase in the current-account deficit was due to two separate trends in 2015: a rise in the 

merchandise trade deficit, and decreases both in the surplus in services trade and in the surplus 

on primary income (investment income and compensation).24

The U.S. trade deficit for goods and services increased from $508.3 billion in 2014 to $539.8 

billion in 2015. The trade deficit on goods rose from $741.5 billion in 2014 to $759.3 billion in 

2015. Meanwhile, the trade surplus on services fell from $233.1 billion in 2014 to $219.6 billion 

in 2015.25 Trends in U.S. trade in goods and services in 2015 are described in more detail below. 

U.S. Trade in Goods in 201526

The value of U.S. merchandise exports totaled $1,504.6 billion in 2015, down by 7.2 percent 

($115.9 billion) from $1,620.5 billion in 2014 (figure 1.4 and appendix table A.1). U.S. 

merchandise imports totaled $2,241.7 billion in 2015, down 4.5 percent ($106.0 billion) from 

$2,347.7 billion in 2014 (figure 1.4 and appendix table A.2). Because U.S. exports declined more 

than U.S. imports, the U.S. merchandise trade deficit expanded to $737.1 billion in 2015 from 

$727.2 billion in 2014.

In 2015, the price of crude petroleum fell substantially from the 2014 level,27 affecting the 

value of U.S. trade in crude petroleum as well as refined petroleum products (see below).28

Crude petroleum and refined petroleum products account for an important share of U.S. trade 

with the world, as well as with certain trading partners in particular, such as Canada. Indeed, 

largely because of the big fall in the value of petroleum-related trade with Canada, Canada’s 

rank as the largest U.S. single-country trading partner dropped to second after China in 2015. 

Also, crude petroleum has been an important U.S. import under three trade preference 

 

23 USDOC, BEA, “International Data: International Transactions Tables” (accessed March 30, 2016). 24 Ibid. The balance on primary income is primary income receipts (including income receipts on U.S.-owned assets 

abroad and compensation of U.S. employees abroad) less primary income payments (including income payments 

on foreign-owned assets in the United States and compensation of foreign employees in the United States). 25 USDOC, BEA, “U.S. International Transactions: Fourth Quarter and Year 2015,” March 17, 2015. 26 The U.S. merchandise trade data in this report use total exports and general imports as reported by U.S. Census, 

except for imports entered under FTA and trade preference program provisions, which use U.S. imports for 

consumption. For further information about these terms, see USDOC, ITA, “Trade Data Basics” (accessed March 31, 

2016). 27 The spot price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil dropped from $95.14 per barrel on January 2, 2014, to

$37.13 per barrel on December 31, 2015, a steep 61.0 percent decline. EIA, “Spot Prices for Crude Oil and 

Petroleum Products,” May 4, 2016. 

28 The decline in U.S. imports of crude petroleum was also affected by a decline in U.S. demand for imported crude 

stemming from an increase in domestic crude oil production. The weekly U.S. field production of crude oil rose 

from 8,145,000 barrels per day at the beginning of 2014 to 9,202,000 barrels per day at the end of 2015. EIA, 

“Weekly U.S. Field Production of Crude Oil,” n.d. (accessed May 12, 2016). 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 49

programs—GSP (for least-developed beneficiary developing countries only), the African Growth 

and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA). Thus 

declines in the price of crude petroleum also contributed to declines in the value of U.S. 

imports under these programs in 2015.29

Figure 1.4 U.S. merchandise trade with the world, 2013–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 11, 2016).

U.S. Merchandise Trade by Product Category

Exports

The overall drop in the value of U.S. merchandise exports in 2015 was reflected in export 

decreases in all but one of the 12 broad merchandise sectors defined by the Commission 

(appendix table A.1).30 Energy-related products, which accounted for 7.4 percent of the value of 

U.S. exports in 2015, experienced the largest decline—down by 30.6 percent ($49.2 billion) 

from $160.9 billion in 2014 to $111.7 billion in 2015. This decline reflected, in part, the effects 

 29 There were no imports of crude petroleum under GSP in 2015 because imports of crude from Angola, the former 

crude supplier under GSP, entered under AGOA rather than GSP, albeit at a much lower value in 2015. 

30 The HTS 8-digit subheadings included in each USITC digest sector can be found in USITC, “Frequently Asked 

Questions,” Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade, 2014, June 2015. 

https://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/trade_shifts_2014/digest_hts8_dir_5_23_2014.pdf. 

-1,000

-500

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

2013 2014 2015

Billion $

Total exports General imports Trade balance
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of U.S. Trade

50 | www.usitc.gov

of lower global energy prices during the year.31 Transport equipment continued to rank as the 

largest U.S. export sector in 2015, accounting for 21.7 percent of merchandise exports during 

the year. However, exports of transport equipment fell by 3.0 percent ($10.0 billion) from 

$336.3 billion in 2014 to $326.3 billion in 2015. Footwear products, which accounted for less 

than 0.5 percent of the value of U.S. exports in 2015, was the only sector that experienced an 

increase—a marginal increase of 0.2 percent from 2014, which left the value of U.S. footwear 

exports in 2015 virtually unchanged at less than $1.5 billion. Leading products exported in all 

merchandise sector categories in 2015 by HTS 6-digit subheading (HTS 6) included civilian 

aircraft, engines, and parts; refined petroleum products; passenger motor vehicles; certain 

medicaments (medicine); and nonmonetary gold (appendix A.3).

Imports

The overall decrease in the value of U.S. merchandise imports in 2015 was accounted for by just 

two of the 12 merchandise sector categories—energy-related products and minerals and 

metals (appendix table A.2). Imports of energy-related products fell by 44.7 percent ($157.1 

billion) from $351.6 billion in 2014 to $194.5 billion in 2015, reflecting primarily a $120.9 billion 

decline in imports of crude petroleum.32 This decline primarily resulted from the continued 

increase in U.S. domestic production of crude petroleum (and consequent reduced demand for 

imports), as well as lower crude petroleum prices during the year.33 Energy-related products 

accounted for 8.7 percent of the value of merchandise imports in 2015, down from 15.0 

percent in 2014. Imports of minerals and metals fell by 7.9 percent ($16.1 billion) from $205.0 

billion in 2014 to $188.9 billion in 2015, reflecting reduced global demand and decreasing world 

prices in 2015.34 Minerals and metals accounted for 8.4 percent of merchandise imports in 

2015, down marginally from 8.7 percent of imports in 2014. 

Imports in the other 10 sector categories increased. Imports of electronic products totaled 

$448.9 billion in 2015, up 2.5 percent from $437.9 percent in 2014, while imports of 

transportation equipment totaled $425.4 billion, up 5.6 percent from $403.0 billion in 2014. 

The electronics products sector, which has ranked as the largest import sector since 2012, 

 

31 By volume, total U.S. petroleum product exports (including crude oil) increased from 1.5 billion barrels in 2014 to

1.7 billion barrels in 2015. USEIA, “This Week in Petroleum: U.S. Petroleum Product,” March 16, 2016; USEIA, 

“Petroleum and Other Liquids: Exports” (accessed March 26, 2016). For additional information on U.S. energy 

exports in 2015, see USEIA, “Monthly Energy Review,” February 2016.

32 By volume, U.S. imports of crude petroleum declined 1.5 percent to 2.7 billion barrels. Official trade statistics of 

the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 18, 2016). 

33 EIA, “Spot Prices for Crude Oil and Petroleum Products,” May 4, 2016, 

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_spt_s1_d.htm; EIA, “Weekly U.S. Field Production of Crude Oil,” n.d. 

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=WCRFPUS2&f=W (accessed May 12, 2016). 34 USGS, “Value of U.S. Mineral Production Decreased in 2015,” January 28, 2016.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 51

accounted for 20.0 percent of the value of total merchandise imports in 2015, followed by 

transportation equipment, at 19.0 percent. Top products imported in 2015 in all merchandise 

sectors included crude petroleum, passenger motor vehicles, cellphones, certain medicaments, 

telecommunications equipment, and computers (appendix table A.4).

U.S. Merchandise Trade with Leading Partners

Table 1.1 shows U.S. trade with selected major trading partners, ranked by total trade (exports 

plus imports) in 2015. In 2015, the EU remained the United States’ top trading partner in terms 

of two-way merchandise trade, followed by China (which replaced Canada as the secondlargest U.S. trading partner in 2015), Canada, and Mexico. Canada was the leading market for 

U.S. exports, and China was the leading source of U.S. imports. (For U.S. trade with the top 15 

single-country U.S. trading partners, including the EU member states listed separately, see 

appendix tables A.5–A.7.)

Table 1.1 U.S. merchandise trade with major trading partners and the world, 2015 (million dollars)

Major trading partner

U.S. total 

exports U.S. general imports Trade balance

Two-way trade 

(exports plus 

imports)

EU 272,688 426,006 -153,318 698,693

China 116,186 481,881 -365,695 598,067

Canada 280,017 295,190 -15,174 575,207

Mexico 236,377 294,741 -58,364 531,118

Japan 62,472 131,120 -68,648 193,592

South Korea 43,499 71,827 -28,329 115,326

Taiwan 25,929 40,708 -14,779 66,637

India 21,530 44,741 -23,212 66,271

Brazil 31,666 27,405 4,260 59,071

All others 414,235 428,044 -13,809 842,279

Total 1,504,597 2,241,664 -737,066 3,746,261

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed February 12, 2015).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.

U.S. merchandise exports to all major trading partners fell in 2015 from 2014 (table 1.2). 

Several factors contributed to this decline. Low or slowing growth in several major trading 

partners dampened their demand for U.S. products, while appreciation of the U.S. dollar 

against the currencies of many major trading partners made U.S exports less globally 

competitive. Among the largest declines in value were a $32.4 billion decline in exports to 

Canada (down by 10.4 percent), a $10.8 billion decline in exports to Brazil (down by 25.4 

percent), and a $7.5 billion decline in exports to China (down by 6.1 percent). Canada, the EU, 

and Mexico remained the largest markets in 2015, accounting for 19 percent, 18 percent, and 

16 percent of U.S. exports, respectively (figure 1.5).
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of U.S. Trade

52 | www.usitc.gov

Table 1.2 U.S. merchandise trade with major trading partners and the world, 2014–15 (million dollars)

Major trading 

partner 2014 2015

change 

2014–15

% change 

2014–15 2014 2015

change 

2014–15

% change 

2014–15

Exports Imports

EU 276,142 272,688 -3,454 -1.3 418,201 426,006 7,805 1.9

China 123,676 116,186 -7,490 -6.1 466,754 481,881 15,127 3.2

Canada 312,421 280,017 -32,404 -10.4 347,798 295,190 -52,608 -15.1

Mexico 240,249 236,377 -3,872 -1.6 294,074 294,741 667 0.2

Japan 66,827 62,472 -4,355 -6.5 134,004 131,120 -2,884 -2.2

South Korea 44,471 43,499 -978 -2.2 69,518 71,827 2,309 3.3

Taiwan 26,670 25,929 -741 -2.8 40,581 40,708 127 0.3

India 21,608 21,530 -78 -0.4 45,244 44,741 -503 -1.1

Brazil 42,429 31,666 -10,763 -25.4 30,537 27,405 -3,132 -10.3

All others 466,038 414,233 -51,806 -11.1 500,974 428,044 -72,930 -14.6

Total 1,620,532 1,504,597 -115,935 -7.2 2,347,685 2,241,664 -106,021 -4.5

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 1, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.

A $52.6 billion decline in imports from Canada (down by 15.1 percent) accounted for almost 

half the overall decline in U.S. merchandise imports in 2015 (table 1.2). The fall in imports from 

Canada reflected lower world prices and reduced U.S. demand for Canadian energy-related 

products and other commodities. The $3.1 billion decline in imports from Brazil (down by 10.3 

percent) was also mostly accounted for by energy-related products. These declines more than 

outweighed the $15.1 billion increase in U.S. imports from China (up by 3.2 percent) and the 

$7.8 billion increase in imports from the EU (up by 1.9 percent). China and the EU remained the 

largest sources of imports in 2015, accounting for 22 percent and 19 percent of U.S. imports, 

respectively. Canada and Mexico each accounted for 13 percent of U.S. imports in 2015 (figure 

1.6).

U.S. Trade with FTA Partners

In 2015, two-way total merchandise trade (total exports plus general imports) between the 

United States and its 20 FTA partners amounted to $1,483.2 billion, accounting for 39.6 percent 

of total U.S. merchandise trade with the world.35 This was slightly lower than in 2014, when 

two-way merchandise trade between the United States and its FTA partners totaled $1,593.0 

billion, or 40.1 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade. U.S. imports entered under FTAs fell 

10.3 percent to $371.9 billion in 2015, accounting for 16.6 percent of total U.S. imports from 

the world and 48.2 percent of total imports from FTA partners in 2015. 

 

35 U.S. trade with its FTA partners is discussed in chapter 5.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 53

Figure 1.5 Leading U.S. merchandise export markets, by share, 2015

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 29, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to 100 percent.

Figure 1.6 Leading U.S. merchandise import sources, by share, 2015

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 29, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to 100 percent.

Canada 19%

EU 18%

China 8% Mexico 16%

Japan 4%

Korea 3%

Brazil 2%

Taiwan 2%

India 1%

All others 27%

China 22%

EU 19%

Canada 13%

Mexico 13%

Japan 6%

Korea 3%

India 2%

Taiwan 2%

Brazil 1%

All others 19%
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U.S. Imports under Trade Preference Programs 

The value of U.S. imports for which eligibility was claimed under trade preference programs 

was much smaller than U.S. imports claiming eligibility under FTAs. U.S. imports under trade 

preference programs fell from $33.0 billion in 2014 to $27.4 billion in 2015; they accounted for 

1.2 percent of total U.S. imports during 2015. Imports that claimed eligibility under the U.S. GSP 

program totaled $17.4 billion in 2015; imports under AGOA totaled $8.0 billion; imports under 

the CBERA and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act totaled $1.5 billion; and imports 

under the Haiti initiatives totaled $0.5 billion.36

U.S. Trade in Services in 201537 

The U.S. surplus in cross-border trade of private services (hereafter “services”) decreased 6.7 

percent in 2015 to $220.9 billion (figure 1.7).38 U.S. exports of services were virtually 

unchanged from the previous year at $690.1 billion in 2015, while U.S. imports grew 3.5 

percent ($15.8 billion) to reach $469.1 billion in 2015. Growth occurred in 5 of the top 10 

services export categories in 2015, including travel services (0.6 percent), professional and 

management consulting services (11 percent, also the fastest-growing category in that year), 

and maintenance and repair services not included elsewhere (n.i.e.) (7.7 percent). In contrast, 

U.S. imports of services decreased in only 2 of the top 10 categories: insurance services (3.5 

percent) and charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e. (7.0 percent).39 Appendix tables 

A.8 and A.9 provide data on U.S. trade in private services by product category. 

U.S. Services Trade by Product Category 

Exports 

Travel services40 led U.S. services exports in 2015, accounting for 25.8 percent of the total, 

followed by charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e. (18.3 percent) and financial 

 

36 U.S. imports under preferential trade programs are discussed in chapter 2. 37 This section uses BEA data on U.S. cross-border trade in private services. It excludes BEA data on imports and 

exports of government goods and services. 

38 USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 3.1. U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. 39 U.S. exports of charges for the use of intellectual property “not included elsewhere” (n.i.e.), which the BEA 

previously labeled as “royalties and license fees,” include payments by foreigners to U.S. owners of intellectual 

property, such as trademarks and franchise fees, computer software, industrial processes, and audiovisual 

products.

40 Travel services comprise purchases of goods and services made by U.S. residents traveling abroad (U.S. imports 

of travel services) and by foreign travelers in the United States (U.S. exports of travel services). These goods and 

services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the country of travel, and 

other items incidental to a foreign visit. 
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U.S. International Trade Commission | 55

services (12.5 percent) (appendix table A.8). Although overall growth in U.S. services exports 

was stagnant in 2015, and lower than the 3.8 percent recorded in 2014, growth rates for some 

individual services sectors were higher than in the previous year. For instance, exports of 

insurance services grew 7.2 percent in 2015, well ahead of the 2.1 percent recorded in 2014. 

However, exports declined in several sectors in 2015 after having experienced increases in 

2014, including air passenger fares41 (-11.4 percent in 2015 compared to 4.5 percent in 2014), 

charges for the use of intellectual property (-3.2 percent in 2015), and financial services (-1.2 

percent in 2015). 

Figure 1.7 U.S. private cross-border services trade with the world, 2013–2015a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.2., U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

Imports

Travel services (25.7 percent total imports) and insurance services (10.3 percent) led U.S. crossborder services imports in 2015 (appendix table A.9). Among the top 10 services categories, 8 

saw increases in imports in 2015, including travel services (which grew the fastest at 8.7 

percent); technical, trade-related, and other business services42 (8.1 percent); and research and 

 41 Air passenger fares are recorded separately from travel services. While the overall number of air passengers 

actually increased in 2015, lower fuel costs resulting from the decline in the price of oil allowed airlines to pass on 

savings to air travelers in the form of lower passenger fares. USDOL, BLS, “Import and Export Air Passenger Fares 

Decrease,” January 19, 2016; IATA, “Air Passenger Market Analysis,” January 2016. 42 Technical, trade-related, and other business services include construction, architectural and engineering 

services, waste treatment, operational leasing, trade-related, and other business services. 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2013 2014 2015

Billion $

Exports Imports Trade balance
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development services (6.2 percent). By contrast, imports of insurance services fell for the 

second consecutive year, declining 3.5 percent in 2015, while charges for the use of intellectual 

property n.i.e. also decreased 7.0 percent. 

U.S. Services Trade with Leading Partners 

The EU was the United States’ largest export market for services in 2015, as well as its largest 

foreign supplier of services (table 1.3), accounting for $214.0 billion (31.0 percent) of total U.S. 

exports and $164.7 billion (35.1 percent) of total U.S. imports that year (figures 1.8 and 1.9).43

Canada and Japan were the second- and third-largest U.S. services trading partners in 2015. The 

United States also maintained large trade surpluses with almost all of its leading trade partners, 

including the EU ($49.3 billion), China ($29.1 billion), Canada ($27.0 billion), Brazil ($19.2 

billion), and Japan ($16.6 billion). India was the only leading services trade partner with which 

the United States recorded a trade deficit, $6.8 billion (compared to $6.0 billion in 2014). The 

U.S. services trade deficit with India has been largely driven by U.S. imports of computer and 

information services from that country.44

Table 1.3 U.S. private services trade with major trading partners and the world, 2015 (million dollars) 

Major trading partner U.S. exports U.S. imports Trade balance

Two-way trade (exports 

plus imports)

EU 214,007 164,717 49,290 378,724 

Canada 56,970 29,926 27,044 86,896 

Japan 42,998 26,369 16,629 69,367 

China 44,873 15,784 29,089 60,657 

Mexico 30,401 21,509 8,892 51,910 

India 16,839 23,668 -6,829 40,507 

Brazil 27,659 8,453 19,206 36,112 

South Korea 22,139 8,743 13,396 30,882 

Australia 17,928 6,877 11,051 24,805 

Singapore 14,347 6,714 7,633 21,061 

Taiwan 11,998 7,733 4,265 19,731 

All others 189,896 148,615 41,281 338,511

Total 690,055 469,108 220,947 1,159,163

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3., U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1., U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016.

Note: Private services are total U.S. services minus government services.

 

43 The United Kingdom (an EU member) was the largest single-country exporter and importer of U.S. private 

services in 2015. 

44 For example, in 2014 U.S. exports of computer services to India were $754 million, while U.S. imports of 

computer services were nearly $10.6 billion. USDOC, BEA, Survey of Current Business, October 2015, table 2.2. 
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Figure 1.8 Leading U.S. export markets for private services, by share, 2015a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Tables 1.3., U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,”

March 17, 2016.

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to 100 percent. a

Data for 2015 are preliminary.

Figure 1.9 Leading U.S. import sources for private services, by share, 2015a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Tables 1.3., U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,”

March 17, 2016.

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to 100 percent.

a

Data for 2015 are preliminary.

EU-28 31%

Canada 8%

China 7%

Mexico 4% Japan 6%

Brazil 4%

Korea 3%

Australia 3%

India 2%

Singapore 2%

Taiwan 2%

All other 28%

EU-28 35%

Canada 6%

Japan 6% Mexico 5% India 5%

China 3%

Korea 2%

Brazil 2%

Taiwan 2%

Australia 1%

Singapore 1%

All other 32%
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Chapter 2

Administration of U.S. Trade Laws and 

Regulations

This chapter surveys activities related to the administration of U.S. trade laws during 2015, 

covering import relief laws, laws against unfair trade practices, trade adjustment assistance 

programs, and tariff preference programs. Tariff preference programs encompass the U.S. 

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and 

the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), including initiatives aiding Haiti.

Import Relief Laws

Safeguard Actions

This section covers safeguard actions under provisions administered by the Commission, 

including the global safeguards provided for in sections 201–204 of the Trade Act of 1974,45 and 

the safeguards provided for in various bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) involving the 

United States.

The Commission conducted no new safeguard investigations during 2015, and no U.S. 

safeguard measures under these provisions were in effect during any part of 2015. 

Laws against Unfair Trade Practices

Section 301 Investigations

Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 is the principal U.S. statute for addressing unfair foreign 

practices affecting U.S. exports of goods or services.46 Section 301 may be used to enforce U.S. 

rights under bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and to respond to unjustifiable, 

unreasonable, or discriminatory foreign government practices that burden or restrict U.S. 

commerce. Interested persons may petition the Office of the United States Trade 

Representative (USTR) to investigate foreign government policies or practices, or USTR may 

initiate an investigation itself.

 45 19 U.S.C. §§ 2251–2254. 46 Section 301 refers to sections 301–310 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. §§ 2411–2420).
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If the investigation involves a trade agreement and consultations do not lead to a mutually 

acceptable resolution, section 303 of the Trade Act of 1974 requires USTR to use the dispute 

settlement procedures available under the subject agreement. If the matter is not resolved by 

the conclusion of the investigation, section 304 of the Trade Act of 1974 requires USTR to 

determine whether the practices in question fulfill any of three conditions: (1) they deny U.S. 

rights under a trade agreement; (2) they are unjustifiable, and burden or restrict U.S. 

commerce; or (3) they are unreasonable or discriminatory, and burden or restrict U.S. 

commerce. If the practices fulfill either of the first two conditions, USTR must take action.47 If 

the practices fulfill the third condition—that is, if they are unreasonable or discriminatory, and 

they burden or restrict U.S. commerce—USTR must determine whether action is appropriate 

and, if so, what type of action to take.48 The time period for making these determinations 

varies according to the type of practices alleged.

Section 301 Investigations

USTR received no petitions under section 301 during 2015 and had only one ongoing

investigation during the year, relating to European Union (EU) measures concerning meat and 

meat products.49 The case concerned various meat hormone directives of the EU, which 

prohibit the use of certain hormones that promote growth in farm animals. The United States 

had successfully challenged the EU measures at the World Trade Organization (WTO), and in 

1999, imposed additional ad valorem duties of 100 percent on about $117 million in imports 

from the EU in retaliation.50

After a series of consultations aimed at resolving the dispute, on May 13, 2009, the United 

States and the EU signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU).51 Under the MOU, the EU 

agreed to open a tariff-rate quota (TRQ)52 with an in-quota tariff rate of zero for beef produced 

 

47 Section 301(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2411(a)). 48 Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2411(b)). 49 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 181. 50 64 Fed. Reg. 40638 (July 27, 1999); WTO, European Communities—Measures Concerning Meat and Meat 

Products (DS26, DS48) (accessed April 2, 2016). 51 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the European Commission Regarding 

the Importation of Beef From Animals Not Treated with Certain Growth-Promoting Hormones and Increased Duties 

Applied by the United States to Certain Products of the European Communities, May 13, 2009. For more 

information on the three-phase MOU, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2009, July 2010, 5-5. 52 A TRQ is a trade restriction that imposes a relatively low “in-quota” tariff on imports until the quota level 

(sometimes an annual allocation) is met. Any imports beyond the quota level are subject to a higher over-quota 

tariff. 
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U.S. International Trade Commission | 61

without growth-promoting hormones (i.e., “high-quality beef”)

53 in the amount of 20,000 

metric tons,54 and the United States agreed to reduce the scope of the retaliation list.55

The MOU further provided that the parties could enter a second phase under which the EU 

would increase the TRQ to 45,000 metric tons beginning in August 2012, and the United States 

would lift the remaining additional duties.56 The United States and the EU entered into the 

second phase of the MOU beginning August 1, 2012, and the EU increased the TRQ for highquality beef to 45,000 metric tons.57 The MOU provided that the second phase would continue 

for one year. In August 2013, the United States and the EU agreed to extend the second phase 

of the MOU for two additional years, until August 2, 2015, thereby maintaining the TRQ for 

high-quality beef at 45,000 metric tons. Although the second phase of the MOU ended in 

August 2015, the TRQ for high-quality beef for the 2015/2016 quota year opened on July 1, 

2015, at the same level.58

According to USTR, in 2015 it continued to monitor EU implementation of the MOU and other 

developments affecting market access for U.S. beef products. USTR states that it will consider 

additional actions under section 301 of the Trade Act “if EU implementation and other 

developments do not proceed as contemplated.”

59

Special 301

The Special 301 law60 requires that the USTR annually identify and issue a list of foreign 

countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs), or 

deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on IPR protection.61 Under the 

statute, a country denies adequate and effective IPR protection if the country does not allow 

foreign persons “to secure, exercise, and enforce rights related to patents, process patents, 

registered trademarks, copyrights and mask works.”62

 53 Article VI of the U.S.-EU Beef MOU defines “high-quality beef.” 54 U.S.-EU Beef MOU, Art. II(1). 55 U.S.-EU Beef MOU, Art. II(3); 74 Fed. Reg. 40864 (August 13, 2009). 56 U.S.-EU Beef MOU, Arts. I(2), II(4), and IV(2). The USTR terminated the imposition of the remaining additional 

duties in May 2011. For more background, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2011, July 2012, 2–3. 57 Regulation (EU) No. 464/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 149, June 8, 2012, 1. 58 U.S. government officials, email messages to USITC staff, April 5, 2016. 59 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 182. 60 The Special 301 law is set forth in section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242). 61 “Persons who rely on IPR protection” means persons involved in “(A) the creation, production or licensing of 

works of authorship . . . that are copyrighted, or (B) the manufacture of products that are patented or for which 

there are process patents.” Section 182(d)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242(d)(1)). 62 Section 182(d)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242(d)(2)). Section 901(a)(2) of the 

Semiconductor Chip Protection Act (17 U.S.C. § 901(a)(2)) defines “mask work” as a “series of related images, 
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Under the statute, a country denies fair and equitable market access if it denies access to a 

market for a product that is protected by a copyright or related right, patent, trademark, mask 

work, trade secret, or plant breeder’s right through the use of laws and practices that violate 

international agreements or that constitute discriminatory nontariff trade barriers.63 A country 

may be found to deny adequate and effective IPR protection even if it is in compliance with its 

obligations under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 

(TRIPS Agreement).64 

In addition, the Special 301 law directs the USTR to identify and list so-called priority foreign 

countries.65 Priority foreign countries are countries that have the most onerous or egregious 

acts, policies, or practices with the greatest adverse impact (actual or potential) on the relevant 

U.S. products.66 Such countries must be designated as priority foreign countries unless they are 

entering into good-faith negotiations, or making significant progress in bilateral or multilateral 

negotiations to provide adequate and effective IPR protection.67 The identification of a country 

as a priority foreign country triggers a section 301 investigation,68 unless the USTR determines 

that the investigation would be detrimental to U.S. economic interests.69 

In addition to identifying priority foreign countries as required by statute, the USTR has 

adopted a practice of naming countries to a “watch list” or a “priority watch list” when the 

countries’ IPR laws and practices fail to provide adequate and effective IPR protection, but the 

deficiencies do not warrant listing the countries as priority foreign countries.70 The priority 

watch list identifies countries with significant IPR problems that warrant close monitoring and 

bilateral consultation. If a country on the priority watch list makes progress, it may be moved to 

the watch list or removed from any listing. On the other hand, a country that fails to make 

progress may be raised from the watch list to the priority watch list, or from the priority watch 

list to the list of priority foreign countries.

 

however fixed or encoded—(A) having or representing the predetermined, three-dimensional pattern of metallic, 

insulating, or semiconductor material present or removed from the layers of a semiconductor chip product; and (B) 

in which series the relation of the images to one another is that each image has the pattern of the surface of one 

form of the semiconductor chip product.” 63 Section 182(d)(3) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242(d)(3)). 64 Section 182(d)(4) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242(d)(4)). 65 Section 182(a)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242(a)(2)). 66 Section 182(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242(b)(1)). 67 Ibid. 68 Section 182(f)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2242(f)(2)). 69 Section 302(b)(2)(B) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2412(b)(2)(B)). 70 79 Fed. Reg. 78133 (December 29, 2014).
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In the 2015 Special 301 review, the USTR examined the adequacy and effectiveness of IPR 

protection in 72 countries.71 In conducting the review, the USTR focused on a wide range of 

issues and policy objectives, including:

• the need for adequate and effective IPR protection and enforcement, including market 

access for persons relying on IPR;

• inadequate trade secret protection in China, India, and elsewhere; 

• “indigenous innovation” policies that may unfairly disadvantage U.S. rights holders in China;

• copyright piracy over the Internet in Brazil, China, India, and Russia; 

• trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy, and the need to establish deterrent 

penalties and effective criminal and border enforcement; 

• market access barriers that appear to impede access for U.S. entities that rely on IPR 

protection, including the pharmaceutical and medical device industries; 

• the unauthorized use of unlicensed software by foreign governments; 

• digital, Internet, and broadcast piracy, as well as implementation of the World Intellectual 

Property Organization (WIPO) Internet treaties;72

• inadequate protection and enforcement of trade secrets, as well as concerns about trade 

secret theft, particularly in China, and compulsory technology transfer; and 

• incomplete implementation of the TRIPS Agreement by developed and developing 

countries.73

No country was identified as a priority foreign country in the 2015 Special 301 Report. The 

report identified 13 countries on the priority watch list: Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, 

 71 USTR, 2015 Special 301 Report, April 30, 2015; USTR, “USTR Releases Annual Special 301 Report,” April 30, 2015. 72 The WIPO Internet treaties include the WIPO Copyright Treaty, adopted in Geneva on December 20, 1996, and 

the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, adopted in Geneva on December 20, 1996. See USTR, 2015

Special 301 Report, April 30, 2015, 18. 73 USTR, 2015 Special 301 Report, April 30, 2015; USTR, “USTR Releases Annual Special 301 Report,” April 30, 2015.
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Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, and Venezuela.74 In

addition, the report identified 24 countries on the watch list.75 

In keeping China on the priority watch list, the report highlighted the need for greater 

protection and enforcement of all forms of IPR in that country, including patents, trademarks, 

copyrights, trade secrets, and pharmaceutical test data. It noted U.S. concerns about measures 

that appear to require telecommunications business operators and Internet service providers to 

disclose proprietary intellectual property relating to information and communications 

technology (ICT) products, services, and technologies, and it noted concerns about measures 

that govern the use of ICT products, services, and technologies by financial institutions 

operating in China. In addition, the report noted concerns about trade secret theft, compulsory 

licensing, online piracy, the widespread availability of counterfeit goods, and “indigenous 

innovation” policies and related industrial policies in China that may disadvantage U.S. rights 

holders.76

India remained on the priority watch list in 2015. While recognizing the increased bilateral 

engagement on IPR concerns, the report noted continuing concerns about copyright protection 

and enforcement; the alignment of India’s patent law with international standards; inadequate 

trade secret protection; online copyright piracy; trademark counterfeiting, including 

counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals; optical disc piracy; video piracy; compulsory technology 

transfer, especially in the ICT sector; and market access barriers in the pharmaceutical and 

medical device industries.77 

As part of the annual Special 301 process, USTR also issues a separate report on so-called 

notorious markets. USTR defines notorious markets as online or physical marketplaces that are 

reported to engage in or facilitate substantial copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting.78 

Such markets have been the subject of enforcement actions or, according to USTR, may merit 

further investigations. In the words of USTR, “Commercial-scale trademark counterfeiting and 

copyright piracy cause significant financial losses for rights holders and legitimate businesses, 

 

74 Ibid., 3. 75 The countries on the 2015 watch list are Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa 

Rica, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, 

Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. USTR, 2015 Special 301 Report, 

April 30, 2015, 4. 76 USTR, 2015 Special 301 Report, April 30, 2015, 32–43. 77 Ibid., 45–52. 78 80 Fed. Reg. 54651 (September 10, 2015).
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undermine critical U.S. comparative advantages in innovation and creativity to the detriment of 

American workers, and can pose significant risks to consumer health and safety.”79

USTR published two reports on notorious markets in 2015. In September 2014, USTR solicited 

public comments for the 2014 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets Report,

80 which was 

issued on March 5, 2015.81 The 2014 report listed over 20 online markets and 11 countries with 

physical marketplaces that reportedly engage in or facilitate commercial-scale trademark 

counterfeiting and copyright piracy. In September 2015, USTR solicited public comments for the 

2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets Report,

82 which was issued on December 17, 

2015.83 The 2015 report listed over 20 online markets and 9 countries with physical 

marketplaces, including markets in China and India, which reportedly engage in or facilitate 

commercial-scale trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.84 In the 2015 report, USTR 

also expressed concerns over new reports of notorious physical markets in Turkey, the United 

Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Vietnam, and Spain.85

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 

Investigations and Reviews

Antidumping Duty Investigations

The U.S. antidumping law is found in Title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.86 This law 

offers relief to U.S. industries that are materially injured by imports that are dumped, or sold, at 

“less than fair value” (LTFV). The U.S. government provides a remedy by imposing a special 

additional duty on LTFV imports. 

Antidumping duties are imposed when (1) the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) has 

determined that imports are being, or are likely to be, sold at LTFV in the United States, and (2) 

the Commission has determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with 

material injury, or that the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially

retarded by reason of such imports. (Such a conclusion is called an “affirmative 

 79 USTR, 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, December 2015, 1. 80 79 Fed. Reg. 58026 (September 26, 2014). 81 USTR, “Notorious Markets List Focuses Fight,” March 5, 2015; USTR, 2014 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious 

Markets, March 5, 2015. 82 80 Fed. Reg. 54651 (September 10, 2015). 83 USTR, “Notorious Markets List Spotlights Fight,” December 17, 2015; USTR, 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of 

Notorious Markets, December 2015. 84 These 9 countries are China, Nigeria, Paraguay, Brazil, Indonesia, Argentina, India, Mexico, and Thailand. USTR, 

2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, December 2015, 18–22. 85 USTR, 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, December 2015, 18. 86 19 U.S.C. § 1673 et seq.
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determination.”) Investigations are generally initiated on the basis of a petition filed with the 

USDOC and the Commission by or on behalf of a U.S. industry. The USDOC and the Commission 

each make preliminary determinations and, if the Commission preliminary is affirmative, each 

make final determinations during the investigation process.

In general, imports are considered to be sold at LTFV when a foreign firm sells merchandise in 

the U.S. market at a price that is lower than the “normal value” of the merchandise.87

Generally, normal value is the price the foreign firm charges for a comparable product sold in 

its home market.88 Under certain circumstances, the foreign firm’s U.S. sales price may also be 

compared with the price the foreign firm charges in other export markets or with the firm’s 

cost of producing the merchandise, taking into account the firm’s “selling, general, and 

administrative expenses,” as well as its profit. Under the law, this latter basis for comparison is 

known as constructed value.89 Finally, where the producer is located in a non-market-economy 

country, a comparison is made between U.S. prices and a “surrogate” normal value (its factors 

of production, as valued by use of a “surrogate” country).90 

In all three instances, the amount by which normal value exceeds the U.S. price is the “dumping 

margin.” The duty specified in an antidumping duty order reflects the weighted average 

dumping margins found by the USDOC, both for the specific exporters it examined and for all 

other exporters.91 This rate of duty (in addition to any ordinary customs duty owed) will be 

applied to subsequent imports from the specified producers/exporters in the subject country, 

but it may be adjusted if the USDOC receives a request for an annual review.92

The Commission instituted 43 new antidumping investigations and made 17 final 

determinations in 2015.93 As a result of affirmative final USDOC and Commission 

determinations, in 2015, the USDOC issued 14 antidumping duty orders on 8 products from 7 

countries (table 2.1). The status of all antidumping investigations active at the Commission 

during 2015—including, if applicable, the date of final action—is presented in appendix table 

 

87 19 U.S.C. § 1677(35)(A); see also 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(a) (defining export price), § 1677a(b) (defining constructed 

export price).

88 19 U.S.C. § 1677b. 89 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(a)(4), § 1677b(e). 90 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c). 91 19 U.S.C. § 1677(35)(B); 19 U.S.C. § 1673d(c). 92 19 U.S.C. § 1675(a). 93 Data reported here and in the following two sections (“Countervailing Duty Investigations” and “Reviews of 

Outstanding Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders/Suspension Agreements”) reflect the total number of 

investigations. In other Commission reports, these data are grouped by product because the same investigative 

team and all of the parties participate in a single grouped proceeding, and the Commission generally produces one 

report and issues one opinion containing its separate determinations for each investigation.
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A.10. A list of all antidumping duty orders and suspension agreements (agreements to suspend 

investigations)94 in effect as of the end of 2015 appears in appendix table A.11.

Table 2.1 Antidumping duty orders that became effective during 2015a

Trade partner Product Range of dumping margins (percent)

China Boltless steel shelving units 17.55–112.68

China Calcium hypochlorite 210.52

China Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products 6.68–238.95b

China Melamine 363.31

China Passenger vehicle and light truck tires 14.35–87.99c

China Steel wire rod 106.19–110.25

Korea Steel nails 11.80

Korea Welded line pipe 2.53–6.23

Malaysia Steel nails 2.66–39.35

Oman Steel nails 9.10

Taiwan Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products 11.45–27.55

Taiwan Steel nails 2.24

Turkey Welded line pipe 6.66–22.95

Vietnam Steel nails 323.99

Source: Compiled by USITC from Federal Register notices. a Antidumping duty orders become effective following final affirmative determinations by USDOC and the Commission. The rates in the 

table apply in addition to any ordinary customs duty owed.

b The antidumping duty rate was amended on August 14, 2015, and November 23, 2015.

c The antidumping duty rate was amended on August 10, 2015.

Countervailing Duty Investigations

The U.S. countervailing duty law is also set forth in Title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 

amended. It provides for the imposition of special additional duties to offset (“countervail”) 

foreign subsidies on products imported into the United States.95 In general, procedures for such 

investigations are similar to those under the antidumping law. Petitions are filed with the 

USDOC (the administering authority) and with the Commission. Before a countervailing duty 

order can be issued, the USDOC must find that a countervailable subsidy exists. In addition, the 

Commission must make an affirmative determination that a U.S. industry is materially injured 

or threatened with material injury, or that the establishment of an industry is materially 

retarded, because of the subsidized imports.

 94 An antidumping investigation may be suspended if exporters accounting for substantially all of the imports of 

the merchandise under investigation agree either to eliminate the dumping or to cease exports of the merchandise 

to the United States within six months. In extraordinary circumstances, an investigation may be suspended if 

exporters agree to revise prices to completely eliminate the injurious effect of exports of the merchandise in 

question to the United States. A suspended investigation is resumed, assuming it was not continued after the 

suspension agreement was issued, if USDOC determines that the suspension agreement has been violated. See 19 

U.S.C. § 1673c.

95 A subsidy is defined as a financial benefit given by an authority (a government of a country or any public entity 

within the territory of the country) to a person, in which the authority either (1) provides a financial contribution, 

(2) provides any form of income or price support within the meaning of Article XVI of the GATT 1994, or (3) makes 

a payment to a funding mechanism to provide a financial contribution, or entrusts or directs a private entity to 

make a financial contribution, if providing the contribution would normally be vested in the government and the 

practice does not differ in substance from practices normally followed by governments. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677(5)(B).
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The Commission instituted 23 new countervailing duty investigations and made 12 final 

determinations during 2015. USDOC issued 9 countervailing duty orders on 9 products from 4 

countries in 2015 as a result of affirmative USDOC and Commission determinations (table 2.2). 

The status of all countervailing duty investigations active at the Commission during 2015, and, if 

applicable, the date of final action, is presented in appendix table A.12. A list of all 

countervailing duty orders and suspension agreements96 in effect at the end of 2015 appears in 

appendix table A.13.

Table 2.2 Countervailing duty orders that became effective during 2015a

Trade partner Product Range of countervailable subsidy rates (percent)

Canada Supercalendered paper 17.87-20.18

China Boltless steel shelving units 12.40-80.39

China Calcium hypochlorite 65.85

China Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products 27.64-49.21

China Melamine 154.00-156.90

China Passenger vehicle and light truck tires 20.73-116.73b

China Steel wire rod 178.46-193.31

Turkey Welded line pipe 1.31-152.20

Vietnam Steel nails 288.56-313.97

Source: Compiled by USITC from Federal Register notices. a Countervailing duty orders become effective following final affirmative determinations by USDOC and the Commission. The rates in the 

table apply in addition to any ordinary customs duty owed.

b The countervailing duty rate was amended on August 10, 2015.

Reviews of Outstanding Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 

Orders/Suspension Agreements

Section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 requires the USDOC, if requested, to conduct annual 

reviews of outstanding antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders to ascertain the 

amount of any net subsidy or dumping margin and to determine compliance with suspension 

agreements.97 Section 751(b) also authorizes the USDOC and the Commission, as appropriate, 

to review certain outstanding determinations and agreements after receiving information or a 

petition that shows changed circumstances.98 Where a changed-circumstances review is 

directed to the Commission, the party that is asking to have an antidumping duty order or 

countervailing duty order revoked or a suspended investigation terminated has the burden of 

 

96 A countervailing duty investigation may be suspended if the government of the subsidizing country or exporters 

accounting for substantially all of the imports of the merchandise under investigation agree to eliminate the 

subsidy, to completely offset the net subsidy, or to cease exports of the merchandise to the United States within 

six months. In extraordinary circumstances, an investigation may be suspended if the government of the 

subsidizing country or exporters agrees to completely eliminate the injurious effect of exports of the merchandise 

in question to the United States. A suspended investigation is resumed, assuming it had not previously been 

continued after issuance of the suspension agreement, if USDOC determines that the suspension agreement has 

been violated. See 19 U.S.C. § 1671c. 97 19 U.S.C. § 1675(a). 98 19 U.S.C. § 1675(b).
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persuading the Commission that circumstances have changed enough to warrant revocation.99

On the basis of either the USDOC’s or the Commission’s review, the USDOC may revoke an 

antidumping duty or countervailing duty order in whole or in part, or may either terminate or 

resume a suspended investigation. No changed-circumstances investigations were conducted at 

the Commission during 2015.

Section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 requires both the USDOC and the Commission to 

conduct sunset reviews of existing antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders and 

suspension agreements five years after their publication. These reviews are intended to 

determine whether revoking an order or terminating a suspension agreement would be likely 

to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or a countervailable subsidy and to material 

injury.100 During 2015, the USDOC and the Commission instituted 56 sunset reviews of existing 

antidumping and countervailing duty orders or suspended investigations,101 and the 

Commission completed 55 reviews. As a result of affirmative determinations by the USDOC and 

the Commission, 49 antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders were continued. 

Appendix table A.14 lists, by date and action, the reviews of antidumping duty and 

countervailing duty orders and suspended investigations completed in 2015.102

Section 704 and 734 Investigations

Sections 704 and 734 of the Tariff Act of 1930 authorize USDOC to suspend countervailing duty 

and antidumping duty investigations by entering into suspension agreements. Sections 704(b) 

and 734(b) permit USDOC to enter into agreements to eliminate or offset completely the 

countervailable subsidies at issue or to completely eliminate sales at LTFV, or to cease exports 

altogether. Alternatively, under sections 704(c) and 734(c), USDOC may enter into suspension 

agreements that do not completely eliminate the countervailable subsidies at issue or 

completely eliminate sales at LTFV, but instead eliminate the injurious effect of subject imports. 

Sections 704(h) and 734(h) of the Tariff Act of 1930 require the Commission to conduct a 

review of a suspension agreement entered by USDOC under sections 704(c) and 734(c) of the 

Tariff Act, if requested by certain domestic interested parties when the petitioning party “is a 

party to the investigation.” Upon receipt of a review petition, the Commission must, within 75 

days after the date on which the petition is filed with it, determine whether the injurious effect 

of imports of the subject merchandise is eliminated completely by the agreement. If the 

 99 19 U.S.C. § 1675(b)(3). 100 19 U.S.C. § 1675(c). 101 One of these instituted reviews was subsequently terminated and the outstanding order revoked because a 

domestic industry did not request that it be continued. The revoked antidumping duty order was on Woven 

Electric Blankets from China. 102 For detailed information on reviews instituted, as well as Commission action in all reviews, see the 

Commission’s website section “Sunset Review Database” at https://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/. 
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Commission’s determination is negative, the investigation must be resumed on the date the 

Commission publishes its notice of that determination as if USDOC’s affirmative preliminary 

determination had been made on that date.

On December 19, 2014, USDOC, signatory Mexican producers/exporters of sugar and the 

government of Mexico signed final agreements suspending the antidumping and countervailing 

duty investigations on Sugar from Mexico under sections 704(c) and 734(c) of the Tariff Act of 

1930. On January 8, 2015, Imperial Sugar Co. and AmCane Sugar LLC, domestic sugar producers 

that described themselves as “destination refiners,” filed petitions with the Commission for 

review under sections 704(h) and 734(h).103 The Commission determined on March 24, 2015, 

under sections 704(h) and 734(h) of the Tariff Act, that agreements the USDOC entered into 

with Mexican exporters of sugar and the government of Mexico suspending antidumping and 

countervailing duty investigations concerning Sugar from Mexico completely eliminated the 

injurious effect of the imports in question.104 

Section 129 Investigations

Section 129 of the U.S. Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA) establishes a procedure by 

which the Administration may respond to an adverse WTO panel or Appellate Body report 

concerning U.S. obligations under the WTO agreements on Safeguards, Antidumping, or 

Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Section 129 establishes a mechanism that permits the 

USTR to request that the agencies concerned—the USDOC and the Commission—issue a 

consistency or compliance determination, where such action is appropriate, to respond to the 

recommendations in a WTO panel or Appellate Body report.105 

On December 8, 2014, the WTO Appellate Body issued its report on the dispute entitled United 

States—Countervailing Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India 

(DS436), and on December 19, 2014, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) adopted that 

report. On January 16, 2015, the United States informed the DSB of its intent to bring its 

measures, involving the USDOC and the Commission, into conformity with the Appellate Body 

report. Regarding USDOC measures, on September 23, 2015, USDOC commenced section 129 

 

103 These are the first petitions that the Commission has ever received under sections 704(h) and 734(h) of the 

Tariff Act of 1930. 104 80 Fed. Reg. 16426 (March 27, 2015). On January 16, 2015, Imperial and AmCane also submitted timely 

requests with the USDOC to continue the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on Sugar from 

Mexico. The investigations were resumed on May 4, 2015, and the Commission completed and filed its affirmative 

final determinations with the USDOC on November 6, 2015. 80 Fed. Reg. 70833 (November 16, 2015). 105 19 U.S.C. § 3538; see also Statement of Administrative Act submitted to the Congress in connection with the 

Uruguay Round Agreements Act, 353.
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proceedings to comply with the DSB recommendations and rulings in DS436.106 On November 

6, 2015, the Commission received a written request from the USTR to issue a consistency 

determination under section 129(a)(4) of the URAA that would render the Commission’s 

countervailing duty (CVD) determination regarding imports of certain hot-rolled steel from 

India in inv. no. 701-TA-405 not inconsistent with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB. 

The Commission instituted a section 129 proceeding effective November 6, 2015.107 Both the 

USDOC and Commission proceedings were pending as of December 31, 2015.108

Section 337 Investigations

Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended,109 prohibits certain unfair practices in import 

trade. The unfair practice most frequently investigated by the Commission is patent 

infringement. In this context, section 337 prohibits the importation into the United States, the 

sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of articles that 

infringe a valid and enforceable United States patent, provided that an industry in the United 

States, relating to articles protected by the patent concerned, exists or is in the process of being 

established.110 Similar requirements govern investigations involving infringement of registered 

trademarks, registered copyrights, registered mask works, and registered vessel hull designs. In 

addition, the Commission has general authority to investigate other unfair methods of 

competition and unfair acts in the importation and sale of products in the United States (such 

as products manufactured abroad using stolen U.S. trade secrets), the threat or effect of which 

is to destroy or injure a U.S. industry, to prevent the establishment of a U.S. industry, or to 

restrain or monopolize trade and commerce in the United States.111 The Commission may 

institute an investigation on the basis of a complaint or on its own initiative.112

 106 80 Fed. Reg. 57336 (September 23, 2015). 107 80 Fed. Reg. 75132 (December 1, 2015). 108 On March 7, 2016, the Commission issued a Section 129 Consistency Determination rendering its findings with 

respect to injury in the underlying CVD proceeding on hot-rolled steel from India consistent with the DSB 

recommendations and rulings in DS436. USITC, "Hot-Rolled Steel Products from India," March 2016. On April 14, 

2016, USDOC issued a section 129 compliance determination with respect to subsidization and the calculation of 

CVD rates consistent with the DSB recommendations and rulings in DS436. See 81 Fed. Reg. 27412 (May 6, 2016). 109 19 U.S.C. § 1337. 110 Section 337 also covers articles that are made, produced, processed, or mined under, or by means of, a process 

covered by the claims of a valid and enforceable United States patent. 19 U.S.C. § 1337(a)(1)(B)(ii). 111 Other unfair methods of competition and unfair acts have included common-law trademark infringement, trade 

dress infringement, trademark dilution, false advertising, and false designation of origin. (“Trade dress,” in general 

terms, is a product’s total appearance and image, including features such as size, texture, shape, color or color 

combinations, and graphics.) Unfair practices that involve the importation of dumped or subsidized merchandise 

must be pursued under antidumping or countervailing duty provisions, not under section 337. 112 19 U.S.C. § 1337(b)(1).
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If the Commission determines that a violation exists, it can issue an exclusion order directing 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. Customs) to block the subject imports from entry into 

the United States, in addition to cease and desist orders directing the violating parties to stop 

engaging in the unlawful practices. The orders enter into force unless disapproved for policy 

reasons by the USTR113 within 60 days of issuance.114

During calendar year 2015, there were 88 active section 337 investigations and ancillary 

proceedings, 42 of which were instituted that year. Of these 42 new proceedings, 36 were new 

section 337 investigations and 6 were new ancillary (secondary) proceedings relating to 

previously concluded investigations. In 28 of the new section 337 investigations instituted in 

2015, patent infringement was the only type of unfair act alleged. Of the remaining 8 

investigations, 1 involved allegations of patent infringement and trademark infringement; 1 

involved allegations of patent infringement and trade dress infringement; 3 involved allegations 

of patent infringement and false advertising; 1 involved allegations of patent infringement and 

trade secret misappropriation; 1 involved allegations of patent infringement and copyright 

infringement; and 1 involved allegations of trademark infringement.

The Commission completed a total of 46 investigations and ancillary proceedings under section 

337 in 2015, including 1 remand proceeding, 1 remand enforcement proceeding, 1 modification 

proceeding, and 10 rescission (cancellation) proceedings. In addition, 2 general exclusion 

orders, 5 limited exclusion orders, and 17 cease and desist orders were issued during 2015. The 

Commission terminated 20 investigations without determining whether there had been a 

violation. Fourteen of these investigations were terminated on the basis of settlement 

agreements and/or consent orders.

The section 337 investigations active in 2015 continued to involve a broad spectrum of 

products. As in prior years, technology products predominated, with approximately 27 percent 

of the active proceedings involving computer and telecommunications equipment, 10 percent 

involving consumer electronics, and 8 percent involving memory products or integrated circuits. 

However, automotive, transportation, and other manufacturing products were at issue in about 

13 percent of the active proceedings, small consumer items were at issue in about 8 percent of 

the proceedings, and pharmaceuticals and medical devices were at issue in about 7 percent of 

the proceedings. The remaining approximately 27 percent of the active proceedings involved a 

 

113 19 U.S.C. § 1337(j). Although the statute reserves the review for the President, since 2005 this function has 

been officially delegated to the USTR. 70 Fed. Reg. 43251 (July 26, 2005). 114 Section 337 investigations at the Commission are conducted before an administrative law judge in accordance 

with the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq. The judge conducts an evidentiary hearing and 

makes an initial determination, which is transmitted to the Commission for review. If the Commission finds a 

violation, it must determine the appropriate remedy, the amount of any bond to be collected while its 

determination is under review by the USTR, and whether public-interest considerations preclude issuing a remedy.
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wide variety of other types of articles, including printing products, lighting products, chemical 

compositions, table saws, height-adjustable desks, air mattresses, aquarium fittings, woven 

textiles, and arrowheads. 

At the close of 2015, 42 section 337 investigations and related proceedings were pending at the 

Commission. Commission activities involving section 337 proceedings in 2015 are presented in 

appendix table A.15. As of December 31, 2015, there were 94 exclusion orders based on 

violations of section 337 in effect. Appendix table A.16 lists the investigations in which these 

exclusion orders were issued. For additional detailed information concerning 337 investigations 

instituted since October 1, 2008, see the Commission’s 337Info database, found at 

https://pubapps2.usitc.gov/337external.

Trade Adjustment Assistance

The United States provides trade adjustment assistance (TAA) to aid U.S. workers and firms 

adversely affected by import competition or by U.S. production moving to foreign countries.115

On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act 

(TPEA), which amended and reauthorized TAA for six years.116 The main TAA programs in effect 

in 2015 were TAA for Workers, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), and 

TAA for Firms, administered by USDOC. A third program, TAA for Farmers, was also 

reauthorized by Congress through the TPEA of 2015,117 but the U.S. Congress did not 

appropriate funding for new participants for fiscal year (FY) 2015. As a result, USDA did not 

accept any new petitions or applications for benefits in FY 2015.118

Selected developments in the TAA programs for workers and firms during FY 2015 are 

summarized below.119 The most current information on each of the TAA programs, including 

 115 TAA was first established by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-793) and subsequently expanded and 

reauthorized numerous times. In 2011, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act (TAAEA) of 2011 (Pub. L. 

112-40), which was signed into law on October 21, 2011, extended most TAA provisions through December 31, 

2013. CRS, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Its Role, August 5, 2013, 14–16. On January 1, 2014, the 2011 

Amendments to the Trade Act expired and the TAA program began operating under the sunset provisions, referred 

to as “Reversion 2014.” The TAA program was operated under sunset provisions throughout calendar year 2014.

On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act (Pub. L. 114-27). Title IV 

of the Act—the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TAARA 2015)—amended and 

reauthorized TAA for six years. USDOL, “Important Legislative Changes to the TAA Program” (accessed March 24, 

2016). 

116 Pub. L. 114-27, sect. 403. 117 The TPEA of 2015 reauthorized the TAA for Farmers Program for fiscal years 2015 through 2021. Pub. L. 114-27, 

sect. 403.

118 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 188–89. 119 FY 2015 ran from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015.
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the status of authorizing legislation and program funding, is available from the respective 

administering agencies cited in this report.

Assistance for Workers 

The TAA for Workers program gives federal assistance to eligible workers who have been 

adversely affected by import competition. The TAA program offers a variety of benefits and 

services to eligible workers, including training, out-of-area job search and relocation 

allowances, trade readjustment allowances, and reemployment trade adjustment assistance, as 

well as assistance with health care premium costs.120 Current information on provisions of the 

TAA for Workers program, as well as detailed information on program eligibility requirements, 

benefits, and available services, is available at the USDOL’s Employment and Training 

Administration (ETA) website for TAA, https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/. 

For petitioning workers to be eligible to apply for TAA, the Secretary of Labor must determine 

that they meet certain criteria relating to the reasons they were separated from their firm, 

including declining sales or production at their firm and increased imports of like or directly 

competitive articles.121 (Workers often apply in groups based on their former firms.) Workers 

at firms that are or were suppliers to or downstream users of the output of TAA-certified firms 

may also be eligible for TAA benefits.122

During the first part of FY 2015 (beginning October 1, 2014), the TAA for Workers program 

operated under the sunset provisions, commonly known as “Reversion 2014.” On June 29, 

2015, President Obama signed into law the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Reauthorization 

Act of 2015 (TAARA 2015),123 which restored the worker group eligibility and benefits 

established by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 (TAAEA) through June 

30, 2021. USDOL announced that it would investigate new petitions filed after June 29, 2015, 

under the 2015 program certification criteria, which are identical to the 2011 program 

criteria.124 Moreover, TAARA 2015 was made retroactive to January 1, 2014, and offered 

unemployed workers who were separated from their employment on or after January 1, 2014, 

 

120 Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRAs) are available to provide income support while eligible workers under 

the TAA program are participating in full-time training. The amount of each weekly TRA payment is based on the 

weekly unemployment insurance (UI) benefit amount individual workers already have received. The 

Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) benefits are available if eligible workers are age 50 or older 

and do not earn more than $50,000 annually in their new employment. Participation in RTAA allows eligible 

workers to receive a wage supplement when they accept new employment at a lower wage. USDOL, “TAA Program 

Certifications, Benefits, and Services under the TAA Reauthorization Act of 2015,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016). 121 See 19 U.S.C. § 2272. 122 Ibid. 123 USDOL, “Important Legislative Changes to the TAA Program,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016). 124 USDOL, “TAA Program Certifications, Benefits, and Services,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016). 
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an extended period for filing their petitions, as well as a wider coverage of eligible workers 

compared to the Reversion 2014 program.125 The TAARA 2015 also provided that the Reversion 

2014 program participants must transition into the TAARA 2015 program, and this transition 

took effect on September 28, 2015.126

The major differences between the TAARA 2015 program and the Reversion 2014 program are 

as follows: 

(1) The TAARA 2015 program offers wider coverage of eligible workers and provides more 

training funds than the Reversion 2014 program. The Reversion 2014 provisions ended 

eligibility for service workers and reduced the cap on training funding to the 2002 levels.127 In 

comparison, the TAARA 2015 program reinstated eligibility for service workers and increased 

training funding to a level between those of TAAEA in 2011 and the Reversion 2014 

provisions.128

(2) The TAARA 2015 program offers a tax credit to help TAA program participants pay for their 

health insurance premium.129 This tax credit is not available under the Reversion 2014 

program.130

In FY 2015, $507.4 million was allocated to state governments to fund the TAA for Workers 

program. This included $235.7 million for “training and other activities,” which includes funds 

for training, job search allowances, relocation allowances, employment and case management 

 125 USDOL, ETA, “Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 05-15,” September 4, 2015; “TAA Program 

Certifications, Benefits, and Services,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2015). The TAARA 2015 recognized that petitions 

may not have been filed due to uncertainty about the continuation of the program, as well as the fact that TAARA 

2015 provides a wider coverage of eligible workers compared to the Reversion 2014 program (for more details, see 

the next paragraph of this section). Hence, the TAARA 2015 provides that all certifications of petitions that include 

workers separated on or after January 1, 2014, and that were filed within 90 days (or by September 27, 2015) after 

the date of enactment of the Act, will be considered. This date replaces the one-year impact date that applies to 

certifications of all other petitions. USDOL, ETA, “TAARA 2015 Q&A,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016). 126 USDOL, ETA, “TAARA 2015 Q&A,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016). 127 CRS, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers and the TAA, August 18, 2015, 11. 128 Ibid. 129 The tax credit is called “the health coverage tax credit.” This credit pays 72.5 percent of qualified health 

insurance premiums for eligible individuals and their families. Eligible individuals include eligible TAA recipients, 

alternative recipients, and reemployment benefits (RTAA) recipients, as well as a family member of an eligible 

recipient who is deceased or finalized a divorce with that family member. IRS, “Health Coverage Tax Credit,” n.d. 

(accessed April 6, 2015). 

130 The health care tax credit was available under the 2011 program (established by the Trade Adjustment 

Assistance Extension Act of 2011). However, the tax credit expired on January 1, 2014, mainly due to its phaseout 

via the Affordable Care Act. For more background, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 69.
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services, and related state administration; $241.1 million for trade readjustment allowance 

benefits; and $30.6 million for Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits.131

Groups of workers submitted 1,024 petitions for TAA in FY 2015, up from 990 petitions (an 

increase of 3.4 percent) filed in FY 2014. The increase was likely mainly due to the fact that 

certain service sector workers, as well as worker groups whose jobs are adversely affected by 

trade from countries that are not parties to FTAs with the United States, became eligible for 

TAA under the TAARA 2015 program and therefore filed their applications in FY 2015. The 

USDOL certified 413 petitions covering 57,631 workers as eligible for TAA, and denied 162 

petitions covering 19,444 workers.132 The largest number of petitions certified in FY 2015 was 

in the South census region, followed by the Midwest, the Northeast, and the West (table 

2.3).133 By state, Texas had the most workers certified (7,601 workers), followed by Minnesota 

(4,406 workers), California (3,430 workers), New York (3,249 workers) and Illinois (3,235 

workers). 

Table 2.3 TAA Certifications, FY 2015

Census region No. of petitions certified No. of workers covered

South 116 19,229

Midwest 111 18,069

Northeast 105 10,552

West 78 8,859

Puerto Rico 3 922

Source: USDOL, ETA, email message to USITC staff, February 17, 2016. 

The majority (77.5 percent, 320 petitions) of the TAA petitions certified during FY 2015 were in 

the manufacturing sector, covering 49,613 workers, followed by the professional, scientific, and 

technical services sector (3.9 percent, 16 petitions), and the finance and insurance sector (3.2 

percent, 13 petitions). The share of TAA petitions certified during FY 2015 for the 

manufacturing sector was 10.9 percent higher than the share of petitions certified for the 

manufacturing sector during FY 2014. 

Assistance for Firms

The TAA for Firms (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.134

 

131 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 188. 132 Petitions are accepted and investigated on a rolling basis throughout the year, and petitions may be withdrawn 

and investigations terminated at any point. For these reasons, the number of petitions certified and denied for TAA 

in any fiscal year may not equal the total number of petitions filed in that year. USDOL, ETA, “Petition Filing 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ),” n.d. (accessed March 9, 2015). 133 The regional classification is based on definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. See U.S. Census website,

http://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/maps-data/maps/reference/us_regdiv.pdf (accessed April 5, 2016). 134 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 189. 
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The TAAF program provides cost-sharing technical assistance to help eligible businesses to 

create and implement targeted business recovery plans called Adjustment Proposals (APs).135 

The program pays up to 75 percent of the costs of developing the recovery plans, and firms also 

contribute a share of the cost of creating and implementing their recovery plans.136 TAARA 

2015 authorizes the TAAF Program through FY 2021.137 Current information on provisions of 

the TAA for Firms program, as well as detailed information on program eligibility requirements, 

benefits, and available services, is available at the USDOC’s Economic Development 

Administration (EDA) website for TAA, http://www.taacenters.org/.

To be eligible for TAAF, 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.138 Technical 

assistance in the form of matching funds is provided through a nationwide network of 11 

nonprofit or university-affiliated Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers to help U.S. 

manufacturing, production, and service firms.139 Matching funds can be applied toward the cost 

of hiring third-party consultants to help firms and of developing and carrying out adjustment 

proposals to improve a firm’s market position and competitiveness. 140 Firms generally have up 

to five years to implement an approved adjustment proposal.141

In FY 2015, EDA awarded a total of $20 million in TAAF program funds to its national network of 

11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers.142 During FY 2015, EDA certified 113 petitions for 

eligibility and approved 120 adjustment proposals.143 The numbers are both a bit higher than 

in FY 2014, when EDA certified 105 petitions and approved 107 adjustment proposals.144 

Tariff Preference Programs 

Three major U.S. tariff preference programs with developing countries were operative during 

2015: the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); the African Growth and Opportunity 

Act (AGOA); and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), including the Caribbean 

Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) as well as the Haitian Hemisphere Opportunity through 

 135 USDOC, EDA, “Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms,” n.d. (accessed April 12, 2016). 136 Ibid. 137 Pub. L. 114-27, sect. 403. 138 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 189. 139 USDOC, EDA, “Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms,” n.d. (accessed April 12, 2016). 140 Ibid. 141 Ibid. 142 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 189. 143 Ibid. 144 Petitions are certified on a rolling basis throughout the year. USDOC, EDA, Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Report to 

Congress: Trade Adjustment Assistance, 13, 24–25, n.d. (accessed April 12, 2016).
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Partnership Encouragement Acts of 2006 and of 2008 (the HOPE Acts) and the Haitian 

Economic Lift Program of 2010 (HELP Act).145 The value of U.S. imports for which eligibility was 

claimed under these trade preference programs fell from $33.0 billion in 2014 to $27.4 billion in 

2015, accounting for 1.2 percent of total U.S. imports during 2015.146 

Generalized System of Preferences 

The U.S. GSP program authorizes the President to grant duty-free access to the U.S. market for 

certain products that are imported from designated developing countries and territories.147 

Certain additional products are allowed duty-free treatment when imported only from 

countries designated as least-developed beneficiary developing countries. The President’s 

authority to provide duty-free treatment under the GSP program expired on July 31, 2013, but 

was renewed retroactively in 2015. On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law a bill 

that reauthorized GSP retroactively to its date of expiration and covered the period through 

December 31, 2017.148 Retroactivity did not apply to those countries which were not covered 

as of the date of renewal (Russia and Bangladesh). 

The GSP program aims to accelerate economic growth in developing countries by offering 

unilateral tariff preferences. An underlying principle of the GSP program is that the creation of 

trade opportunities for developing countries encourages broad-based economic development 

and sustains momentum for economic reform and liberalization. The GSP program also allows 

U.S. companies to have access to intermediate products from beneficiary countries on generally 

the same terms that are available to competitors in other developed countries that grant 

similar trade preferences.149 

Countries are designated as “beneficiary developing countries” under the GSP program by the 

President, although they can lose this designation based on petitions alleging improper country 

practices, including inadequate protection of IPR or internationally recognized worker rights.

150 

 

145 This report does not analyze U.S. tariff preferences provided to goods entered into the customs territory of the 

United States from U.S. insular possessions (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Johnston Atoll, Midway Islands, and Wake 

Island) and to products of the Freely Associated States (the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 

and Palau). See USITC, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 2016, March 2016, gen. note 3a (iv) and 

gen. note 10. U.S. insular possessions are defined in 19 C.F.R. § 7.2 (a).

146 See tables 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7. If U.S. importers do not claim this status or some other special status, then 

duties are charged on their goods using the rates found in the “general rates of duty” column of the Harmonized 

Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).

147 The program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 2461 et seq. 148 Pub. L. 114-27, Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. 149 USTR, 2015 Trade Policy Agenda and 2014 Annual Report, March 2015, 44. 150 The list of current GSP beneficiaries can be found on the USTR’s website at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/tradedevelopment/preference-programs/generalized-system-preference-gsp/gsp-program-inf. 
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Some of these beneficiary developing countries are also designated least-developed beneficiary 

developing countries (LDBDCs), and as such are eligible for expanded benefits. The President 

also designates the articles that are eligible for duty-free treatment, but may not designate 

articles that he determines to be “import-sensitive” in the context of the GSP. Certain articles 

(for example, footwear, textiles, and apparel) are designated by statute as “import-sensitive”

and thus not eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP program. The statute also provides 

for graduating countries from the program when they become “high income” and for ending 

the eligibility of articles, or of articles from certain countries, under certain conditions. 

Competitive need limitations (CNLs) are another important part of the GSP program’s structure. 

CNLs are quantitative ceilings on GSP benefits for each product and beneficiary developing 

country. The GSP statute provides that a beneficiary developing country will lose its GSP 

eligibility with respect to a product if the CNLs are exceeded, though waivers may be granted 

under certain conditions. There are two different CNLs that may apply to U.S. imports of a 

particular product from a beneficiary developing country during any calendar year. One CNL 

applies to imports that account for 50 percent or more of the value of total U.S. imports of that 

product, and the other CNL applies to imports that exceed a certain dollar value ($170 million in 

2015).151 The act extending the GSP program in 2006 provided that a CNL waiver in effect on a 

product for five or more years should be revoked if U.S. imports from a specific supplier meet 

certain “super-competitive” value thresholds.152

The following developments with respect to the U.S. GSP program occurred in 2015:

• An accelerated GSP program review was conducted, which resulted in a Presidential 

Proclamation effective October 1, 2015. The Proclamation added 5 new eligible tariff lines 

in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) for cotton products from 

LDBDCs only. Three other products were re-designated as eligible from Ukraine, along with 

one product from Indonesia. Three products (two from Turkey and one from Indonesia) 

had CNL waivers revoked that had been in effect for at least 5 years and for which imports 

were at least 150 percent of the CNL value or percentage level, pursuant to the 2006 

statutory provisions. In addition, new CNL waivers were granted to two new products from 

Thailand. Also, the President announced the graduation of Seychelles, Venezuela, and 

Uruguay from the GSP program effective January 1, 2017.153

• On August 19, 2015, the 2015 GSP annual review was announced. This review will return to 

the normal GSP review schedule, and will review calendar year 2015 GSP imports, 

 151 USTR, U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Guidebook, October 2015, 12. 152 19 U.S.C. § 2463(d)(4)(B)(ii). 153 Presidential Proclamation 9333, 80 Fed. Reg. 60249 (October 5, 2015).
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culminating in a proclamation likely to take effect on July 1, 2016.154 This proclamation will 

exclude products that exceeded the CNL level for 2015 unless a waiver is granted.

• On November 25, 2015, the country practices review regarding worker rights in the 

Philippines was closed without any change to GSP benefits; also, a country practices 

petition filed by the AFL-CIO regarding worker rights in Thailand was accepted for review. A 

country practices hearing was held on January 14–15, 2016.155

Imports claiming GSP preferences totaled $17.4 billion in 2015, accounting for 8.4 percent of 

total U.S. imports from GSP beneficiary countries and 0.8 percent of total U.S. imports (tables 

2.4 and A.2). Note that, except for imports from AGOA beneficiary countries, U.S. imports 

claiming GSP treatment before July 29, 2015, did not actually enter duty free, but importers still 

claimed GSP status to facilitate receiving refunds in case GSP was renewed and made 

retroactive. After GSP’s retroactive renewal, importers were eligible to receive refunds for 

duties paid during the lapse. 

India was the leading source of imports entered under the GSP program in 2015, followed by 

Thailand and Brazil, as in recent years (appendix table A.17). Appendix tables A.18 and A.19 

show the overall sectoral distribution of GSP benefits, and appendix table A.20 shows the top 

25 products imported under the GSP in 2015. The tables show that the value of imports of 

crude petroleum, formerly the top U.S. import under GSP, dropped from substantial levels in 

2013 and 2014 to zero in 2015 under GSP; similar imports under AGOA also declined 

substantially, as did total U.S. crude petroleum imports in 2015.156 Note that such imports are 

eligible for GSP benefits only when received from LDBDCs, and that historically they have been 

imported primarily from countries that were also AGOA beneficiaries.

 

154 80 Fed. Reg. 50376 (August 19, 2015). 155 80 Fed. Reg. 73868 (November 25, 2015). 156 For more information on the trend in U.S. petroleum imports in 2015, see chapter 1.
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Table 2.4 U.S. imports for consumption from GSP beneficiaries, 2013–15

Item 2013 2014 2015

Total imports from GSP beneficiaries (million $) 277,275 261,204 206,149

Total imports under GSP (million $) 18,504 18,704 17,410

Imports under LDBDC provisions (million $)a 740 871 17

Imports under non-LDBDC provisions (million $)b 17,765 17,833 17,393

Imports under GSP (as a share of all imports from GSP countries) 6.7 7.2 8.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 29, 2016).

Note: LDBDC = least-developed beneficiary developing country. The President’s authority to provide duty-free treatment under the GSP 

program expired on July 31, 2013, but was renewed retroactively effective July 29, 2015. 

a LDBDC-eligible products are those for which a rate of duty of “free” appears in the special rate column of the HTS, followed by the symbol 

“A+” in parentheses. The symbol “A+” indicates that all LDBDCs (and only LDBDCs) are eligible for duty-free treatment with respect to all 

articles listed in the designated provisions.

b Non-LDBDC-eligible products are those for which a rate of duty of “free” appears in the special rate column of the HTS followed by the 

symbols “A” or “A*” in parentheses. The symbol “A” indicates that all beneficiary countries are eligible for duty-free treatment with 

respect to all articles listed in the designated provisions. The symbol “A*” indicates that certain beneficiary countries (specified in general 

note 4(d) of the HTS) are not eligible for duty-free treatment with respect to any article listed in the designated provision.

African Growth and Opportunity Act

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA or Act) was enacted in 2000 to promote stable 

and sustainable economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In a statement 

of policy in the Act, Congress expressed support for, among other things, “encouraging 

increased trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa,” “reducing 

tariff and nontariff barriers and other obstacles to sub-Saharan African and United States 

trade,” and “expanding United States assistance to sub-Saharan Africa’s regional integration 

efforts.”157 By providing unilateral preferential trade benefits to eligible beneficiary SSA 

countries, AGOA aims to promote political and economic reform in SSA, encourage regional 

economic integration, strengthen private sectors, and enhance commercial and political ties 

between the United States and SSA, as well as facilitate the development of civil societies, rule 

of law, and political freedom in SSA countries.158 On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed 

into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (TPEA), which extended AGOA for 10 

years through September 30, 2025.159

AGOA expands on the U.S. GSP program by offering duty-free access to the U.S. market for all 

GSP-eligible products160 and for over 1,800 qualifying tariff line-item products from designated 

SSA countries beyond those eligible under the GSP program.161 In addition, AGOA authorizes 

 157 Trade and Development Act of 2000, 19 U.S.C. § 3701, Title I, sec. 103 (Pub. L. 106-200), 19 U.S.C. § 3702;

USDOC, ITA, “Trade and Development Act of 2000,” n.d. (accessed April 1, 2016). 158 Trade and Development Act of 2000, 19 U.S.C. § 3701, Title I, sec. 103 (Pub. L. 106-200), 19 U.S.C. § 3702;

USDOC, ITA, “Trade and Development Act of 2000,” n.d. (accessed April 1, 2016). 159 Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, 19 U.S.C. § 3721(g), sec.103; U.S. Government Publishing Office, 

“Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015,” n.d. (accessed April 13, 2016). 160 The eligibility criteria for GSP and AGOA designation substantially overlap, and countries must be GSP eligible in 

order to receive AGOA’s trade benefits. USDOC, ITA, “AGOA: General Country Eligibility Provisions,” n.d. (accessed

April 13, 2016). Countries are designated separately for the two programs (see HTS, general notes 4 and 16). 161 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 193.
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duty-free treatment to certain textile and apparel articles made in qualifying beneficiary SSA 

countries.162 In 2015, approximately 7,000 tariff lines were designated as covering products 

eligible for duty-free treatment under AGOA.163

AGOA authorizes the President to designate an SSA country as an AGOA beneficiary country if 

the President determines the country meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 

104(a) of the Act.164 The Act also requires the President to review annually whether SSA 

countries are, or remain, eligible for AGOA benefits based on the eligibility criteria.165 

Moreover, compared to the Act, the recent TPEA offers additional tools for the President to

promote compliance with AGOA eligibility criteria. First, TPEA offers greater flexibility for the 

President to “withdraw, suspend, or limit” the AGOA benefits to a beneficiary SSA country if the 

President determines that “withdrawing, suspending, or limiting such duty-free treatment 

would be more effective in promoting compliance by the country than terminating the 

designation of the country as a beneficiary SSA country.”166 Second, according to USTR, TPEA 

improves transparency and participation in the AGOA review process and creates a public 

petition process to review an SSA country’s AGOA eligibility.167 Third, TPEA expands the annual 

review process and authorizes the President to initiate an “out-of-cycle review” process at any 

time concerning an SSA country’s AGOA eligibility.168

In 2015, 39 SSA countries were designated as eligible for AGOA benefits.169 Of these countries, 

28 countries were eligible for AGOA textile and apparel benefits for the whole or part of 

 

162 This benefit is also extended through September 30, 2025, by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. 163 This includes around 5,000 tariff lines currently covered by the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), 

plus a further 1,800 tariff lines added under the AGOA legislation. In addition, imports could also qualify for 

benefits under the AGOA apparel and textile provisions. AGOA.info, “AGOA Product Eligibility,” n.d. (accessed April 

1, 2016). 164 19 U.S.C. § 3703(a). 19 U.S.C. § 3706 lists a total of 49 SSA countries, or their successor political entities, as 

potential AGOA beneficiaries. Thirty-one of these are LDBDCs under the GSP. See general note 4(b) to the HTS. 165 19 U.S.C. § 2466a(a)(2). 166 Pub. L. 114-27, Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. 167 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 193. 168 See section 105(c) of Pub. L. 114-27, Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, amending section 506A of the 

Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. § 2466a). 169 Thirty-nine countries were eligible for AGOA benefits in 2015; however, the following 40 countries were listed 

in general note 16 of the HTS as designated AGOA beneficiaries during 2015: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina 

Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, 

Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, 

Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South 

Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. USITC, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 

(HTS) 2015, January 2015, 186. In June 2014, the President terminated the designation of Swaziland as an AGOA 

beneficiary, effective January 1, 2015, mainly because of its lack of progress on eligibility criteria related to worker 

rights; Proclamation No. 9145 (June 26, 2014). 
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2015.170 Of the countries in the latter group, all but one (South Africa) were also eligible for 

additional textile and apparel benefits for lesser-developed beneficiary countries (LDBCs) for 

the whole or part of 2015.171 Notable among these extra benefits is the third-country fabric 

provision for LDBCs, which allows beneficiary countries to use non-U.S., non-AGOA fabrics in 

apparel exports under AGOA.172

Guinea-Bissau regained its AGOA eligibility on January 1, 2015.173 Meanwhile, in 2014, the 

President terminated the designation of Swaziland, The Gambia, and South Sudan as AGOA 

beneficiaries, effective January 1, 2015.174 The designations of The Gambia and South Sudan 

were terminated because, under section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act of 1974, the President 

determined that they were “not making continued progress in meeting the requirements 

described in section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act.”175 The President terminated the designation 

of Swaziland “after years of engaging with the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland on 

concerns about its implementation of the AGOA criteria related to worker rights.”176 In 

addition, the regular annual review on AGOA eligibility in 2015 resulted in the withdrawal of 

Burundi’s AGOA eligibility, effective January 1, 2016, due primarily to concerns related to 

human rights, governance, and rule of law issues.177

Another notable AGOA review case in 2015 was an out-of-cycle review of South Africa’s AGOA 

eligibility, which was initiated on July 21, 2015, and required by the TPEA legislation.178 On 

November 5, 2015, the President 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 exports to South Africa.179 On 

January 11, 2016, the President issued a proclamation announcing that the United States would 

 170 Twenty-eight countries were listed in the HTS as eligible to receive AGOA apparel benefits as of January 1, 2015. 

The countries included Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, 

Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia , Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, 

Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The Gambia and Swaziland 

were eligible for AGOA textile and apparel benefits in 2014, but they both lost their AGOA eligibility starting 

January 2015, and hence also lost their eligibility for AGOA textile and apparel benefits. USITC, HTS 2015, January

2015, chapter 98, subchapter XIX, U.S. note 1. For more background, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 

75. 171 USDOC, ITA, “AGOA Preferences: Country Eligibility, Apparel Eligibility, and Textile Eligibility,” January 8, 2016. 172 USITC, HTS 2015, January 2015, chapter 98, subchapter XIX, U.S. note 2(a) through 2(e). 173 Proclamation No. 9223 (December 23, 2014). 174 Proclamation No. 9145 (June 26, 2014); Proclamation No. 9223 (December 23, 2014); USTR, 2015 Trade Policy 

Agenda and 2014 Annual Report, March 2015, 195. 175 Proclamation No. 9223 (December 23, 2014). 176 USTR, "President Obama Removes Swaziland," June 26, 2014. 177 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 193–94; Proclamation No.9383 

(December 21, 2015). 

178 USTR, “U.S. to Suspend African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Benefits,” November 2015. 179 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 194.
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suspend the application of duty-free treatment for all AGOA-eligible goods in the agricultural 

sector from South Africa. The effective date for the suspension was set at March 15, 2016, to 

allow South Africa time to implement actions to resolve the outstanding barriers to U.S. 

trade.180

In 2015, the value of U.S. imports that entered free of duty from AGOA beneficiary countries 

under AGOA (including GSP) was $9.3 billion, a sum that represented a 35 percent decrease in 

value from 2014. These imports accounted for 48.4 percent of total imports from AGOA 

countries in 2015. In 2015, imports entering the United States exclusively under AGOA 

(excluding GSP) were valued at $8.0 billion, accounting for 41.7 percent of U.S. imports from 

AGOA countries (table 2.5).

Table 2.5 U.S. imports for consumption from AGOA beneficiaries, 2013–15

Item 2013 2014 2015

Total imports from AGOA countries (million $) 38,205 25,561 19,140 

Imports under AGOA, including GSP (million $)a 26,872 14,250 9,271 

Imports under AGOA, excluding GSP (million $) 24,854 11,874 7,980 

Imports under AGOA (as a share of all imports from AGOA countries) 70.3 55.7 48.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 29, 2016).

a

 AGOA-eligible products are those for which a rate of duty of “free” appears in the special rate column of the HTS followed by the symbol 

“D” in parentheses. The symbol “D” indicates that all AGOA beneficiaries are eligible for duty-free treatment with respect to all articles 

listed in the designated provisions. In addition, provisions of subchapters II and XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS set forth specific categories of 

AGOA-eligible products, under the terms of separate country designations enumerated in subchapter notes. Includes imports for which 

preferential tariff treatment was claimed for AGOA-eligible goods by U.S. importers under GSP, for HTS rate lines with special duty 

symbols “A” or “A+.” 

The decline in U.S. imports under AGOA in 2015 mainly reflected a decline in the value and 

quantity of imports of crude and other petroleum-related products, which dropped by $3.9 

billion from 2014 to 2015. Major petroleum-producing countries in Africa—Nigeria, Angola, 

Gabon, Chad, and Cameroon—all experienced significant declines in the value of their exports 

of petroleum-related products to the United States (appendix tables A.21 and A.22). 

The major suppliers of duty-free U.S. imports under AGOA in 2015 were Angola (23.0 percent of 

total AGOA imports), South Africa (21.6 percent), Chad (18.5 percent), Nigeria (17.6 percent), 

Kenya (5.4 percent), and Lesotho (3.8 percent). These six countries accounted for 89.8 percent 

of total imports by value under AGOA, an increase of 2.0 percentage points from 2014 

(appendix table A.21).

 

180 Proclamation No. 9388 (January 14, 2016); USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March

2016, 194. On March 14, 2016, the President issued another proclamation indicating that based on actions that 

the Government of South Africa has taken to come into compliance with the requirements under AGOA eligibility, 

the President has determined that it is no longer necessary to suspend the application of duty-free treatment to 

agricultural exports from South Africa, so the earlier proclamation 9388 was revoked; Proclamation No. 9406

(March 14, 2016). 
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Petroleum-related products,181 mainly crude petroleum, continued to be the leading imports 

under AGOA. However, though these products accounted for 64.5 percent of the total value of 

AGOA imports in 2015, that share was down by 11.4 percentage points from 75.9 percent in 

2014. The value of U.S. imports of petroleum-related products under AGOA dropped by 43 

percent from 2014 to 2015, from $9.0 billion in 2014 to $5.1 billion in 2015 (appendix table 

A.22). The decrease in the value of U.S. imports of petroleum-related products under AGOA 

was driven primarily by the significant drop in the per-barrel price of crude petroleum, which 

fell from an average of $88.7 per barrel in 2014 to $44.8 per barrel in 2015, as well as increasing 

U.S. domestic production.182 U.S. production of crude petroleum increased from 3.2 billion 

barrels in 2014 to 3.4 billion barrels in 2015; 183 increased U.S. production coupled with 

stagnant U.S. consumption jointly contributed to the decline in U.S. imports of crude petroleum 

under AGOA, reflecting the national trend.

184 As a result of lower U.S. and worldwide demand, 

AGOA crude petroleum-producing countries slowed down production dramatically in 2015 and 

delayed much-needed repairs to pipelines and wellheads.185

Passenger motor vehicles and textile and apparel products were two other major U.S. imports 

under AGOA, accounting for 16.8 percent and 10.9 percent of the value of total AGOA imports 

in 2015, respectively (appendix table A.22).186 U.S. passenger motor vehicle imports under 

AGOA came exclusively from South Africa, and they increased slightly in value from $1.30 billion 

in 2014 to $1.34 billion in 2015. The increase was principally driven by the increase in U.S. 

domestic demand for passenger motor vehicles. Vehicle sales in the United States rose by 5.7 

percent in 2015 compared to 2014.187

Section 105 of AGOA required the President to establish the U.S.-SSA Trade and Economic 

Cooperation Forum (also known as the AGOA Forum)188 to discuss trade, investment, and 

development at an annual ministerial-level meeting with AGOA-eligible countries. The 14th 

AGOA Forum was held in August 2015 in Gabon.189 At the forum, U.S. Trade Representative 

 181 Here, petroleum-related products include crude petroleum (HTS 2709.00), light oils (HTS 2710.12), and 

petroleum oil from bituminous minerals (HTS 2710.19). 182 GTIS, Global Trade Atlas (accessed April 19, 2016). 183 EIA, “Crude Oil Production,” n.d. (accessed April 19, 2016). 184 EIA, “Monthly Energy Review,” April 2016. 185 Steyn, “Oil Price Spillover Hits Africa Hard,” August 14, 2015. 186 Here the phrase “U.S. imports of passenger motor vehicles” refers to passenger motor vehicles with sparkignition engines from 1.5L to 3L (HTS 8703.23). Meanwhile, textile and apparel products refer to the following 

products: HTS 6203.42, HTS 6205.20, HTS 6110.30, HTS 6104.63, HTS 6204.62, HTS 6105.20, HTS 6109.90, HTS 

6204.63, HTS 6103.43, HTS 6104.53, HTS 6104.62, HTS 6203.43, and HTS 6110.20. These products can be found in 

appendix table A.22, which lists the top 25 products imported under AGOA in 2015.

187 Automobile News, “U.S. Auto Sales Break Record in 2015,” January 5, 2016. 188 19 U.S.C. § 3704. 189 U.S. Department of State, “AGOA Forum 2015,” n.d. (accessed April 19, 2016). 
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Michael Froman and senior officials from more than a dozen U.S. government agencies met 

with numerous African trade ministers, leaders of African regional economic organizations, and 

representatives of the African and U.S. private sectors and civil society to discuss issues and 

strategies for advancing trade, investment, and economic development in SSA. They also 

examined ways to increase two-way U.S.-SSA trade in light of the 10-year extension of AGOA.190

During his remarks to Forum delegates, Ambassador Froman stated that the Administration will

begin a dialogue with stakeholders on the vision for the U.S.-Africa trade and investment 

relationship, moving beyond AGOA’s unilateral preferences to a “more mature, reciprocal trade 

and investment relationship.”191 Toward this end, Ambassador Froman announced the launch 

of a strategic review to identify the building blocks of a more sustainable post-AGOA U.S.-Africa 

trade and investment partnership. The results will be shared in a report that USTR will send to 

Congress.192

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act

The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) was enacted in 1983 as part of the 

Caribbean Basin Initiative. Its goal was to encourage economic growth and development in the 

Caribbean Basin countries by using duty preferences to promote increased production and 

exports of nontraditional products.193 The Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) 

amended CBERA in 2000 and expanded the list of qualified articles, for eligible countries, to 

include certain apparel.194 The CBTPA also extended “NAFTA-equivalent treatment”—that is, 

rates of duty equivalent to those accorded to goods complying with the rules of origin 

applicable under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—to a number of other 

products previously excluded from CBERA. These products included certain tuna; crude 

petroleum and petroleum products; certain footwear; watches and watch parts assembled 

from parts originating in countries not eligible for normal trade relations (NTR) rates of duty;195

and certain handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel. Products 

that are still excluded from CBERA preferential treatment include textile and apparel products 

 

190 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 194. 191 Ibid. 192 Ibid. 193 For a more detailed description of CBERA, including country and product eligibility, see USITC, Caribbean Basin 

Economic Recovery Act, 22nd Report, September 2015. 194 Textiles and apparel that were not subject to textile agreements in 1983 are eligible for duty-free entry under 

the original CBERA provisions, which do not have an expiration date. This category includes only textiles and 

apparel of silk or non-cotton vegetable fibers, mainly linen and ramie. Textile and apparel goods of cotton, wool, or 

manmade fibers (“original MFA goods”) are not eligible under CBERA. “MFA” stands for the Multifibre

Arrangement.

195 NTR rates of duty, formerly known as most-favored-nation rates, are accorded to countries having NTR status in 

the United States and are non-discriminatory between trading partners.
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not otherwise eligible for preferential treatment under CBTPA (mostly textile products) and 

above-quota imports of certain agricultural products subject to TRQs (primarily sugar, beef, and 

dairy products). CBTPA preferential treatment provisions were extended in 2010 through 

September 30, 2020, while other parts of CBERA have no expiration date.196 In the section that 

follows, the term CBERA refers to CBERA as amended by the CBTPA.

At the end of 2015, 17 countries and dependent territories were designated eligible for CBERA 

preferences197 and 8 were designated eligible for CBTPA preferences.198 In 2012, several 

countries asked to be designated as eligible for benefits under CBERA, CBTPA, or both. The 

Turks and Caicos Islands requested eligibility under CBERA; Aruba, The Bahamas, Dominica, 

Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, under CBTPA;199 

and Curaçao and Sint Maarten, under both CBERA and CBTPA.200 (Until 2010, Curaçao and Sint 

Maarten were members of the now-dissolved Netherlands Antilles.) On December 31, 2013, 

the President designated Curaçao as a beneficiary country for purposes of CBERA and CBTPA; 

and on August 18, 2015, USTR determined that imports from Curaçao qualify for the trade 

benefits of CBTPA.201 

In 2015, the value of U.S. imports under CBERA fell by 21.9 percent, from $2.0 billion in 2014 to 

$1.5 billion in 2015 (table 2.6).202 This decrease reflected a decline mostly in the value of U.S. 

imports of methanol, crude petroleum, and polystyrene, which are major imports from CBERA 

countries. U.S. imports under CBERA accounted for 22.8 percent of all U.S. imports from CBERA 

countries in 2015. Trinidad and Tobago continued to be the leading supplier of U.S. imports 

under CBERA in 2015, accounting for 53.7 percent of the total value. Haiti and The Bahamas 

were also leading suppliers, accounting for 28.1 and 5.7 percent of the total, respectively 

(appendix table A.23).

 196 Certain preferential treatment provisions have been extended to September 30, 2020. These provisions relate

to import-sensitive textile and apparel articles from CBERA countries and to textile and apparel articles imported 

under special rules for Haiti (see section on Haiti below). The extension occurred on May 24, 2010, when the 

President signed the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-171, § 3. 197 Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, 

Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the 

British Virgin Islands. Countries party to CAFTA-DR are not eligible. 198 Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. 199 77 Fed. Reg. 61816 (October 11, 2012). 200 Ibid. In addition, Suriname requested beneficiary status under CBERA and CBTPA in December 2009, and in April 

2010, USTR asked for public comments regarding this request. 75 Fed. Reg. 17198 (April 5, 2010).

201 80 Fed. Reg. 51650 (August 25, 2015). 202 Although Sint Maarten was not a designated CBERA beneficiary in 2015, official statistics on U.S. imports under 

CBERA include imports from Sint Maarten, and they are included in this report.
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Table 2.6 U.S. imports for consumption from CBERA/CBTPA beneficiaries, 2013–15

Item 2013 2014 2015

Total imports from CBERA/CBTPA countries (million $)a 8,997 8,249 6,767 

Total imports under CBERA (million $) 2,369 1,973 1,542 

Imports under CBTPA (million $)b 851 589 564 

Imports under CBERA excluding CBTPA (million $)c 1,518 1,384 978 

Imports under CBERA (as a share of all imports from CBERA countries) 26.3 23.9 22.8 

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 29, 2016). a Data for 2014 and 2015 include U.S. imports from Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

b CBTPA-eligible products are those for which a special duty rate appears in the special rate column of the HTS, followed by the symbol “R” 

in parentheses. The symbol “R” indicates that all CBTPA beneficiary countries are eligible for special duty rate treatment with respect to 

all articles listed in the designated provisions. In addition, subchapters II and XX of chapter 98 set forth provisions covering specific 

products eligible for duty-free entry, under separate country designations enumerated in those subchapters (and including the former 

CBTPA beneficiaries).

c

CBERA (excluding CBTPA)-eligible products are those for which a special duty rate appears in the special rate column of the HTS, followed 

by the symbols “E” or “E*” in parentheses. The symbol “E” indicates that all beneficiary countries are eligible for special duty rate 

treatment with respect to all articles listed in the designated provisions. The symbol “E*” indicates that certain articles, under general 

note 7(d) of the HTS, are not eligible for special duty rate treatment with respect to any article listed in the designated provision.

Methanol, apparel products, mineral fuels, and polystyrene continued to dominate the list of 

imports under CBERA in 2015 (appendix table A.24). Of the 25 leading products under CBERA in 

2015, 13 were agricultural and food products, which entered under CBERA preferences 

(accounting for 8.5 percent of total U.S. imports under CBERA in 2015); 3 were knitted apparel 

entered under CBTPA (26.6 percent); 2 were petroleum and motor fuel products entered under 

CBTPA (9.6 percent); 2 were organic chemicals entered under CBERA (42.4 percent); and the 

remaining 5 were miscellaneous products that qualify for benefits under CBERA provisions. 

Together, these 25 leading imports accounted for 95.6 percent of total U.S. imports under 

CBERA in 2015.

Haiti Initiatives

Since 2006, CBERA has been amended several times to expand and enhance trade benefits for 

Haiti and to give Haitian apparel producers more flexibility in sourcing yarns and fabrics.203 The 

Haitian Hemisphere Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006 (HOPE Act)204

and of 2008 (HOPE II Act)205 (collectively referred to as HOPE or the HOPE Acts) amended 

CBERA to expand the rules of origin for inputs to apparel and wire harness automotive 

components assembled in Haiti and imported into the United States.206 The HOPE Acts also 

provided additional trade preferences to attract new jobs in Haiti while offering incentives to 

 

203 Apparel manufacturing remains a primary provider of employment for Haiti’s economy and accounts for 90 

percent of Haiti’s exports to the United States. U.S. industry representative, email to USITC staff, March 3, 2016 

and Smith, “IFC Invests $4 Million in Haitian Apparel,” July 14, 2015. http://www.juststyle.com/pap.aspx?ID=125699. 204 Pub. L. 109–432, § 5001 et seq., the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act 

of 2006. 19 U.S.C. § 2703a. 205 Pub. L. 110–234, § 15401 et seq., the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act 

of 2008.

206 There were no U.S. imports of wire harness automotive components from Haiti during 2007–15. 
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encourage the use of U.S. inputs.207 The Haitian Economic Lift Program of 2010 (HELP Act) 

extended and expanded existing U.S. trade preferences (especially duty-free treatment for 

certain qualifying apparel regardless of the origin of inputs) for Haiti that were established 

under the CBTPA and HOPE Acts through September 30, 2020.208 On June 29, 2015, President 

Barack Obama signed into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, which extended 

the HOPE and HELP Acts’ trade preferences through September 30, 2025.209 Extending the 

trade preferences for Haiti was considered vital for increasing the confidence of investors 

seeking to establish operations in Haiti’s apparel industry.210

U.S. imports of apparel from Haiti totaled $913.7 million in 2015, up 8.4 percent from $843.1 

million in 2014 (table 2.7).211 Virtually all (99.7 percent) of U.S. imports of apparel from Haiti 

entered duty free under trade preference programs in 2015. These trade preference programs 

offer unlimited duty-free treatment for certain apparel products and limited duty-free 

treatment for other apparel products made from non-originating fabrics up to certain quotas, 

known as tariff preference levels (TPLs). The programs have been instrumental in helping to 

revitalize and expand Haiti’s apparel industry in recent years.212 The trade preferences also give 

U.S. apparel firms a competitive advantage that they can leverage in their overall sourcing 

strategies, thereby further contributing to the growth of U.S. apparel imports from Haiti.213 

 207 GAO, “Letter to the Honorable Max Baucus and the Honorable Dave Camp,” December 14, 2012. For more 

details on the programs under the HOPE Acts, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2010, July 2011, 2–21 to 2–22; USITC, 

Textiles and Apparel: Effects of Special Rules, June 2008, i. ES–1, 1–3 to 1–5. 208 Pub. L. 111–171, § 2, Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010. For more information on this program, see USITC, 

The Year in Trade 2011, July 2012, 2-22 to 2-23 and The Year in Trade 2010, July 2011, 2-21 to 2-22. 209 Pub. L. 114-27, § 301, Extension of Preferential Duty Treatment Program for Haiti. 210 Sonapi, Parc Industriel de Caracol, 2015 Year End Report, 15 (accessed March 1, 2016). 211 Haitian apparel production remains concentrated in high-volume commodity garments that have reasonably 

predictable consumer demand and few styling changes. Cotton knit shirts and blouses, cotton trousers and pants, 

and cotton underwear dominated U.S. imports of apparel from Haiti, accounting for 47 percent, 12 percent, and 12 

percent, respectively, of the total in 2015. 212 U.S. government and U.S. apparel industry representatives, email message to USITC staff, March 7, 2016, and 

March 10, 2016, respectively, and Sonapi, Parc Industriel de Caracol, 2015 Year End Report, 15 (accessed March 1, 

2016). 

213 At least one U.S. producer has been increasing its volume of imports of apparel from Haiti from pre-2010 levels 

because of additional styles added to the company’s production lines in Haiti. U.S. apparel industry representative, 

email message to USITC staff, March 10, 2016.
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Table 2.7 U.S. imports for consumption of apparel from Haiti, 2013–15

Item 2013 2014 2015

Total apparel imports from Haiti (million $) 766.0 843.1 913.7

Apparel imports under a trade preference program (million $) 763.7 837.5 910.6

CBERA/CBTPA (million $) 341.7 386.0 413.5

HOPE and HELP Acts (million $) 422.0 451.5 497.2

Share of total apparel imports from Haiti: (Percent)

Apparel imports under a trade preference program 99.7 99.3 99.7

CBERA/CBTPA 44.6 45.8 45.2

HOPE and HELP Acts 55.1 53.6 54.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 9, 2016). 

Note: In order to get totals reflecting the sum of the HOPE and HELP Acts via USITC DataWeb, an advanced search using “expert” mode must 

be performed. Special Import Program “0- No program claimed” and Rate Provision Code “18- Free Special Duty programs” should then be 

selected. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Also, since Haiti’s devastating earthquake of 2010, the country and its apparel industry have 

received financial grants to establish the Caracol Industrial Park, the principal manufacturing 

hub in northern Haiti, as well as to fund projects in agriculture, water and sanitation, education, 

employment projects, and private sector development.214 In December 2015, the InterAmerican Development Bank approved a $41 million grant for the last phase of the Caracol 

Industrial Park.215 All of the projected 5,400 new jobs to be created will be in apparel 

manufacturing,216 and the project will also help finance construction of factory shells and other 

infrastructure.217

Industry sources note that in 2015, the number of Haiti’s apparel jobs rose to 41,200—the 

highest level since the signing of the original HOPE Act in 2006.218 About 60 percent of the 

growth in jobs occurred in Haiti’s northern region, led by the Caracol Industrial Park and 

another industrial park, Compagnie de Développement Industriel (CODEVI).219 Haiti’s apparel 

job growth is driven principally by investments from the Dominican Republic, the United States, 

and South Korea.220 In October 2015, South Korea’s Hansae, one of the world’s biggest apparel 

manufacturers, announced its intention to reduce its reliance on Vietnam and establish an 

apparel plant in Haiti’s Sonapi Industrial Park (Port-au-Prince). The plant would employ 5,000 

people and potentially start production as early as the second half of 2016.221 Hansae based its 

 

214 Sonapi, Parc Industriel de Caracol, 2015 Year End Report, 7, 10 (accessed March 1, 2016). 215 Inter-American Development Bank, “Haiti to Create More Jobs with IDB Grant,” December 21, 2015. 216 Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank, email message to USITC staff, February 5, 2016. 217 Inter-American Development Bank. “Haiti to Create More Jobs with IDB Grant,” December 21, 2015. 218 Sonapi, Parc Industriel de Caracol, 2015 Year End Report, 15 (accessed March 1, 2016). 219 Ibid. 220 Ibid. 221 Kastner, “Apparel Giant Hansae Turns from Vietnam,” October 20, 2015.
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decision on Haiti’s low labor costs,222 which are currently half of those in Vietnam, and Haiti’s 

growing manufacturing competitiveness.223 

In 2015, Haiti accounted for nearly all (99.5 percent) of U.S. imports of apparel entering under 

the CBTPA. Almost half (45.2 percent) of total U.S. imports of apparel from Haiti entered under 

CBTPA provisions in 2015. The value of U.S. imports of apparel entering under the HOPE Acts 

rose 10.1 percent, from $451.5 million in 2014 to $497.2 million in 2015, and represented over 

half (54.4 percent) of total U.S. apparel imports that entered free of duty from Haiti. Most of 

the apparel—88.5 percent ($440.3 million)—imported into the United States under the HOPE 

Acts entered under tariff preference levels that allow duty-free treatment for certain apparel 

up to established annual quotas (“restraint limits”).224 About one-third ($141.4 million) of these 

U.S. imports of apparel from Haiti entered under the woven apparel restraint limit in 2015 and 

just over two-thirds ($298.8 million) entered under the knit apparel and value-added restraint 

limits the same year.225

Most of the remaining U.S. imports ($57.4 million) under the HOPE Acts in 2015 entered under 

the Earned Import Allowance Program (EIAP), a special trade program created under HOPE II in 

2008 that allowed the duty-free entry into the United States of certain apparel manufactured in 

Haiti.226 In 2015, U.S. imports of apparel from Haiti under the EIAP fell by about 2 percent to 

$57.4 million, down from $58.3 million in 2014. As in previous years, no U.S. imports entered in 

2015 under two other HELP provisions added in 2010, affecting HTS 9820.61.45 (certain knit 

apparel—unlimited quantities) and HTS 9820.63.05 (home goods).

 222 Although Haiti’s minimum wage rates have been rising, its labor rates remain competitive because Haiti’s 

currency, the gourde, has depreciated against the U.S. dollar. D’Sa, “The Haitian Apparel Industry in 2015,” January 

7, 2016.

223 Kastner, “Apparel Giant Hansae Turns from Vietnam,” October 20, 2015. 224 The tariff preference limits allow certain knit and woven apparel (both of which must be wholly assembled in 

Haiti), as well as certain apparel for which at least 50–60 percent of the export value added must consist of inputs 

from Haiti, the United States, or a country with which the United States has an FTA, to enter the United States free 

of duty, regardless of the source of the fabric. 225 The fill rates for the restraint limits for woven apparel (HTS subheading 9820.62.05), knit apparel (HTS 

subheading 9820.61.35), and value-added apparel (HTS subheadings 9820.61.25 and 9820.61.30) were 52.4 

percent, 34.5 percent, and 8.4 percent, respectively, for the preferential treatment period October 1, 2014, to 

September 30, 2015.

226 The EIAP seeks to encourage the purchase of qualifying fabric (defined as fabric formed in the United States 

from U.S.-formed yarns) for use in Haitian apparel manufacturing. The EIAP originally provided that for every 3 

square meter equivalents of qualifying fabric bought or manufactured by a producer for apparel production in 

Haiti, a 1-unit credit would be received. The credit could be used toward the duty-free importation of Haitian 

apparel into the United States that was produced using non-qualifying fabric. However, no apparel from Haiti was 

exported to the United States under the original 3-for-1 program. In 2010, the HELP Act reduced the EIAP exchange 

ratio from 3-for-1 to 2-for-1 in an effort to encourage the program’s use. 
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Chapter 3

The World Trade Organization

This chapter covers developments in 2015 in the World Trade Organization (WTO). These 

include the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference; work programs and related items under the WTO 

General Council; and plurilateral agreements227 hosted under the auspices of the WTO. The 

chapter also summarizes developments in major WTO dispute settlement cases during the year.

Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference

The 10th WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya, December 15–19, 2015.228

WTO members adopted a number of ministerial decisions––the so-called Nairobi Package––

addressing agriculture, cotton, and decisions related to the least-developed countries. The 

ministerial decisions involving agriculture focused on an agricultural special safeguard 

mechanism for developing-country members, public stockholding for food security purposes, 

and a decision to remove export subsidies on nearly all agricultural products. On cotton, the 

decision prohibited export subsidies and called for a further reduction in domestic support. The 

ministerial decisions at Nairobi concerning least-developed-country (LDC) issues addressed 

preferential rules of origin for LDCs and preferential treatment for LDCs regarding services and 

service suppliers, and promoted these countries’ participation in global services trade.229

Although the work done in the WTO during 2015 focused on reaching these decisions 

successfully, ministers at the conference were unable to reach consensus on how to move 

forward with the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), which commenced in 2001.230 In his closing 

speech to ministers, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo pointed out that “The Ministerial 

Declaration acknowledges the differing opinions. And it instructs us to find ways to advance 

negotiations in Geneva. Members must decide . . . about the future of this organization.”231

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) released a statement at the end of the 

conference that noted “While opinions remain divided among the WTO Membership, it is clear 

that the road to a new era for the WTO began in Nairobi.” He went on to say that in 2016, WTO 

 227 Whereas multilateral rules and commitments by members of the WTO apply to all WTO members, rules and 

commitments negotiated by WTO members under plurilateral agreements apply only to those members signing 

the plurilateral agreement.

228 World Trade Organization (WTO), “Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference, Nairobi, 2015––Nairobi Package,” n.d. 

(accessed March 24, 2016). 229 WTO, “Ministerial Conferences––Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016). 230 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 2. 231 WTO, “DG Azevêdo’s Address to the MC10 Closing Ceremony,” December 19, 2015. 
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members will “be freed to consider new approaches to pressing unresolved issues and begin 

evaluating new issues for the organization to consider.”

232

By the end of the Nairobi conference the United States as well as others––such as Australia, the 

European Union (EU), Japan, and most other developed-country members––concluded that still 

unresolved DDA issues were topics for future negotiation but were unlikely to continue under 

the framework of the DDA, given its lack of conclusion after nearly a decade and a half of 

negotiations. Examples of unresolved DDA issue areas included agriculture, market access, 

services, development, intellectual property, and trade rules.233

General Council

Work Programs, Decisions, Waivers, and Reviews 

The WTO General Council held five formal meetings in 2015.234 By yearend, the council had 

reviewed progress on implementing the Bali outcomes, and heard development-oriented 

reports on two work programs, one for small economies and one on electronic commerce. The 

council also reviewed reports concerning aid for trade. Further, the council agreed to forward 

to the Ministerial Conference meeting in Nairobi the recommendations from the Council on 

Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Council) to continue examination 

of so-called non-violation complaints under the TRIPS Agreement, as well as to extend the 

moratorium by members on these complaints through December 31, 2017.235 The council also 

heard the seventh periodic report on the development assistance aspects of cotton, noting a 

general acceleration in the implementation of projects and programs in this area.236

The General Council approved three waivers at the end of the year concerning nomenclature 

changes to WTO schedules of tariff concessions. These resulted from the introduction of three 

 

232 USTR, “Statement by Ambassador Michael Froman at the Conclusion,” December 19, 2015. 233 USDOS, “Results of the Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference,” January 21, 2016, par. 1, 6, 7. 234 WTO, “The WTO General Council,” n.d. https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/gcounc_e.htm

(accessed March 9, 2016). 

235 “Non-violation” complaints, which are possible under WTO agreements for goods and services, happen when a 

WTO member opens a WTO dispute settlement case even where no agreement or market commitment has been 

broken, provided that the member can show it has been deprived of an expected benefit due to another member’s 

action. The TRIPS Council examines the applicability of such complaints to intellectual property rights under the 

agreement. But members have agreed not to use them under the TRIPS Agreement, and the council continues to 

extend a moratorium on such complaints with respect to the agreement. WTO, “TRIPS: Issues––’Non-violation’ 

Complaints (Article 64.2),” n.d. https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/nonviolation_e.htm (accessed 

March 28, 2016); WTO, “Briefing Notes––Intellectual Property: Non-violation Complaints,” n.d. 

https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/status_e/nonviolation_e.htm (accessed March 28, 2016). 236 WTO, General Council, “Proposed Agenda––30 November–1 December 2015,” WT/GC/W/711, November 27, 

2015; WTO, “General Council––Summary of General Council meeting of 30 November 2015,” November 30, 2015.
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successive versions of the global Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS)—

HS 2002, HS 2007, and HS 2012. The council also addressed a number of other waivers, 

including those concerning the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, the African Growth and 

Opportunity Act, and the United States’ Former Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. Other 

waivers reviewed by the council concerned (1) WTO members’ obligations toward leastdeveloped countries under Article 70.8 and Article 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to 

pharmaceutical products, (2) preferential treatment for least-developed countries, and (3) 

special treatment for rice by the Philippines.

Accessions

Membership in the WTO increased to 162 by the end of 2015 (table 3.1). On April 26, 2015, the 

Seychelles became the 161st WTO member,237 and on November 30, 2015, Kazakhstan became 

the 162nd.238 In addition, Afghanistan and Liberia were invited to accede to the WTO at the 

Nairobi conference.239 There were 22 observers to the WTO at yearend 2015 (table 3.2).

Expansion of the Information Technology 

Agreement

The original WTO Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products––the socalled Information Technology Agreement (ITA or ITA-I)––was concluded by 29 participants in 

December 1996 to eliminate tariffs on specific information and communications technology 

(ICT) products.240 By the end of 2015, there were 82 participants in the agreement.241

 237 WTO, “Accessions––WTO Welcomes Seychelles as Its 161st Member,” April 27, 2015. 238 WTO, “Accessions––Kazakhstan Joins the WTO as 162nd Member,” November 30, 2015. 239 WTO, “Accessions––Ministers Approve Afghanistan’s WTO Membership at MC10,” December 17, 2015. 240 WTO, Ministerial Conference, “Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products––

Singapore, 13 December 1996,” WT/MIN(96)/16, December 13, 1996. 241 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 109; WTO, “Information Technology: 

Introduction––Information Technology Agreement––An Explanation,” n.d. (accessed March 3, 2016).
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Table 3.1 WTO members in 2015

Albania Côte d’Ivoire India Mozambique Solomon Islands

Angola Croatia Indonesia Namibia South Africa

Antigua and Barbuda Cuba Ireland Nepal South Korea

Argentina Cyprus Israel Netherlands Spain

Armenia Czech Republic Italy New Zealand Sri Lanka

Australia Denmark Jamaica Nicaragua Suriname

Austria Djibouti Japan Niger Swaziland

Bahrain Dominica Jordan Nigeria Sweden

Bangladesh Dominican Republic Kazakhstan Norway Switzerland

Barbados Ecuador Kenya Oman Taiwanc

Belgium Egypt Kuwait Pakistan Tajikistan

Belize El Salvador Kyrgyzstan Panama Tanzania

Benin Estonia Laos Papua New Guinea Thailand

Bolivia European Union Latvia Paraguay Togo

Botswana Fiji Lesotho Peru Tonga

Brazil Finland Liechtenstein Philippines Trinidad and Tobago

Brunei Darussalam France Lithuania Poland Tunisia

Bulgaria Gabon Luxembourg Portugal Turkey

Burkina Faso Gambia Macao, China Qatar Uganda

Burmaa Georgia Macedonia (FYROM)b Romania Ukraine

Burundi Germany Madagascar Russia United Arab Emirates

Cabo Verde Ghana Malawi Rwanda United Kingdom

Cambodia Greece Malaysia Saint Kitts and Nevis United States of America

Cameroon Grenada Maldives Saint Lucia Uruguay

Canada Guatemala Mali Saint Vincent and the 

Grenadines

Vanuatu

Central African Republic Guinea Malta Samoa Venezuela

Chad Guinea-Bissau Mauritania Saudi Arabia Vietnam

Chile Guyana Mauritius Senegal Yemen

China Haiti Mexico Seychelles Zambia

Colombia Honduras Moldova Sierra Leone Zimbabwe

Congo, Republic Hong Kong, China Mongolia Singapore

Congo, Democratic 

Republic

Hungary Montenegro Slovakia

Costa Rica Iceland Morocco Slovenia

Source: WTO, “Understanding the WTO: The Organization—Members and Observers,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016). a In the WTO, Burma is known as Myanmar.

b In the WTO, Macedonia is known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

c

In the WTO, Taiwan is known as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, or less formally as “Chinese 

Taipei.” 

Table 3.2 WTO observers in 2015

Afghanistan Comoros São Tomé and Príncipe

Algeria Equatorial Guinea Serbia

Andorra Ethiopia Sudan

Azerbaijan Iran Syria 

Bahamas Iraq Uzbekistan

Belarus Lebanon Vatican (Holy See)

Bhutan Liberia

Bosnia and Herzegovina Libya

Source: WTO, “Understanding the WTO: The Organization—Members and Observers,” n.d. (accessed March 24, 2016).
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Negotiations to expand the ITA-I to new categories of ICT products were concluded in 2015. On 

July 24, 2015, nearly all the participants in the negotiations agreed to eliminate tariffs on an 

additional 201 ICT products under a new “ITA-II.”

242 Negotiations on the ITA-II were conducted 

by 24 WTO members.243 At the WTO ministerial conference in December 2015, the WTO 

Director-General said that he will “continue working with the participants of the ITA as they 

finalize their plans to implement this agreement.”

244

Participants aim to eliminate tariffs on these 201 products as soon as July 1, 2016, or over a 

three-year phaseout period ending in July 2019.245 They plan to eliminate tariffs of up to 30 

percent ad valorem on loudspeakers, video game consoles, and software media, such as solid 

state drives; of up to 25 percent ad valorem on so-called next generation semiconductors and 

on printer ink cartridges; of up to 10 percent ad valorem on static converters and inductors, and 

on printed matter and cards that download software and games; and of up to 8 percent ad 

valorem on computed tomography scanners, global positioning system devices, and magnetic 

resonance imaging machines. An expanded ITA would also eliminate import duties on 

additional technology products, such as high-tech medical devices, video cameras, and a 

number of high-tech ICT testing instruments.246

Agreement on Trade Facilitation

WTO members agreed to a Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in December 2013 at the ninth 

WTO ministerial conference held in Bali, Indonesia. The agreement creates binding 

commitments among WTO members to expedite the movement, clearance, and release of 

goods, including goods in transit; improves cooperation among WTO members between 

customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues; 

and helps provide technical assistance and capacity building for developing and least-developed 

country members to implement the agreement’s obligations.247

 242 WTO, “Information Technology: Introduction––Information Technology Agreement,” n.d. (accessed March 3,

2016). 243 The 24 WTO members are Albania; Australia; Canada; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; the European Union;

Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Malaysia; Mauritius; Montenegro; New Zealand; Norway; the 

Philippines; Singapore; South Korea; Switzerland-Liechtenstein; Taiwan; Thailand; and the United States. WTO, 

Ministerial Conference, “Ministerial Declaration on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products,”

WT/MIN(15)/25, December 16, 2015. 

244 WTO, “Information Technology Agreement Press Conference: Remarks,” December 16, 2015. 245 WTO, “Information Technology Agreement––WTO Members Conclude Landmark,” December 16, 2015. 246 USTR, “U.S Led Effort Reaches ‘Major Breakthrough,’” July 18, 2015. 247 WTO, “Agreement on Trade Facilitation––Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013,” December 11, 2013; WTO, 

Annual Report 2015, May 27, 2015, 40–41.
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A Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation was established to develop a protocol to add 

the TFA to existing WTO disciplines. In November 2014, the WTO General Council adopted the 

Protocol of Amendment to insert the TFA into the WTO Agreement, and opened the TFA for 

acceptance by members.248 The TFA will take effect once two-thirds of WTO members have 

completed their domestic ratification process and deposited their instrument of acceptance 

with the WTO.249 At yearend 2015, 35 WTO members,250 including the United States, had 

ratified the TFA, as well as the European Union, which did so on behalf of its 28 member 

states.251

Selected Plurilateral Agreements

Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft 

In 2015, the Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft worked on revising product coverage found in 

the Annex to the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft to conform the agreement to 

nomenclature found in the HS 2007. The committee agreed in November 2015 to open for 

acceptance the Protocol (2015) Amending the Annex to the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft 

to make these changes. Membership in the agreement remained unchanged in 2015, with 32 

signatories.252

 

248 WTO, “Trade Facilitation: Agreement––Members Accepting the Protocol,” n.d. (accessed March 22, 2016); 

WTO, “Trade Facilitation––WTO Members Urged to Start Preparing,” March 4, 2016. 249 Thereafter, the agreement will take effect for each additional member as it accepts the TFA protocol. WTO, 

“Trade Facilitation: Agreement––Members accepting the Protocol,” n.d. (accessed March 22, 2016). 250 As of June 1, 2016, 80 members had ratified the WTO. WTO, “Trade Facilitation: Agreement––Members 

accepting the Protocol,” n.d. (accessed June 8, 2016). 251 The European Union signed the TFA on behalf of its 28 member states. The other 35 WTO members signing 

were Australia; Belize; Botswana; Brunei; Burma; China; Côte d’Ivoire; Grenada; Guyana; Hong Kong, China; Japan; 

Kenya; Laos; Liechtenstein; Macedonia; Malaysia; Mauritius; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Norway; Pakistan; 

Panama; Saint Lucia; Singapore; South Korea; Switzerland; Taiwan; Thailand; Togo; Trinidad and Tobago; Ukraine; 

the United States; Vietnam; and Zambia.

252 The 12 signatories are Albania; Canada; Egypt; the European Union; Georgia; Japan; Macao, China; Montenegro; 

Norway; Switzerland; Taiwan; and the United States. In addition, 20 EU member states are individual signatories 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. The 

24 observers to the committee also remained unchanged in 2015: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, 

Cameroon, China, Colombia, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, 

Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine. WTO, “Plurilateral 

Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft,” n.d. (accessed March 21, 2016); USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 

Annual Report, March 2016, 103–4.
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Agreement on Government Procurement

In 2015, the Committee on Government Procurement made progress implementing the work 

programs adopted as part of the revised Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA 2014), 

which entered into force in April 2014.253 The work programs under the GPA 2014 addressed 

(1) treatment of small and medium-sized enterprises, (2) sustainable procurement, (3) 

collection and dissemination of statistical data, (4) exclusions and restrictions in GPA parties’

annexes, and (5) safety standards in international procurement. During the year, the parties to 

the GPA 2014 submitted reports to the committee about these programs, as well as discussed 

arbitration procedures for resolving disputes over modifications to the agreement brought 

about by changes in coverage.254

At yearend 2015, the 17 parties to the GPA 1994 were Armenia; Aruba; Canada; the EU; Hong 

Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Liechtenstein; Montenegro; New Zealand; Norway; 

Singapore; South Korea; Switzerland; Taiwan; and the United States, comprising 45 WTO 

members.255 By January 2016, the GPA 2014 had entered into force for 16 of the 17 parties 

except Switzerland, which at present continues to apply the GPA 1994.256

Negotiations on an Environmental Goods 

Agreement

A group of WTO members opened plurilateral negotiations on July 8, 2014, to eliminate tariffs 

on certain environmental goods on a most-favored-nation basis once a critical mass of WTO 

members agreed to implement the agreement.257 The 14 members initiating negotiations 

toward an Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) were Australia; Canada; China; Costa Rica; 

the EU; Hong Kong, China; Japan; New Zealand; Norway; Singapore; South Korea; Switzerland; 

Taiwan; and the United States. In early 2015, Iceland, Israel, and Turkey joined the negotiations, 

raising the number of participants to 17.

 253 On December 15, 2011, the parties to the original 1994 WTO plurilateral Agreement on Government 

Procurement (GPA 1994) concluded negotiations to revise the text and expand coverage under the agreement. In 

March 2012, the parties formally adopted the negotiated revisions to the agreement. On April 6, 2014, the revised 

agreement (GPA 2014) entered into force, once 10 parties to the original agreement (i.e., two-thirds of the 15 

parties at the time) had deposited their formal instruments of acceptance. USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 

2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 104–8; WTO, “Government Procurement––Agreement on Government 

Procurement,” n.d. (accessed March 21, 2016); WTO, “Agreement on Government Procurement––Parties, 

Observers and Accessions,” n.d. (accessed March 21, 2016). 254 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 107. 255 WTO, “Agreement on Government Procurement––Parties, Observers and Accessions,” n.d. (accessed March 21, 

2016); USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 104–5. 256 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 108. 257 USTR, 2015 Trade Policy Agenda and 2014 Annual Report, March 2015, 8.
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Three rounds of negotiations were held in 2014;258 and eight rounds of negotiations, round 4 

through 11, held nearly monthly in 2015.259 The initial list of proposed environmental goods to 

be covered by the agreement was circulated to participants in April 2015.260 By yearend 2015, 

the group had begun to refine the list of products to be covered by the agreement.

The agreement builds on the list of 54 goods first adopted by the Asia-Pacific Economic 

Cooperation forum for tariff reductions in 2012.261 Negotiations cover products such as those 

that might be used for air pollution control; cleaner and renewable energy generation; energy 

efficiency; environmental monitoring, analysis, and assessment; environmental remediation 

and clean-up; noise and vibration abatement; resource efficiency; solid and hazardous waste 

management technologies; and water waste management and water treatment, as well as a 

category known as “environmentally preferable products.”262

In a statement on December 14, 2015, the chair of the negotiations announced that 

“considerable progress has been achieved in eleven negotiation rounds over eighteen months” 

and that “EGA members will re-engage early in 2016 to continue on the path towards a positive 

conclusion.”263 On December 18, 2015, the Office of the USTR published in the Federal Register

a notice requesting comments on an environmental review of the EGA, including comments on 

the topics that should be included in the scope of the review and appropriate methodologies 

and data sources. USTR looks to complete the review by mid-2016.264

Dispute Settlement Body

This section (1) provides a tally of new requests for consultations filed by WTO members during 

calendar year 2015 under the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU); (2) provides a 

table that lists the new panels established during calendar year 2015 (involving all WTO 

members) to review matters raised in complaints under the DSU; and (3) provides short 

 

258 For further details, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, note 244. 259 In 2015, these dates were as follows: round 4 was held January 26–30; round 5, March 16–20; round 6, May 4–

8; round 7, June 15–22; round 8, July 27–31; round 9, September 14–18; round 10, October 29–November 4; and 

round 11, November 30–December 4, 2015. Government of Australia, DFAT, “Environmental Goods Agreement,”

n.d. (accessed March 7, 2016); Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada, “WTO Environmental Goods 

Agreement (EGA),” March 14, 2016 (last update). 260 For further details, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, footnotes 248–49. 261 For more information on the APEC initiative, see the chapter 4 section on APEC. 262 USDOS, Secretary of State, “WTO Environmental Goods Agreement Negotiations Progressing (State 004282),” 

January 14, 2015. 263 WTO, “DG Azevêdo Welcomes Progress,” December 14, 2015; WTO, “Environmental Goods Agreement––

Statement by the Chair––The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP,” December 14, 2015. 264 80 Fed. Reg. 79130, December 18, 2015; Inside U.S. Trade, “USTR Aiming to Complete Environmental Review of 

EGA,” December 23, 2015.
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summaries of the procedural and substantive issues in disputes involving the United States that 

moved to the panel stage during 2015, along with summaries of panel and Appellate Body 

reports involving the United States that were issued or adopted during 2015.265

Box 3.1 provides an overview of the WTO dispute settlement process, and table 3.3 lists the 

disputes (involving all WTO members) that moved from the consultation stage to the more 

formal panel litigation stage during 2015. The titles of the disputes listed in table 3.3 also serve 

as an indication of the types of subject matter that reached the more formal litigation stage 

during 2015.

Box 3.1 Overview of the WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures 

The WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) establishes a framework for the resolution of 

disputes that arise between members under the WTO agreements.a Under the DSU, a member may file 

a complaint with the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). After filing, the member must first seek to 

resolve the dispute through consultations with the named respondent party.b If the consultations fail, 

the complaining party may ask the DSB to establish a panel to review the matters raised by the 

complaint and make findings and recommendations.c Either party may appeal issues of law covered in 

the panel report and legal interpretations developed by the panel to the WTO’s Appellate Body.d The 

findings and recommendations of the Appellate Body and of the panel (as modified by the Appellate 

Body) are then adopted by the DSB unless there is a consensus by the members to reject the ruling.

While the guidelines suggest that panels should complete their proceedings in six months, and that the 

Appellate Body should complete its review in 60 days, these periods are often extended.

Once the panel report or the Appellate Body report is adopted, the party concerned must notify the DSB 

of its intentions with respect to implementing the adopted recommendations.e If it is impracticable to 

comply immediately, the party concerned is given a reasonable period of time to comply, with the time 

decided either through agreement of the parties and approval by the DSB, or through arbitration. 

Further provisions set out rules for compensation or the suspension of concessions in the event the 

respondent fails to implement the recommendations.fWithin a specified timeframe, parties can enter 

into negotiations to agree on mutually acceptable compensation. Should the parties fail to reach 

agreement, a party to the dispute may request the DSB’s authorization to suspend concessions or other 

obligations to the other party concerned. Disagreements over the proposed level of suspension may be 

referred to arbitration.

a WTO, “Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes,” 1995. b WTO DSU, Article 4. 

c WTO DSU, Article 6. 

d WTO DSU, Article 17.6. 

e WTO DSU, Article 21.3. 

f WTO DSU, Article 22.

 265 For additional information on the WTO dispute settlement process, the DSU, and individual dispute cases, see 

the WTO, “Dispute Settlement,” http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm.
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Table 3.3 WTO dispute settlement panels established during 2015

Case no. Complainant Respondent Case name Panel established

DS476 Russia European 

Union

European Union and Its Member States—Certain Measures Relating 

to the Energy Sector

July 20, 2015

DS477 New Zealand Indonesia Indonesia—Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and 

Animal Products (single panel with DS478)

May 20, 2015

DS478 United States Indonesia Indonesia—Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and 

Animal Products (single panel with DS477) 

May 20. 2015

DS480 Indonesia European 

Union

European Union—Anti-dumping Measures on Biodiesel from 

Indonesia

August 31, 2015

DS482 Taiwan Canada Canada—Anti-dumping Measures on Imports of Certain Carbon Steel 

Welded Pipe from The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 

Kinmen and Matsu

March 10, 2015

DS483 Canada China China—Anti-dumping Measures on Imports of Cellulose Pulp from 

Canada

March 10, 2015

DS484 Brazil Indonesia Indonesia—Measures Concerning the Importation of Chicken Meat 

and Chicken Products

December 3, 2015 

DS485 European Union Russia Russia—Tariff Treatment of Certain Agricultural and Manufacturing 

Products

March 25, 2015

DS486 Pakistan European 

Union

European Union—Countervailing Measures on Certain Polyethylene 

Terephthalate from Pakistan

March 25, 2015

DS487 European Union United States United States—Conditional Tax Incentives for Large Civil Aircraft February 23, 2015

DS488 South Korea United States United States—Anti-dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country 

Tubular Goods from Korea

March 25, 2015

DS489 United States China China—Measures Related to Demonstration Bases and Common 

Service Platforms Programmes

April 22, 2015

DS490 Taiwan Indonesia Indonesia—Safeguard on Certain Iron or Steel Products (single panel 

with DS496)

September 28, 2015

DS491 Indonesia United States United States—Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures on Certain 

Coated Paper from Indonesia

September 28, 2015

DS492 China European 

Union

European Union—Measures Affecting Tariff Concessions on Certain 

Poultry Meat Products

July 20, 2015

DS495 Japan South Korea Korea—Import Bans, and Testing and Certification Requirements for 

Radionuclides

September 28, 2015

DS496 Vietnam Indonesia Indonesia—Safeguard on Certain Iron or Steel Products (single panel 

with DS 490)

October 28, 2015

DS497 Japan Brazil Brazil—Certain Measures Concerning Taxation and Charges September 28, 2015

Source: Derived from WTO, “Dispute Settlement: The Disputes—Chronological List of Disputes” (accessed March 16, 2015).

The summaries of issues in disputes are based entirely on information in publicly available 

documents, including summaries published online by the WTO, summaries included in USTR’s 

2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, and summaries included in USTR press 

releases. They should not be regarded as comprehensive or as reflecting a U.S. government or 

Commission interpretation of the issues raised or addressed in the disputes or in panel or 

Appellate Body reports. A table showing procedural developments during 2015 in disputes in 

which the United States was the complainant or respondent appears in appendix table A.25.

This section focuses on developments during 2015. Several disputes in which panels had been 

established in 2014 were active throughout 2015, with decisions circulated in early 2016. This 

was the case with Dispute DS456, India—Certain Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar 

Modules,266 and Dispute DS464, United States—Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures on 

 

266 The panel report was circulated on February 24, 2016. WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS456; India—Certain 

Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules” (accessed March 18, 2016).
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Large Residential Washers from Korea.267 Some were delayed for other reasons, such as 

DS471, United States—Certain Methodologies and Their Application to Anti-dumping 

Proceedings Involving China. (According to the chair of the panel, the delay was due to the 

unavailability of Secretariat lawyers, with the panel expected to issue its final report to the 

parties in June 2016.)268 The panel decisions in these cases will be summarized in the 

Commission’s 2016 report.

This section also generally focuses only on developments through the panel and Appellate Body 

stage and does not include matters that arise after the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) adopts 

panel or Appellate Body reports in the original dispute. As indicated in box 3.1, dispute litigation 

often continues beyond the adoption of the panel or Appellate Body report, particularly when 

the defending party is the “losing” party. Issues may arise about the reasonableness of the time 

sought by the losing party to implement findings and recommendations, the adequacy of 

actions taken by that party to comply with the findings and recommendations, and possible 

compensation and retaliation. Matters may be referred to the original panel or to a new panel 

for further findings and recommendations on compliance and other matters, and when 

appropriate, the parties may seek the help of an arbitrator to resolve matters. 

Appendix table A.25 sets out a timeline for procedural actions in most of the active WTO 

dispute settlement cases, including procedural actions at the implementation, compliance, and 

compensation/retaliation stages. A number of disputes were still active during 2015 well after 

the panel or Appellate Body report had been adopted, including two high-profile disputes 

brought by the United States and the European Communities,269 respectively, against each 

other’s large civilian aircraft measures.270 Several other proceedings of note were underway 

during 2015 after adoption of panel and Appellate Body reports. These involved two disputes 

relating to U.S. country of origin labeling requirements (COOL);271 a dispute relating to U.S. 

 267 The panel report was circulated on March 11, 2016. WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS464; United States—Antidumping and Countervailing Measures on Large Residential Washers from Korea” (accessed March 18, 2016). 268 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS471; United States—Certain Methodologies and Their Application to AntiDumping Proceedings Involving China” (accessed April 27, 2016). 269 In this report’s WTO dispute settlement section, the term “European Communities” is used rather than “EU” if 

the source document—the WTO online summary—uses “European Communities.” 270 Compliance proceedings begun in 2012 in both disputes remained underway throughout 2015, with panel

reports expected in DS316 (brought by the United States against the EU) in 2016, and in DS353 (brought by the EU 

against the United States) in 2016. See WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS316; European Communities—Measures 

Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft” (accessed April 29, 2016); WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS353; United 

States—Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft—Second Complaint” (accessed April 29, 2016); and USTR, 

2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, 2016, 66, 76. 271 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS384; United States—Certain Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) Requirements” 

(accessed April 29, 2016); WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS386; United States—Certain Country of Origin Labelling 

Requirements” (accessed April 29, 2016). The disputes involved challenges by Canada and Mexico, respectively, of 

mandatory U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements; the respective panels and the Appellate Body 
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measures relating to the importation, marketing, and sale of tuna and tuna products;272 and a 

dispute relating to China’s antidumping and countervailing duties on grain-oriented flat-rolled 

electrical steel from the United States.273 

 

found that aspects of U.S. requirements violated U.S. obligations under the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement 

(TBT) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994. The United States sought to bring its labeling 

requirements into compliance by changing its rule. In August 2013, Canada and Mexico requested the 

establishment of a compliance panel to consider whether the measure taken by the United States in 2013, 

including the 2013 “final rule,” complies with the DSB recommendations and rulings. A compliance panel was 

established and its report was circulated to members on October 20, 2014. The compliance panel found that the 

amended COOL measure violates Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because it accords to Canadian and Mexican 

livestock less favorable treatment than that accorded to U.S. livestock. The United States, Canada, and Mexico 

each appealed aspects of the decision, and on May 18, 2015, the Appellate Body upheld the compliance panel’s 

findings with respect to Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement and also upheld the compliance panel’s ultimate 

determination with respect to Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement. On June 4, 2015, Canada and Mexico sought 

authorization to suspend certain concessions and other obligations under the covered agreements. On June 16, 

2015, the United States objected to the level of suspension of concessions or obligations sought by Canada and 

Mexico and referred the matter to arbitration under Article 22.6 of the DSU. On December 7, 2015, the decision of 

the arbitrator was circulated and the arbitrator found the level of nullification or impairment attributable to the 

amended U.S. COOL measure was, in Canadian dollars, “1,054.759 million annually” for Canada and “U.S. $227.758 

million annually” for Mexico. On December 21, 2015, the DSB granted authorization to Canada and Mexico to 

suspend concessions consistent with the award of the arbitrator. On December 18, 2015, the President signed 

legislation repealing the country of origin labeling requirement for beef and pork. According to USTR, this action 

withdrew the WTO-inconsistent measure and brought the United States into compliance with the WTO’s 

recommendations and rulings in both disputes. See also USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, 

2016, 78–80, 80–83. 272 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS381; United States—Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale 

of Tuna and Tuna Products” (accessed April 29, 2016). The dispute concerned U.S. dolphin-safe labeling provisions 

and whether they were consistent with U.S. obligations under the GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Technical 

Barriers to Trade. The Appellate Body found aspects of the U.S. provisions inconsistent with the TBT Agreement. 

On July 23, 2013, the United States informed the DSB of a change in its dolphin-safe labeling requirements and 

stated that it had brought its requirements into conformity with the DSB recommendations and rulings. Mexico 

requested the establishment of a compliance panel, and the panel issued its report on April 14, 2015. The panel 

found that the amended U.S. 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,” or introductory paragraph. The 

United States and Mexico both appealed aspects of the compliance panel’s report. The Appellate Body circulated 

its report on November 20, 2015, and reversed the panel in part. On December 3, 2015, the DSB adopted the 

Appellate Body report and panel report as modified. On March 10, 2016, Mexico requested authorization of the 

DSB to suspend concessions or other obligations. On March 22, 2016, the United States objected, and on March 

23, 2016, it was agreed at the DSB meeting that the matter be referred to arbitration under Article 22.6 of the 

DSU. See also USTR, “U.S. Announces Compliance,” July 12, 2013; USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 

Annual Report, 2016, 77–78. 273 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS414; China—Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties on Grain Oriented Flatrolled Electrical Steel from the United States” (accessed April 29, 2016). On February 13, 2014, the United States 

requested establishment of a compliance panel, and a panel was composed on March 17, 2014. The United States 

stated that it was concerned that China failed to (1) objectively examine evidence; (2) base its finding on positive 

evidence; (3) disclose the “essential facts” underlying its conclusions; and (4) provide an adequate explanation of 

its re-determination. The compliance panel issued its report on July 31, 2015, and the DSB adopted the report on 

August 31, 2015. The compliance panel upheld the U.S. claims, and also found that China failed to disclose the 
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New Requests for Consultations and New Panels 

Established

During 2015, WTO members filed 13 requests for WTO dispute settlement consultations in new 

disputes, which represented a decline from the 14 new requests filed in 2014, the 20 filed in 

2013, and the 27 filed in 2012.274 Of the 13 new requests during 2015, the United States was 

involved in 3 (as complainant in 2 and as respondent in 1), as compared with 3 of the 14 

requests filed in 2014 (as complaint in 1 and respondent in 2) and 5 of the 20 requests filed 

during 2013. During 2015, the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and Russia each filed two requests 

for dispute settlement consultations, while China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Vietnam 

each filed one. China, Indonesia, and the EU were the named respondent in each of two 

requests, while the United States, Brazil, India, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, and Ukraine 

were the named respondent in one request.275

Sixteen new dispute settlement panels were established during 2015, including 2 panels 

established to consider each of 2 similar disputes (table 3.3). The United States was the 

complaining party in 2 of these panel proceedings, and the responding party in 3. The 16 new 

panels established in 2015 represent an increase from the 13 panels established in 2014 and 

the 12 panels established in 2013.

Requests for Consultations Filed during 2015 in which the United 

States was the Complaining Party or Named Respondent

The United States was the complaining party in two new disputes filed during 2015. Both 

disputes concerned measures taken by China. In the first dispute (DS489), filed on February 11, 

2015, the United States alleged that certain measures taken by China providing subsidies 

contingent upon export performance to enterprises in several industries in China are 

 

essential facts underlying its revised material injury determination. In April 2015, at the compliance panel’s 

meeting with the parties and after the parties had submitted all of their submissions, China’s Ministry of 

Commerce revoked the antidumping and countervailing duties on the steel in question from the United States. 

See USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, 2016, 58–59. 274 The number of requests for WTO dispute settlement consultations referred to in this section includes only 

requests made in connection with new disputes and does not include requests for consultations filed in connection 

with compliance proceedings after the DSB’s adoption of panel and/or Appellate Body reports. In its 2016 Trade 

Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, USTR reports a generally declining number of annual filings of requests for 

dispute settlement. The USTR report states that during the DSB’s first 21 years of operation, WTO members filed 

501 requests for consultations—22 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, 15 in 2014, and 13 in 2015. USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, 

2016, 52. The number of requests shown in the USTR report and in Commission reports may vary based on 

whether the number is for a calendar year or a fiscal year or due to other factors. 

275 Statistics derived from the WTO’s “Chronological List of Disputes Cases.” 
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inconsistent with the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM 

Agreement). As of the end of 2015, a panel had been established but the panel had not been 

composed. The issues raised in this dispute are summarized in the next section.276 In the 

second dispute (DS501), filed on December 8, 2015, the United States alleged that China’s 

value-added tax exemption for certain types of domestically produced aircraft appears to 

discriminate against imported aircraft and is inconsistent with Articles III:2, III:4, and X:1 of the 

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and certain paragraphs of China’s 

Protocol of Accession. As of the end of 2015, the matter was in consultations.277

The United States was the named respondent in one new dispute (DS491) filed during 2015, by 

Indonesia on March 13, 2015. The dispute concerned U.S. countervailing duty and antidumping 

measures on certain coated paper products from Indonesia that Indonesia alleged are 

inconsistent with the SCM Agreement, the Anti-dumping Agreement, and Article VI of the GATT 

1994.278 When consultations failed to resolve the dispute, Indonesia requested establishment 

of a panel, which the DSB established on September 28, 2015. As of the end of 2015, the panel 

had not been composed.279

Panels Established during 2015 at the Request of the United 

States

As shown in table 3.3, the DSB established two new panels in 2015 at the request of the United 

States. One involved certain measures taken by Indonesia relating to imports of horticultural 

products, animals, and animal products (DS478), and the second concerned measures by China 

related to demonstration bases and common service platforms programs (DS489). The issues 

raised and procedural histories are summarized below. 

Indonesia—Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals, and Animal 

Products (DS478) 

In this dispute, the United States challenged certain measures imposed by Indonesia relating to 

the importation of horticultural products, animals, and animal products. The United States 

 

276 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS489; China—Measures Related to Demonstration Bases and Common Service 

Platforms Programmes” (accessed March 16, 2016). 277 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS501; China—Tax Measures Concerning Certain Domestically Produced Aircraft”

(accessed March 16, 2016); see also USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 176. 278 More specifically, Indonesia alleged that the U.S. measures are inconsistent with certain provisions of Articles 

2.1, 2.1(c), 10, 12.7, 15.5, 15.7, and 15.8 of the SCM Agreement and Articles 3.5, 3.7, and 3.8 of the Anti-Dumping 

Agreement. WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS491; United States—Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on 

Certain Coated Paper from Indonesia” (accessed March 16, 2016). 279 On January 25, 2016, Indonesia requested the Director-General to compose the panel, and he did so on 

February 4, 2016. WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS491; United States—Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures 

on Certain Coated Paper from Indonesia” (accessed March 16, 2016). 
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claimed that the measures are inconsistent with Articles III:4 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994; Article 

4.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture; Articles 1.2, 1.5, 1.6, 2.2, 3.2, 3.3, 5.1, and 5.2 of the 

Import Licensing Agreement; and Articles 2.2 and 2.15 of the Agreement on Preshipment 

Inspection. 280 

The United States requested consultations with Indonesia on May 8, 2014. When consultations 

failed to resolve the matter, the United States requested the establishment of a panel on March 

18, 2015. On May 20, 2015, the DSB established a single panel to examine this dispute and 

DS477, which had been brought by New Zealand and which involved similar claims. On October 

8, 2015, the Director-General composed the panel.281

China—Measures Related to Demonstration Bases and Common Service 

Platforms Programmes (DS489) 

As indicated above, in this dispute the United States challenged certain measures taken by 

China regarding its “Demonstration Bases” subsidy program, which, according to the United 

States, provides prohibited export subsidies to manufacturers and producers, including in the 

textiles, agriculture, chemicals, and new materials industries.282 The United States claims that 

the measures are inconsistent with Articles 3.1(a) and 3.2 of the SCM Agreement. When 

consultations failed to resolve the dispute, the United States requested establishment of a 

panel, which the DSB established on April 22, 2015. As of the end of 2015, the panel had not 

been composed.283

Panels Established during 2015 in Which the United States Was 

the Named Respondent

The DSB established three panels during 2015 in which the United States was the named 

respondent. One, established at the request of the EU, concerned conditional U.S. tax 

incentives for large civil aircraft (DS487); the second, established at the request of South Korea, 

concerned U.S. antidumping measures on certain oil country tubular goods from South Korea 

(DS488); and the third, established at the request of Indonesia, concerned U.S. antidumping 

and countervailing duty measures on certain coated paper from Indonesia (DS491). As of the 

end of 2015, panels in two of the disputes, DS487 and DS488, had been composed. The issues 

raised and the procedural histories of the two disputes are summarized below.

 280 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS478; Indonesia—Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and Animal 

Products” (accessed March 16, 2016). 281 Ibid. See also WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS477; Indonesia—Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals 

and Animal Products” (accessed March 16, 2016). 282 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, 2016, 176. 283 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS489; China—Measures Related to Demonstration Bases and Common Service 

Platforms Programmes” (accessed March 16, 2016).
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United States—Conditional Tax Incentives for Large Civil Aircraft (DS487) 

In this dispute the EU alleged that conditional tax incentives established by the State of 

Washington in relation to the development, manufacture, and sale of large civil aircraft 

constitute specific subsidies within the meaning of Articles 1 and 2 of the SCM Agreement and 

prohibited subsidies that are inconsistent with Articles 3.1(b) and 3.2 of the SCM Agreement. 

The EU requested consultations with the United States on December 19, 2014. After 

consultations failed to resolve the matter, the EU, on February 12, 2015, requested 

establishment of a panel. The DSB established a panel on February 23, 2015, and the DirectorGeneral, at the EU’s request, composed the panel on April 22, 2015.284 

United States—Anti-dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods 

from Korea (DS488) 

In this dispute South Korea alleged that U.S. antidumping measures relating to certain oil 

country tubular goods from South Korea are inconsistent with certain articles of the Antidumping Agreement285 and Articles I and X:3 of the GATT 1994. South Korea requested 

consultations on December 22, 2014. After consultations failed to resolve the dispute, on 

February 23, 2015, South Korea requested that a panel be established. The DSB established a 

panel on March 25, 2015. The parties agreed on the composition of the panel on July 13, 

2015.286

United States—Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures on Certain Coated 

Paper from Indonesia (DS491) 

In this dispute Indonesia alleged that the imposition of antidumping and countervailing 

measures on certain coated paper products from Indonesia, as well as the investigation 

underlying those measures, are inconsistent with Articles 2.1, 2.1(c), 10, 12.7, 15.5, 15.7 and 

15.8 of the SCM Agreement; Articles 3.5, 3.7 and 3.8 of the Anti-dumping Agreement; and 

Article VI of the GATT 1994. Indonesia requested consultations on March 13, 2015. After 

consultations failed to resolve the dispute, on July 9, 2015, Indonesia requested that a panel be 

 

284 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS487; United States—Conditional Tax Incentives for Large Civil Aircraft” (accessed 

March 16, 2016). 285 Articles 2.2, 2.2.2, 2.2.1.1, 2.3, 2.4, 6.2, 6.4, 6.9, 6.10 (including 6.10.1 and 6.10.2), and 12.2.2 of the 

Antidumping Agreement.

286 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS488; United States—Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country Tubular 

Goods from Korea” (accessed March 16, 2016). 
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established. The DSB established a panel on September 28, 2015. On February 4, 2016, at the 

request of Indonesia, the Director-General composed the panel. 287

Panel and Appellate Body Reports Issued and/or 

Adopted during 2015 That Involve the United 

States

During 2015, the DSB adopted panel and/or Appellate Body reports addressing original 

disputes288 in five cases in which the United States was the complainant or a respondent (table 

3.4). The reports in those disputes are summarized below.289

Table 3.4 WTO dispute settlement panel and Appellate Body (AB) reports circulated or adopted in 2015 

in which the United States was a party

Case no. Complainant Respondent Case name

Date of report circulation or 

adoption

DS429 Vietnam United States United States—Anti-dumping Measures on Certain 

Shrimp from Viet Nam

AB report circulated (April 7, 

2015), adopted (April 22, 2015)

DS430 United States India India—Measures Concerning the Importation of 

Certain Agricultural Products 

AB report circulated (June 4, 

2015), adopted (June 19, 2015) 

DS437 China United States United States—Countervailing Duty Measures on 

Certain Products from China

AB report circulated (Dec. 18, 

2014), adopted (Jan. 16, 2015)

DS444 United States Argentina Argentina—Measures Affecting the Importation of 

Goods

AB report circulated (Jan. 15, 

2015), adopted (Jan. 26, 2015)

DS447 Argentina United States United States—Measures Affecting the Importation of 

Animals, Meat and Other Animal Products from 

Argentina

Panel report circulated (July 24, 

2015), adopted (August 31, 

2015)

Source: Derived from WTO, “Dispute Settlement: The Disputes—Chronological List of Disputes” (accessed March 19, 2014). 

Reports in Which the United States Was the Complainant

India—Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Agricultural Products 

from the United States (DS430)

In this dispute the United States challenged prohibitions imposed by India on the importation of 

various agricultural products from the United States, purportedly because of concerns about 

avian influenza. The measures were imposed under the Indian Livestock Importation Act, 1898, 

and a statutory order issued by India’s Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and 

Fisheries under the Livestock Act. The United States claimed that the measures amounted to 

an import prohibition that was not based on the relevant international standard—the 

Terrestrial Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)—or on a scientific risk 

 287 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS491; United States—Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures on Certain 

Coated Paper from Indonesia” (accessed May 5, 2016). 288 As opposed to panel and Appellate Body reports issued in subsequent compliance and other proceedings. 289 A summary of the Appellate Body report in DS437, “United States—Countervailing Duty Measures on Certain 

Products from China,” was included in the Commission’s 2014 Year in Trade report. The report was circulated to 

members on December 14, 2014, and adopted by the DSB on January 16, 2015. 
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assessment. It also claimed that India’s measures appear to be inconsistent with certain articles 

of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS 

Agreement) and with Articles I and XI of the GATT 1994. The United States requested 

consultations in the matter on March 6, 2012. On May 11, 2012, after consultations failed to 

resolve the dispute, the United States requested establishment of a panel. The DSB established 

a panel on June 25, 2012, and the Director-General composed the panel on February 18, 2013.

The panel issued its report on October 14, 2014. In its report the panel found in favor of the 

United States. The panel found that India’s measures breach its WTO obligations because (1) 

they are not based on international standards or a risk assessment that takes into account 

available scientific evidence; (2) they arbitrarily discriminate against U.S. products, because 

India blocks imports while not similarly blocking domestic products; (3) they constitute a 

disguised restriction on international trade; (4) they 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; (5) they 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 (6) they 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. On January 26, 2015, India notified the DSB that it would appeal to the 

Appellate Body certain issues of law and legal interpretation in the panel report. 290

On June 4, 2015, the Appellate Body issued its report, upholding the panel’s findings that India’s 

restrictions (1) are not based on international standards or a risk assessment that takes into 

account available scientific evidence; (2) arbitrarily discriminate against U.S. products, because 

India blocks imports while not similarly blocking domestic products; (3) 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 (4) 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 it intended to implement the DSB’s recommendations and rulings and would need a 

reasonable period of time to do so. On December 8, 2015, the United States and India agreed 

that such a reasonable period of time would be 12 months, ending on June 19, 2016.291

 

290 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS430; India—Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Agricultural 

Products” (accessed March 18, 2016). See also USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, 2016, 

67–68. 291 Ibid.
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Argentina—Measures Affecting the Importation of Goods (DS444) 

In this dispute the United States challenged certain measures imposed by Argentina, including 

various licensing requirements that have the effect of restricting U.S. exports, as well as 

burdensome trade-balancing commitments that Argentina required as a condition for 

authorization to import goods. The United States claimed that the measures appear to be 

inconsistent with portions of Articles III:4, X:1, X:2, X:3(a), and XI:1 of the GATT 1994; Article 2 

of the Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) Agreement; portions of Articles 1, 3, and 5 

of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures; and Article 11 of the Safeguards Agreement. 

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. But 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. The 

United States requested consultations on August 21, 2012, and after consultations failed to 

resolve the dispute, on December 6, 2012, the United States requested the establishment of a 

panel. On January 28, 2013, the DSB established a single panel to examine this dispute and 

similar disputes brought by the EU and Japan (DS438 and DS445, respectively), and the 

Director-General composed the panel on May 27, 2013.

The panel circulated its report to members on August 22, 2014. The panel found Argentina’s 

import licensing requirement and its imposition of trade-balancing requirements to be 

inconsistent with Article XI of the GATT 1994.

On September 26, 2014, Argentina notified the DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate 

Body certain issues of law and legal interpretation in the panel report. On January 15, 2015, the 

Appellate Body issued its reports on DS438, DS444, and DS445, in which it upheld the panel’s 

principal findings, including the panel’s finding that Argentina’s measure is inconsistent with 

Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994. On January 26, 2015, the DSB adopted the panel and Appellate 

Body reports. Argentina informed the DSB that it intended to implement the DSB’s 

recommendations and rulings, and the United States and Argentina subsequently agreed that 

the reasonable period of time for doing so would be by December 31, 2015. In December 2015, 

Argentina issued modified import licensing requirements. USTR has indicated that 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 obligation.292

 292 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS444; Argentina—Measures Affecting the Importation of Goods” (accessed March 

18, 2016). See also USTR, “WTO Appellate Body Affirms U.S. Victory in Trade Enforcement Dispute,” January 15, 

2015, and USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Report, 2016, 52–53.
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Reports in Which the United States Was the Respondent

United States—Anti-dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Viet Nam 

(DS429) 

In this dispute Vietnam claimed that various U.S. laws, regulations, administrative proceedings, 

and practices relating to zeroing293 are inconsistent with U.S. obligations under Articles I: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 

Anti-dumping Agreement; Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement; Articles 3.7, 19.1, 21.1, 21.3, 

and 21.5 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding; and Vietnam’s Protocol of Accession. The 

request for consultations was filed on February 20, 2012. After consultations failed to resolve 

the dispute, on January 17, 2013, Vietnam requested the establishment of a panel. The DSB 

established a panel on February 27, 2013, and the panel was composed on July 12, 2013. 

On November 17, 2014, the report of the panel was circulated to members. The panel found 

that certain practices of the U.S. Department of Commerce that were challenged by Vietnam 

are inconsistent with the GATT 1994 and the Anti-dumping Agreement, but also concluded that 

Vietnam had failed to establish its factual allegations with respect to a number of claims, 

including its claims with respect to section 129(c)(1) of the U.S. Uruguay Round Agreements Act 

(URAA) (that the U.S. legislation is inconsistent with Articles 1, 9.2, 9.3, 11.1, and 18.1 of the 

Anti-dumping Agreement). 

On January 6, 2015, Vietnam notified the DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Body 

the panel’s finding that Vietnam had failed to establish that section 129(c)(1) of the URAA is 

inconsistent “as such” with the above-cited articles of the Anti-dumping Agreement. On April 7, 

2015, the Appellate Body issued its report and upheld the panel’s finding that Vietnam had not 

established that section 129(c)(1) of the URAA is inconsistent “as such” with the cited articles of 

the Anti-dumping Agreement. On April 22, 2015, the DSB adopted its recommendations and 

rulings, and on May 20, 2015, 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 reasonable 

period of time to do so. 

On September 17, 2015, Vietnam requested that the reasonable period of time be determined 

through arbitration. On October 7, 2015, Vietnam and the United States agreed on an 

 

293 Before 2006, the U.S. Department of Commerce engaged in a practice called “zeroing,” in which it treated nondumped transactions as having a zero margin for purposes of computing a weighted average dumping margin for a 

class or kind of subject merchandise.
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arbitrator, and on December 15, 2015, the arbitrator issued his award, deciding that the 

reasonable period of time would be 15 months, ending on July 22, 2016. 294

United States—Measures Affecting the Importation of Animals, Meat and 

Other Animal Products from Argentina (DS447) 

In this dispute Argentina requested consultation regarding inaction by the United States to 

authorize importation of fresh bovine meat from Argentina. The specific measures challenged 

by Argentina are (1) the U.S. import prohibition of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina 

as embodied in regulations of the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 

which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); (2) the failure to recognize certain 

areas of Argentina as free of foot-and-mouth disease, embodied in APHIS policy; and (3) alleged 

undue delays in recognizing the animal health status of a region or in granting approval to 

export animals or animal products from that region. Argentina claimed that the challenged 

measures appear to be inconsistent with Articles I:1, III:4, and XI:1 of the GATT 1994; Articles 

1.1, 1.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 6.1, 6.2, and 8, Annex C.1, and Article 10.1 of the SPS 

Agreement; and Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement. U.S. law prohibits the importation of 

fresh meat from all 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 footand-mouth disease into the United States.

Consultations were held on October 18 and 19, 2012. On December 6, 2012, Argentina 

requested establishment of a panel, and a panel was established on January 28, 2013, and 

composed on August 8, 2013. The panel issued its report on July 24, 2015. The panel 

concluded that the U.S. measures were inconsistent with U.S. obligations under the SPS 

Agreement and the GATT 1994. The DSB adopted the panel report on August 31, 2015.

Before the panel report was issued, USDA issued two administrative documents, in August 2014 

and July 2015, that lift the foot-and-mouth disease ban on Argentina and permit the 

importation of fresh bovine meat under certain conditions. The United States notified the DSB 

at its August 31, 2015, meeting that the United States had addressed the matters raised in the 

dispute.295

 294 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS429; United States—Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Viet Nam” 

(accessed March 18, 2016). See also USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, 2016, 84–85. 295 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS447; United States—Measures Affecting the Importation of Animals, Meat and 

Other Animal Products from Argentina” (accessed March 16, 2016). See also USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 

2015 Annual Report, 2016, 87.
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Chapter 4

Selected Regional and Bilateral Trade 

Activities

This chapter summarizes trade-related activities during 2015 in two major multilateral 

organizations—the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the 

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. It also covers developments during the year in 

the negotiation of a Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) and activities conducted under trade 

and investment framework agreements (TIFAs).

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 

Development

The OECD provides a forum for member governments to review and discuss economic, social, 

and other policy experiences affecting their market economies, as well as engage with other 

major nonmember economies to address issues facing the global economy. In 2015, the OECD 

had 34 members. They included many of the world’s most advanced economies as well as 

several emerging-market countries.296

Ministerial Council Meeting

The OECD held its 2015 Ministerial Council Meeting June 3–4, 2015. In addition to the current 

economic outlook, the council focused discussions on the role of business climate and of 

innovation in investment; environmentally oriented investment; and the relationship between 

trade and social, environmental, and economic development. Both the council and the chair of 

the ministerial meeting issued statements on how to focus investment to achieve sustainable 

global economic and employment growth.

Ministers expressed support for the organization continuing to develop long-range analysis 

tools that take into account so-called megatrends. The tools also allow scenario-based 

discussions of policy under the OECD New Approaches to Economic Challenges initiative. In 

discussing the role of investment, the Ministers also welcomed the OECD Secretary-General’s 

 296 Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 

Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, 

Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United 

States. OECD, “Members and Partners,” http://www.oecd.org/about/membersandpartners/ (accessed May 18, 

2016).
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progress report regarding work on the Inclusive Growth initiative; work on skills, education, and 

investment in human capital; as well as work on corporate governance, in particular, 

responsible investment through guidelines for state-owned enterprises.

Regarding trade, the ministers highlighted the OECD’s efforts to promote trade openness to 

support sustained and inclusive growth by making trade barriers more visible. Ministers 

acknowledged in this regard the OECD’s analytical work on Global Value Chains, Trade 

Facilitation Indicators, and the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index, as well as joint work done 

such as the OECD-WTO Trade in Value Added database,297 as being valuable contributions to a 

more complete understanding of trade.298

Trade Committee

The OECD Trade Committee met twice during 2015, in April and November. At the 166th 

session of the Trade Committee held April 21–22, 2015,299 the committee discussed the 

findings of the committee’s Market Openness Review of Costa Rica,300 as part of the OECD 

Council decision to open accession talks with Costa Rica. As part of its April meeting, the 

committee held a session with G-20 members, in particular concerning the slowdown in world 

trade growth and what policies might help reinvigorate it.301 The committee also reviewed the 

state of play in the post-Bali WTO work program that emerged from the December 2013 WTO 

ministerial conference held in Bali, Indonesia.302 In addition, the committee agreed to renew 

the mandate for the Trade Committee, which now runs through December 31, 2019.

 

297 The OECD trade facilitation indicators help developing country governments identify areas where trade 

facilitation reforms—such as technical assistance and capacity-building efforts—are likely to generate greater 

benefits from trade by focusing on measures that improve border procedures, reduce trade costs, and boost trade 

flows; http://www.oecd.org/trade/facilitation/indicators.htm. The OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index 

(STRI) helps identify and measure trade barriers, investment barriers, and domestic regulations that can impede 

international trade in services; http://www.oecd.org/tad/services-trade/services-trade-restrictiveness-index.htm. 

For more information on global value chains and the Trade in Value Added database, see the APEC section later in 

this chapter.

298 OECD, Council, “Summary Record of the 1317th Session,” September 10, 2015; OECD, “Meeting of the OECD 

Council at Ministerial Level––Unlocking Investment for Sustainable Growth and Jobs––2015 Ministerial Council 

Statement,” n.d. (accessed March 4, 2016). 299 OECD, TAD, TC, “Summary Record: 166th Session of the Trade Committee––Plenary Session,” June 17, 2015. 300 OECD, Council, “Roadmap for the Accession of Costa Rica to the OECD Convention,” July 15, 2015. 301 The G-20 provides a forum for cooperation in global economic governance for the world’s leading economies. 

The G-20 includes 19 countries plus the European Union counting as a single member: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, 

Canada, China, European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, 

South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

302 The so-called Bali Package––comprising the Bali Ministerial Declaration of December 7, 2013, and later 

ministerial decisions adopted November 27, 2014––covered work on a number of issues, including agriculture and 

cotton, preferential treatment for least-developed-country members, and trade facilitation. WTO, “9th WTO 
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At the 167th session of the Trade Committee, November 4–5, 2015, the committee discussed 

how to expand use of the OECD’s New Approaches to Economic Challenges initiative to identify 

emerging issues that require further OECD attention.303 It also explored ways to improve crosscommittee discussion. The committee also heard reports on various stages of consideration for 

OECD accession by Israel, Lithuania, Costa Rica, and Latvia.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Background

Established in 1989 and composed of 21 member economies, APEC is a regional economic 

forum.304 Since its inception, APEC has aimed to increase prosperity in the region by 

accelerating regional economic integration and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.305

APEC decisions are made by consensus, and commitments are undertaken voluntarily.306 

The operational structure of APEC is divided into the policy level and the working level. At the 

policy level, the annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting sets overarching policy direction; the 

annual APEC ministerial meeting, sectoral ministerial meetings, senior officials meetings 

(SOMs), and APEC Business Advisory Council meetings provide strategic policy 

recommendations. At the working level, four core committees, including the Committee on 

Trade and Investment (CTI), carry out activities and projects.307 The APEC Secretariat is based 

in Singapore.308

Adopted by APEC member economies in 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia, the Bogor Goals are a set of 

targeted goals for creating a free and open trade and investment area in the Asia-Pacific.309

APEC works in three key areas toward the Bogor Goals: (1) trade and investment liberalization 

that reduces and eventually eliminates tariff and nontariff barriers to trade and investment; (2) 

business facilitation, which focuses on reducing business transaction costs, improving access to 

trade information, and aligning policy and business strategies to facilitate growth and free, 

 

Ministerial Conference, Bali, 2013 and After––Bali Package and November 2014 Decisions” (accessed March 14, 

2016). For more background, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 87. 303 OECD, TAD TC, “Summary Record: 167th Session of the Trade Committee––Plenary Session,” February 5, 2016. 304 In 2015, the 21 APEC member economies were Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; 

Indonesia; Japan; South Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; Russia; 

Singapore; Taiwan (Chinese Taipei); Thailand; the United States; and Vietnam. For further details, see “About 

APEC,” http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/Member-Economies.aspx (accessed March 8, 2016). 305 APEC, APEC at a Glance, 2015. 306 Ibid. 307 APEC, “How APEC Operates” (accessed on March 8, 2016). 308 APEC, APEC at a Glance, 2015. 309 APEC, “Bogor Goals” (accessed March 8, 2016).
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open trade; and (3) economic and technical cooperation that provides training in all APEC 

member economies to build their capacities to take advantage of global trade.310 The Second 

Term Review of the Bogor Goals is scheduled for 2016.311

At the core of APEC work is the Regional Economic Integration agenda. Initiatives under this 

program include pursuing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), a comprehensive free 

trade agreement among APEC member economies;312 improving the ease of doing business; 

streamlining custom procedures; and carrying out structural reforms in APEC member 

economies.313

2015 APEC Developments 

In 2015, the Philippines served as the APEC chair and hosted major APEC meetings.314 Under its 

leadership, APEC focused on promoting and advancing inclusive growth in the Asia-Pacific 

region at “national, regional, and macro levels,” and sought to pursue the following four 

priorities: “investing in human capital development; fostering small and medium enterprises’ 

(SMEs) participation in regional and global markets; building sustainable and resilient 

communities; and enhancing the regional economic integration agenda.”

315

In 2015, a variety of issues were discussed, including facilitating cross-border education; 

lowering trade barriers and boosting access to capital and markets for SMEs; promoting digital 

economies; building human capacity; promoting a more active role for women in the economy; 

cutting tariffs for environmental goods and promoting green growth; identifying the issues 

related to making FTAAP a reality; and promoting global value chain (GVC) development and 

cooperation.316

The CTI reported good progress in advancing APEC’s objectives in 2015, highlighting (1) the 

acceptance of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation by 11 APEC economies; (2) the launch of the 

 

310 APEC, “Scope of Work” (accessed February 24, 2015). 311 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report to Ministers, November 16–17, 2015. In August 

2014, APEC published the 2014 Bogor Goals Progress Report, which assessed progress made by its 21 member 

economies toward achieving the Bogor Goals in recent years. For the major achievements highlighted in this 

report, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015. 312 APEC, “Pathways to FTAAP,” November 14, 2010. 313 APEC, “Regional Economic Integration Agenda” (accessed January 22, 2016). 314 The Philippines hosted several major APEC meetings in 2015, including the Economic Leaders’ Summit,

ministerial meetings, three Senior Officials Meetings (SOM1, SOM2, and SOM3), and other related meetings. 315 APEC Philippines 2015, “APEC 2015: Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World,” (accessed January 

22, 2016). 316 APEC, “Events,” http://www.apec.org/Events-Calendar.aspx (accessed January 20, 2016); APEC, news releases 

in 2015, http://apec.org/Press/News-Releases.aspx?year=2015&topic=All. 
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APEC Trade Repository,317 a one-stop online source for APEC economic and trade information;

(3) substantial progress made by member economies in carrying out tariff reduction 

commitments for the APEC list of environmental goods; (4) the establishment of a Model E-Port 

Network318 and related technical support mechanisms to share best practices in applying 

information technology to improve maritime port efficiency; and (5) the extension of the 

validity period of the APEC Business Travel Card from three to a maximum of five years from 

September 1, 2015, among others.319 Progress in 2015 on FTAAP, GVC cooperation, and 

environmental goods and green growth are described separately in the sections below.

Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)

In 2006, APEC economies agreed to “examine the long-term prospects of a FTAAP.”320 In 2010, 

APEC leaders instructed APEC members to take concrete steps toward the realization of 

FTAAP,321 and said that FTAAP should be pursued as a comprehensive free trade agreement.322

At the 2014 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, APEC leaders endorsed the Beijing Roadmap for 

APEC’s Contribution to the Realization of the FTAAP (the Beijing Roadmap). This document 

listed the actions needed to realize FTAAP, including launching a Collective Strategic Study on 

Issues Related to the Realization of the FTAAP (the Study).323

In 2015, the CTI reported that a core drafting group had been established to initiate and 

coordinate the drafting of each chapter of the Study. Work plans were created by APEC 

economies responsible for their respective chapters, with the first draft to be submitted by 

January 15, 2016. A seminar on the Study was also held on August 29, 2015, in the margins of 

the third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3). At this seminar, views and inputs were shared 

among academics and government officials involved in the Study.324

In 2015, APEC also undertook various capacity-building activities related to realizing FTAAP, 

including a workshop in September on dealing with the complexity of rules of origin and 

 317 See APEC, Trade Repository, http://tr.apec.org/. 318 The initiative on the APEC Model E-port network was endorsed by APEC in 2014. The network aims to use 

information technology to facilitate trade and improve port management. An E-port is an online integrated 

resource providing port information and trade-related services, such as data exchange, transaction processing, 

online payment, and identification authentication. APEC, “2014 Senior Officials Meeting: Annex 9: Initiative on 

Asia-Pacific Model E-port Network,” May 2014. 319 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report to Ministers, November 16–17, 2015, 9–10. 320 APEC, “2014 Leaders’ Declaration: Annex A: The Beijing Roadmap for APEC’s Contribution,” November 11, 2014. 321 APEC, “APEC Ministers Renew Commitment to Resist Protectionism,” November 11, 2010. 322 APEC, “Pathways to FTAAP,” November 14, 2010. 323 APEC, “2014 Leaders’ Declaration: Annex A: The Beijing Roadmap for APEC’s Contribution,” November 11, 2014. 

For details on the steps to be taken, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 121. 324 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report, November 16–17, 2015, 15; USTR, 2016 Trade 

Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 139.
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logistical challenges of trade facilitation. Also, two trade policy dialogues were held in May and 

September on regional trade agreements (RTAs) and free trade agreements (FTAs). These 

dialogues highlighted high-quality, comprehensive RTAs/FTAs as potential building blocks for 

the FTAAP, and discussed economic, commercial, and geopolitical drivers for trade 

negotiations, as well as the impact of mega-regionalism.325

Advancing Global Value Chain Development and Supply Chain 

Connectivity

In 2013, APEC economic leaders agreed to promote global value chain (GVC) development and 

cooperation in the APEC region on the basis of previous work on connectivity.326 In 2014, APEC 

member economies endorsed the APEC Strategic Blueprint for Promoting Global Value Chains 

Development and Cooperation (the Blueprint) as the mechanism they would use to strengthen 

economic cooperation within the global and regional value chain network.327

Under the Blueprint, nine work streams have been set up: 

(1) Addressing trade and investment issues that impact GVCs; 

(2) APEC GVCs and trade in value added (TiVA) measurement; 

(3) Realizing the critical role of trade in services within GVCs; 

(4) Enabling developing economies to better participate in GVCs; 

(5) Assisting SMEs to benefit from GVCs; 

(6) Improving the investment climate for GVCs development; 

(7) Adopting effective trade facilitation measures; 

(8) Enhancing resiliency of GVCs; and 

(9) Encouraging public-private partnerships for GVCs.328

The CTI noted progress in several areas related to GVC initiatives in 2015. Highlights were as 

follows: 

(1) Work plans were developed and agreed upon for the first eight work streams. 

(2) On Work Stream 2 (APEC GVCs and TiVA measurement), a Technical Group on the 

Measurement of APEC TiVA (the Technical Group) was established, and two Technical 

Group meetings were held in May 2015 in Boracay, the Philippines, and in November 2015

 

325 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report, November 16–17, 2015, 16. 326 APEC, “2014 Leaders’ Declarations: Annex B: APEC Strategic Blueprint,” November 11, 2014. 327 The term global value chains (GVCs) refers to a growing phenomenon in which different stages of production 

processes are located across different countries. For more information, see OECD, “Global Value Chains,” n.d. 

(accessed January 27, 2016).

328 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report, November 16–17, 2015, 16.
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in Shanghai, China. The terms of reference and the work plan of the Technical Group were 

endorsed and adopted at the Second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM2) in May 2015. These 

actions put into place key steps toward constructing the APEC TiVA database by 2018. In 

addition, a capacity-building program was held in China on October 22–November 5, 

2015.329

(3) On Work Stream 3 (realizing the critical role of trade in services within GVCs), a joint 

meeting was held in August 2015 in the margins of SOM3. Case studies on services reforms 

in Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia were presented and discussed.

(4) On Work Stream 8 (enhancing resiliency of GVCs), CTI endorsed the APEC Guidebook on 

Resilience of Global Value Chains (GVCs) to Natural Disasters. A seminar on this topic was 

scheduled to take place in early 2016.330

In 2015, APEC economies also made 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 in the following five areas: pre-arrival processing, 

advance rulings, expedited shipments, release of goods, and electronic payment.331

Environmental Goods and Services and Green Growth 

To pursue green growth in the region and help APEC businesses and citizens access important 

environmental technologies at lower cost, in September 2012, the 21 APEC economic leaders 

endorsed the APEC List of 54 Environmental Goods. The leaders agreed to voluntarily reduce 

the applied tariff rates to 5 percent or less on these environmental goods by the end of 2015.332

The CTI reported that by the SOM3 in August 2015, all 21 APEC economies had submitted 

detailed implementation plans that outlined the legislative or executive authority to be used to 

make the tariff reductions. The plans also listed the tariff lines on which applied tariff rates 

would be reduced to 5 percent or less for each of the 54 environmental goods subheadings.333

 329 The United States and China are the two co-leading APEC economies in Work Stream 2: APEC GVCs and TiVA 

Measurement. Upon USTR’s request, in the capacity of technical support, Commission staff have been serving as 

the U.S. co-chair of the Technical Group in 2015–16, and co-leading the project with Chinese counterparts since 

2014.

330 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report, November 16–17, 2015, 16, 17. 331 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 138. 332 APEC, “2012 Leaders’ Declaration: Vladivostok Declaration,” September 8–9, 2012. 333 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report, November 16–17, 2015, 18–19.
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In 2014, the APEC Ministers endorsed an initiative to promote liberalization, facilitation, and 

cooperation in environmental services.334 In 2015, CTI agreed to the Environmental Services 

Action Plan, which envisages a number of actions in 2016–20. These include surveying 

regulatory and policy measures on environmental services;335 carrying out a study or studies of 

environmental industries and businesses (e.g., recycling business, waste management) to 

better understand the scope of environmental services and the challenges environmental 

businesses are facing; pinpointing key challenges and compiling recommended action agendas 

to address them; and collecting and sharing good practices to promote environmental services 

liberalization, facilitation, and cooperation.336 

Another related APEC event was the 2nd Public-Private Partnership on Environmental Goods 

and Services dialogue, held in May 12, 2015, in the margins of SOM2. Nontariff barriers to 

environmental goods and services trade within the APEC region, such as standards and 

procurement, were the major topics discussed at this dialogue.337

Negotiations on a Trade in Services 

Agreement

On July 5, 2012, a number of WTO members released a joint statement of their intent to begin 

negotiations on a new plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) that might form the basis 

for a broader multilateral agreement.338 By the end of 2015, the number of participants had 

risen from an initial 18 to 23,339 and more than a dozen rounds of negotiations had been 

 

334 APEC, “2014 APEC Ministerial Meeting: Joint Ministerial Statement,” November 8, 2014. 335 The survey will focus on services under the U.N. Central Product Classification (CPC) 94, “sewage and refuse 

disposal, sanitation and other environmental protection services.” APEC, Environmental Services Action Plan, 

September 2015. 

336 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report, November 16–17, 2015, 19; APEC, 

Environmental Services Action Plan, September 2015. 337 APEC, 2015 Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report, November 16–17, 2015, 19. 338 USTR, “WTO Members Announce New Phase in Services Talks,” July 5, 2012; Government of New Zealand, 

MFAT, “Joint Statement––Advancing Negotiations on Trade in Services,” July 5, 2012. The WTO Director-General 

has explained that the TISA negotiations do not take place within the WTO, but that the participants have provided 

updates on their discussions to the WTO Council for Trade in Services; WTO, Trade Policy Review Body, “Overview 

of Developments in the International Trading Environment,” January 31, 2014, 58, par. 3.127. TISA participants 

have said during these updates that they saw no contradiction between the TISA talks and services negotiations 

under the Doha Round, saying that the TISA was developed to be compatible with the GATS, and could be 

multilateralized in the future. WTO, “Annual Report of the Council for Trade in Services,” November 28, 2014, 4, 

par. 6.2. 339 The initial group of 18 participants were Australia; Canada; Colombia; Costa Rica; the European Union; Hong 

Kong, China; Israel; Japan; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Peru; South Korea; Switzerland; Taiwan; 

Turkey; and the United States. By yearend 2015, 5 new additions—Chile, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, and 

Panama—brought the total to 23 participants.
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held.340 Five more rounds are planned for 2016, and ministers have expressed “their intent to 

conclude the TISA negotiations by the end of the year.”

341

Issues discussed in the negotiations have included delivery services, direct selling services, 

domestic regulation and transparency, electronic commerce, energy services, environmental 

services, financial services, government procurement services, localization requirements, 

patient mobility, professional services, telecommunications services, temporary entry of 

business persons, trade rules and disciplines, and transport services (air, maritime, and road), 

among others.342

Although still under negotiation, the TISA will reportedly be based on the core provisions of the 

WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). But TISA will include disciplines that go 

beyond GATS,343 and it will use a “hybrid” approach to country-specific commitments on 

national treatment and market access.344 Full market access commitments would apply only to 

sectors specifically listed—a so-called positive list approach. Commitments on national 

treatment would apply to all sectors unless a reservation was specifically listed––a negative list 

approach. Additionally, national treatment commitments are subject to a “standstill” that 

would bind members to existing levels of liberalization, as well as a “ratchet” clause that would 

bind future liberalization commitments unless they were specifically listed as reserved.345

Market access commitments would not be subject to these standstill and ratchet provisions.346

Trade and Investment Framework 

Agreements

By yearend 2015, the United States had entered into 53 trade and investment framework 

agreements (TIFAs) (table 4.1). TIFAs provide a strategic framework and principles for dialogue 

on trade and investment issues between the United States and various trading partners. These 

TIFAs cover a range of issues, including market access, labor, the environment, intellectual 

property rights (IPR) protection, capacity building, and other issues. TIFA councils meet to 

 340 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 170–71; Government of Australia, DFAT, 

“Trade in Services Agreement” (accessed March 2, 2016). 341 Government of Canada, GAC, “Trade in Services Agreement (TISA),” last update February 11, 2016. 342 Derived from Government of Australia, DFAT, “Trade in Services Agreement” (accessed March 29, 2016). 343 WTO, CTS, “Report of the Meeting Held on 28 October 2013––Note by the Secretariat,” November 27, 2013, 

par. 8.4. 344 Government of Switzerland, SECO, “The Plurilateral Negotiating Process,” last modified March 4, 2016. 345 WTO, CTS, “Report of the Meeting Held on 28 October 2013––Note by the Secretariat,” S/C/M/115, November 

27, 2013, par. 8.4. 346 Government of Switzerland, SECO, “The Plurilateral Negotiating Process,” last modified March 4, 2016, and 

“Chronology of the TISA negotiation process,” last update March 1, 2016. 
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discuss these issues on a regular basis (generally annually).347 In 2015, one new TIFA (with 

Armenia) was signed; negotiations resumed on one (with Mongolia); and various TIFA councils 

met. 

Table 4.1 U.S. trade and investment framework agreements in 2015

Type and name Date signed

Bilateral

U.S.-Afghanistan TIFA September 21, 2004

U.S.-Algeria TIFA July 13, 2001

U.S.-Angola TIFA May, 2009

U.S.-Armenia TIFA May 7, 2015

U.S.-Bahrain TIFAa June 18, 2002

U.S.- Bangladesh TICFA November 25, 2013

U.S.-Brunei TIFA December 16, 2002

U.S.-Burma TIFA May 21, 2013

U.S.-Cambodia TIFA July 14, 2006

U.S.-Egypt TIFA July 1, 1999

U.S.-Georgia TIFA June 20, 2007

U.S.-Ghana TIFA February 26, 1999

U.S.-Iceland TICF January 15, 2009

U.S.-Indonesia TIFA July 16, 1996

U.S.-Iraq TIFA July 11, 2005

U.S.-Kuwait TIFA February 6, 2004

U.S.-Lebanon TIFA November 30, 2006

U.S.-Liberia TIFA February 15, 2007

U.S.-Libya TIFA May 20, 2010

U.S.-Malaysia TIFA May 10, 2004

U.S.-Maldives TIFA October 17, 2009

U.S.-Mauritius TIFA September 18, 2006

U.S.-Mongolia TIFA July 15, 2004

U.S.-Mozambique TIFA June 21, 2005

U.S.-Nepal TIFA April 15, 2011

U.S.-New Zealand TIFA October 2, 1992

U.S.-Nigeria TIFA February 16, 2000

U.S.-Oman TIFAa July 7, 2004

U.S.-Pakistan TIFA June 25, 2003

U.S.-Philippines TIFA November 9, 1989

U.S.-Qatar TIFA March 19, 2004

U.S.-Rwanda TIFA June 7, 2006

U.S.-Saudi Arabia TIFA July 31, 2003

U.S.-South Africa TIFA June 18, 2012b

U.S.-Sri Lanka TIFA July 25, 2002

U.S.-Switzerland TICF May 25, 2006

U.S.-Taiwan TIFA September 19, 1994

U.S.-Thailand TIFA October 23, 2002

U.S.-Tunisia TIFA October 2, 2002

U.S.-Turkey TIFA September 29, 1999

U.S.-Ukraine TICA April 1, 2008

U.S.-United Arab Emirates TIFA March 15, 2004

U.S.-Uruguay TIFAc January 25, 2007

U.S.-Vietnam TIFA June 21, 2007

U.S.-Yemen TIFA February 6, 2004

Regional

U.S.-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) TIFAd August 25, 2006

U.S.-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) TIFAe May 28, 2013

U.S.-Central Asian TIFA (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) June 1, 2004

U.S.-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) TIFAf October 29, 2001

U.S.-East African Community TIFA (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda) July 16, 2008

U.S.-Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)g August 5, 2014

 

347 USTR, “Trade and Investment Framework Agreements,” n.d. (accessed February 20, 2016).
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Type and name Date signed

U.S.-GCC Framework Agreement for Trade, Economic, Investment, and Technical Cooperation (Bahrain, Kuwait, 

Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates)

September 25, 2012

U.S.-West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) TIFAh April 24, 2002

Source: USTR, “Trade and Investment Framework Agreements,” n.d. (accessed February 23, 2016); USTR, “United States and West African 

Nations Sign Agreement,” April 24, 2002; USTR, “East African Community,” n.d. (accessed February 23, 2016); Government of Taiwan, MOEA, 

OTN, “Introduction to Taiwan-U.S. TIFA,” n.d. (accessed April 1, 2016). 

Note: TICF stands for Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum, TICA stands for Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement, and TICFA 

stands for Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement. All are considered TIFAs by USTR. For more information, see USTR, “Trade 

and Investment Framework Agreements,” (accessed April 1, 2016). a Bahrain and Oman have both FTAs and TIFAs in effect with the United States.

b The United States-South Africa TIFA was amended on June 18, 2012, and replaces the original TIFA, signed on February 18, 1999. c On October 2, 2008, the United States and Uruguay signed a TIFA protocol on trade and environment and a TIFA protocol on trade 

facilitation. 

d The 10 countries of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam (Brunei), Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, 

Thailand, and Vietnam. 

e The 15 members of CARICOM are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, 

Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. It also has 5 associate 

members: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands. 

f The 19 members of COMESA are Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, 

Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

g The 15 members of ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, 

Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

h The 8 members of WAEMU are Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. 

Developments in TIFA Negotiations during 2015

On May 7, 2015, U.S. and Armenian officials signed a Trade and Investment Framework 

Agreement. The agreement establishes a U.S.-Armenia Council on Trade and Investment to 

discuss bilateral trade and investment and related issues, with the goal of examining ways to 

strengthen relations between the two countries.348 In 2015, U.S. exports to Armenia totaled 

$50.2 million and imports from Armenia were valued at $62.5 million. The top three U.S. 

exports to Armenia by value were non-mounted or set diamonds, primarily of the unworked 

nonindustrial variety ($4.9 million), various construction equipment ($3.6 million), and poultry 

($3.1 million). These three exports accounted for over 23 percent of all U.S. exports to Armenia 

in 2015.349 The top three imports were aluminum foil ($42.9 million), non-mounted or set 

diamonds, primarily of the worked nonindustrial variety ($4.4 million), and ethyl alcohols of an 

alcohol volume less than 80 percent, primarily spirituous beverages ($2.8 million). These three 

imports made up over 80 percent of all U.S. imports from Armenia in 2015.350

On November 17, 2015, the first meeting of the U.S.-Armenia TIFA Council was held in Yerevan, 

Armenia, following the signing of the agreement in May.351 The two sides discussed IPRs, 

customs clearances, technical barriers to trade, sanitary measures, investment promotion 

 348 USTR, “United States and Armenia Sign,” May 7, 2015. 349 Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed 

February 20, 2015). 350 Ibid. 351 USTR, “United States and Armenia Meet,” November 24, 2015. 
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efforts, private sector engagement, government procurement, the WTO Trade Facilitation 

Agreement, environmental issues, and labor issues.

352

On May 18, 2015, the fifth round of the U.S.-Mongolia TIFA negotiations occurred, the first 

round held since 2009.353 The two sides reached agreement regarding the next steps for 

implementing the U.S.-Mongolia Transparency Agreement, as well as trade programs, trade 

missions, and technical information exchanges in the commercial law field. In addition, the two 

sides discussed legal and regulatory frameworks, investment opportunities, bidding procedures 

for government-sponsored projects, IPRs, and mutual trade promotion.354 The two countries 

agreed to meet in Washington, DC, in 2016 to hold the sixth round of TIFA talks.

Developments in Existing TIFAs during 2015 

During 2015, the following TIFA councils met:

• On March 12, the U.S.-Pakistan TIFA Council convened. The parties discussed various trade 

and investment issues, including promoting trade and investment, Pakistan’s recent 

admission as an observer nation to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, trade 

facilitation measures being adopted by Pakistan, formation of the U.S.-Pakistan Joint 

Business Forum, and recent developments in the regulatory and enforcement environment 

for intellectual property in Pakistan. Joint efforts to support SMEs in Pakistan and access to 

finance were also discussed.355

• On April 15, 2015, the United States and South Africa held the second meeting of the 

amended TIFA signed in 2012. The two sides discussed market access, eliminating barriers 

to U.S. agricultural goods, improving South Africa’s business climate and investment 

policies, and IPR protection.356 

• On May 28, 2015, the United States and Ukraine held the fifth meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine 

Trade and Investment Council in Kyiv, Ukraine. The parties discussed how to address 

barriers to trade between the two nations, as well as how to improve the business and 

investment climate.357 

 

352 Armenian Embassy of the United States, “High-level Delegations Discuss U.S.-Armenia,” November 16, 2015. 353 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 141. 354 USTR, “Joint Statement from U.S.-Mongolia TIFA Talks,” May 18, 2015. 355 USTR, “Joint Statement from the Inter-Sessional Meeting,” March 16, 2015. 356 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 144. 357 USTR, “United States and Ukraine Hold Economic Discussions,” May 29, 2015. 
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• On August 27, 2015, the United States and the Economic Community of West African States 

(ECOWAS) held the inaugural meeting of the United States-ECOWAS TIFA Council, following 

the agreement’s signing in 2014. The two sides discussed progress on reducing trade 

barriers within ECOWAS and deepening U.S.-ECOWAS trade, as well as the status of the 

West Africa-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.358

• On September 18, 2015, the United States and Indonesia held a TIFA council meeting. The 

two sides discussed a range of bilateral issues, including policies related to information and 

communications technology as well as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. They 

also discussed Indonesia’s new Economic Policy Package, which focuses on deregulation to 

improve Indonesia’s business climate. Indonesia provided a report on the status of the 

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a proposed regional FTA among the 10 

members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the six countries with 

which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New 

Zealand), and the United States provided an update on the status of the TPP. Finally, the 

two countries discussed ways they could cooperate to ensure progress under the ASEANU.S. TIFA and how to coordinate in the lead up to the WTO’s Ministerial Conference in 

Nairobi in December 2015.359

• On October 1, 2015, the United States and Taiwan held a TIFA Council meeting. The two 

sides discussed Taiwan’s efforts to fulfill TIFA commitments related to IPRs, 

pharmaceuticals, registration of chemical substances, offshore data centers for financial 

institutions, and various agricultural issues.360

• On November 23, 2015, the United States and Bangladesh held the second annual meeting 

of the TICFA (Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement) Council. The two sides 

discussed a range of issues, including labor rights and workplace safety under the 

Generalized System of Preferences Action Plan and the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact; 

investment climate trends in Bangladesh; capital controls; developments in plurilateral and 

multilateral trade forums; and investment opportunities in Bangladesh infrastructure and 

energy resources. They also discussed ways of resolving various sector-specific market 

access and commercial issues. Finally, the two sides agreed to continue working together to 

 358 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 145. 359 USTR, “United States and Indonesia Agree to Steps,” September 21, 2015. 360 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 146. For more information on the U.S.-

Taiwan TIFA Council meeting, see the chapter 6 section on Taiwan.
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create jobs and raise the standard of living in both countries, and agreed to hold the third 

TICFA Council meeting in 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.361

 

361 USTR, “Readout of the Second U.S.-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation,” November 24, 2015.
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Chapter 5

U.S. Free Trade Agreements 

This chapter summarizes developments related to U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) during 

2015. It describes trends in U.S. merchandise trade with FTA partners, provides highlights of the 

status of U.S. FTA negotiations during the year, and summarizes major activities and dispute 

settlement developments involving the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and 

other U.S. FTAs in force during 2015.

U.S. Trade with FTA Partners in 2015 

The United States was a party to 14 FTAs involving a total of 20 countries as of December 31, 

2015.362 Starting with the most recent agreement, the FTAs in force during 2015 were the U.S.-

Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) (which entered into force in 2012); the U.S.-

Colombia TPA (2012); the U.S.-Korea FTA (2012); the U.S.-Oman FTA (2009); the U.S.-Peru TPA 

(2009); a multiparty FTA with the countries of Central America and the Dominican Republic 

(CAFTA-DR) that includes the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and 

Nicaragua (entered into force 2006–07) and Costa Rica (2009); the U.S.-Bahrain FTA (2006); the 

U.S.-Morocco FTA (2006); the U.S.-Australia FTA (2005); the U.S.-Chile FTA (2004); the U.S.-

Singapore FTA (2004); the U.S.-Jordan FTA (2001); NAFTA, with Canada and Mexico (1994); and 

the U.S.-Israel FTA (1985).363

U.S. Total Merchandise Trade with FTA Partners 

In 2015, two-way total merchandise trade between the United States and its 20 FTA partners 

amounted to $1.5 trillion, accounting for 39.6 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade with the 

world. U.S. exports to FTA partners were valued at $711.4 billion, a 6.9 percent decrease from 

$764.5 billion in 2014 that mirrored the 7.2 percent decline in total U.S. 2014–15 exports to the 

world. U.S. exports to all FTA partners declined in 2015, with the exception of exports to 

Bahrain, Oman, and Nicaragua.364 U.S. imports from FTA partners were valued at $771.8 billion, 

 362 Beginning with the U.S.-Singapore FTA in 2004, the modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 

United States (HTS) required to implement each FTA can be found at USITC, Tariff Affairs drop-down menu, 

“Reports and Publications: Free Trade Agreement Proclamation Annexes,” 

https://www.usitc.gov/tariff_affairs/annex_index.htm. 363 USTR, “Free Trade Agreements” (accessed April 13, 2016). 364 Nicaragua is a party to CAFTA-DR. Table 5.1 does not show trade with individual CAFTA-DR countries. Nicaragua 

was the only country in that FTA for which U.S. exports increased, from $1.0 billion in 2014 to 1.3 billion in 2015. 
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a 6.8 percent decrease from $828.4 billion in 2014 that outpaced the 4.5 percent decline in 

total U.S. 2014–15 imports. The U.S. merchandise trade deficit with its FTA partners decreased 

by 5.5 percent to $60.4 billion in 2015 (table 5.1). 

U.S. trade with FTA partners is dominated by trade with NAFTA countries (Canada and Mexico). 

In 2015, NAFTA countries accounted for $1.1 trillion, or 74.6 percent, of total U.S. trade with its 

FTA partners. U.S. exports to NAFTA countries fell 6.6 percent from $552.7 billion in 2014 to 

$516.4 billion in 2015. U.S. imports from NAFTA countries fell by 8.1 percent, from $641.8 

billion in 2014 to $590.0 billion in 2015. The U.S. merchandise trade deficit with its NAFTA 

partners fell by 17.6 percent to $73.5 billion in 2015 as U.S. imports from NAFTA countries 

decreased more than U.S. exports to NAFTA did (table 5.1).

U.S. trade with non-NAFTA FTA partners amounted to $376.8 billion in 2015, representing a 5.4 

percent decrease from 2014. U.S. exports to non-NAFTA partners decreased by 8.0 percent, 

falling from $211.9 billion in 2014 to $195.0 billion in 2015. U.S. imports from non-NAFTA 

partners decreased by 2.5 percent from $186.6 billion in 2014 to $181.8 billion in 2015. The U.S. 

merchandise trade surplus with its non-NAFTA partners fell 47.9 percent to 13.2 billion in 2015 

as the decrease in U.S. exports to non-NAFTA partners outpaced the decrease in U.S. imports 

(table 5.1).

Table 5.1 U.S. merchandise trade with FTA partners, by FTA partner, 2013–15

FTA partner 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

U.S. total exports

NAFTA 526,825 552,669 516,394 -6.6

Canada 300,755 312,421 280,017 -10.4

Mexico 226,070 240,249 236,377 -1.6

Non-NAFTA 205,584 211,867 195,008 -8.0

Israel 13,742 15,083 13,562 -10.1

Jordan 2,084 2,050 1,368 -33.3

Chile 17,518 16,515 15,587 -5.6

Singapore 30,667 30,237 28,657 -5.2

Australia 26,123 26,582 25,038 -5.8

Morocco 2,484 2,102 1,608 -23.5

Bahrain 1,018 1,060 1,274 20.2

CAFTA-DR 29,638 31,124 28,901 -7.1

Oman 1,571 2,016 2,364 17.3

Peru 10,119 10,054 8,811 -12.4

South Korea 41,687 44,471 43,499 -2.2

Colombia 18,369 20,107 16,503 -17.9

Panama 10,565 10,467 7,836 -25.1

FTA partner total 732,409 764,537 711,402 -6.9

World total 1,578,439 1,620,532 1,504,597 -7.2

FTA partner share of world (percent) 46.4 47.2 47.3

 
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FTA partner 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

U.S. general imports

NAFTA 613,113 641,872 589,931 -8.1

Canada 332,558 347,798 295,190 -15.1

Mexico 280,555 294,074 294,741 0.2

Non-NAFTA 186,883 186,574 181,836 -2.5

Israel 22,783 22,962 24,452 6.5

Jordan 1,197 1,401 1,493 6.6

Chile 10,385 9,476 8,880 -6.3

Singapore 17,843 16,426 18,235 11.0

Australia 9,273 10,672 10,862 1.8

Morocco 976 992 1,011 1.9

Bahrain 636 965 902 -6.5

CAFTA-DR 30,133 28,379 23,734 -16.4

Oman 1,023 976 906 -7.2

Peru 8,127 6,077 5,069 -16.6

South Korea 62,433 69,518 71,827 3.3

Colombia 21,626 18,300 14,057 -23.2

Panama 449 431 408 -5.3

FTA partner total 799,996 828,446 771,768 -6.8

World total 2,268,370 2,347,685 2,241,664 -4.5

FTA partner share of world (percent) 35.3 35.3 34.4

Merchandise trade balance

NAFTA -86,288 -89,203 -73,537 -17.6

Canada -31,803 -35,377 -15,174 -57.1

Mexico -54,485 -53,825 -58,364 8.4

Non-NAFTA 18,701 25,293 13,172 -47.9

Israel -9,041 -7,879 -10,891 38.2

Jordan 887 650 -125 -119.3

Chile 7,133 7,039 6,707 -4.7

Singapore 12,824 13,811 10,421 -24.5

Australia 16,850 15,910 14,176 -10.9

Morocco 1,508 1,110 598 -46.1

Bahrain 382 94 372 293.9

CAFTA-DR -495 2,745 5,167 88.3

Oman 549 1,040 1,458 40.2

Peru 1,992 3,977 3,743 -5.9

South Korea -20,747 -25,047 -28,329 13.1

Colombia -3,257 1,807 2,446 35.4

Panama 10,116 10,036 7,428 -26.0

FTA partner total (NAFTA + non-NAFTA) -67,587 -63,910 -60,366 -5.5

World total -689,931 -727,153 -737,066 1.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 21, 2016). 

U.S. Imports Entered under FTAs 

The value of U.S. imports entered under FTAs totaled $371.9 billion in 2015. These imports 

accounted for 16.6 percent of total U.S. imports from the world and 48.2 percent of total 

imports from FTA partners in 2015 (table 5.2).

The value of U.S. imports entered under FTAs in 2015 decreased by $42.6 billion (10.3 percent), 

from $414.5 billion in 2014 to $371.9 billion in 2015. FTA imports from Canada fell by $33.8 

billion (19.4 percent), from $174.3 billion in 2014 to $140.5 billion in 2015. Canada was 

responsible for the largest decline in U.S. imports entered under FTAs in 2015, reflecting lower
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world prices and reduced U.S. demand for Canadian energy-related products and other 

commodities as described in chapter 1. There were also significant declines in 2014–15 FTA 

imports from other energy-exporting partners, though from much lower baselines: FTA imports 

from Colombia fell by $3.2 billion (37.7 percent), from $8.6 billion in 2014 to $5.4 billion in 

2015, and FTA imports from Peru fell by $685 million (20.0 percent), from $3.4 billion in 2014 to 

$2.7 billion in 2015 (table 5.2).

Table 5.2 U.S. imports for consumption entered under FTAs, by FTA partner, 2013–15

2013 2014 2015 % change 2014-15

Imports Million $

NAFTA 349,618 355,757 315,097 -11.4

Canada 177,985 174,336 140,515 -19.4

Mexico 171,633 181,421 174,582 -3.8

Non-NAFTA 61,209 58,733 56,777 -3.3

Israel 2,976 2,951 2,898 -1.8

Jordan 1,077 1,217 1,349 10.9

Chile 6,165 4,938 4,917 -0.4

Singapore 1,746 1,563 1,648 5.4

Australia 3,521 4,698 5,112 8.8

Morocco 186 242 256 5.8

Bahrain 418 540 526 -2.6

CAFTA-DR 12,040 12,853 13,511 5.1

Oman 582 600 596 -0.7

Peru 2,875 3,414 2,729 -20.0

South Korea 16,416 17,070 17,825 4.4

Colombia 13,175 8,614 5,368 -37.7

Panama 30 32 41 27.5

FTA partner total 410,827 414,490 371,874 -10.3

Ratio to U.S. general imports by partner Percent

NAFTA 57.0 55.4 53.4

Canada 53.5 50.1 47.6

Mexico 61.2 61.7 59.2

Non-NAFTA 32.8 31.5 31.2

Israel 13.1 12.8 11.9

Jordan 89.9 86.9 90.3

Chile 59.4 52.1 55.4

Singapore 9.8 9.5 9.0

Australia 38.0 44.0 47.1

Morocco 19.1 24.4 25.3

Bahrain 65.7 56.0 58.3

CAFTA-DR 40.0 45.3 56.9

Oman 57.0 61.5 65.8

Peru 35.4 56.2 53.9

South Korea 26.3 24.6 24.8

Colombia 60.9 47.1 38.2

Panama 6.7 7.4 10.0

FTA partner total 51.4 50.0 48.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed February 12, 2015).

Among the United States’ FTA partners, Jordan continues to rank as the partner with the 

highest share of imports entered under the FTA. In 2015, 90.3 percent of imports from Jordan 

entered under the FTA, followed by Oman (65.8 percent), Mexico (59.2 percent), and Bahrain 

(58.3 percent). By contrast, low shares of total imports from Singapore (9.0 percent), Panama 
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(10.0 percent), and Israel (11.9 percent) entered under FTAs (table 5.2), as most (over 60 

percent) of the imports from these U.S. FTA partners entered the United States free of duty 

under normal trade relations or column 1-general duty rates.

Developments in FTA Negotiations during 

2015 

In 2015, the United States continued to participate in negotiations for two regional FTAs—the 

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 11 TPP partners, and the Transatlantic Trade and 

Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the European Union (EU). The 12 TPP countries announced 

the conclusion of their negotiations on October 5, 2015. Negotiations for the TTIP continued in 

2015 and into 2016, with the goal of completing TTIP during 2016.365 The status of TPP and TTIP 

negotiations during 2015 is discussed below.

On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Bipartisan Congressional Trade 

Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.366 Title I of that act authorizes Trade Promotion 

Authority. Trade Promotion Authority is a legislative procedure through which Congress defines 

U.S. negotiating objectives and priorities for trade agreements and establishes consultation and 

notification requirements for the President to follow throughout the negotiation process. Box 

5.1 provides an overview of Trade Promotion Authority and the new negotiating objectives 

included in the 2015 legislation.

Box 5.1 Trade Promotion Authority

Trade Promotion Authority is the process Congress has made available to the President to enable certain 

international trade agreements to be considered under expedited legislative procedures for limited 

periods, provided the President meets certain statutory requirements.a Since 1974, Congress has 

enacted Trade Promotion Authority legislation that defines U.S. negotiating objectives and priorities for 

trade agreements and establishes consultation and notification requirements for the President to follow 

throughout the negotiation process. At the end of the negotiation and consultation process, Congress 

gives the agreement an up or down vote, without amendment. Trade Promotion Authority reaffirms 

Congress’s overall constitutional role in the development and oversight of U.S. trade policy.b

The most recent previous renewal of this authority, contained in the Bipartisan Trade Promotion 

Authority Act (BTPA) of 2002,c covered agreements reached between December 2002 and the end of 

June 2007. Although that grant of authority expired on July 1, 2007, it remained in effect for agreements 

that were already entered into by the President but not for negotiations still in progress or launched 

after that date, such as TPP, TTIP, and the Trade in Services Agreement. While not technically necessary 

for the United States to undertake trade negotiations, Trade Promotion Authority is generally regarded 

 365 USTR, “U.S. Press Statement at the Close,” February 26, 2016. 366 Pub. L. 114-26, title I, 19 U.S.C. 4201.
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as a sign of serious congressional support for the U.S. administration to move ahead with trade 

negotiations.d

Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority, the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and 

Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was passed by Congress in June 2015 and signed into law by 

President Obama on June 29, 2015 (Pub. L. 114-26, 129 Stat. 320). The Act sets out 21 principal trade 

negotiating objectives, including objectives on trade in goods, trade in services, trade in agriculture, 

foreign investment, intellectual property, digital trade in goods and services and cross-border data 

flows, regulatory practices, and state-owned and state-controlled enterprises. There are also two 

negotiating objectives on currency and currency manipulation.

e

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 also requires the 

Commission to submit two reports to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate 

Committee on Finance, one in 2016 and a second not later than mid-2020, on the economic impact on 

the United States of all trade agreements with respect to which Congress has enacted an implementing 

bill under trade authorities procedures since January 1, 1984.f 

a CRS, Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions, July 2, 2015, 1. b USTR, “Trade Promotion Authority,” n.d. (accessed April 13, 2016). c Title XXI of the Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210). d CRS, Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Role of Congress, June 15, 2015, 1. e Section 102(b) of TPA-2015. See also, CRS, Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions, July 2, 2015, 5–10, 

15. f

Section 103(f)(2) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 4204(f)(2).The Commission transmitted its first report on June 29, 2016. USITC, 

Economic Impact of Trade Agreements Implemented, June 2016. 

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement 

On October 5, 2015, the trade ministers of the 12 TPP countries announced the conclusion of 

their negotiations on the agreement.367 The 12 TPP negotiating parties are Australia, Brunei, 

Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and 

Vietnam.

On November 5, 2015, the United States publicly released the TPP text.368 At the same time, 

the President notified the U.S. Congress of the Administration’s intent to enter into the TPP 

agreement, which the President can do 90 days after he notifies Congress of his intention to do 

so, as set forth in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 

 

367 CRS, Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strategic Implications, February 3, 2016, 1. 368 The full text of the agreement is available at https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/transpacific-partnership/tpp-full-text. White House, “The Path Forward on the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” November 5, 

2015.
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(see box 5.1).369 The Administration also consulted with the U.S. Congress and advisory 

committees during the negotiations and after the agreement was concluded.370

The TPP trade ministers signed the final agreement text on February 4, 2016.371 The next step 

toward TPP implementation is for the 12 TPP countries to approve the agreement in line with 

their respective applicable legal procedures.372 For the United States, the U.S. Congress will 

need to pass implementing legislation in accordance with the requirements of the Bipartisan 

Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.373

The TPP is to enter into force 60 days after either (1) all 12 TPP countries ratify the agreement 

by completing their applicable legal procedures within two years of signing the agreement, or 

(2) after two years, six TPP countries accounting for 85 percent of the combined GDP of the TPP 

countries ratify the agreement. The 85 percent threshold effectively requires both the United 

States and Japan to be among those six countries.374

TPP Negotiations during 2015 

The United States participated in its first round of TPP negotiations in March 2010. In 2015, as 

in previous years, trade ministers and negotiators for the TPP countries held many rounds of 

negotiations throughout the year where they discussed a wide range of issues. TPP negotiators 

met five times in 2015, followed by a meeting of trade ministers in Hawaii on July 28–31, 2015. 

In a joint statement the TPP ministers released at the conclusion of their Hawaii meeting on July 

31, 2015, they stated “we have made significant progress and will continue work on resolving a 

limited number of remaining issues, paving the way for the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific 

Partnership negotiations.”375

Chief negotiators held what was to be their final round of TPP negotiations in Atlanta on 

September 26–29, 2015, followed immediately by a meeting of trade ministers on September 

 369 White House, “Letter—Intention to Enter Into the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement,” November 5, 2015. 

See Pub. L. 114-26, Title I. TPA was also used to refer to the earlier version, known as Trade Promotion Authority. 370 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 142. 371 CRS, The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): In Brief, February 9, 2016, 1. 372 TPP, Article 30.5, Entry into Force, available from USTR, “Trans-Pacific Partnership,” https://ustr.gov/tradeagreements/free-trade-agreements/trans-pacific-partnership/tpp-full-text. 373 Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-26, June 29, 2015 (19 

U.S.C. § 4201 et seq.). See, in particular, section 106 of the Act (19 U.S.C. § 4205).

374 TPP, Article 30.5, Entry into Force, available from USTR, “Trans-Pacific Partnership,” https://ustr.gov/tradeagreements/free-trade-agreements/trans-pacific-partnership/tpp-full-text. 375 USTR, “Joint Statement by TPP Ministers,” July 31, 2015.
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30–October 1, 2015.376 On October 5, 2015, in Atlanta, the ministers announced that they had 

successfully concluded the TPP negotiations. That announcement also said that additional 

technical work, including legal review, translation, and drafting and verification of the text, was 

necessary to prepare a complete text for public release to formalize the outcomes of the 

agreement.377

About the Agreement 

The U.S. administration released the full text of the TPP agreement on November 5, 2015.378

The text has 30 separate chapters, four annexes, and related instruments (letters exchanged 

among two or more parties on specific issues). Besides establishing new commitments among 

the TPP parties, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) reports that the agreement 

in certain cases will broaden or improve upon commitments in existing U.S. FTAs with TPP 

members Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile, Peru, and Singapore.379 

The TPP is a comprehensive agreement that covers market access for goods and services, 

customs facilitation, trade remedies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), technical 

barriers to trade (TBTs), foreign investment, government procurement, intellectual property, 

and labor and environmental standards, among other areas.380 Table 5.3 lists the 30 chapters of 

the agreement and notes the 7 that have not been included in previous U.S. bilateral FTAs as 

standalone chapters, although some provisions of these chapters may have been included in 

existing U.S. FTAs.381 

 

376 Government of Australia, DFAT, “Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: News” (accessed April 18, 2016); 

Government of Canada, Global Affairs, “Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Chronology of Events” (accessed April 18, 

2016).

377 USTR, “Trans-Pacific Partnership Ministers’ Statement,” October 5, 2015. 378 White House, “The Path Forward on the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” November 5, 2015. An English-language 

version of the legally verified TPP text was released on January 26, 2016. Government of Australia, DFAT, “TransPacific Partnership Agreement: News” (accessed April 18, 2016).

379 USTR, “Trans-Pacific Partnership: Chapter 1: Initial Provisions and General Definitions,” 

https://medium.com/the-trans-pacific-partnership/initial-provisions-and-general-definitionsaec6d5031f1b#.h19poc8sf, November 5, 2015. 380 For a comprehensive overview of the TPP agreement, see USITC, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Likely 

Impact on the U.S. Economy, May 2016. 381 USITC, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy, May 2016, 37.
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Table 5.3 TPP chapters

TPP

Chapter Chapter Title

1 Initial provisions and general definitions

2 National treatment and market access for goods

3 Rules of origin and origin procedures

4 Textiles and apparel

5 Customs administration and trade facilitation

6 Trade remedies

7 Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures

8 Technical barriers to trade (TBTs)

9 Investment 

10 Cross-border trade in services

11 Financial services

12 Temporary entry for businesspersonsa

13 Telecommunications

14 Electronic commerce

15 Government procurement

16 Competition policy

17 State-owned enterprises (SOEs)a

18 Intellectual property (IP)

19 Labor

20 Environment

21 Cooperating and capacity buildinga

22 Competition and business facilitationa

23 Developmenta

24 Small and medium-sized businessesa

25 Regulatory coherencea

26 Transparency and anti-corruption

27 Administrative and institutional provisions

28 Dispute settlement

29 Exceptions

30 Final provisions

Source: USTR, “The Trans-Pacific Partnership,” https://ustr.gov/tpp/#text (accessed April 21, 2016); USITC, Trans-Pacific Partnership 

Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors, May 2016, 48. a Chapter not included in previous U.S. free trade agreements.

In addition to the full text of the agreement, TPP parties also signed a Joint Declaration of 

Macroeconomic Policy Authorities of Trans-Pacific Partnership Countries, which addresses 

unfair currency practices by promoting transparency and accountability in macroeconomic and 

exchange rate policies.382 The macroeconomic policy authorities of the 12 TPP countries 

released the declaration on November 5, 2015. In this “side letter” to the TPP agreement, the 

monetary authorities confirm that, as all of their countries are members of the International 

Monetary Fund (IMF), they are all bound under the IMF “to avoid manipulating exchange rates 

or the international monetary system in order to prevent effective balance of payments 

adjustment or to gain an unfair competitive advantage.”383 In their joint statement, all 12 TPP 

countries made commitments in three key areas:

 382 U.S. Treasury, “Joint Declaration of the Macroeconomic Policy Authorities,” November 5, 2015. 383 U.S. Treasury, “Joint Declaration of the Macroeconomic Policy Authorities,” November 5, 2015.
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• Exchange rate policies: To foster an exchange rate system that reflects underlying economic 

fundamentals; avoid persistent exchange rate misalignments; refrain from competitive 

devaluation; and not target its country’s exchange rate for competitive purposes.384

• Transparency and reporting: To publicly report their foreign-exchange intervention and 

foreign reserves data, which some TPP countries would be doing for the first time.385

• Macroeconomic policy consultations: To consult regularly to address macroeconomic and 

exchange rate policy issues in each TPP country; issues or challenges with respect to 

transparency or reporting; and policy responses to address imbalances.386

The joint declaration of the macroeconomic policy authorities will take effect once the TPP 

agreement enters into force. It will also apply to countries that accede to the TPP in the future, 

subject to additional transparency or other conditions determined by the existing TPP 

countries. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, this declaration represents the 

first time countries have addressed unfair currency practices by promoting transparency and 

accountability in the context of a U.S. FTA.387 The declaration does not, however, include any 

enforcement mechanism.388

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 required the 

Commission to prepare a report assessing the likely impact of the negotiated TPP agreement on 

the U.S. economy as a whole and on specific industry sectors.389 The Commission’s report was 

due to the President and Congress no more than 105 days after the President signed the 

agreement on November 5, 2015.390 On November 17, 2015, the Commission announced that it 

had instituted an investigation for its report (USITC inv. no. TPA-105-001, Trans-Pacific 

Partnership Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors).391

The Commission transmitted its report on May 18, 2016 and posted a copy on its website the 

same day.

392

 

384 U.S. Treasury, “Fact Sheet: Joint Declaration of the Macroeconomic Policy Authorities,” November 5, 2015. 385 Ibid. 386 Ibid. 387 Ibid. 388 CRS, The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): In Brief, February 9, 2016, 10. 389 Section 105(c) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, 19 U.S.C. § 

4204(c).

390 White House, “Letter—Intention to Enter into the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” November 5, 2015. 391 80 Fed. Reg. 72736. 392 USITC, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors, 

May 2016. 
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U.S. Trade with TPP Countries

In 2015 U.S. exports to its 11 TPP partners were valued at $680.0 billion, accounting for 45.2 

percent of total U.S. exports to the world. U.S. imports from these partners were valued at 

$840.2 billion, accounting for 37.5 percent of total U.S. imports from the world. The United 

States ran a merchandise trade deficit of $160.1 billion in 2015 with TPP countries (table 5.4).

Table 5.4 U.S. trade with TPP countries, 2013–15

2013 2014 2015 % change 2014–15

Million $

Trade with TPP countries:

U.S. total exports 698,294 726,494 680,091 -6.4

U.S. general imports 852,762 883,545 840,220 -4.9

Trade balance -154,467 -157,052 -160,129 2.0

U.S. total exports:

TPP countries with FTAs with the United States 611,251 636,057 594,487 -6.5

NAFTA only 526,825 552,669 516,394 -6.6

TPP countries without FTAs with the United States 87,043 90,437 85,604 -5.3

Japan only 65,216 66,827 62,472 -6.5

Share with FTAs (percent) 87.5 87.6 87.4

U.S. general imports:

TPP countries with FTAs with the United States 658,740 684,522 632,977 -7.5

NAFTA only 613,113 641,872 589,931 -8.1

TPP countries without FTAs with the United States 194,022 199,023 207,243 4.1

Japan only 138,574 134,004 131,120 -2.2

Share with FTAs (percent) 77.2 77.5 75.3

Merchandise trade balance:

TPP countries with FTAs with the United States -47,488 -48,465 -38,490

NAFTA only -86,288 -89,203 -73,537

TPP countries without FTAs with the United States -106,979 -108,586 -121,639

Japan only -73,358 -67,176 -68,648

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed February 12, 2014).

Six TPP countries already have FTAs with the United States—Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile, 

Peru, and Singapore. U.S. exports to these countries totaled $594.5 billion in 2015, accounting 

for 87.4 percent of total U.S. exports to TPP countries. U.S. imports from these countries 

totaled $633.0 billion in 2015, accounting for 75.3 percent of total U.S. imports from TPP 

countries. The United States recorded a merchandise trade deficit of $38.5 billion with these 

TPP partners with existing FTAs in 2015, down from a deficit of $48.5 billion in 2014. NAFTA 

countries dominated U.S. trade with these TPP partners.

Five TPP countries do not now have FTAs with the United States—Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New 

Zealand, and Vietnam. In 2015, the United States ran a merchandise trade deficit of $121.6 

billion with them, up from $108.6 billion in 2014. The United States trades far more with Japan, 

by value, than with the four other TPP partners that do not have FTAs with the United States. 
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Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership 

(TTIP) Agreement 

Launched in 2013, the United States and the EU continued negotiations in 2015 towards a 

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement.393 Four rounds of negotiations 

were held in 2015, as well as several meetings among high-level officials (table 5.5). Each of the 

four rounds included meetings with stakeholders, including representatives from academia, 

business, labor, and environmental and consumer groups.394

Table 5.5 Timetable of major TTIP negotiations and leaders’ meetings, 2015

Date TTIP negotiations and meetings

February 2–6 Eighth round: Brussels, Belgium

April 20–24 Ninth round: New York, NY

June 8 G7 leaders’ meeting: Elmau, Germany

July 13–17 Tenth round: Brussels, Belgium

October 19–23 Eleventh round: Miami, Florida

September 22 Meeting between the USTR and the EU Trade Commissioner

December 11 Meeting between the USTR and the EU Trade Commissioner

Source: USTR, “Readouts from T-TIP Negotiating Rounds,” https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/transatlantic-trade-andinvestment-partnership/readouts# (accessed April 14, 2016).

During the year, progress was made on market access for most goods and services. In the 11th 

round in October, both sides submitted second tariff offers covering 97 percent of tariff lines.395

Second services offers were made in the 10th round in July, after U.S. Trade Representative 

Froman and EU Commissioner Malmström made a joint statement to clarify how public services 

would be treated in TTIP and other trade agreements they negotiate.396 In this statement, the 

two sides confirmed that TTIP would not prevent governments from providing such services as 

water, education, health, and social services, and would not require governments to privatize 

any service or prevent them from expanding the range of services they supply. In addition, they 

confirmed that TTIP will not “impede governments’ ability to adopt or maintain regulations to 

ensure the high quality of services and to protect important public interest objectives, such as 

the protection of health, safety, or the environment.”397 By yearend, the EU had not made a 

 

393 For more background on the launch of TTIP, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2013, July 2014, 129–31. For more 

information on U.S.-EU trade, see chapter 6. 394 For example, see USTR, “Opening Remarks by U.S. and EU Chief Negotiators for the Transatlantic,” July 17, 

2015; EC, “TTIP Stakeholder Events Round 10, Brussels,” July 15, 2015. Both USTR and the European Commission 

announce each stakeholder forum in advance of each negotiating round. For example, see USTR, “13th Round 

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Negotiations,” April 2016. 395 USTR, “Opening Remarks by US and EU Chief Negotiators from the Miami Round,” October 23, 2015; EC, Report 

of the Eleventh Round of Negotiations, November 6, 2015. 396 USTR, “Opening Remarks by U.S. and EU Chief Negotiators for the Transatlantic,” July 17, 2015. 397 USTR, “Joint Statement on Public Services,” March 20, 2015. 
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market access offer in financial services because it is waiting for a U.S. commitment to 

cooperate on financial services regulations.398

Less progress was evident in some other areas. Although talks continued on public 

procurement in 2015, initial market access offers had not been exchanged by yearend. Textual 

proposals on investment liberalization were discussed during the year, but investment 

protection and resolution of investment disputes were not.399 Since March 2014, when the 

European Commission launched a public consultation on investor-state dispute settlement 

(ISDS) in the TTIP, negotiations on investment protection and dispute resolution have been on 

hold. On September 16, the EU released a draft proposal for a new system for resolving 

disputes between investors and states,400 and in November, it submitted its final proposal to 

the United States, but the two sides did not discuss the topic in 2015.401

In addition, talks continued on the horizontal (cross-sectoral) regulatory issues—TBTs, SPS 

measures, and regulatory coherence.402 For example, for the TBT chapter, the two sides 

discussed steps that could be taken on conformity assessment such that U.S. exporters of 

products to the EU could have their products tested and certified in the United States, and vice 

versa.403 At the end of the year, the EU made a proposal to include antimicrobial resistance in 

the SPS chapter of TTIP to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production, which, if included, 

would be a first in a U.S. trade agreement.404 Negotiations continued on regulatory coherence 

and transparency. According to the U.S. Chief Negotiator, these talks aim to ensure that future 

U.S. and EU regulations will not diverge unnecessarily.405 

Negotiations on the regulatory component also addressed regulatory compatibility in nine 

sectors, including motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, 

 398 European Parliament, Directorate-General for External Policies, “The Transatlantic Trade and Investment 

Partnership (TTIP),” October 2015, 10. According to the EU’s Chief Negotiator, “we consider it would be 

appropriate to also have within the framework of TTIP a number of principles to facilitate regulatory cooperation 

on the financial services sector.” On the other hand, according to the U.S. Chief Negotiator, “when it comes to 

financial services regulatory cooperation, the United States and Europe have robust dialogues that occur in 

numerous bilateral and multilateral fora, and our view is that those fruitful conversations should continue in those 

fora alongside and in parallel to TTIP.” USDOS, “Press Conference on the 9th Round,” April 24, 2015. 399 USTR, “U.S. Trade Representative 2015 Year in Review,” December 2015; EC, Report of the Eleventh Round of 

Negotiations, November 6, 2015, 6. 400 EC, “Commission Proposes New Investment Court System,” September 16, 2015. 401 EC, “EU Finalises Proposal for Investment Protection,” November 12, 2015. 402 USDOS, “Press Conference on the 9th Round,” April 24, 2015. 403 Ibid.; EC, “Report of the Ninth Round of Negotiations,” April 20–24, 2015. 404 EC, “EU Proposal to Include an Article,” November 6, 2015. 405 USDOS, “Press Conference on the 9th Round,” April 24, 2015. According to Mullaney, this can be accomplished,

for example, by encouraging good regulatory practices in developing and implementing regulations, such as

publishing proposed regulations for public comments and giving the public the opportunity to comment and have 

their comments taken into account.
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textiles, engineering services, information and communication technologies, and pesticides. In 

each sector, negotiators aim to identify concrete steps that can be taken to make the two sides’ 

regulations correspond more closely.406 For example, in textiles, discussions are taking place on 

harmonizing fiber names and care labeling.407

In the rules area, negotiations continued during the year on customs and trade facilitation; 

intellectual property rights, including geographical indications; competition; state-owned 

enterprises; and state-to-state dispute settlement. At the 11th round in October, the EU 

presented a proposal for sustainable development, including labor and the environment.408 The 

energy and raw materials sector was discussed during the year, but as of yearend, no decision 

had been made as to whether or not it should be included in a separate chapter.409 Negotiators 

made progress on the chapter on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the only time 

other than the TPP agreement that a U.S. FTA is expected to have a separate SME chapter. A 

SME workshop was held during the 9th round of negotiations under the framework of the 

Transatlantic Economic Council.410 

Leaders met several times during the year to assess progress in the negotiations, including at 

the G-7 conference in Germany in June.411 In a joint declaration, G-7 leaders committed to 

immediately accelerating work “on all TTIP issues . . . with the goal of finalizing understandings 

on the outline of an agreement as soon as possible, preferably by the end of this year.”412 At a 

September meeting, Ambassador Froman and EU Commissioner Malmström urged quick 

progress but did not elaborate.413 In a speech to the Atlantic Council on October 27 on the TPP, 

Ambassador Froman noted that “with TPP concluded, there is even greater focus on advancing 

the TTIP negotiations with the European Union.”414 Ambassador Froman and EU Commissioner 

Malmström met again in December, where they said that considerable progress had been made 

 

406 USDOS, “Press Conference on the 9th Round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) 

Negotiations,” April 24, 2015. For more information, see Inside U.S. Trade, “U.S., EU Have Little To Show After TTIP 

Round 10,” July 17, 2015. 407 USDOS, “Press Conference on the 9th Round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) 

Negotiations,” April 24, 2015; EC, Report of the Eleventh Round of Negotiations For the Transatlantic Trade and 

investment Partnership, November 6, 2015, 13. 408 EC, “11th Round of TTIP Talks Brought Progress,” October 23, 2015. 409 EC, Report of the Eleventh Round of Negotiations, November 6, 2015, 18; Inside U.S. Trade, “Mullaney Holds 

Open Possibility TTIP May Not Conclude,” February 23, 2016. 410 USDOS, “Joint Statement on the Sixth U.S.-EU SME,” April 21, 2015. For more information on the Transatlantic 

Economic Council, see the chapter 6 section on the EU.

411 The Group of Seven (G-7) conference was a meeting of the G-7 leaders, an informal bloc of industrialized 

democracies, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as 

well as representatives of the European Union.

412 White House, G-7 Leaders’ Declaration, June 8, 2015. 413 USTR, “Opening Remarks by US and EU Chief Negotiators from the Miami Round,” October 23, 2015. 414 USTR, “Remarks by Ambassador Michael Froman to the Atlantic Council,” October 27, 2015. 
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in 2015 and agreed “to further intensify our work during 2016 to help negotiations move 

forward rapidly, including through enhanced intersessional work, frequent formal negotiating 

rounds, and increased Minister level consultations.”415

The United States and the EU are each other’s largest trading partner. For more information on 

U.S. trade with the EU, see chapter 6.

Developments in the North American Free 

Trade Agreement416 

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United States, Canada, and 

Mexico entered into force on January 1, 1994. All of the agreement’s provisions had been 

implemented by the three parties by January 1, 2008, with the exception of the NAFTA crossborder trucking provisions.417 In 2015, total two-way (exports plus imports) U.S. merchandise 

trade with its NAFTA partners fell by 7.4 percent over 2014, with U.S.-Canada merchandise 

trade amounting to $575.2 billion and U.S.-Mexico merchandise trade totaling $531.1 billion 

(table 5.1). In 2015, imports valued at $315.1 billion entered the United States duty free under 

NAFTA provisions (table 5.2).

NAFTA’s central oversight body is the Free Trade Commission, which is responsible for 

overseeing NAFTA’s implementation and elaboration, as well as activities under its dispute 

settlement provisions. The commission has not met since 2012. However, officials of the three 

member countries have met regularly to expand and deepen trade and investment 

opportunities in North America and beyond through the TPP. According to USTR, the TPP 

Agreement goes beyond the NAFTA in many important ways and would effectively update 

trade relations between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.418

The following sections describe the major activities of NAFTA’s Commission for Labor 

Cooperation (CLC) and Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) during 2015, as well 

as dispute settlement activities under NAFTA Chapters 11 and 19 for the year.

 415 USTR, “Joint Statement by Ambassador Froman and EU Commissioner Malmström,” December 11, 2015. 416 U.S. bilateral trade relations with Canada and Mexico are described in chapter 6 of this report. 417 The section on Mexico in chapter 6 provides an update on recent developments in NAFTA’s cross-border 

trucking provisions. More information on the last remaining restrictions on U.S.-Mexico trade, which were 

removed on January 1, 2008, appears in USITC, The Year in Trade 2008, 2009, 5-16. All product categories offer 

duty-free entry to originating goods from Mexico, and all shipments of goods from Canada are likewise eligible 

except those exceeding a TRQ.

418 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 124.
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Commission for Labor Cooperation 

The CLC, composed of a ministerial council and an administrative secretariat, was established 

under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC). The NAALC is a 

supplemental agreement to NAFTA that aims to promote effective enforcement of domestic 

labor laws and foster transparency in administering them. The CLC is responsible for 

implementing the NAALC. Each NAFTA partner has established a national administrative office 

(NAO) within its labor ministry to serve as the contact point with the other parties, the 

secretariat, other government agencies, and the public. The United States’ NAO is the Office of 

Trade and Labor Affairs in the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).419 Another NAO function is to 

receive and respond to public communications on labor law matters arising in another NAALC 

country. Each NAO establishes its own domestic procedures for reviewing and responding to 

public communications. The NAOs and the secretariat also carry out the cooperative activities 

of the CLC, including seminars, conferences, joint research projects, and technical assistance.420 

In 2015, the USDOL and the Mexican Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) completed a 

series of educational and outreach activities about the rights of workers under H-2A and H-2B 

visas. In the United States, the USDOL held 29 outreach events reaching more than 2,300 

workers and 1,000 employers. In Mexico, STPS held 11 events reaching almost 1,600 

individuals.421 The USDOL and STPS agreed to these activities in response to Mexico’s request 

for consultations regarding the public submissions filed with the Mexican NAO in 2003, 2005, 

and 2011 on the rights of workers under H-2A and H-2B visas.422 The USDOL and STPS continue 

to collaborate against unlawful recruitment practices as per the April 2014 Joint Declaration 

signed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor and Mexico’s Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare.423

Also in 2015, the U.S. and Canadian NAOs continued to monitor the negotiations between the 

Mexican Union of Electrical Workers (Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas) and the government 

of Mexico. The negotiations intend to address issues alleged in a public submission accepted for 

review by the U.S. and Mexican NAOs in 2012.424 To that end, in 2015, the Mexican government 

and the electrical workers’ union signed a memorandum of understanding that awards the 

union a concession to generate power at 14 plants previously operated by Luz y Fuerza del 

 

419 USDOL, ILAB, OTLA, “Division of Monitoring and Enforcement of Trade Agreements” (accessed March 22, 2016). 420 USDOL, ILAB, OTLA, “North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation: A Guide” (accessed March 22, 2016). 421 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 124. 422 Ibid.; USDOL, ILAB, OTLA, “U.S. Response to Mexico’s Request for Migrant” (accessed March 23, 2016). 423 USDOL, ILAB, OTLA, “Work Plan for Activities under the April 2014” (accessed March 23, 2016); USTR, 2016 

Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 124; 424 77 Fed. Reg. 4366 (January 27, 2012); USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 

124. Further details are reported in USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 142.
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Centro (Central Light and Power)—the union’s former employer. The union now has a new 

national collective bargaining agreement.425

There were two public submissions in 2015. In June 2015, Mexico’s NAO accepted for review a 

submission filed against the United States regarding the USDOL’s enforcement of U.S. laws 

related to employment discrimination based on race.426 On November 12, 2015, four groups—

the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, the Frente Auténtico del Trabajo 

(Authentic Workers’ Front), the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, and the Project on 

Organizing, Development, Education, and Research—provided a submission to the Office of 

Trade and Labor Affairs through Change to Win, a coalition of U.S. labor unions. The submission 

alleges that the government of Mexico has failed to meet its obligations under NAALC, including 

to effectively enforce its labor laws with respect to freedom of association, collective 

bargaining, discrimination, minimum labor standards, occupational safety and health, and 

workers’ compensation. It also alleges that the Mexican government has failed to ensure that 

its labor law proceedings are fair, equitable, and transparent.427

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

The CEC was established under article 8 of the North American Agreement on Environmental 

Cooperation (NAAEC). This supplemental agreement to NAFTA is designed to ensure that trade 

liberalization and efforts to protect the environment are mutually supportive. The CEC oversees 

the mandate of the NAAEC.428

Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC provide citizens and nongovernmental organizations with a 

mechanism to help enforce environmental laws in the NAFTA countries. Article 14 governs 

alleged violations submitted for review by the CEC. It sets forth guidelines regarding criteria for 

submissions and parties that can file complaints. Article 15 outlines the CEC’s Secretariat’s 

obligations in considering the submissions and publishing findings in the factual record.429 At 

the end of 2015, four complaint files remained active under Articles 14 and 15, three of which 

were submitted in 2015. In 2015, three active files involved Mexico and one involved the 

United States (table 5.6).

 425 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 124. 426 Ibid., 124. 427 81 Fed. Reg. 1445 (January 12, 2016); USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 

124. On January 11, 2016, the U.S. NAO accepted the public submission for review. 81 Fed. Reg. 1445 (January 12, 

2016). 428 CEC, “Secretariat” (accessed March 24, 2016). 429 CEC, “About Submissions on Enforcement Matters” (accessed March 24, 2016).
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Table 5.6 Active files as of yearend 2015 under Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on 

Environmental Cooperation

Name Case First filed Countrya Status

Wetlands in 

Manzanillo

SEM-09-002 Feb. 4, 2009 Mexico The Secretariat submitted a draft factual record to the 

CEC Council for a 45-day comment period on the 

accuracy of the draft.

La Primavara 

Forest

SEM-15-001 Jul. 20, 2015 Mexico The Secretariat determined that the submission met 

the criteria of Article 14(1) and requested a response 

from the concerned government party in accordance 

with Article 14(2).

Management of 

Analog TV Waste

SEM-15-002 Aug. 24, 2015 Mexico The Secretariat determined that the submission met 

the criteria of Article 14(1) and requested a response 

from the concerned government party in accordance 

with Article 14(2).

Municipal 

Wastewater Drop 

Shafts

SEM-15-003 Nov. 3, 2015 United States The Secretariat determined that the submission met 

the criteria of Article 14(1) and requested a response 

from the concerned government party in accordance 

with Article 14(2).

Source: CEC, “Submission on Enforcement Matters: Active Submissions” (accessed March 24, 2016). a Refers to the country against which an allegation was filed.

At the 22nd regular session of the CEC Council on July 15, 2015, in Boston, Massachusetts, the 

Council members endorsed the CEC’s Strategic Plan for 2015–20, which builds on their efforts 

from the past five years. The strategic priorities for the next five years are climate change 

mitigation and adaptation, green growth, and sustainable communities and ecosystems.430 At 

the session, the council also reaffirmed the CEC’s Operational Plan for 2015–16, which 

describes the CEC activities proposed for the next two years. Proposals include 16 new projects 

that bring together experts to explore the benefits of blue carbon in the environment, support 

chemicals management, develop a coordinated North American approach to marine protected 

area management, reduce maritime shipping emissions, improve the conservation status of 

migratory birds that breed in the Arctic, and strengthen monarch butterfly and pollinator 

conservation.431

Since 1993, the United States and Mexico have supported border communities with 

environmental infrastructure projects to advance the goals of NAFTA and the NAAEC. The 

Border Environment Cooperation Commission and the North American Development Bank are

working with communities throughout the U.S.-Mexico border region to address their 

environmental infrastructure needs.432 In 2015, the North American Development Bank 

contracted $178.3 million in loans and $17.7 million in grants to support 16 certified projects. 

As of December 31, 2015, the bank had contracted a cumulative total of $2.6 billion in loans 

 

430 CEC, “CEC Ministerial Statement—2015: Twenty-second Regular Session” (accessed March 24, 2016). The 

Operational Plan for 2013–2014 focused on three strategic areas: greening transportation, tackling climate change 

while improving air quality, and addressing waste in trade. CEC, “CEC Ministerial Statement—2013: Twentieth

Regular Session” (accessed May 13, 2016). 431 Ibid. Blue carbon is a term used to describe the carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. 432 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 125.
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and grants, of which $2.5 billion has been disbursed for project implementation.433 These funds 

helped finance 218 projects certified by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, with 

an estimated total cost of $7.7 billion.434

Dispute Settlement

The dispute settlement provisions of NAFTA Chapters 11 (Investment) and 19 (Review and 

Dispute Settlement in Antidumping/Countervailing Duty Matters) cover a variety of areas.435 

The sections below describe developments during 2015 in NAFTA Chapter 11 investor-state 

disputes and Chapter 19 binational reviews of final determinations of antidumping and 

countervailing cases. Appendix table A.26 presents an overview of developments in NAFTA 

Chapter 19 dispute settlement cases to which the United States was a party in 2015.

Chapter 11 Dispute Settlement Developments

Chapter 11 of NAFTA includes provisions designed to protect cross-border investors and to ease 

the settlement of investment disputes. Under subpart B of Chapter 11, an individual investor 

who alleges that a NAFTA country has breached its investment obligations under Chapter 11 

may pursue arbitration through internationally recognized channels or remedies available in 

the host country’s domestic courts.436 A key feature of the Chapter 11 arbitral provisions is the 

enforceability in domestic courts of final awards made by arbitration tribunals.437 In 2015, there 

were four active Chapter 11 cases filed against the United States, three of them filed by 

Canadian investors and one filed by Mexican investors;438 six filed by U.S. investors against 

Canada; 439 and one filed against Mexico by U.S. investors.440

Chapter 19 Dispute Panel Reviews 

Chapter 19 of NAFTA contains a mechanism that provides for a binational panel to review final 

determinations made by national investigating authorities in antidumping and countervailing 

 433 NADB, “Summary Status Report,” December 31, 2015. 434 NADB, “Summary of Project Implementation Activities: Active Projects,” December 31, 2015. 435 NAFTA Secretariat, “Overview of the Dispute Settlement Provisions” (accessed March 25, 2016). 436 Internationally recognized arbitral mechanisms include the International Centre for the Settlement of 

Investment Disputes (ICSID) at the World Bank, ICSID’s Additional Facility Rules, and the rules of the United Nations 

Commission on International Trade Law; NAFTA Secretariat, “Overview of the Dispute Settlement Provisions”

(accessed March 25, 2016). 437 NAFTA Secretariat, “Overview of the Dispute Settlement Provisions” (accessed March 25, 2016). 438 USDOS, “NAFTA Investor-State Arbitrations: Cases Filed against the United States” (accessed March 25, 2016). 439 USDOS, “NAFTA Investor-State Arbitrations: Cases Filed against the Government of Canada” (accessed March 

25, 2016). 440 USDOS, “NAFTA Investor-State Arbitrations: Cases Filed against the United Mexican States” (accessed March 25, 

2016).
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duty cases. Such a panel serves as an alternative to judicial review by domestic courts and may 

be established at the request of any involved NAFTA country.441 At the end of 2015, the NAFTA 

Secretariat listed five binational panels active under Chapter 19 (table 5.7). Three of the five 

active cases challenged the Mexican agency’s determinations on products from the United 

States, and two challenged U.S. agencies’ determinations on products from Canada and 

Mexico.442

Table 5.7 NAFTA Chapter 19 binational panels, active reviews through 2015

Countrya Case number National agencies’ final determinationb Case title

Mexico

MEX-USA-2012-1904-01 SE Antidumping Administrative Review Chicken Thighs and Legs

MEX-USA-2012-1904-02 SE Antidumping Administrative Review Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether

MEX-USA-2015-1904-01 SE Antidumping Administrative Review Ammonium Sulphate

United States

USA-CDA-2015-1904-01 USDOC Antidumping Administrative Review Supercalendered Paper

USA-MEX-2014-1904-02 USITC Injury Determination Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar 

Source: NAFTA Secretariat, “Status Report of Dispute Settlements Proceedings” (accessed March 25, 2016) a The United States filed the first three cases contesting Mexico’s determinations, and Canada and Mexico each filed one of two cases 

contesting U.S. determinations.

b In Canada, final dumping and subsidy determinations are made by the Canada Border Services Agency, and injury determinations are 

made by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. In Mexico, all determinations are made by the Secretariat of the Economy (SE). In the 

United States, dumping and subsidy determinations are made by the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC), and injury determinations 

are made by the USITC. NAFTA Secretariat, “Overview of the Dispute Settlement Provisions” (accessed March 13, 2015).

Developments in Other FTAs Already in Force 

during 2015

In 2015, U.S. officials held consultations with the United States’ other FTA partners to discuss a 

variety of matters, including labor and environmental issues, implementation of the 

agreements, and dispute settlement. Highlights of these developments are presented below. 

Twelve of the 14 U.S. FTAs have investment provisions designed to protect foreign investors 

and their investments and to facilitate the settlement of investment disputes.443 According to 

the U.S. Department of State, among the U.S. FTAs that provide for investor-state dispute 

settlement, there are ongoing investor disputes under NAFTA,444 the U.S.-Chile FTA, CAFTA-DR, 

 

441 NAFTA Secretariat, “Overview of the Dispute Settlement Provisions” (accessed March 25, 2016). Such reviews 

involve the parties and designated agencies, rather than individuals or firms.

442 NAFTA Secretariat, “NAFTA—Chapter 19 Active Cases” (accessed March 25, 2016). 443 CRS, U.S. International Investment Agreements: Issues for Congress, April 29, 2013. The U.S. FTAs with Bahrain 

and Jordan do not have investment provisions. The U.S.-Israel FTA has limited treatment of investment in the 

context of trade-related performance requirements. The U.S.-Australia FTA has investment provisions but does not 

include investor-state arbitration provisions. Ibid., 14. 444 For more information on dispute settlement under NAFTA, see the previous section on NAFTA in the chapter.
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the U.S.-Peru TPA, and the U.S.-Oman FTA.445 For more detailed information regarding 2015 

developments, see each respective FTA section in this chapter. 

Thirteen of the 14 U.S. FTAs have labor provisions to protect worker rights and facilitate 

cooperation on labor issues.446 By yearend 2015, USDOL and other agencies had acted on labor 

complaints made by interested parties of about six FTA partners: the Dominican Republic, 

Honduras, Guatemala, Bahrain, Peru, and Mexico. In 2015, USDOL received two submissions, 

one complaining about Mexico under the NAALC,447 and the other complaining about Peru 

under the labor chapter of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Act. USDOL also released one review 

report regarding the allegation of the Honduras government’s violation of the labor chapter of 

CAFTA-DR, and a hearing was held on a labor dispute case against Guatemala. For more 

detailed information regarding these developments, see each respective FTA section in this 

chapter. 

CAFTA-DR

The central oversight body for the CAFTA-DR is the Free Trade Commission, composed of the 

U.S. Trade Representative and the trade ministers of the other CAFTA-DR parties or their 

designees.448 On March 26, 2015, the third meeting of the Free Trade Commission was held in 

the Dominican Republic. At the meeting, the commission reviewed the implementation of the 

agreement and accomplishments of the CAFTA-DR committees and institutions, and endorsed 

various means to enhance regional trade and competitiveness. The commission approved a 

series of changes to the CAFTA-DR rules of origin that would reflect the changes to the 

International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) in 

2012,449 and make it easier for certain products to qualify for preferential treatment and 

lowered tariffs under the CAFTA-DR agreement.450 The commission also approved the 

elimination of Costa Rica’s tariffs on certain crude vegetable oils. Further, it discussed the 

administration of dispute settlement proceedings, as well as cooperation on labor rights and 

environmental protections under the CAFTA-DR.451

 445 For more information, see USDOS, “International Claims and Investment Disputes (L/CID),” n.d. (accessed April 

15, 2016).

446 Only the 1985 U.S.-Israel FTA has no such provisions. USDOL, ILAB, “Submissions under the Labor Provisions of 

Free Trade Agreements,” http://www.dol.gov/ilab/trade/agreements/ n.d. (accessed April 14, 2016). 447 For more information on NAALC and Mexico, see the previous section on NAFTA in this chapter. 448 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 112. 449 Ibid., 115. 450 USTR, “CAFTA-DR’s Third Free Trade Commission Meeting: Facilitating Trade,” May 2015. 451 USTR, “Joint Statement: Third Meeting of the Dominican Republic-Central America,” March 26, 2015. 
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Dispute Settlement 

Investor-State Disputes 

By yearend 2015, investment cases under CAFTA-DR had been filed against Costa Rica, 

Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the United States. In April 2015, Spence 

International Investments, LLC, and other U.S. nationals filed a claim against Costa Rica with 

respect to their investments in connection with the establishment and regulation of Las Baulas 

National Marine Park.452

Labor Rights Disputes 

In February 2015, USDOL released a review report in response to a submission filed in 2012 

alleging violations of the labor chapter under CAFTA-DR by the Honduras government. The 

report expressed concerns regarding the protection and promotion of internationally 

recognized labor rights in Honduras, including concerns regarding labor law enforcement in 

Honduras.453 The report also provided detailed recommendations to improve labor rights in 

Honduras and address the concerns identified in the submission.454 Following the release of this 

report, the U.S. and Honduras governments signed a labor rights agreement, pledging to work 

together to address issues outlined in the report, including developing a monitoring and action 

plan with concrete commitments and timelines to improve labor law enforcement in 

Honduras.455

On June 2, 2015, a hearing was held in Guatemala City regarding the labor enforcement case 

filed by the United States against Guatemala in 2010.456 At the hearing, the arbitral panel 

received the oral submissions of both disputing parties. The proceedings were suspended after 

a panelist resigned on November 4, 2015, but resumed on November 27, 2015, when the panel 

was reconstituted with a replacement panelist.457 

 

452 USDOS, “CAFTA-DR Investor-State Arbitrations,” n.d. (accessed April 15, 2016). 453 USDOL, ILAB, “Honduras Submission under CAFTA-DR” (accessed April 18, 2016). 454 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 113. 455 USDOL, ILAB, “US and Honduras Sign Landmark Labor Rights Agreement,” December 9, 2015; USTR, 2016 Trade 

Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 113. 456 For information on past developments in this labor dispute case against Guatemala, see USITC, The Year in 

Trade 2014, July 2015, 147–48. 457 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 113; USTR, “In the Matter of Guatemala 

– Issues Relating to the Obligations Under Article 16.2.1(a) of the CAFTA-DR,” n.d. https://ustr.gov/issueareas/labor/bilateral-and-regional-trade-agreements/guatemala-submission-under-cafta-dr (accessed April 15, 

2016). 
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Environment 

The Environmental Affairs Council meets annually to oversee the implementation of the 

environment chapter under the CAFTA-DR and review progress.458 In July 2015, the council met 

in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Council members reported on progress made in their countries 

to implement core commitments of the CAFTA-DR environment chapter, including efforts to 

improve levels of environmental protection, strengthen environmental laws and enforcement, 

and promote public participation in environmental decision making.459

In November 2015, environment points of contact from the CAFTA-DR governments met again 

in the Dominican Republic to discuss new environmental cooperation activities. One such 

activity was a new interagency agreement with the U.S. Forest Service aimed at reducing the 

illegal logging of rosewood. Another was a new program with the Central America Fisheries and 

Aquaculture Organization aimed at improving regional coordination on enforcement of regional 

regulations to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.460

U.S.-Chile FTA 

The central oversight body for the U.S.-Chile FTA is the United States-Chile Free Trade 

Commission, composed of the U.S. Trade Representative and Chile’s Director General of 

International Economic Affairs or their designees. In June 2015, the Free Trade Commission 

held its 10th meeting, concurrently with other committee meetings under the FTA. The 

commission reviewed implementation of the FTA and highlighted a key accomplishment: 

market access for U.S. exports of fresh pork meat and the reaffirmed goal of resolving other SPS 

concerns. The two countries also discussed how to improve the participation of SMEs in the 

FTA, as well as Chile’s nutrition labeling regulations.461

In 2015, the two countries also held several bilateral meetings to discuss labor-related issues. 

Examples included techniques for labor inspectors to detect smuggling and trafficking of 

migrants, best practices to promote voluntary health and safety management systems in the 

workplace, and activities to prevent and combat employment discrimination.462 

 458 CAFTA-DR Environmental Cooperation Program, “Environmental Affairs Council,” n.d. (accessed April 18, 2016). 459 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 152. 460 Ibid., 153. 461 Ibid., 117. 462 Ibid., 117.
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Environment 

In 2015, the two governments continued to advance their work to implement the FTA’s 

environment chapter and the associated Environmental Cooperation Agreement. At the 

seventh meeting of the U.S.-Chile Environmental Affairs Council and the fifth meeting of the 

U.S.-Chile Joint Commission on Environmental Cooperation on August 13, 2015, the two 

countries discussed the progress made in implementing obligations under the environmental 

chapter.463 The United States reported, among other things, on actions taken to improve U.S. 

levels of environmental protection, such as the adoption and implementation of national 

strategies on combating wildlife trafficking and IUU fishing; the establishment of new protected 

areas, including the world’s largest marine sanctuary; and the promulgation of stronger 

regulations on air quality and automobile emissions. Chile reported on such efforts as a review 

of air quality and emissions standards; the adoption of six environmental quality standards 

protecting surface waters; the implementation of tools to combat IUU fishing; and the 

establishment of requirements for the protection of seamounts (undersea mountains that do 

not reach the water’s surface), which are considered vulnerable marine ecosystems.464

According to the communique, the two governments also reviewed environmental cooperation 

projects under the Fourth Work Program for 2012–2014 and adopted the Fifth Work Program 

for 2015–2017.465 The updated work program establishes the following priorities: strengthening 

effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations; promoting 

conservation and inclusive management of natural resources; promoting environmental 

education, transparency, and civil society participation in environmental decision making and 

enforcement; and encouraging development of low-emissions technology, improving resilience 

to large-scale disasters, and encouraging the adoption of sound environmental practices and 

technologies.466

U.S.-Colombia TPA 

In 2015, the United States and Colombia continued to work together to carry out initiatives 

launched at the November 2012 meeting of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Commission. These 

 

463 Ibid., 153; USDOS, “Seventh Meeting of the United States-Chile Environmental Affairs Council,” August 11, 

2015.

464 USDOS, “Joint Communique of the United States-Chile Environment Affairs Council,” August 13, 2015. 465 Ibid. 466 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 153. 
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included consideration of accelerating the elimination of tariffs, establishment of certain 

dispute settlement mechanisms, and updates of rules of origin.467

In April 2011, as a part of U.S.-Colombia TPA, the United States and Colombia negotiated and 

initiated the Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, a framework of commitments to better 

protect worker rights, prevent violence against unionists, and ensure the persecution of the 

perpetrators of such violence in Colombia.468 In 2015, the two governments continued 

intensive engagement to support Colombia’s efforts to make progress in key areas under the 

plan.469 Among other actions, USDOL posted a labor attaché at the U.S. embassy in Bogotá; 

USDOL and the U.S. Agency for International Development funded four labor-related technical 

assistance projects in Colombia; and the two governments held an April videoconference and a 

December bilateral meeting at the ministerial level, along with other bilateral meetings. In its 

March 2016 annual report USTR acknowledged Colombia’s 2015 progress, including the signing 

of two new collective bargaining agreements in the port and palm oil sectors, and the first 

significant fine collected under the regulations against illegal subcontracting.470

U.S.-Jordan FTA

The U.S.-Jordan FTA commits both countries to recognize and protect labor rights in their 

domestic laws, as well as to enforce their labor laws. To address concerns over worker rights 

and working conditions, especially with respect to foreign workers in Jordan’s garment sector, 

the two governments agreed to an Implementation Plan Related to Working and Living 

Conditions of Workers in January 2013.471 In 2015, the two countries continued to advance 

labor cooperation. USDOL continued to fund projects supporting Jordan’s effort to address 

child labor issues in 2015, including strengthening law enforcement capacity, developing and 

providing training on a child labor monitoring system, and providing related social services. In 

September 2015, USDOL officials met with Jordan officials from the Ministries of Health and 

Labor to discuss improving coordination on dormitory inspections in the Qualified Industrial 

Zone, in line with commitments made in the 2013 plan.472

 467 Ibid., 118. 468 USTR, “The Colombian Labor Action Plan at Four Years,” April 2015. 469 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 118. 470 Ibid., 118–19. 471 USTR/USDOL, Standing Up for Workers: Promoting Labor Rights through Trade, February 2015, 26. 472 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 120.
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U.S.-Korea FTA (KORUS) 

The Joint Committee is the central oversight committee under the U.S.-Korea FTA (KORUS). It is 

responsible for supervising implementation, coordinating the work of other committees, and 

resolving issues that may arise.473 On October 16, 2015, the United States and South Korea 

convened the fourth Joint Committee meeting, and discussed issues important to both parties, 

including the automotive industry, legal services, and intellectual property issues. A Senior 

Official Meeting was held on November 17, 2015, to coordinate and report on the activities of 

the committees and working groups established under the FTA. 

Eight committees and working groups established under KORUS met in 2015 to discuss matters 

related to financial services, medicines and medical devices, the automotive industry, outward 

processing zones, the environment, SPS standards, professional services, labor, and services 

and investment.474 Some highlights of these meetings are detailed below:

• The Medicines and Medical Devices Committee discussed South Korea’s import pricing 

system, both countries’ patent linkage systems, and draft legislation related to 

pharmaceutical drugs in South Korea.

• The Automotive Working Group discussed South Korea’s regulatory environment for 

automobiles, and addressed issues including South Korea’s draft final fuel economy 

standard and emissions testing requirements, as well as implementation of new consumer 

protection policies.

• The Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters and the Committee on Agricultural 

Trade discussed a range of topics, including biotechnology, maximum residue limits, 

pending plant and animal market access issues, and KORUS tariff-rate quota administration.

• The Committee on Services and Investment discussed implementation of the services and 

investment chapter of KORUS, especially related to legal services, as well as the KORUS 

investor-state dispute settlement procedures.475

Through engagements at quarterly financial services meetings, on July 22, 2015, South Korea’s 

Financial Services Commission published its regulations to meet its commitments under the 

section of “Transfer of Information” in the KORUS financial services chapter.476

 

473 USTR, “Statement on Meeting of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement,” December 15, 2014. 474 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 121. 475 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 122. 476 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 121. 
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Environment 

On November 10 and 11, 2015, the United States and South Korea held the second meeting of 

the Environmental Affairs Council and Environmental Cooperation Commission, as well as a 

public session in conjunction with these meetings in Seoul, South Korea. These meetings 

focused specifically on provisions mandating high levels of environmental protection, effective 

environmental law enforcement, and public participation. The Environmental Cooperation 

Commission reviewed environmental cooperation activities under the 2013–15 work program, 

and adopted the 2016–18 work program. Under the latter, the two governments will 

implement activities to pursue the following goals: (1) strengthen implementation and 

enforcement of environmental laws, including supporting efforts to combat illegal trade in 

environmentally sensitive goods; (2) protect wildlife and sustainably manage ecosystems and 

natural resources; (3) strengthen environmental protection and promote sustainable cities; and 

(4) share best practices on the development and application of cleaner sources of energy and 

the use of innovative environmental technology.477 South Korea also discussed several 

environmental initiatives and actions on illegal fishing and logging, managing harmful 

chemicals, and encouraging recycling.478

U.S.-Morocco FTA

The United States and Morocco held the fourth meeting of the FTA Joint Committee on 

February 20, 2015, in Rabat. The two sides noted productive cooperation under the 

Environment and Labor FTA Subcommittees.479 They also highlighted improvement in 

Morocco’s legislative regime to protect intellectual property rights, as well as Morocco’s plan to 

implement its trade facilitation commitments under the FTA. Both countries expressed interest 

in expanding market access for certain exports—the United States for automobiles and 

Morocco for textiles and apparel. Other issues discussed included Moroccan trade legislation 

and certain local-content requirements in Moroccan government tenders, as well as U.S. port 

security and container processing management. Before the Joint Committee meeting, the 

agricultural and SPS FTA subcommittees also met and discussed agricultural issues, such as 

Moroccan SPS applications for accessing the U.S. market and the operation of the tariff rate 

quotas established by Morocco under the FTA.480

 477 USDOS, “2016–2018 Work Program under the United States-Republic of Korea,” November 11, 2015. 478 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 155. 479 The Labor Subcommittee held a meeting in September 2014; the Environment Subcommittee, in October 2014. 

For information on these meetings, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 150–51. 480 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 123. 
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U.S.-Panama TPA

The United States and Panama continued to cooperate in 2015 to implement the provisions of 

the TPA and address a few issues of concern that arose during the year. In 2015, both sides 

worked to establish four rosters of potential panelists for disputes that may arise 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 setting up of the dispute settlement 

infrastructure for the TPA, a process that has included devising rules of procedures for dispute 

settlement, a code of conduct for panelists, and processes for remunerating panelists, 

assistants, and experts, as well as paying their expenses.481 

Environment 

In December 2015, the two governments signed an agreement to establish the Environment 

Secretariat, housed by the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the 

Caribbean in Panama City, Panama. The Environment Secretariat will receive and consider 

submissions from the public on environmental law enforcement matters, promoting public 

participation in identifying and resolving these issues.482 

U.S.-Peru TPA 

In November 2015, the Free Trade Commission, the body supervising the implementation of 

the U.S.-Peru TPA, met to review the progress made under the agreement since it entered into 

force. The Free Trade Commission discussed issues related to textiles, intellectual property 

rights, rules of origin, trade facilitation, and rules and procedures to implement the dispute 

settlement chapter. The commission also highlighted the increase in environmental and labor 

cooperation activities.483

Through extensive bilateral engagements and technical exchanges, Peru implemented 

improved market access requirements for U.S. fresh and chilled pork in April 2015, and 

established new market access for U.S. rough rice and live cattle in April and July 2015, 

respectively.484

 

481 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 127. 482 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 127. 483 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 128. 484 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 128. 
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Labor 

In July 2015, the International Labor Rights Forum and several Peruvian labor groups filed a 

submission with USDOL, alleging that the government of Peru had failed to meet its obligations 

under the U.S.-Peru TPA labor chapter to effectively enforce its labor laws in the nontraditional 

export sectors (e.g., textiles and apparel) and the agricultural sector with respect to freedom of 

association, the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, and acceptable work 

conditions. USDOL conducted a detailed review of the allegations contained in the submission. 

The review included a fact-finding trip to Peru in December 6–15, 2015, to gather additional 

information through meetings with the Peruvian government, the submitters, workers’

organizations, employers, and other stakeholders.485

In 2015, the two countries continued labor cooperation activities. For example, USDOL 

provided funding to projects helping to build Peru’s labor law enforcement capacity as well as 

the capacity of workers’ organizations to identify abusive labor practices and to productively 

engage with employers and the government to address these problems.486

Environment 

In 2015, the two countries held regular bilateral meetings to discuss issues in implementing the 

environment chapter of the U.S.-Peru TPA, as well as the Annex on Forest Sector Governance. 

In June 2015, the United States and Peru held senior-level meetings of the Environmental 

Affairs Council, the Environmental Cooperation Commission, and the Subcommittee on Forest 

Sector Governance in Lima, Peru. During these meetings, the two sides discussed topics 

including economic reforms and environmental protection, wildlife trafficking, IUU fishing, and 

investigations and prosecutions for forestry crimes, as well as actions to ensure that traded 

timber comes from legal sources. The Environmental Affairs Council meeting highlighted the 

launch of the new Peruvian National Forest and Wildlife Services in August 2014. The two 

countries signed an agreement to establish an independent environmental secretariat, which 

would be housed in the Organization of American States in Washington, DC. The environmental 

secretariat will receive submissions from the public on effective enforcement of environmental 

laws. The two countries also approved an Environmental Cooperation Agreement Work 

Program (2015–18) during the Environmental Cooperation Commission meeting and laid out a 

 485 USDOL issued a public report regarding this submission on March 18, 2016. The report raises significant 

concerns about the right to freedom of association in certain sectors and about labor law enforcement in Peru. The 

report offers six recommendations aimed at addressing these issues. USDOL, “Submissions under the Labor 

Provisions,” n.d. (accessed April 20, 2016). 486 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 129. 
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plan for continued U.S. support and technical assistance for Peru focused on the forestry 

sector.487 

In 2015, the United States also engaged in other environmental cooperation activities related to 

the U.S.-Peru TPA. It continued to support the government of Peru in work to develop and 

implement an electronic system to verify the legal origin of timber harvested from Peru’s 

forests and to track its chain of custody; to complete data collection for an inventory of forests 

designated for timber production; and to launch a satellite imagery system that can be used for 

environmental investigation and prosecutions. The U.S. Department of Justice provided the 

second of two training workshops to assist Peru in combating illegal logging. The U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service posted a regional law enforcement attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Lima to 

enhance environmental cooperation.488

 

487 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 151–52. 488 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 151–52. 
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Chapter 6 

U.S. Trade Relations with Major 

Trading Partners

This chapter reviews U.S. bilateral trade relations with its top nine 

trading partners during 2015 (counting the European Union, or 

EU, as a unit): the EU, China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, 

Taiwan, India, and Brazil (ordered by the value of their two-way 

merchandise trade) (figure 6.1). For each trading partner, U.S. 

bilateral trade is described, including total two-way merchandise 

and private services trade, U.S. trade balance, U.S. merchandise 

exports, and U.S. merchandise imports. This section is followed by 

descriptions of the major bilateral trade-related developments 

during 2015. Links to each trading partner are provided in the 

column on the right. 

European Union

China

Canada

Mexico

Japan

South Korea

Taiwan

India

Brazil

Figure 6.1: Map of selected major U.S. trading partners
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European Union

The EU as a single entity489 is the United States’ largest two-way (exports plus imports) trading 

partner in terms of both goods and services. The value of U.S. merchandise trade with the 28 

member states of the EU remained stable in 2015, rising less than 1 percent to $698.7 billion. 

The EU share of U.S. trade increased for a second year in a row—from 17.5 percent in 2014 to 

18.7 percent in 2015—as total U.S. trade with the world declined by 5.6 percent. The U.S. 

merchandise trade deficit with the EU grew by $11.3 billion in 2015 to $153.3 billion as U.S. 

exports to the EU dropped while U.S. imports grew (figure 6.2). On the other hand, the United 

States continued to register a trade surplus in services with the EU of $49.3 billion in 2015 

(figure 6.3). However, this figure reflected a decline of $8.9 billion from 2014 as U.S. exports fell 

while U.S. imports increased. The EU accounted for 32.7 percent of U.S. two-way trade in 

services in 2015. The United Kingdom was the EU’s largest services trader with the United 

States, with 29.7 percent of the EU total, followed by Germany and France.490

The EU continued to be the second-largest market (after Canada) for U.S. merchandise exports 

in 2015. U.S. exports to the EU fell 1.3 percent, from $276.1 billion in 2014 to $272.7 billion in 

2015. Leading U.S. exports included civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; medicaments 

(medicines); refined petroleum products; blood fractions (e.g., antiserum) and vaccines; 

medical instruments; and passenger motor vehicles. Among the top 25 U.S. exports to the EU, 

the largest declines by value were in refined petroleum products, which fell $4.3 billion, and 

bituminous coal, which dropped $1.4 billion.

The EU was also the second-largest source of U.S. imports, following China. U.S. imports from 

the EU increased 1.9 percent in 2015 to $426.0 billion. Leading U.S. imports were passenger 

motor vehicles, refined petroleum products, medicaments, turbojets (engines) and parts, and 

airplanes and other aircraft (of an unladen weight above 15,000 kilograms) and parts. Large 

declines in the value of U.S. imports of refined petroleum products were more than offset by 

increases in other products, most notably in passenger motor vehicles and medicaments. U.S.-

EU merchandise trade data are shown in appendix tables A.27 through A.30.

 

489 The 28 member states of the EU in 2015 were Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, 

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, 

the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. 490 The services trade data by country reported in this chapter are based on trade in private services, which exclude 

government sales and purchases of services.
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Figure 6.2 U.S. merchandise trade with the EU, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 5, 2016).

Figure 6.3 U.S. private services trade with the EU, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

-200

-100

0

100

200

300

400

500

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Billion $

Total exports General imports Merchandise trade balance

 0

 50

 100

 150

 200

 250

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Billion $

Exports Imports Services trade balance
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The major focus of the U.S.-EU trade relationship in 2015 was negotiations to conclude the 

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement.491 The Transatlantic 

Economic Council also continued its work in parallel to TTIP. Another notable development in 

2015 was a ruling by the European Court of Justice that effectively invalidated the U.S.-EU Safe 

Harbor Agreement, which governed protection of EU personal data flows to the United States. 

Additional information on these topics is presented below. 

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership 

(TTIP)

In 2015, U.S. and EU negotiators made progress in each of the three broad areas for 

negotiations: market access, regulatory issues and nontariff barriers, and rules. In addition to 

four formal rounds of negotiations, negotiators met between the rounds to accelerate 

progress. U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Froman and EU Trade Commissioner Malström also 

met several times during the year to assess progress and build momentum. According to the 

Office of the USTR, by yearend, the United States and the EU had “introduced proposals text for 

nearly every negotiating area within the agreement.”

492 For more information on developments 

in TTIP negotiations in 2015, see chapter 5.

Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) 

The TEC was launched in 2007 to promote bilateral cooperation aimed at lowering transatlantic 

barriers to trade and investment in order to strengthen integration and growth.493 In 2011, the 

TEC formed the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth, which recommended 

that the United States and EU negotiate a comprehensive agreement. The TEC’s 

recommendation led to the launch of TTIP negotiations in 2013.494 Today, the TEC operates in 

parallel to TTIP negotiations.495 

In February 2015, leaders from the U.S. Department of State and the European Commission 

met to review progress and next steps under the TEC for the first time since March 2013. A 

report on the meeting noted that progress to date demonstrated that “the EU and United 

 

491 For more detailed information on TTIP, see chapter 5. 492 USTR, “U.S. Trade Representative 2015 Year in Review,” December 2015. 493 USDOS, “Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration,” April 30, 2007, 

http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/or/130772.htm. 494 For more background on the TEC, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2007, July 2008, 5-2; USITC, The Year in Trade 

2013, 2014, 129–31. 495 USDOS, “Transatlantic Economic Council: Cooperation,” February 19, 2015. 
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States can work together to solve practical problems, in particular in emerging sectors.”496 The 

TEC’s efforts tend to be long-term and focus on aligning transatlantic standards and regulation 

to “enable the growth of innovative, export-oriented industries.”497 The report cited progress 

since 2013 on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), e-health, e-mobility (electric 

vehicle/smart-grid interoperability), raw materials supplies, biobased products, 

nanotechnology, and supply chain security. So as not to overlap with TTIP, U.S. and EU leaders 

confirmed the suspension of work in the areas of information and communications technology 

(ICT), investment, and intellectual property rights (IPRs).498 A similar meeting held on November 

19, 2015, highlighted cooperation in the areas of SMEs, e-health, raw materials, and emobility.499

One major work area has focused on enhancing cooperation to increase trade and investment 

opportunities for U.S. and EU SMEs. On February 27, 2015, U.S. and EU officials signed a 

cooperation agreement on SMEs, which aims to facilitate the exchange of information about 

SMEs, provide SME networking opportunities, and promote international trade and business 

cooperation between U.S. and EU SMEs.500 On April 22, 2015, the two sides also signed a 

cooperation arrangement on clusters501 to facilitate linkages between U.S. and EU clusters to 

help SMEs and other cluster businesses form strategic transatlantic partnerships.502 Both of 

these agreements were announced at the 6th Workshop for Small and Medium Enterprises 

held under the framework of the TEC in conjunction with the ninth TTIP negotiating round on 

April 21. Participants in the workshop exchanged best practices, identified common challenges 

for SMEs seeking to export, and identified trade barriers that affect SMEs disproportionately.503

At the workshop, USTR and the European Commission released a publication that provides the 

 496 USDOS, “TEC Facilitators Report to Stakeholders,” March 27, 2015. 497 Ibid. 498 Ibid. 499 USDOS, “Joint U.S.-EU Press Statement on the Transatlantic Economic Council,” November 19, 2015. 500 USDOS, Cooperation Arrangement between the United States Department of Commerce and the European 

Commission Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs on Small and MediumSized Enterprises, February 27, 2015, http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/or/2015/241429.htm. 501 Clusters are “geographic concentrations of groups of firms, related industries, and other economic and 

innovation actors that cooperate with each other and have developed specialized expertise and common needs for 

talent, technology, services, resources and infrastructure, are key drivers of prosperity in local, regional and 

national economies and are effective springboards for accelerating the internationalization of SMEs.” USDOS, 

Cooperation Arrangement between the United States Department of Commerce and the European Commission 

Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs on Clusters, April 22, 2015, 

http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/or/2015/241431.htm. 502 USDOS, Cooperation Arrangement between the United States Department of Commerce and the European 

Commission Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs on Clusters, April 22, 

2015, http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/or/2015/241431.htm. 503 USDOS, “Joint Statement on the Sixth U.S.-EU SME Best Practices Workshop,” April 21, 2015.
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views of SMEs on TTIP opportunities.504 The European Commission also released a report505 on 

the benefits of TTIP for SMEs at the workshop.506

The e-health area (health-related ICT) has focused on two workstreams: (1) standards 

development to advance the development and use of internationally recognized standards so 

that health professionals can work with electronic health information (e.g., patient records) 

across borders, and (2) development of common curricula to train health workers in the use of 

e-health technologies. In 2015, a third workstream was added to encourage innovation in the 

health IT industry—for example, by collaborating on mobile health, such as using software and 

apps.507

In the area of raw materials, the two sides continued to cooperate in 2015 on facilitating data 

flows and anticipating demand and supply trends. This work includes encouraging bilateral and 

multilateral institutions to collaborate in supporting policies that foster reliable and undistorted 

global trade in raw materials.508

U.S. and EU officials also discussed e-mobility at the TEC’s November 2015 meeting. They cited 

cooperation on a number of fronts, including “developing common standards, test procedures, 

and tools to promote universal compatibility and interoperability between electric vehicles, evehicles supply equipment, and the electric power supply infrastructure.”509 A month earlier, in 

October 2015, the EU had established an Electric Vehicle-Smart Grid Interoperability Center in 

Ispra, Italy, to promote U.S.-EU cooperation on testing methods, standardization, and 

interoperability, following the opening of a similar center in the United States at Argonne 

National Laboratory in 2013.510

Safe Harbor 

EU data protection regulations allow the transmission of EU personal data to third countries 

only if the country is deemed to provide an adequate level of protection by reason of domestic 

law or international commitments.511 Because the EU does not consider the U.S. data 

 

504 USTR, Opportunities for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, 2015. 505 EC, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Transatlantic, April 2015. 506 USDOS, “Joint Statement on the Sixth U.S.-EU SME Best Practices Workshop,” April 21, 2015. 507 HHS and EC, “Transatlantic eHealth/Health IT Cooperation Roadmap,” November 2015. 508 USDOS, “Joint U.S.-EU Press Statement on the Transatlantic Economic Council,” November 19, 2015; USDOS, 

“TEC Facilitators Report to Stakeholders,” March 27, 2015. 509 USDOS, “Joint U.S.-EU Press Statement on the Transatlantic Economic Council,” November 19, 2015. 510 USDOS, “TEC Facilitators Report to Stakeholders,” March 27, 2015; EC, Joint Research Centre, “Inauguration of 

the European Interoperability Centre,” October 2015. 511 Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the

Protection of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data and on the Free Movement of Such
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protection framework adequate, in 2000 the two sides agreed to a voluntary Safe Harbor 

arrangement, which allows eligible U.S. firms to certify compliance with various EU datahandling requirements.512 Since that time, over 4,400 companies have relied on Safe Harbor to 

transfer data.513

On October 6, 2015, the European Court of Justice issued a judgment declaring as “invalid” the 

European Commission’s decision of July 2000 on the adequacy of the protection provided by 

the Safe Harbor framework.514 Since January 2014, the United States and the EU have been 

negotiating a new Safe Harbor framework; following the court decision, these talks 

intensified.515 According to the European Commission, as of November 2015 negotiations had 

provided for “stronger monitoring and enforcement . . . , more transparency for consumers as 

to their data protection rights, easier and cheaper redress possibilities in case of complaints, 

and clearer rules on onward transfers from Safe Harbour companies to non-Safe Harbour 

companies.”

516 However, as of yearend, the new package had not been finalized.517 In the 

meantime, the European Commission indicated that companies should use alternative tools to 

authorize lawful data flows to the United States.518

China

In 2015, China surpassed Canada to become the United States’ largest single-country trading 

partner based on two-way merchandise trade, accounting for 16.0 percent of total U.S. 

merchandise trade. U.S. two-way merchandise trade with China amounted to $598.1 billion in 

2015, an increase of 1.3 percent over the $590.4 billion recorded in 2014. The U.S. merchandise 

trade deficit with China, which rose by 6.6 percent, or $22.6 billion, to $365.7 billion in 2015, 

 

Data. For more information, see USITC, Digital Trade in the U.S. and Global Economies, Part 1, 2013, 5-10. 512 USITC, Digital Trade in the U.S. and Global Economies, Part 1, 2013, 5-12. For more information on EU data 

protection and the Safe Harbor framework, see USITC, Digital Trade in the U.S. and Global Economies, Part 1, 2013, 

5-10 to 5-12. 513 U.S. Mission to the EU, “Ambassador Gardner’s Remarks to the Greens/ EFA,” December 2, 2015. 514 USDOC, “Welcome to the U.S.-EU and U.S.-Swiss” (accessed February 9, 2016). 515 USDOC, “U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Delivers Remarks,” October 29, 2015; EC, Communication 

from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Transfer of Personal Data from the EU to 

the United States of America under Directive 95/46/EC Following the Judgment by the Court of Justice in Case C362/14, November 6, 2015, 3, 15. 516 EC, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Transfer of 

Personal Data from the EU to the United States of America under Directive 95/46/EC Following the Judgment by the 

Court of Justice in Case C-362/14, November 6, 2015, 15. 517 On February 2, 2016, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the completion of the EU-U.S. socalled Privacy Shield, which replaces Safe Harbor. USDOC, “Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny 

Pritzker,” February 2, 2016; USDOC, “EU-U.S. Privacy Shield,” February 2, 2016. 518 EC, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Transfer of 

Personal Data from the EU to the United States of America under Directive 95/46/EC Following the Judgment by the 

Court of Justice in Case C-362/14, November 6, 2015, 15.
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remained higher than the U.S. trade deficit with any other trading partner. The expansion of 

this deficit with China was attributable to an increase in U.S. merchandise imports from China, 

accompanied by a decrease in U.S. exports to China (figure 6.4). In 2015, China was the United 

States’ fourth-largest single-country trading partner based on two-way services trade, 

accounting for 5.2 percent of total U.S. services trade. The U.S. services trade surplus with 

China increased by 4.8 percent, from $27.8 billion in 2014 to $29.1 billion in 2015 (figure 6.5).

China was the third-largest single-country destination for U.S. merchandise exports in 2015, 

behind Canada and Mexico. U.S. merchandise exports to China amounted to $116.2 billion in 

2015, a 6.0 percent or $7.5 billion decrease over 2014. Leading U.S. exports to China in 2015 

were civilian aircraft, engines, and parts (13.3 percent of total U.S. exports to China); soybeans 

(9.1 percent); and passenger motor vehicles (7.4 percent). Other leading U.S. exports to China 

included processors or controllers; grain sorghum; and metal waste and scrap. U.S. exports of 

civilian aircraft, engines, and parts to China achieved the largest increase over 2014 at $1.5 

billion. On the other hand, U.S. exports of soybeans to China incurred the largest decrease over 

the same period at $3.9 billion, followed by passenger motor vehicles, which declined by $1.6 

billion. U.S. exports of metal waste and scrap to China, such as copper and aluminum waste and 

scrap, also experienced a decline of $0.9 billion. The decrease of U.S. exports to China reflects 

the weaker performance of China’s overall imports from the world in 2015, which declined by 

18.2 percent over 2014.519

In 2015, China remained the largest source of U.S. merchandise imports. U.S. merchandise 

imports from China amounted to $481.9 billion, an increase of 3.2 percent over 2014. Leading 

U.S. imports from China in 2015 were computers and parts; cellphones; telecommunications 

equipment; toys; electrical static converters; and video game consoles and machines. The 

increase in the value of U.S. imports from China in 2015 was led by growth in imports of 

telecommunications equipment and toys. U.S.-China merchandise trade data are shown in 

appendix tables A.31 through A.34.

 

519 GTIS, Global Trade Atlas database (accessed April 1, 2016).
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Figure 6.4 U.S. merchandise trade with China, 2011–15 

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 29, 2016).

Figure 6.5 U.S. private services trade with China, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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In 2015, among the major topics addressed by U.S. and Chinese officials were China’s 

protection and enforcement of IPRs; China’s policies on ICT security; and access to China’s 

medical devices and pharmaceuticals market, which are discussed in more detail below.520 

These topics were among the principal themes of the June 2015 session of the U.S.-China 

Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED)521 and the November 2015 Joint Commission on 

Commerce and Trade (JCCT),522 as well as other high-level bilateral official meetings. The S&ED, 

established in 2009, is a high-level forum in which the United States and China can discuss a 

wide range of bilateral, regional, and global political, strategic, security, and economic issues.523

The JCCT, established in 1983, is a forum for high-level dialogue on bilateral trade issues and a 

vehicle for promoting commercial relations. Both the S&ED and the JCCT meet annually. 

On September 24, 2015, the United States and China held the inaugural meeting of the annual 

U.S.-China Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue in Washington, DC. The meeting focused 

on the policy and regulatory framework for developing and using agricultural technologies, 

aiming to strengthen the bilateral dialogue to enable increased use of innovative technologies 

in agriculture.524 

Since China’s accession to the WTO, the United States has filed 17 complaints against China 

under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, and China has filed 9 such complaints against 

the United States.525 In 2015, the United States filed two new complaints against China: on 

February 11, 2015, the United States requested consultations with China regarding certain 

Chinese measures providing subsidies contingent upon export performance to enterprises in 

several industries in China (DS489); and on December 8, 2015, the United States requested 

consultations with China regarding China’s tax measures in relation to the sales of certain 

 

520 Among other major topics discussed were the impact of China’s excess capacity in manufacturing industries 

(e.g., steel and aluminum) on the global market, China’s Anti-monopoly Law enforcement, China’s agricultural 

biotechnology policy, and the U.S.-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) negotiations. The United States and 

China had 22 rounds of BIT negotiations by November 4, 2015, and the two sides continued to work on improving 

China’s negative list offer of sectors that it seeks to exclude from the framework. Xinhua News Net, “China, U.S. 

Commitment to New Negative List Offers Underpins Optimism in Investment Treaty Talks,” June 28, 2015; WSJ, 

“U.S., China Make Progress Toward Trade and Investment Deal,” September 25, 2015; Inside U.S. Trade, “U.S., 

China Holding 22nd Round of BIT Negotiations,” November 5, 2015. For past developments on U.S.-China BIT 

negotiations, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 173–74. 521 U.S. Treasury, “2015 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue,” June 25, 2015. 522 USDOC, “U.S. Fact Sheet: 26th U.S.-China Joint Commission,” November 23, 2015. 523 The establishment of the S&ED was announced in 2009 by U.S. President Obama and Chinese President Hu 

Jintao. The S&ED replaced the former Senior Dialogue and Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) under the George W. 

Bush administration. 

524 USTR, “United States to Host China,” September 2015. 525 WTO, “Chronological List of Dispute Cases,” n.d. (accessed March 8, 2016).
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domestically produced aircraft in China (DS501).526 In 2015, there was another major 

development in the dispute case that the United States filed in 2012 regarding China’s 

measures related to the exportation of rare earths, tungsten, and molybdenum (DS431). In 

2014, the Dispute Settlement Body found China’s export restriction measures breached its WTO 

obligations.527 In 2015, China reported it had ended export quotas and eliminated export duties 

on these products.528 Developments in these and other WTO dispute settlement proceedings 

during 2015 are described in more detail in chapter 3 and appendix table A.25. 

Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement 

The United States and China have had lengthy and long-standing consultations on IPR issues, 

particularly since China’s accession to the WTO and its acceptance of the WTO Trade-Related 

Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.529 As a result, China has undertaken 

substantial legal and judicial reforms relating to IPR protection and enforcement, although U.S. 

companies continue to report problems.530

In its 2015 Special 301 Report, USTR described some positive IPR developments in China. For 

instance, the Chinese government issued high-level planning documents that articulated a 

commitment to protect and enforce IPR, to allow more participation from industry and 

entrepreneurs in IPR policy development, and to allow market mechanisms to play a greater 

role in guiding research and development efforts.531 In addition, in early 2015, China’s Supreme 

People’s Court invited comments on draft judicial interpretations that would provide additional 

guidance about provisions of China’s civil procedure law in reviewing cases of disputes over 

IPRs and competition.532

However, U.S. companies continued to report ineffective protection of IPRs in all forms, 

including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and protection of pharmaceutical test 

data.533 USTR’s 2015 Special 301 Report again placed China on the Priority Watch List, noting 

 526 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS489: China—Measures Related to Demonstration Bases and Common Service 

Platforms Programmes”; and “Dispute Settlement; DS501: China—Tax Measures Concerning Certain Domestically 

Produced Aircraft,” n.d. (accessed March 8, 2016). 527 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS431; China—Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten and 

Molybdenum,” n.d. (accessed March 8, 2016). 528 USTR, “Statement by U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman on Chinese Policies,” May 2015. 529 For more information on the effect of China’s IPR infringement, see USITC, China: Intellectual Property 

Infringement and Indigenous Innovation Policies, November 2010, and USITC, China: Effects of Intellectual Property 

Infringement, May 2011. 530 USTR, 2015 Special 301 Report, April 2015, 33–34. 531 Ibid., 6. 532 Ibid., 33. 533 Ibid, 32.
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particular concerns regarding China’s measures that govern the use of ICT products, services, 

and technologies; trade secret theft; software legalization; online copyright piracy; counterfeit 

goods; and IPR and technology transfer requirements, as well as patent-related and other 

policies.534 

USTR’s 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, which identified online and physical 

marketplaces that reportedly engage in and facilitate substantial copyright piracy and 

trademark counterfeiting, also highlighted some new developments in China. While USTR 

acknowledged the initiatives that Chinese authorities had undertaken to address the problem 

of online counterfeit sales and lack of consumer protection, it stated that such efforts had not 

kept pace with the rapid growth of online sales in China.535 

In its review, USTR particularly noted brand owners’ criticism of Taobao.com, Alibaba.com, and 

other Chinese e-commerce websites under the Alibaba Group, based on continued sales of 

large quantities of counterfeit goods. Although the Alibaba Group stated that it had added new 

online enforcement features to better protect trademarks and other IPRs since the 2014 

review, USTR cited ongoing complaints from rights holders that Alibaba Group’s enforcement 

program is slow in taking actions, difficult to use, and not transparent. USTR stated it would 

continue to monitor the situation for evidence of improvement in addressing these concerns.536

The 2015 review also highlighted two other online websites and five physical markets in China 

based on their engagement in or facilitation of IPR infringement.537

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) 

Security Policy 

In 2015, USTR expressed growing concerns over a series of Chinese measures that would 

impose severe restrictions on a wide range of foreign ICT products and services.538 Such 

measures include the National Security Law passed in June 2015; a development plan for big 

data published by the State Council in September 2015; ICT rules for the banking and insurance 

sectors; and other draft laws relating to counterterrorism and cybersecurity. USTR noted that 

these ICT regulations and measures called for the adoption of “secure and controllable” ICT 

products and services, which could not only add significant costs to foreign ICT companies 

 

534 Ibid., 3, 35–43. For more information about the 2015 Special 301 Report on China, see chapter 2 section on 

Special 301. 

535 USTR, 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, December 2015, 4, 5. For more information about this 

USTR report, see chapter 2.

536 Ibid., 8. 537 Ibid., 11–22. 538 USTR, 2015 Report to Congress on China’s WTO Compliance, December 2015, 11; USDOC, “U.S. Fact Sheet: 26th 

U.S.-China Joint Commission,” November 23, 2015. 
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operating in China, but also restrict the use of imported ICT products and services in a wide 

range of commercial sectors in China.539 

In 2015, the United States and China were able to make progress through bilateral engagement. 

During the state visit of Chinese President Xi to Washington, DC, in September 2015, the two 

sides discussed the issue and agreed on a set of principles for trade in information technologies. 

At other bilateral meetings, China made a series of additional commitments that it would 

formulate ICT security measures in a way that is open, transparent, pro-competitive, 

nondiscriminatory, and consistent with WTO agreements. China also agreed to notify the WTO 

of drafts of ICT-related regulations in the insurance sector for review by WTO members.540 

ICT Rules for the Banking Sector

In September 2014, China’s banking regulator, the China Banking Regulatory Commission 

(CBRC), issued the Guiding Principles on Strengthening the Banking Network Security and 

Information Technology Infrastructure through Secure and Controllable Information 

Technologies (Guiding Principles). This document laid down the objective of achieving a “secure 

and controllable” information technology environment in the banking sector by 2019.541 In 

December 2014, CBRC issued the Guidelines on Promoting the Application of Safe and 

Controllable Information Technology (Year 2014-2015) (Guidelines), the first measure 

introduced to implement Guiding Principles. The Guidelines classified different forms of 

technology used by banks into 10 big categories and over 60 sub-categories, and set out the 

evaluation criteria that must be fulfilled for that technology to be considered “secure and 

controllable.”542 The criteria vary for different types of technology, but in general they include 

source code disclosure, regulator risk assessment, and certain local-content requirements (e.g. 

domestic presence, domestic IPRs, or domestic encryption technology).543 On February 12, 

 539 USTR, 2015 Report to Congress on China’s WTO Compliance, December 2015, 11. 540 USTR, 2015 Report to Congress on China’s WTO Compliance, December 2015, 5, 11; USDOC, “U.S. Fact Sheet: 

26th U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade,” November 23, 2015. 541 KPMG, Cyber Security and the Impact on Banks in China, March 2015; CBRC, the Guiding Principles on 

Strengthening the Banking Network Security and Information Technology Infrastructure through Secure and 

Controllable Information Technologies, CBRC Circular no. 39, September 3, 2014, 

http://lawinfochina.com/display.aspx?id=17783&lib=law (accessed May 25, 2016). 542 China Law in Sight, “China Strengthening Banking Sector IT Supervision,” March 17, 2015; KPMG, Cyber Security 

and the Impact on Banks in China, March 2015, 8–9. 543 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, “China Introduces Comprehensive New Cyber Security Rules,” March 23, 2015; 

KPMG, Cyber Security and the Impact on Banks in China, March 2015, 8–9. 
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2015, the CBRC issued further clarification on the Guidelines to provide clarity on the 

requirements for source code filing and the management of IPRs.544 

In April 2015, the United States and Japan expressed concerns to the WTO’s Committee on 

Trade-Related Investment Measures regarding the CBRC’s measures. In particular, they claimed 

that local-content requirements on information and telecommunications equipment used by 

the banking sector could severely limit access to China’s banking sector for many foreign ICT 

products. The EU and Canada stated that they shared the concerns.545 As a result, China 

suspended the implementation of the Guidelines. At the 2015 November JCCT, China 

confirmed it would release a revised draft for public comment and was soliciting advice from 

concerned parties.546 

Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals Market 

Access

China is the world’s second-largest market for medical devices and pharmaceutical products, 

with promising growth potential.547 The United States is among China’s major suppliers, 

exporting billions of dollars of medical devices and pharmaceutical products to China every 

year.548 

China imposes strict requirements for accessing its medical devices and pharmaceuticals 

market. To export medical devices to China, an exporter must submit documents covering 

instructions for use, quality standards, test methods, and other relevant information for the 

inspection and approval of China’s drug regulatory authority. Before applying for customs 

formalities, the exporter must also receive an import product registration certificate.549 

Similarly, foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to apply for a license for 

manufacturing or marketing pharmaceutical products in China.550 

 

544 CBRC, Relevant issues concerning ‘Guidelines on Promoting the Application of Safe and Controllable Information 

Technology (Year 2014-2015)’ (Yin Jian Ban Fa No.317, 2014), 

http://www.cbrc.gov.cn/EngdocView.do?docID=24D2495942C249BFAE43DB29C81E6C19 (accessed May 25, 

2016); KPMG, Cyber Security and the Impact on Banks in China, March 2015, 10. 545 WTO, “Concerns Raised about Investment Measures Favoring Local Products,” April 16, 2015. 546 USDOC, “U.S. Fact Sheet: 26th U.S.-China Joint Commission,” November 23, 2015. 547 Elsinga, “Market Overview: The Medical Device Industry,” December 3, 2014; Mihir Torsekar, “U.S. Firms Pursue 

Opportunities to Supply China’s Growing Medical Device Market,” August 2013. 

548 USDOC, “U.S. Fact Sheet: 26th U.S.-China Joint Commission,” November 23, 2015. 549 CFDA, “Regulations for the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices,” December 19, 1992, 

http://eng.cfda.gov.cn/WS03/CL0767/61641.html (accessed May 25, 2016). 550 CFDA, “Regulations for Implementation of the Drug Administration Law,” August 4, 2002,

http://eng.cfda.gov.cn/WS03/CL0767/61640.html (accessed May 25, 2016). 
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Facilitating market access for medical devices and pharmaceutical products has been one of the 

top issues discussed at recent high-level U.S.-China bilateral officials meetings (e.g., JCCT). Such 

discussions included streamlining China’s regulatory process, cutting red tape in China’s 

approval procedures, and reducing the time required for medical devices and innovative 

pharmaceutical products to reach Chinese markets.551 In 2015, there were important 

developments in the regulations covering registration and approval procedures for medical 

devices in China.

Medical Devices

The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) is the Chinese government agency that 

formulates laws, regulations, rules, and policy plans for administering and supervising food 

safety, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics.552 In 2014, CFDA revised the Regulations for the 

Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices (the Regulations), which went into force on 

June 1, 2014. To support the implementation of the Regulations, CFDA subsequently released 

five relevant measures, including the Administrative Measures for Medical Device Registration

(the Registration Measures).553 According to the Registration Measures, medical devices 

meeting certain criteria can be exempted from the clinical trial requirements.554

On August 21, 2014, CFDA issued the first list of more than 500 medical devices that meet the 

criteria and would be exempted from the clinical trials. This list entered into force on October 1, 

2014.555 On December 14, 2015, CFDA published a draft of the second list, which included an 

additional 300 medical devices, for comments.556 At the 2015 November JCCT, China affirmed 

that it would finalize the second list and further expand the number of devices exempted from 

clinical trials in 2016.557

At the 2015 November JCCT, China affirmed that it was refining the communication mechanism 

for applicants registering their medical devices. For innovative medical devices, CFDA would 

appoint dedicated personnel to the evaluation and approval process to provide guidance and 

prompt communication with the applicants upon request. For other medical devices, CFDA 

would conduct weekly group consultations for applicants.558

 551 USDOC, “U.S.-China Joint Factsheet on the 25th U.S.-China Joint Commission,” December 2014. 552 CFDA, “About CFDA,” http://eng.cfda.gov.cn/WS03/CL0756/. 553 CFDA, “Administrative Measures for Medical Device Registration and other four Administrative Measures 

issued,” August 4, 2014. 554 Cooley, “China Food and Drug Administration Offers Guidance,” January 4, 2016. 555 Government of Israel, Ministry of Economy, “CFDA Published Lists of Medical Devices,” August 26, 2014. 556 Cooley, “China Food and Drug Administration Offers Guidance,” January 4, 2016. 557 USDOC, “U.S. Fact Sheet: 26th U.S.-China Joint Commission,” November 23, 2015. 558 Ibid.
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On August 18, 2015, China’s State Council issued the Opinions on Reforming the Review and 

Approval Systems for Drugs and Medical Devices, which provide guidelines for reforming 

China’s drug and medical device review and approval systems.559 China agreed that the CFDA 

would provide no less than a 30-day public comment period for implementing the CFDA rules 

and regulations. China also agreed to apply the same treatment to imported devices as 

domestic medical devices, and to abide by its commitments to the WTO’s Technical Barriers to 

Trade Agreement.560 

Canada

Canada was the United States’ second-largest single-country merchandise trading partner in 

2015 after China, falling from the top position it had occupied in 2014 and previous years. The 

value of U.S. merchandise trade with Canada fell 12.9 percent to $575.2 billion in 2015, 

accounting for 15.4 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade in 2015, compared to 16.6 percent 

in 2014. Both U.S. exports and imports with Canada shrank significantly, but U.S. imports from 

Canada fell more sharply, resulting in a trade deficit of $15.2 billion that was less than half the 

value in 2014 (figure 6.6). The decrease of U.S. merchandise trade with Canada reflects the 

weaker performance of Canada’s overall merchandise trade with the world in 2015, which 

declined by 11.7 percent over 2014. The significant decline in crude oil prices in 2015 was the 

major contributing factor.561 

Canada remained the United States’ second-largest single-country trading partner in services in 

2015, after the United Kingdom. Two-way services trade fell by 4.4 percent to $86.9 billion in 

2015, primarily due to a decline in U.S. services exports to Canada. As a result, the 2015 U.S. 

services trade surplus with Canada fell 13.6 percent from the previous year, to $27.0 billion 

(figure 6.7).

 

559 Ibid. 560 Ibid. 561 GTIS, Global Trade Atlas database (accessed April 8, 2016).
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Figure 6.6 U.S. merchandise trade with Canada, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 29, 2016).

Figure 6.7 U.S. private services trade with Canada, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1. U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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Canada remained the United States’ largest single-country export market, although the value of 

U.S. goods exports fell by 10.4 percent from $312.4 billion in 2014 to $280.0 billion in 2015. 

Leading U.S. exports to Canada in 2015 were passenger motor vehicles (4.6 percent of total U.S. 

exports to Canada); crude petroleum (2.9 percent); civilian aircraft, engines, and parts (2.8 

percent); motor vehicles for goods transport (2.2 percent); and refined petroleum products (3.2 

percent). U.S. exports of energy products to Canada, such as crude petroleum, refined 

petroleum products, and natural gas, incurred the largest declines in both absolute and relative 

terms. On the other hand, U.S. exports of cellphones to Canada scored the largest increase, 

rising $0.5 billion, or 48.5 percent, over 2014. 

In 2015, Canada remained the United States’ second-largest single-country import source, after 

China. U.S. goods imports from Canada fell 15.1 percent, from $347.8 billion in 2014 to $295.2 

billion in 2015. Leading U.S. imports from Canada were crude petroleum, passenger motor 

vehicles, natural gas, and refined petroleum products. Similar to the export side, U.S. imports of 

energy products from Canada also suffered the largest declines. U.S.-Canada merchandise trade 

data are shown in appendix tables A.35 through A.38.

In 2015, bilateral trade discussions between the United States and Canada continued to be one 

of the most extensive in the world, with trade issues focused largely on beyond-the-border 

measures that facilitate trade.562 For example, the Canada-United States Regulatory 

Cooperation Council made progress in 2015 on lowering regulatory trade barriers across a 

broad front. The expiration of the 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement on October 

12, 2015, represented the opportunity for both governments to revisit this prominent issue, 

although Canadian federal elections on October 19, 2015, and the formation of a new 

government largely postponed discussions on the subject until 2016. Both of these topics are 

described in more detail below.

On December 21, 2015, the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a further decision in a longrunning dispute involving the United States’ country of origin labelling (“COOL”) requirements 

for imported meat (DS384). The WTO decision authorized Canada to suspend the application to 

the United States of concessions or other obligations as a result of WTO arbitration.563 On 

December 18, 2015, in anticipation of the authorization, the U.S. Congress repealed these COOL 

requirements for beef and pork.564 (See WTO dispute settlement section, chapter 3, for details 

of the dispute.)

 

562 USDOS, BWHA, “U.S. Relations with Canada,” August 5, 2015. 563 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: Dispute DS384; United States––Certain Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) 

Requirements” (accessed March 31, 2016). 564 USDA, AMS, “Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Country,” December 18, 2015. 
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Softwood Lumber Agreement

The 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) officially expired on October 12, 

2015, following a two-year extension agreed on January 23, 2012.565 Following the agreement’s 

expiration, news reports characterized both governments as unable to agree on how to 

proceed regarding trade in softwood lumber between the two countries.566 However, the 

agreement contains a one-year grace period for renegotiation during which U.S. lumber 

interests may not file any trade litigation.567

Regulatory Cooperation Council

In February 2011, the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council was formed to 

identify regulatory issues that hinder cross-border trade and investment but that might be 

mitigated by technical collaboration between the two governments. In line with its 2014 Joint 

Forward Plan, which outlined areas for future work,568 the council released Regulatory 

Partnership Statements on May 28, 2015. These statements detailed plans for coordination 

between several agencies from both governments: (1) the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency and Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency; (2) the U.S. Department of 

Transportation and Transport Canada; (3) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health 

Canada; and (4) the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Fisheries and 

Oceans Canada.569 The council continued its work to develop initiatives and work plans 

involving regulatory cooperation into 2016.570

 565 Government of Canada and Government of the United States of America, Agreement between the Government 

of Canada and the Government of the United States of America Extending the Softwood Lumber Agreement 

between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America, as Amended, January 23, 

2012, http://treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=105335&lang=eng; USDOS, U.S. Consulate (Vancouver 

000386), “BC Government and Industry Say Time to Talk on Softwood Lumber,” October 28, 2015. For further 

background, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2013, July 2014, 134–35; USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 164–

65.

566 Inside U.S. Trade, “Lumber Deal Expires as U.S., Canada at Impasse,” October 15, 2015; Meissner, “Softwood 

Lumber Dispute in Focus Again,” October 14, 2015. 567 USDOS, U.S. Consulate (Vancouver 000368), “Vancouver October 13, 2015 Pol/Econ Report,” October 13, 2015.

Following the Canadian Prime Minister’s meeting with the President on March 10, 2016, the White House released 

a fact sheet on U.S.-Canadian relations that said in part: “The President and Prime Minister highlighted the need to 

further facilitate trade between our two countries. President Obama welcomed Prime Minister Trudeau’s interest 

in a new long-term agreement for softwood lumber. The Leaders agreed that the United States Trade 

Representative and the Canadian Minister of International Trade will intensively explore all options and report 

back within 100 days on the key features that would address this issue.” White House, Office of the Press 

Secretary, “Fact Sheet: United States-Canada Relationship,” March 10, 2016. 568 For background on the 2014 Joint Forward Plan, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 162–63. 569 Shelanski, “Moving Forward Our Regulatory Partnerships with Canada,” May 28, 2015. 570 White House, Office of the Press Secretary, “Fact Sheet: United States-Canada Relationship,” March 10, 2016. 
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Mexico

In 2015, Mexico was the United States’ third-largest single-country merchandise trading 

partner, following China and Canada. Merchandise trade between the two countries decreased 

by 0.6 percent to $531.1 billion in 2015, accounting for 14.2 percent of U.S. trade with the 

world. The U.S. merchandise trade deficit with Mexico increased by $4.5 billion in 2015, to 

$58.4 billion, as U.S. imports grew faster than U.S. exports (figure 6.8). It was the United States’ 

fourth-largest merchandise trade deficit with any single country after China, Germany, and 

Japan; the U.S. trade deficit with China, for example, was more than six times that with Mexico. 

At the same time, the U.S. trade surplus in services with Mexico decreased by 13.2 percent to 

$8.9 billion in 2015 (figure 6.9). Mexico was the United States’ sixth-largest single-country 

trading partner for services in 2014, after the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, China, and 

Germany.

U.S. merchandise exports to Mexico totaled $236.4 billion in 2015, a decrease of 1.6 percent 

from 2014. In 2015, the leading U.S. exports to Mexico were refined petroleum products; 

computer parts and accessories; parts and accessories for motor vehicles; telecommunications 

equipment; and civilian aircraft, engines, and parts. U.S. exports of refined petroleum products 

incurred the largest declines, while U.S. exports of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and 

telecommunications equipment increased the most.

In 2015, U.S. merchandise imports from Mexico increased by 0.2 percent to $294.7 billion. 

Leading U.S. imports from Mexico included passenger motor vehicles; computers; motor 

vehicles for goods transport; crude petroleum; color TV reception apparatus; and 

telecommunications equipment. U.S. imports of crude petroleum incurred the largest decline. 

On the other hand, U.S. imports of computers and telecommunications equipment increased 

the most. U.S. imports of motor vehicles, tractors, and motor vehicle parts and accessories also 

experienced noticeable increases. U.S.-Mexico merchandise trade data are shown in appendix 

tables A.39 through A.42.
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Figure 6.8 U.S. merchandise trade with Mexico, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 4, 2016).

Figure 6.9 U.S. private services trade with Mexico, 2011–15 

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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U.S.-Mexican trade relations are governed in large part by the North American Free Trade 

Agreement (NAFTA), which provides duty-free treatment to a sizable portion of the goods 

traded between the two countries (table 5.2).571 To strengthen the U.S.-Mexico commercial 

and economic relationship, a new High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) was established in 

2013. Developments in 2015 regarding the HLED and NAFTA’s cross-border trucking provisions 

are described below. Developments related to the suspension agreements on U.S. sugar 

imports from Mexico, signed in December 2014, are covered in chapter 2.572

High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) 

On September 20, 2013, U.S. and Mexican officials launched the HLED, a cabinet-level group 

that meets annually. The HLED is a platform that allows the U.S. and Mexican governments to 

advance their economic priorities, foster growth, create jobs, and improve competitiveness. 

The HLED work plan has three pillars: promoting competitiveness and connectivity; fostering 

economic growth, productivity, entrepreneurship, and innovation; and partnering for regional 

and global leadership.573

In 2015, U.S. and Mexican officials held the second meeting of the HLED in Washington, DC, to 

review their accomplishments and establish new priorities for 2015 within the work plan. At the 

meeting the U.S. and Mexican governments agreed to add energy and climate cooperation to 

the HLED work plan and to strengthen and modernize the U.S.-Mexico border.574 

2015 Achievements

Energy

The United States, Mexico, and Canada worked together in 2015 to share data and information 

on the energy sectors, which is available on all three countries’ official websites. The United 

 

571 For more information on NAFTA, see chapter 5. Originating goods of Mexico are eligible under every rate line in 

HTS chapters 1–97. On February 4, 2016, Mexico signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional trade 

agreement between the United States and 11 other countries (including Mexico). See chapter 5 for more 

information on the TPP. 572 For more background, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 178–79. 573 White House, “U.S.-Mexico Partnership,” May 2, 2013; White House, “U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic 

Dialogue,” September 20, 2013. For more information on the HLED, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2013, July 2014, 

146, and USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 176. 574 USDOC, “U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue: Government Officials,” July 30, 2015; White House, “U.S.-

Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue,” January 6, 2015. 
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States and Mexico established the United States-Mexico Energy Business Council to strengthen 

the economic ties between the energy industries of both countries.575

Modern Borders

The United States and Mexico continued to make progress on priority border infrastructure 

projects. The West Rail Bypass Bridge at Brownsville-Matamoros between Texas and 

Tamaulipas opened in August 2015. It is the first international rail bridge between the two 

nations in 100 years. The “Puerta Este” pedestrian crossing opened in August 2015. It is part of 

the larger renovation project on both sides of the San Ysidro-El Chaparral ports of entry 

between San Diego and Tijuana, the busiest land port of entry in the Western Hemisphere. 

Also, the Cross Border Xpress, a pedestrian bridge connecting San Diego with the Tijuana 

Airport, opened in December 2015. This skywalk is intended to offer a faster and more secure 

way for ticketed airline passengers to cross the few hundred feet between San Diego and the 

airport. In addition, U.S. and Mexico customs administrations launched two cargo preinspection pilot projects at the international airport in Laredo, Texas, and at the customs 

facilities in Mesa de Otay, Baja California. The programs are expected to reduce the number of 

inspections, shorten wait times, and lower transaction costs.576

Regulatory Cooperation

In 2015, agency-to-agency regulatory cooperation between U.S. and Mexican agencies 

continued. Mexico’s Agency for Safety, Energy, and Environment and the U.S. Department of 

Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement worked together on environmental 

safety regulations related to natural resource exploration. Also, on June 5, 2015, the U. S. 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on regulatory 

cooperation with Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission. Under this memorandum, the two 

commissions will exchange information on the monitoring and oversight of Mexico’s wholesale 

power market, best practices for large-scale integration of renewable energy into the bulk 

power system, and information about natural gas infrastructure and market operations.577

 575 USDOC, “U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue: Government Officials Review,” July 30, 2015; White House, 

“U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue,” January 6, 2015. 576 Ibid. 577 USDOC, “U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue: Government Officials Review,” July 30, 2015; White House, 

“U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue,” January 6, 2015.
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Cross-Border Trucking between the United States 

and Mexico

Under the cross-border trucking commitments in Chapter 12 of NAFTA, Mexican trucks were 

allowed to provide cross-border truck services throughout the United States beginning in 2000. 

The implementation of these provisions was delayed because of U.S. safety concerns.578 To 

address these concerns and to meet its obligations under NAFTA, the U.S. Department of 

Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched the U.S.-Mexico 

Cross-Border Long-Haul Trucking Pilot Program on October 14, 2011.579 To implement the 

program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and his counterpart from Mexico established an 

agreement that also suspended the approximately $2.4 billion annually in retaliatory tariffs 

imposed by Mexico on U.S. agricultural and manufacturing goods between 2009 and 2011. The 

program concluded on October 10, 2014.580 

On January 9, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation submitted a report to Congress that 

drew on data from the three-year pilot program, as well as additional analysis on almost 1,000 

other Mexican long-haul trucking companies that transport goods into the United States.581

According to the report, 15 trucking companies from Mexico enrolled in the pilot. They crossed 

the border more than 28,000 times, traveled more than 1.5 million miles in the United States, 

and underwent more than 5,500 safety inspections by U.S. officials. Data were also collected on 

an additional 952 Mexican-owned trucking companies that also operated long-haul in the 

United States during the same 36-month period under a preexisting authority. The results 

showed that the Mexican companies’ violation, driver, and vehicle out-of-service rates reflected 

the same level of safety as U.S. and Canadian-headquartered motor carriers.582

As a result of the successful completion of the pilot program, as of January 15, 2015, the 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began accepting applications from Mexico-

 

578 Developments in cross-border truck services between the United States and Mexico are reported in USITC, The 

Year in Trade 2008, July 2009, 5-16; USITC, The Year in Trade 2009, July 2010, 5-16; USITC, The Year in Trade 2010, 

July 2011, 5-12; USITC, The Year in Trade 2011, July 2012, 5-14; USITC, The Year in Trade 2012, July 2013, 5-13; 

USITC, The Year in Trade 2013, 2014, 149; USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 177. 579 76 Fed. Reg. 20807 (April 13, 2011). Details of the program are reported in USITC, The Year in Trade 2011, July 

2012, 5-14. 580 USDOT, FMCSA, United States-Mexico Cross-Border Long-Haul Trucking, January 2015. 581 80 Fed. Reg. 2179 (January 10, 2015); USDOT, FMCSA, “United States to Expand Trade Opportunities with 

Mexico,” January 9, 2015. 582 USDOT, FMCSA, “United States to Expand Trade Opportunities with Mexico,” January 9, 2015.
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domiciled motor carriers interested in conducting long-haul operations beyond the U.S. 

commercial zones.583 

Japan

In 2015, Japan remained the United States’ fourth-largest single-country trading partner in 

terms of two-way merchandise trade, accounting for 5.2 percent of total U.S. merchandise 

trade. U.S. merchandise trade with Japan declined by 3.6 percent from 2014 to 2015, from 

$200.8 billion in 2014 to $ 193.6 billion in 2015. The decline was driven primarily by a decrease 

in U.S. exports to Japan, which fell by $4.4 billion or 6.5 percent from $66.8 billion in 2014 to 

$62.5 billion in 2015. This decline in U.S. exports, which outpaced the decline in U.S. imports, 

also resulted in an increase in the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with Japan, which rose by 2.2 

percent to $68.6 billion in 2015 (figure 6.10). In 2015, U.S. services exports to Japan declined by 

6.7 percent to $43.0 billion, while imports of services from Japan also decreased by 6.7 percent 

to $26.4 billion. The result was a $1.2 billion decrease in the U.S. services surplus with Japan, 

which dropped to $16.6 billion in 2015 (figure 6.11).

Japan remained the fourth-largest destination for U.S. merchandise exports in 2015, accounting 

for 4.2 percent of global U.S. exports. Between 2014 and 2015, U.S. exports to Japan declined 

by 6.5 percent, from $66.8 billion in 2014 to $62.5 billion in 2015. Leading U.S. exports to Japan 

were civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; corn; and certain medicaments. Most of the United 

States’ top 25 exports to Japan experienced declines in 2015, but the products with the largest 

declines were corn (which decreased by $644 million), liquefied propane (by $339 million), and 

certain medicaments (by $229 million). 

Japan remained the fourth-largest source of U.S. merchandise imports, accounting for 5.8 

percent of global U.S. imports. The value of U.S. imports from Japan declined by 2.2 percent to 

$131.1 billion in 2015, down from $134.0 billion in 2014. Leading U.S. imports from Japan were 

passenger motor vehicles, parts of airplanes and helicopters, gearboxes for motor vehicles, and 

parts for printers and copying machines. U.S. imports of many products from Japan fell sharply, 

including imports of gearboxes for motor vehicles (which declined by $794 million), as well as 

machines and apparatus for the production of semiconductor devices or electronic integrated 

circuits (which decreased by $623 million). U.S.-Japan merchandise trade data are shown in 

appendix tables A.43–A.46.

 583 80 Fed. Reg. 2179 (January 10, 2015). The U.S. commercial zones refer to the 25-mile commercial zones along 

the southern U.S. border.
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Figure 6.10 U.S. merchandise trade with Japan, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 4, 2016).

Figure 6.11 U.S. private services trade with Japan, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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Economic dialogue between the United States and Japan in 2015 centered on concluding the 

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, which Japan officially joined in July 2013. In this 

regard, the United States held many meetings with Japan. In particular, the two countries 

addressed concerns in the passenger motor vehicle and insurance sectors, as well as other 

nontariff measures affecting express delivery, transparency, government procurement, and 

sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.584 These negotiations were successfully concluded 

in October 2015, and the 12 member countries signed the TPP Agreement in 2016, pending 

their respective domestic approval processes.585 TPP negotiations with Japan are described in 

more detail below. In addition, the United States worked closely with Japan over other trade 

issues of common interest, including coordinating on WTO dispute settlement matters; working 

toward the successful conclusion of negotiations to expand the WTO Information Technology 

Agreement; and working with other economies to advance negotiations on the Trade in 

Services Agreement.586 The two countries also worked closely together in the Asia-Pacific 

Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on advancing next-generation issues like digital trade, 

developing alternatives to localization policies,587 and reducing tariffs on environmental 

goods.588

TPP Negotiations and Dialogue 

As mentioned, Japan joined the TPP negotiations in July 2013.589 During 2015, negotiations 

between the United States and Japan focused on Japan’s tariff and nontariff measures (NTMs) 

on agriculture products, as well as in the Japanese passenger motor vehicle, insurance, and 

express delivery markets.

Passenger Motor Vehicle Market Access

In 2015, through bilateral negotiations in parallel with the broader TPP negotiations, the United 

States and Japan continued to address longstanding barriers to U.S. motor vehicle exports to 

Japan. These bilateral negotiations under the TPP framework covered a wide range of NTMs, 

 584 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 135. 585 Ibid. For more information on TPP, see chapter 5. 586 USTR, 2016 National Trade Estimate Report, 2016, 237. For more information on the WTO Information 

Technology Agreement and the Trade in Services Agreement, see chapters 3 and 4, respectively. 

587 Localization barriers to trade are measures designed to protect, favor, or stimulate domestic industries, service 

providers, and/or intellectual property at the expense of goods, services, or intellectual property from other 

countries. 

588 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 136. For more information on APEC, see 

chapter 4.

589 Ibid., 135.
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including transparency in regulations, standards, certification, financial incentives, and 

distribution.590 

Japan committed to open up its regulatory process to foreign participation, reduce regulatory 

costs, and reduce the frequency of testing requirements for U.S. motor vehicle producers 

through bilateral negotiations.591 Moreover, Japanese zoning rules for motor vehicle 

distribution and repair facilities have made it harder for U.S. firms to sell in Japan. In bilateral 

negotiations, Japan also committed to ensuring that the central government will apply its 

zoning rules in a transparent and nondiscriminatory way.592 

Furthermore, the Japanese government committed to improving transparency in its regulatory 

process for the passenger motor vehicle market, and to ensuring that Japan would not unduly 

delay the import of vehicles that adopt new technologies. Japan also committed to setting up a 

rapid consultation mechanism covering new NTMs that may emerge and unnecessarily restrict 

trade, including those not yet adopted or published, in order to deter the adoption of such 

measures.593

Agricultural Products

Japan is the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural products, with U.S. exports of agricultural 

products to Japan valued at over $11.1 billion in 2015. In 2015, the United States and Japan 

continued to negotiate market access issues on a number of sensitive agricultural products 

under the TPP framework. The final TPP agreement covers all agricultural products, and, once 

implemented, will expand U.S. access to Japan’s agricultural market.594 Under the TPP 

agreement, almost 60 percent of U.S. farm product exports (by value) to Japan will receive 

duty-free treatment immediately. The TPP agreement, on the other hand, allows Japan to 

gradually liberalize certain highly protected and sensitive agricultural products, such as beef 

and pork products.595 Tariffs on these more sensitive products will be eliminated or significantly 

reduced over agreed-upon transition periods.596

 

590 USTR, 2016 National Trade Estimate Report, 2016, 250. 591 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 136; USTR, “U.S.-Japan Motor Vehicle 

Trade Non-Tariff Measures,” n.d. (accessed April 24, 2016). 592 USTR, “U.S.-Japan Motor Vehicle Trade Non-Tariff Measures,” n.d. (accessed April 24, 2016). 593 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 135–136. 594 Ibid., 135. 595 According to the TPP agreement, Japan will eliminate duties on 74 percent of its beef and beef product imports 

within 16 years. Japan is committed to reduce its tariff on fresh, chilled, and frozen beef cuts from the current 

applied tariff of 38.5 percent to 9 percent in 16 years. Tariffs on beef offal, which are currently as high as 21.3 

percent, will be eliminated in 6 to 16 years. Tariffs on processed beef products (including beef jerky and meat 

extracts), currently as high as 50 percent, will also be eliminated in 6 to 16 years. Meanwhile, Japan is committed 
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TPP also addresses, though in many cases not conclusively, NTMs affecting products entering 

Japan’s agricultural market. Although TPP’s SPS chapter establishes rules for managing SPS risks 

as well as processes for resolving SPS barriers, including dispute settlement, the United States 

and Japan have still not resolved all of Japan’s SPS restrictions.597 For example, U.S. apples are 

technically permitted to enter Japan, but the cost of complying with Japan’s apple import 

protocols and the required methyl bromide treatment form a barrier to entry that effectively 

blocks U.S. apple exports.598 While the NTM related to apples is not expected to be resolved 

immediately through TPP, other NTMs have been addressed. For instance, Japan’s “gate price”

system on pork imports will be preserved, but the effects of Japan’s restrictive system would 

erode significantly over time as the gate prices are reduced, or for some products, 

eliminated.599

Meanwhile, for the rice sector, Japan committed to establishing a new, duty-free country 

specific quota for U.S. rice. The quota will initially be set at 50,000 tons, and will grow to 70,000 

in 13 years.600

Insurance and Express Delivery Markets

In 2015, the United States and Japan continued to negotiate on NTMs in Japan’s insurance and 

express delivery markets under the TPP framework. The United States is particularly concerned 

about the competitive advantages enjoyed by Japan Post Holdings Co. (Japan Post or JP), a 

government-owned company in the banking, insurance, and express delivery sectors of the 

Japanese economy.601 In the final TPP text, Japan agreed to take a number of actions to 

address NTMs in the insurance and express delivery sectors through steps that will help to 

eliminate unnecessary barriers to trade and improve transparency.602 For example, regulatory 

 

to eliminate tariffs on more than 65 percent of its pork and pork product tariff lines within 11 years and on nearly 

80 percent of those tariff lines within 16 years. USDA, “Trans Pacific Partnership and Japan: Key Outcomes,” 

November 19, 2015.

596 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 135. 597 USITC, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy, May 2016, 196, 417–18. 598 Ibid., 196. 599 Imports with a customs value below the “gate price” are assessed a specific duty equal to the difference 

between the customs value and the gate price, plus a tariff equal to a percentage of customs value (ad valorem). 

Imports with a customs value equal to or greater than the gate price are assessed the ad valorem tariff only. 

Under the TPP agreement, though the “gate price” system will remain, Japan will immediately reduce the specific 

duty on pork cuts from its previous maximum charge of 482 yen per kilogram to 125 yen per kilogram ($3.97 per 

kilogram to $1.03 per kilogram using the U.S. dollar-yen monthly average exchange rate for December 2015), with 

a further reduction to 50 yen ($0.41) per kilogram by year 10. USDA, “Trans Pacific Partnership and Japan: Key 

Outcomes,” November 19, 2015. 600 USDA, “Fact Sheet: Trans Pacific Partnership and Japan: Key Outcomes for Agriculture,” November 19, 2015. 601 For more background, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 183. 602 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 136.
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changes will give U.S. insurance companies open access to Japan Post’s distribution network, 

allowing them to compete under equivalent conditions. 603 Likewise, Japan committed to 

improve transparency about Japan Post’s express mail service, which competes with services of 

private express firms.604 

Moreover, outside the TPP framework, the government of Japan has also committed to 

privatizing the non-postal elements of Japan Post.605 The sale of a first tranche of shares in JP 

Holdings and two financial subsidiaries, Japan Post Bank (JP Bank) and Japan Post Insurance (JP 

Insurance), began with an initial public offering in November 2015.606 Follow-on sales of shares 

in all three companies will take place over time, as the Postal Privatization Law requires the 

government to sell a majority share (up to two-thirds of all shares) in JP Holdings, and all shares 

of JP Bank and JP Insurance, as soon as possible.607 The timing for additional sales has not yet 

been set.608 

Republic of Korea

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) was the United States’ sixth-largest single-country 

merchandise trading partner in 2015. Two-way merchandise trade was valued at $115.3 billion 

in 2015, accounting for 3.1 percent of U.S. trade with the world. The United States recorded a 

$28.3 billion merchandise trade deficit with South Korea in 2015, a 13.1 percent increase from 

$25.0 billion in 2014 (figure 6.12). At the same time, the U.S. trade surplus in services with 

South Korea increased 7.5 percent 2015, from 12.5 billion in 2014 to 13.4 billion in 2015 (figure 

6.13).

 

603 Ibid. 604 Ibid. 605 For more background, see The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 184. 606 USTR, 2016 National Trade Estimate Report, 2016, 242. 607 Ibid. 608 Ibid. 
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Figure 6.12 U.S. merchandise trade with South Korea, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 4, 2016).

Figure 6.13 U.S. private services trade with South Korea, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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U.S. merchandise exports to South Korea were valued at $43.5 billion in 2015, a decrease of 2.2 

percent from 2014. Leading U.S. exports to South Korea during the year included civilian 

aircraft, engines, and parts; processors or controllers; machines for the production of 

semiconductor devices or electronic integrated circuits; corn; and passenger motor vehicles. 

Among the top exports to South Korea, the largest increases occurred in civilian aircraft, 

engines, and parts (up by 97.2 percent or $1.9 billion) and passenger vehicles (up by 47.4 

percent or $273 million). The most significant decrease in value among top exports was in 

exports of corn, which fell by 37.7 percent ($399 million) from 2014 to 2015.

U.S. merchandise imports from South Korea totaled $71.8 billion in 2015, an increase of 3.3 

percent from 2014. Leading U.S. imports from South Korea during the year included passenger 

vehicles, cellphones, refined petroleum products, parts and accessories for computers, and 

electronic integrated circuits. U.S. imports of passenger vehicles from South Korea experienced 

noticeable growth in 2015. U.S.-South Korea merchandise trade data are shown in appendix 

tables A.47 through A.50.

U.S. trade relations with South Korea continued to focus on the U.S.-Korea FTA (KORUS), which 

celebrated its third anniversary in 2015. Discussions also continued regarding South Korea’s 

potential membership in TPP; these are summarized below.609 Lastly, on March 25, 2015, the 

WTO Dispute Settlement Body established a panel to consider certain U.S. antidumping 

measures on oil country tubular goods from South Korea and the investigation methodology 

underlying such measures.610 

U.S.-Korea FTA 

The U.S.-Korea FTA, commonly referred to as KORUS, entered into force on March 15, 2012.611

It is the second-largest U.S. FTA, in terms of the value of trade covered, behind only NAFTA.612

As of January 1, 2016, five rounds of tariff cuts and eliminations had taken place under the 

agreement.613 According to USTR, the agreement would eliminate tariffs on over 95 percent of 

U.S. exports of industrial and consumer goods by January 1, 2016.614 Additionally, as of January 

 

609 White House, “Remarks by President Obama and President Park of the Republic of Korea,” October 16, 2015. 610 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS488; United States—Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country Tubular 

Goods from Korea” (accessed March 15, 2016). In January 2015, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine all requested to join 

the consultations. Oil country tubular goods are pipe and tube products used in the petroleum industry. 611 The KORUS FTA is also discussed in chapter 5. 612 See table 5.1 and table 5.2 for complete data. 613 USTR, “Four Year Snapshot: The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement,” March 14, 2016. The five rounds of tariff 

cuts and eliminations took place on the date of the agreement’s entry into force (March 15, 2012), January 1, 

2013, January 1, 2014, January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2016. 614 USTR, “U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement Shows Strong Results,” March 12, 2014; USTR, “Four Year Snapshot: 

The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement,” March 14, 2016. 
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1, 2016, imports of passenger vehicles from the United States now enter South Korea duty 

free.615 In total, since KORUS entered into force, over 40 meetings of the committees and 

working groups established under the FTA have convened and the Ministerial-level Joint 

Committee has met three times.616

Trans-Pacific Partnership

Since first expressing its interest in joining the TPP in November 2013, South Korea has 

continued to discuss this possibility with both the United States and other TPP members.617 In 

October 2015, the South Korean President referred to South Korea as a “natural” partner in TPP 

during her visit to Washington, DC, in part because South Korea has signed bilateral trade 

agreements with 10 of the 12 TPP members.618 Reportedly, concerns exist in South Korea that 

there would be negative ramifications for the South Korean economy if it does not join the TPP 

soon.619 The United States reaffirmed that it welcomes South Korea’s interest in joining the TPP 

and looks forward to continuing the consultations.620

Taiwan

In 2015, Taiwan was the United States’ ninth-largest single-economy trading partner, 

accounting for 1.8 percent of total U.S. trade with the world. U.S. two-way merchandise trade 

with Taiwan amounted to $66.6 billion in 2015, a decrease of 0.9 percent from $67.3 billion in 

2014. The U.S. merchandise trade deficit with Taiwan grew by 6.2 percent, or $0.9 billion, rising 

from $13.9 billion in 2014 to $14.8 billion in 2015 (figure 6.14). On the other hand, the U.S. 

services trade surplus with Taiwan declined by 14.0 percent, from $5.0 billion in 2014 to $4.3

billion in 2015 (figure 6.15).

 615 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 121. 616 USTR, “Four Year Snapshot: The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement,” March 14, 2016. 617 USTR, “Statement by U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman on Korea’s Announcement,” November 29, 

2013; White House, “Remarks by President Obama and President Park, “ October 16, 2015; Japan Times, “Park to 

Convey Korean Desire to Join TPP,” October 31, 2015. 618 Park, “Her Excellency President Park Geun-hye: Statesmen’s Forum Address,” October 15, 2015; WTO, 

“Participation in Regional Trade Agreements,” n.d. (accessed April 1, 2016). South Korea has trade agreements

with the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. 

(The two remaining TPP members are Japan and Mexico.) Separately, South Korea has recently approved an FTA 

with China. 

619 Korea Times, “Failure to Join TPP Would Result in Big Exports Losses,” December 25, 2015; Mundy, Simon and 

Song Jung-a, “South Korea Frets as TPP Erodes Trade Advantage,” October 6, 2015. 620 White House, “The United States-Republic of Korea Alliance,” October 16, 2015.
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Figure 6.14 U.S. merchandise trade with Taiwan, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 4, 2016).

Figure 6.15 U.S. private services trade with Taiwan, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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In 2015, U.S. merchandise exports to Taiwan amounted to $25.9 billion, a 2.8 percent decrease 

from $26.7 billion in 2014. Leading U.S. exports to Taiwan were civilian aircraft, engines, and 

parts, as well as machines for semiconductor manufacturing, accounting for 9.8 and 9.7 percent 

of U.S. merchandise exports to Taiwan, respectively. Other leading U.S. exports to Taiwan 

included ammunitions, memory chips, processors or controllers, electronic integrated circuits, 

and agricultural products such as soybeans, corn, and wheat, as well as ferrous waste and 

scrap. In absolute value terms, U.S. exports of ammunitions to Taiwan grew the most ($1.0 

billion), while U.S. exports of ferrous waste and scrap declined the most ($0.4 billion) over 

2014. 

In 2015, U.S. merchandise imports from Taiwan amounted to $40.7 billion, a 0.3 percent 

increase from $40.6 billion in 2014. Leading U.S. imports were electronic integrated circuits, 

memory chips, parts and accessories for computers, cellphones, telecommunication 

equipment, and processors or controllers. U.S. imports of cellphones and memory chips, as well 

as computer parts and accessories, all experienced over 15 percent declines compared to 2014. 

On the other hand, U.S. imports of transmission apparatus for radiobroadcasting increased by 

1,046 percent, or $0.6 billion, over 2014. U.S.-Taiwan merchandise trade data are shown in 

appendix tables A.51 through A.54.

As described below, the U.S.-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) has 

served as a key mechanism for U.S.-Taiwan dialogue on trade issues in the absence of official 

diplomatic ties. In 2015, U.S.-Taiwan trade relations focused on IPRs and trade secret 

protection; access to Taiwan’s agricultural market; regulatory approval process for medical 

devices and pharmaceuticals; and Taiwan’s agricultural biotechnology regulations.

U.S.-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework 

Agreement 

The U.S.-Taiwan TIFA, signed in 1994, has served as a key mechanism for strengthening bilateral 

commercial ties, and covers a broad range of trade and investment issues important to U.S. and 

Taiwan stakeholders.621 High-level meetings under the TIFA were to take place on an annual 

basis. However, the talks were suspended in 2007 due to a dispute over Taiwan’s restrictions on 

imports of U.S. beef and pork. In light of positive developments during 2012 on beef-related 

issues, the United States and Taiwan resumed the TIFA talks.

622

 621 USTR, “United States and Taiwan Enhance Trade Ties,” April 2014. 622 USTR, “Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis Welcomes,” March 10, 2013.
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The ninth TIFA Council meeting was held in October 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan, under the auspices 

of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office 

in the United States. The United States first welcomed the efforts Taiwan authorities had taken 

since the 2014 TIFA to improve trade secrets protection, to follow through on commitments 

related to pharmaceuticals market access, to address regulatory complexities for the 

registration of chemical substances, and to relax restrictions on offshore data centers for 

financial institutions.623 Additional progress was made at the 2015 meeting. Taiwan committed 

to improving IPR protection and enforcement, including by increasing human and financial 

resources for Taiwan’s IPR enforcement authorities, addressing piracy occurring in and around 

university campuses, and taking steps to foster innovation in the pharmaceuticals sector. The 

United States and Taiwan also agreed to continue engaging in dialogue on improving Taiwan’s 

investment climate, deepening cooperation on trade secrets protection, and streamlining the 

regulatory approval process for medical devices. The United States and Taiwan also held indepth discussions on a range of agricultural issues (see section below), though meaningful 

progress on these issues was not reported.624 

Agricultural Market Access

In 2015, the United States exported $3.2 billion worth of agricultural products to Taiwan, 

making it the United States’ eighth-largest agricultural export destination.625 

Agricultural market access has been among the top U.S.-Taiwan bilateral trade issues in recent 

years. USTR has repeatedly expressed concerns about two issues in particular. First, Taiwan 

does not allow imports of certain U.S. beef offal products or pork and pork products containing 

traces of ractopamine.626 Second, Taiwan has not adopted internationally established 

maximum residue limits for pesticides and other agrochemicals. At the same time, it has been 

slow to develop its own science-based maximum residue limits, which has led it to reject 

various U.S. agricultural exports, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains.627 

In addition, there has been contention about rice import issues. In past years (e.g., 2007, 2008, 

2013, and 2014), the United States has not been able to fill its country-specific quota (CSQ) on 

rice exports to Taiwan. Taiwan frequently rejected bids made by U.S. rice exporters under CSQ 

 

623 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 140, and “United States and Taiwan 

Deepen Dialogue on Trade,” October 2015. 624 Ibid. 625 USDA, “Top 15 U.S. Agricultural Export Destinations, by Calendar Year,” March 31, 2016. 626 For more details, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2013, July 2014, 164, and USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 

2015, 195.

627 For more details, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 195.
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tender, stating that high U.S. bid prices exceeded Taiwan’s ceiling price.628 However, in 2015, 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that the United States successfully filled the 2015 

U.S. rice CSQ.629

Agricultural Biotechnology 

Genetically engineered (GE) crops (e.g. corn, cotton, and soybeans) have made up a significant 

share of U.S. agricultural output and exports in recent years.630 In February 2014, Taiwan 

amended its Food Safety and Sanitation Act, introducing changes that could potentially affect 

U.S. food and agricultural exports to Taiwan. Before the law was amended, Taiwan had limited 

its biotech regulatory scope to GE soybeans and corn. Under the amended law, for the first 

time, Taiwan specifically requires all GE products to undergo a health risk assessment, obtain 

pre-market registration approval, be labeled as GE, and be traceable. The Food and Drug 

Administration (TFDA) at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the agency in Taiwan responsible 

for food safety, has the authority to approve all GE products for both food and animal feed 

use. 631 As of December 2015, Taiwan had approved 99 GE products, including 4 canola, 12

cotton, 21 soybean, and 62 corn events.632

On June 20, 2014, Taiwan officials announced proposed new labeling regulations.633 The 

previous labeling regulations were limited to food products containing GE soybeans or corn at 

or above a threshold level of 5 percent. Under the new labeling regulations, the threshold has 

been reduced from 5 percent to 3 percent, and the scope has been expanded so that the 

regulation applies to all GE food products. Food additives would be subject to the same labeling 

requirements as food products. Highly processed “primary” products produced directly from GE 

raw materials, such as soybean oil, corn starch and syrup, and soy sauce, are required to be 

labeled. Products that consist of highly processed GE products, such as beverages containing 

corn syrup, would remain exempt from GE labeling requirements.634

 628 For more details, see USITC, The Year in Trade 2013, July 2014, 164–65, and The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 

196.

629 USDA, FAS, Conclusion of the 2015 U.S. Rice CSQ Tender, November 20, 2015. 630 In 2015, genetically engineered varieties accounted for 77 percent, 79 percent, and 94 percent of corn, cotton, 

and soybeans planted in the United States. USDA, “Genetically Engineered Varieties of Corn, Upland Cotton, and 

Soybeans,” July 9, 2015. 631 USDA, FAS, Taiwan: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual, July 15, 2015. For the 2014 developments, see USITC: 

The Year in Trade 2014, July 2015, 197. 632 USDA, FAS, Taiwan: Regulation Update on Genetically Engineered, December 3, 2015. An event is the insertion 

of a particular transgene into a specific location on a chromosome. The term “event” is often used to differentiate 

genetically engineered crop varieties.

633 USDA, FAS, Taiwan: New GE Regulatory Oversight and Changes, February 9, 2015. 634 USDA, FAS, Taiwan: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual; Food Safety, July 15, 2014.
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The following year, on May 29, 2015, TFDA published the new GE labeling regulations for 

prepackaged foods, food additives, and unpackaged food products containing GE inputs. A 

short “Q and A” document, published by TFDA to accompany the release of the new GE labeling 

regulations, says that food with intentionally added GE material must be labeled, regardless of 

how low the level is, even if lower than the 3 percent threshold. The new GE labeling 

regulations also extended the labeling requirements to local restaurants and catering 

establishments. TFDA notified the draft regulations with a 30-day domestic comment period, 

and the final regulations were fully implemented on December 31, 2015.635 

On February 4, 2015, Taiwan amended the Feed Control Act, under which the Council of 

Agriculture (the agency equivalent to USDA) became the new authority for registration and 

approval of GE products for animal feed use. According to the Feed Control Act amendment, all 

GE products for feed use must be registered with the Council of Agriculture and must be given 

pre-market approval by February 4, 2017. The Council of Agriculture notified the WTO of its 

Regulations for Certificate Inspections of Genetically Modified Feed and Feed Additives on 

September 24, 2015. These regulations are to be implemented as soon as the Council of 

Agriculture’s regulatory system is established, a development anticipated for January 2016 at 

the earliest. 636

India 

In 2015, India became the United States’ 10th-largest single-country trading partner based on 

two-way merchandise trade, rising from 11th largest in 2014. U.S. two-way merchandise trade 

with India declined by 0.9 percent to $66.3 billion in 2015. In spite of the small decline in total 

value, India’s share of total U.S. merchandise trade with the world increased in 2015, reaching 

1.8 percent, up from 1.7 percent in 2014. India’s share of U.S. merchandise trade with the 

world has been slowly but steadily increasing in recent years. Although U.S. exports to India 

decreased slightly in 2015, the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with India declined by 1.8 percent 

to $23.2 billion in 2015 as imports declined even more (figure 6.16).

India is the United States’ seventh-largest single country services trading partner, based on twoway total services trade, with total services trade increasing by 14.1 percent to $40.5 billion in 

2015. India continues to be the only top trading partner with which the United States has a 

services trade deficit in 2015. With the exception of a one-year decline in 2013, this trade 

deficit has risen slowly but consistently in recent years and continued to do so in 2015, when 

 

635 USDA, FAS, Taiwan: GE Labeling Requirements Finalized with July 1 Implementation, June 3, 2015. 636 USDA, FAS, Taiwan: Regulation Update on Genetically Engineered Feed, December 3, 2015.
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the U.S. services trade deficit with India rose 14.3 percent to $6.8 billion, from $6.0 billion in 

2014 (figure 6.17).

U.S. merchandise exports to India were fairly stable, falling just 0.4 percent from $21.6 billion in 

2014 to $21.5 billion in 2015. Leading U.S. exports to India in 2015 were nonindustrial 

diamonds; nonmonetary gold; civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; coal; and almonds.637 U.S. 

exports of nonmonetary gold to India more than doubled in quantity and increased by 91.3 

percent in value from 2014,638 rising to $2.3 billion in 2015. Nonmonetary gold thus became 

the second-largest U.S. merchandise export to India in 2015. U.S. exports of airplanes and other 

aircraft (unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kg) to India in 2015 experienced the largest decline,

dropping by $1.0 billion (74.1 percent) to $352 million in 2015. U.S. exports of civilian aircraft, 

engines, and parts also declined by $652 million (45.8 percent) to $772 million in 2015. These 

declines were partially offset by the increase in exports of nonmonetary gold ($1.1 billion), as 

well as ferrous waste and scrap; other supported catalysts; medicaments; silver; and other taps, 

valves, and similar appliances.

U.S. merchandise imports from India declined by 1.1 percent in 2015 to $44.7 billion. Leading 

U.S. imports from India in 2015 were nonindustrial diamonds, certain medicaments, refined 

petroleum products, jewelry, and frozen shrimp. While the value of U.S. imports of 

medicaments increased by over $1 billion (26.9 percent) to $4.9 billion, that of refined 

petroleum products declined by nearly $2.0 billion.639 Finally, there was a large decline in U.S. 

imports of mucilages and thickeners (51.0 percent) from India in 2015. U.S. merchandise trade 

data are shown in appendix tables A.55 through A.58.

 637 Because the United States and India are both major centers for global trade of cut or faceted diamonds, 

diamonds lead U.S.-India trade for both U.S. imports and exports. Though diamonds are the top U.S. export to

India (at $3.7 billion or 17.4 percent of total U.S. exports to India), nearly all ($3.5 billion) of this trade was in reexports. For more information on re-exports, see the “Trade Metrics” section of USITC, Shifts in U.S. Merchandise 

Trade 2014, June 2015. 638 Global Trade Atlas database (accessed March 29, 2016). 639 The decline in the value of U.S. refined petroleum product imports from India is attributed to both a decline in 

the quantity imported as well as a decline in prices in 2015, as compared to 2014.
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Figure 6.16 U.S. merchandise trade with India, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 4, 2016).

Figure 6.17 U.S. private services trade with India, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a

 Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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Some ongoing WTO dispute settlement proceedings involving the United States and India 

continued in 2015.640 In March 2015, the United States and India informed the Dispute 

Settlement Body that they had agreed upon a reasonable period of time for the United States 

to implement the Dispute Settlement Body’s recommendations and rulings in the dispute 

brought by India on U.S. countervailing measures on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat 

products from India.641 In June 2015, the WTO Appellate Body issued its report in the dispute 

brought by the United States on Indian measures concerning certain agricultural imports from 

the United States, and in December 2015 both parties agreed upon implementation of the 

Dispute Settlement Body’s recommendations and rulings in this area by June 19, 2016.642 For 

more information on these WTO dispute settlement disputes, see chapter 3.

In 2015, the United States and India continued dialogue on improving bilateral trade and 

investment, including the protection of IPRs in India under the Modi government. These are 

discussed in detail below.643

Trade and Investment Dialogue 

In January 2015, President Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral summit in 

India, the second such meeting. While this summit covered many potential areas for 

cooperation, improving trade and investment possibilities between the two countries were 

among the top issues discussed. As a result, the United States and India agreed to hold publicprivate discussions in 2015 through the U.S.-India Commercial Dialogue.644 The first U.S.-India 

 640 Additionally, in February 2016, the panel report was circulated in India—Certain Measures Relating to Solar 

Cells and Solar Modules (DS456), and in March 2016 a request for consultations was received on United States—

Measures Concerning Non-Immigrant Visas (DS503). WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS456; India—Certain Measures 

Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules” (accessed March 25, 2016); WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS503; United 

States—Measures Concerning Non-Immigrant Visas” (accessed March 24, 2016). 641 The reasonable period of time was to expire by March 19, 2016. On April 22, 2016, the United States considered 

that it had completed implementation with respect to the DSB recommendations and rulings because of new 

Commission and Commerce determinations in the case. WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS436; United States—

Countervailing Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India” (accessed May 31, 2016). 642 WTO, “Dispute Settlement: DS430; India—Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Agricultural 

Products” (accessed March 29, 2016).

643 These and other issues affecting the bilateral trade and investment relationship between the United States and 

India are discussed in greater detail in two reports prepared by the Commission in 2014 and 2015. In December 

2014 the Commission released a report prepared at the request of the House Committee on Ways and Means and 

the Senate Committee on Finance (the Committees)—Trade, Investment, and Industrial Policies in India: Effects on 

the U.S. Economy—that described India’s industrial policies that might act as barriers to U.S. trade and investment. 

In September 2015, the Commission released a second report requested by the Committees—Trade and 

Investment Policies in India, 2014–2015. This report described significant changes that were made under the Modi 

government from May 2014 to July 2015 to those policies identified in the first report, as well as other relevant 

policies and practices implemented by the Modi government during this period. 644 White House, “U.S.-India Joint Statement—’Shared Effort; Progress for All,“January 25, 2015.
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Strategic and Commercial Dialogue was held in Washington, DC, in September 2015, co-chaired 

by the U.S. Secretaries of State and Commerce and the Indian Ministers of External Affairs and 

of Commerce and Industry. This is intended to be an annual forum through which policy 

discussions will be held to increase bilateral trade and investment as a means of economic 

growth and job creation in both the United States and India.645 Also in September 2015, 

another bilateral meeting was held between the President and the Prime Minister in New York. 

Although this meeting focused on the Paris climate conference, ongoing efforts to increase 

bilateral trade and investment were also discussed.646

On October 29, 2015, Ambassador Froman met with the Indian Minister of Commerce and 

Industry in Washington, DC, for the ninth ministerial-level meeting of the United States and 

India Trade Policy Forum. Topics covered included agriculture, trade in goods and services, 

promoting investment in manufacturing, and improving cooperation on IPR protection.647

Intellectual Property Rights 

India has been on USTR’s Priority Watch List or has been designated a priority foreign country 

since 1989. In 2015, it remained on USTR’s Priority Watch List. While USTR’s 2015 Special 301 

Report noted an expectation of “substantive and measurable action,” under the Modi 

administration, IPR protection and enforcement challenges continued. For example, USTR 

described ongoing problems with copyright piracy; a lack of transparency in the patent system, 

particularly in the biopharmaceutical field; difficulties in enforcing patents; compulsory 

licensing issues; problems with the protection of trade secrets and trademarks; and localization 

policies that limit opportunities for U.S. firms.648 

Similarly, in the 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets Report, USTR noted that 

“numerous markets in India have appeared in past lists, with no identified meaningful, effective 

response by the Indian government.”649 The report further indicated that India ranked first in 

terms of the number of physical markets identified, and that reports of counterfeit apparel and 

footwear had increased.650 

 

645 USDOS, “U.S.-India Commercial, Trade, and Economic Cooperation,” September 22, 2015. 646 White House, “Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Modi,” September 28, 2015. 647 USTR, “United States and India Joint Statement on the Trade Policy Forum,” October 29, 2015. 648 USTR, 2015 Special 301 Report to Congress, April 2015, 45–46. 649 USTR defines notorious markets as online or physical marketplaces that are reported to engage in or facilitate 

substantial copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting. See the chapter 2 section on Section 301 for more 

information on this report.

650 USTR, 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, December 2015, 21. 
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Brazil

In 2015, Brazil was the United States’ largest South American trading partner. Nonetheless, in 

2015 two-way merchandise trade between the United States and Brazil decreased by 19.0 

percent to $59.1 billion. As a result, Brazil’s share of U.S. merchandise trade with the world fell 

from 1.8 percent in 2014 to 1.6 percent, dropping its position from the 9th-largest U.S. trading 

partner in 2014 to the 12th-largest in 2015. This decline in two-way merchandise trade was 

primarily due to the gradual decrease in international crude oil prices651 and Brazil’s persisting 

recession,652 circumstances which negatively affected Brazil’s demand for imports from the 

United States and the value of trade in both directions. The United States still recorded a 

merchandise trade surplus with Brazil of $4.3 billion in 2015; however, this surplus was down 

65 percent from $11.9 billion in 2014, because U.S. exports to Brazil declined more than U.S. 

imports from Brazil (figure 6.18). At the same time, the United States maintained a services 

trade surplus with Brazil in 2015. Although the services trade surplus experienced a minor 

decline (2.2 percent), from $19.6 billion in 2014 to $19.2 billion in 2015, Brazil became the 

United States’ sixth-largest single-country trading partner in services, climbing one spot from its 

seventh position in 2014 (figure 6.19). 

Facing a challenging Brazilian economy,653 U.S. merchandise exports to Brazil fell by 25.4 

percent, from $42.4 billion in 2014 to $31.7 billion in 2015. Leading U.S. exports to Brazil were 

civilian aircraft, engines, and parts (14.5 percent of total U.S. merchandise exports to Brazil), 

followed by refined petroleum products. Other leading U.S. exports to Brazil included 

medicaments, telecommunications equipment, processors or controllers, coal, liquefied 

propane, and insecticides. Most leading U.S. exports to Brazil experienced declines in 2015. U.S. 

exports of refined petroleum products recorded a $2.3 billion decrease in value (54.4 percent), 

followed by a $526 million decrease in the value of exports of liquefied propane (56.6 percent) 

and a $379 million decrease in the value of exports of light oils (38.9 percent). All of these 

decreases more than offset the minor increases in U.S. exports of motor vehicle parts and 

disodium carbonate.

 651 EIA, “Spot Prices for Crude Oil and Petroleum Products,” May 4, 2016. 652 IMF has estimated that Brazil’s GDP contracted by 3.8 percent in 2015. IMF, “World Economic Outlook 

Update,” January 19, 2016. Also, the U.S. dollar appreciated against the Brazilian real by 47 percent in 2015. U.S. 

Federal Reserve System, “Foreign Exchange Rates” (accessed May 13, 2016). 653 IMF, “Growth in Latin America Weakens for Fifth Year,” April 29, 2015.
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Figure 6.18 U.S. merchandise trade with Brazil, 2011–15

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 4, 2016).

Figure 6.19 U.S. private services trade with Brazil, 2011–15a

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data, “Table 1.3: U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” and 

“Table 3.1: U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016. a Data for 2015 are preliminary.

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U.S. merchandise imports from Brazil dropped by 10.3 percent, from $30.5 billion in 2014 to 

$27.4 billion in 2015. Leading U.S. imports from Brazil included crude petroleum, airplanes and 

other aircraft, unroasted coffee, semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products, chemical wood 

pulp, granite building stone, and refined petroleum products. A major cause of the decline in 

U.S. imports from Brazil was the decrease in the price of crude petroleum,654 although the 

quantity imported actually rose by 37 percent (from 51.8 billion barrels in 2014 to 71 billion of 

barrels in 2015).655 The value of U.S. imports of light oils and preparations, airplanes and other 

aircraft of unladen weight (2,000–15,000 kg) increased the most during 2015, by 97.8 percent 

and 57.9 percent, respectively; however, these values were not robust enough to counter the 

overall downward trend. U.S.-Brazil merchandise trade data are shown in appendix tables A.59 

through A.62.

To improve the bilateral trade relationship, public and private sector leaders held a number of 

meetings in 2015 under the auspices of the U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue and the Brazil-U.S. 

Business Summit (described in more detail below). As a result of the meetings, the leaders 

signed four separate bilateral economic cooperation agreements. The two presidents also met 

and discussed progress made and future steps on trade facilitation and standards and 

conformity assessment.656

U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue 

On March 18–19, 2015, U.S. and Brazilian officials met in Washington, DC, as part of the U.S.-

Brazil Commercial Dialogue. Officials focused their discussions on seven topics: standards and 

regulatory engagement; trade facilitation; trade statistics; intellectual property cooperation; 

industry and investment; standards and metrology; and services and supply chains.657 Talks in 

the area of standards and regulatory engagement began the previous day, when officials from 

both nations met at the U.S.-Brazil Standards and Conformance Convergence Roundtable.658 On 

March 19, U.S. and Brazilian officials signed a memorandum of intent on trade facilitation to 

support trade growth and business competitiveness, seeking to develop public-private 

partnerships that increase technical border management expertise, increase business 

competitiveness, support bilateral trade, and reduce costs for businesses.659

 654 EIA, “Spot Prices for Crude Oil and Petroleum Products,” May 4, 2016. 655 Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed 

March 18, 2016). 656 White House, “Joint Communique by President Barack Obama and President Dilma Rousseff,” June 30, 2015. 657 USDOC, ITA, “The U.S. Brazil Commercial Dialogue Joint Statement,” March 19, 2015. 658 Ibid. 659 Ibid.
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U.S. and Brazilian officials met again in November in Brasilia to continue the U.S.-Brazil 

Commercial Dialogue and signed a memorandum of intent on regulatory coherence, in 

particular pledging to cooperate on promoting acceptable regulatory practices, including 

government-wide transparency.660

Third Brazil-U.S. Business Summit and Presidential 

Official Working Visit

On June 30, 2015, the United States Chamber of Commerce hosted the third Brazil-U.S. 

Business Summit in Washington, DC, bringing together more than 400 U.S. and Brazilian private 

and public sector leaders. The discussions focused on improving the bilateral trade relationship, 

specifically in the areas of trade and investment, innovation, and competitiveness.661 

At a separate meeting, on an official working visit, the presidents of both nations addressed 

various topics in the bilateral, regional, and multilateral agendas affecting their relationship. On 

trade, they stressed the importance of advancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation, 

and proposed new efforts to facilitate trade.662 To that end, U.S. and Brazilian officials signed a 

non-binding memorandum of intent on standards, international accreditation arrangements, 

and conformity assessment to eliminate duplicate testing, inspection, or other conformity 

assessment procedures that impose unnecessary costs.663 Separately, Brazil’s National Institute 

of Industrial Property and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office signed a memorandum of 

understanding and accompanying work plan in November 2015 on a pilot program for a Patent 

Prosecution Highway, which will facilitate information sharing between the two offices in order 

to speed the patenting process. The memorandum of understanding states that the program 

aims to “reduce patent workload and further improve patent quality.”

664 

During their meeting in June, the Presidents also committed to holding the next meeting under 

the U.S.-Brazil Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ATEC) in fall 2015, but this 

meeting has been delayed until 2016. 665 ATEC, which was signed in March 2011, was intended 

to expand the trade and investment relationship between the two countries on a broad range 

of issues, including trade facilitation and IPRs.666

 

660 USDOC, ITA, “Commerce Official Advances U.S.-Brazil Commercial Relationship,” November 19, 2015; 

government official, telephone interview with USITC staff, May 9, 2016. 

661 U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “U.S. Chamber Welcomes Brazilian President Rousseff,” June 30, 2015. 662 White House, “Joint Communique by President Barack Obama and President Dilma Rousseff,” June 30, 2015. 663 Inside U.S. Trade, “U.S.-Brazil Summit Yields Procedural Deal on Standards,” July 10, 2015. 664 USDOC, USPTO, “Memorandum of Understanding on A Patent Prosecution,” November 24, 2015. 665 USTR, 2016 Trade Policy Agenda and 2015 Annual Report, March 2016, 131. 666 Ibid. 
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Appendix A

Data Tables
Appendix A: Data Tables

236 | www.usitc.gov
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 237

Table A.1 U.S. total exports to the world, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 157,637 164,451 146,553 -10.9

2 Forest products 40,826 41,159 39,058 -5.1

3 Chemicals and related products 231,296 234,825 227,963 -2.9

4 Energy-related products 154,423 160,917 111,746 -30.6

5 Textiles and apparel 23,321 23,988 23,218 -3.2

6 Footwear 1,391 1,455 1,458 0.2

7 Minerals and metals 160,523 152,907 135,743 -11.2

8 Machinery 139,646 145,915 138,487 -5.1

9 Transportation equipment 322,173 336,278 326,269 -3.0

10 Electronic products 261,218 267,772 263,893 -1.4

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 43,849 47,628 47,321 -0.6

12 Special provisions 42,136 43,237 42,888 -0.8

Total 1,578,439 1,620,532 1,504,597 -7.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.2 U.S. general imports from the world, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 126,657 136,207 136,858 0.5

2 Forest products 39,985 42,105 42,290 0.4

3 Chemicals and related products 236,697 251,434 260,380 3.6

4 Energy-related products 384,142 351,628 194,475 -44.7

5 Textiles and apparel 118,012 121,689 126,569 4.0

6 Footwear 24,811 26,014 27,660 6.3

7 Minerals and metals 190,441 205,048 188,946 -7.9

8 Machinery 170,225 184,948 185,502 0.3

9 Transportation equipment 375,521 402,972 425,428 5.6

10 Electronic products 421,656 437,885 448,879 2.5

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 109,936 114,317 124,706 9.1

12 Special provisions 70,287 73,439 79,969 8.9

Total 2,268,370 2,347,685 2,241,664 -4.5

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Appendix A: Data Tables

238 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.3 Leading U.S. total exports to the world, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 104,991 113,071 118,918 5.2

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 77,494 73,183 48,739 -33.4

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 34,460 36,761 25,927 -29.5

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 22,820 25,407 21,671 -14.7

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 19,527 20,823 20,802 -0.1

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 22,763 22,397 20,727 -7.5

7108.12 Gold, nonmonetary, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 31,650 20,754 19,057 -8.2

1201.90 Soybeans, other than seed 21,570 23,855 18,915 -20.7

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 15,861 17,234 18,506 7.4

7102.39 Diamonds, nonindustrial, worked, including polished or drilled 19,095 20,930 18,321 -12.5

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 16,919 17,461 18,149 3.9

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 15,281 15,842 15,693 -0.9

3002.10 Antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products 8,512 11,089 13,282 19.8

9018.90 Instruments and appliances for medical, surgical or veterinary sciences, n.e.s.o.i., and parts and accessories thereof 11,198 11,688 11,844 1.3

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 10,798 10,675 11,782 10.4

8517.12 Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks 9,693 11,208 10,498 -6.3

7113.19 Jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal other than silver 9,088 9,748 9,103 -6.6

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 9,894 9,441 8,983 -4.8

8542.39 Electronic integrated circuits, n.e.s.o.i. 8,888 9,134 8,770 -4.0

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 5,099 12,309 8,739 -29.0

1005.90 Corn (maize), other than seed corn 6,493 10,711 8,389 -21.7

8486.20 Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits 6,067 7,463 8,252 10.6

9701.10 Paintings, drawings and pastels, hand executed works of art, framed or not framed 5,322 7,372 7,861 6.6

8704.31 Motor vehicles for goods transport n.e.s.o.i., with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, gvw not over 5 metric tons 9,023 8,208 7,628 -7.1

8471.50 Digital processing units other than those of 8471.41 and 8471.49, n.e.s.o.i. 6,091 6,629 6,769 2.1

Total of items shown 508,597 533,392 487,323 -8.6

All other products 1,069,842 1,087,140 1,017,274 -6.4

Total of all commodities 1,578,439 1,620,532 1,504,597 -7.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; gvw = gross vehicle weight.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 239

Table A.4 Leading U.S. general imports from the world, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 273,836 246,969 126,065 -49.0

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 82,662 83,891 97,398 16.1

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 61,997 60,191 57,646 -4.2

8517.12 Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks 49,727 53,014 52,707 -0.6

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 33,910 39,526 47,939 21.3

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 29,874 33,453 39,956 19.4

8471.30 Portable digital automatic data processing machines, weight not more than 10 kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, 

keyboard and a display 42,638 41,983 39,148 -6.8

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 52,587 48,802 29,311 -39.9

7102.39 Diamonds, nonindustrial, worked, including polished or drilled 22,852 24,054 23,095 -4.0

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 33,572 27,629 19,679 -28.8

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 16,811 17,755 18,166 2.3

8471.50 Digital processing units other than those of 8471.41 and 8471.49, n.e.s.o.i. 15,260 14,600 17,739 21.5

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 15,486 17,184 16,604 -3.4

8528.72 Reception apparatus for television, color, n.e.s.o.i. 14,456 15,500 15,877 2.4

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 13,109 15,133 14,447 -4.5

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 12,695 13,533 13,571 0.3

9503.00 Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls’ carriages; dolls; other toys; etc. 11,122 12,148 13,523 11.3

8704.31 Motor vehicles for goods transport n.e.s.o.i., with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, gvw not over 5 metric tons 10,470 12,685 13,516 6.6

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 11,260 12,205 13,332 9.2

8802.40 Airplanes and other aircraft n.e.s.o.i., of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kg 9,232 11,750 12,780 8.8

8411.91 Parts of turbojets or turbo propellers 11,197 12,056 12,312 2.1

8471.70 Automatic data processing storage units, n.e.s.o.i. 11,998 11,471 11,066 -3.5

8544.30 Insulated ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets for vehicles, aircraft and ships 8,935 9,828 10,551 7.4

9401.90 Parts of seats (except parts of medical, dentist’, barbers’ and similar seats), n.e.s.o.i. 8,706 9,640 10,313 7.0

7108.12 Gold, nonmonetary, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 14,148 12,817 10,149 -20.8

Total of items shown 868,542 857,815 736,893 -14.1

All other products 1,399,828 1,489,870 1,504,771 1.0

Total of all commodities 2,268,370 2,347,685 2,241,664 -4.5

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; gvw = gross vehicle weight.
Appendix A: Data Tables

240 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.5 U.S. trade with top 15 single-country trading partners, 2015

Rank Country Total exports General imports Total % of total trade

Million $

1 China 116,186 481,881 598,067 16.0

2 Canada 280,017 295,190 575,207 15.4

3 Mexico 236,377 294,741 531,118 14.2

4 Japan 62,472 131,120 193,592 5.2

5 Germany 49,947 124,139 174,086 4.6

6 South Korea 43,499 71,827 115,326 3.1

7 United Kingdom 56,353 57,805 114,158 3.0

8 France 30,077 47,644 77,721 2.1

9 Taiwan 25,929 40,708 66,637 1.8

10 India 21,530 44,741 66,271 1.8

11 Italy 16,249 44,005 60,254 1.6

12 Brazil 31,666 27,405 59,071 1.6

13 Netherlands 40,706 16,752 57,458 1.5

14 Belgium 34,115 19,513 53,628 1.4

15 Switzerland 22,287 31,230 53,517 1.4

Top 15 countries 1,067,409 1,728,703 2,796,112 74.6

All others 437,188 512,961 950,149 25.4

Total 1,504,597 2,241,664 3,746,261 100.0

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 241

Table A.6 Top 15 U.S. single-country export markets, 2015

Rank Country Million $ % of total exports

1 Canada 280,017 18.6

2 Mexico 236,377 15.7

3 China 116,186 7.7

4 Japan 62,472 4.2

5 United Kingdom 56,353 3.7

6 Germany 49,947 3.3

7 South Korea 43,499 2.9

8 Netherlands 40,706 2.7

9 Hong Kong, China 37,174 2.5

10 Belgium 34,115 2.3

11 Brazil 31,666 2.1

12 France 30,077 2.0

13 Singapore 28,657 1.9

14 Taiwan 25,929 1.7

15 Australia 25,038 1.7

Top 15 countries 1,098,212 73.0

All others 406,386 27.0

Total 1,504,597 100.0

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. Exports here are measured in total exports.

Table A.7 Top 15 U.S. single-country import sources, 2015

Rank Country Million $ % of total imports

1 China 481,881 21.5

2 Canada 295,190 13.2

3 Mexico 294,741 13.1

4 Japan 131,120 5.8

5 Germany 124,139 5.5

6 South Korea 71,827 3.2

7 United Kingdom 57,805 2.6

8 France 47,644 2.1

9 India 44,741 2.0

10 Italy 44,005 2.0

11 Taiwan 40,708 1.8

12 Ireland 39,355 1.8

13 Vietnam 37,993 1.7

14 Malaysia 33,828 1.5

15 Switzerland 31,230 1.4

Top 15 countries 1,776,209 79.2

All others 465,455 20.8

Total 2,241,664 100.0

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. Imports here are measured in general imports.
Appendix A: Data Tables

242 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.8 U.S. private services exports to the world, by category, 2013–15 (million dollars) 

Service industry 2013 2014 2015 

% change, 

2014–15

Travel 172,901 177,241 178,297 0.6

Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e. 127,927 130,362 126,210 -3.2

Financial services 84,091 87,290 86,286 -1.2

Professional and management consulting services 55,649 59,487 66,058 11.0

Passenger faresa 41,642 43,516 38,570 -11.4

Technical, trade-related, and other business services 36,965 36,834 35,832 -2.7

Research and development services 29,258 33,192 33,370 0.5

Air transportb 23,881 23,982 22,801 -4.9

Maintenance and repair services, n.i.e. 18,648 22,389 24,123 7.7

Insurance services 17,058 17,417 18,665 7.2

Other 56,928 58,417 59,843 2.4

Total 664,948 690,127 690,055 0.0

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions Data, “Table 3.1. U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016.

Note: Data for 2015 are preliminary. N.i.e. = not indicated elsewhere. a

 Air passenger fares. 

b Air transport includes airport and air freight services. Air passenger fares are reported separately.

Table A.9 U.S. private services imports from the world, by category, 2013–15 (million dollars)

Service industry 2013 2014 2015 

% change, 

2014–15

Travel 104,107 110,787 120,471 8.7 

Insurance services 53,420 50,096 48,331 -3.5

Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e. 38,999 42,124 39,157 -7.0

Professional and management consulting services 34,462 38,163 40,083 5.0 

Sea transporta 36,264 36,254 37,313 2.9 

Passenger faresb 32,029 34,890 35,494 1.7 

Research and development services 30,978 33,048 35,094 6.2 

Technical, trade-related, and other business services 25,949 24,542 26,539 8.1 

Computer services 24,438 24,386 24,919 2.2

Financial services 18,519 19,503 20,134 3.2 

Other 39,201 39,472 41,572 5.3

Total 438,366 453,265 469,108 3.5

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions Data, “Table 3.1. U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016.

Note: Data for 2015 are preliminary. N.i.e. = not indicated elsewhere. a Sea transport includes sea port and sea freight services.

b

 Air passenger fares. 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 243

Table A.10 Antidumping cases active in 2015, by USITC investigation number

USITC 

investigation 

number Product Country of origin

Date of 

institution

USITC

prelim

ITAa

prelim

ITA 

final

USITC

final

Date of final 

actionb

Affirmative = A; Negative = N

731-TA-1245 Calcium hypochlorite China 12/18/2013 A A A A 1/21/2015

731-TA-1246 Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products China 12/31/2013 A A A A 2/5/2015

731-TA-1247 Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products Taiwan 12/31/2013 A A A A 2/5/2015

731-TA-1248 Steel wire rod China 1/31/2014 A A A A 1/2/2015

731-TA-1249 Sugar Mexico 3/28/2014 A A A A 11/6/2015

731-TA-1250 53-foot domestic dry containers China 4/23/2014 A A A N 6/1/2015

731-TA-1252 Steel nails Korea 5/29/2014 A A A A 7/6/2015

731-TA-1253 Steel nails Malaysia 5/29/2014 A A A A 7/6/2015

731-TA-1254 Steel nails Oman 5/29/2014 A A A A 7/6/2015

731-TA-1255 Steel nails Taiwan 5/29/2014 A N A A 7/6/2015

731-TA-1257 Steel nails Vietnam 5/29/2014 A A A A 7/6/2015

731-TA-1258 Passenger vehicle and light truck tires China 6/3/2014 A A A A 8/3/2015

731-TA-1259 Boltless steel shelving units China 8/26/2014 A A A A 10/7/2015

731-TA-1260 Welded line pipe Korea 10/16/2014 A A A A 11/20/2015

731-TA-1261 Welded line pipe Turkey 10/16/2014 A A A A 11/20/2015

731-TA-1262 Melamine China 11/12/2014 A A A A 12/18/2015

731-TA-1263 Melamine Trinidad & Tobago 11/12/2014 A A A N 12/18/2015

731-TA-1264 Uncoated paper Australia 1/21/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1265 Uncoated paper Brazil 1/21/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1266 Uncoated paper China 1/21/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1267 Uncoated paper Indonesia 1/21/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1268 Uncoated paper Portugal 1/21/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1269 Silicomanganese Australia 2/19/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1270 Polyethylene terephthalate resin Canada 3/10/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1271 Polyethylene terephthalate resin China 3/10/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1272 Polyethylene terephthalate resin India 3/10/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1273 Polyethylene terephthalate resin Oman 3/10/2015 A A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1274 Corrosion-resistant steel products China 6/3/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1275 Corrosion-resistant steel products India 6/3/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1276 Corrosion-resistant steel products Italy 6/3/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1277 Corrosion-resistant steel products Korea 6/3/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1278 Corrosion-resistant steel products Taiwan 6/3/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1279 Hydrofluorocarbon blends China 6/25/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1280 Heavy walled rectangular pipe Korea 7/21/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1281 Heavy walled rectangular pipe Mexico 7/21/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1282 Heavy walled rectangular pipe Turkey 7/21/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1283 Cold-rolled steel flat products Brazil 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1284 Cold-rolled steel flat products China 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1285 Cold-rolled steel flat products India 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1286 Cold-rolled steel flat products Japan 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1287 Cold-rolled steel flat products Korea 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)
Appendix A: Data Tables

244 | www.usitc.gov

USITC 

investigation 

number Product Country of origin

Date of 

institution

USITC

prelim

ITAa

prelim

ITA 

final

USITC

final

Date of final 

actionb

731-TA-1288 Cold-rolled steel flat products Netherlands 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1289 Cold-rolled steel flat products Russia 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1290 Cold-rolled steel flat products United Kingdom 7/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1291 Hot-rolled steel flat products Australia 8/11/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1292 Hot-rolled steel flat products Brazil 8/11/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1293 Hot-rolled steel flat products Japan 8/11/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1294 Hot-rolled steel flat products Korea 8/11/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1295 Hot-rolled steel flat products Netherlands 8/11/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1296 Hot-rolled steel flat products Turkey 8/11/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1297 Hot-rolled steel flat products United Kingdom 8/11/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1298 Welded stainless steel pressure pipe India 9/30/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1299 Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe Oman 10/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1300 Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe Pakistan 10/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1301 Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe Philippines 10/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1302 Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe United Arab Emirates 10/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1303 Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe Vietnam 10/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1304 Iron mechanical transfer drive components Canada 10/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1305 Iron mechanical transfer drive components China 10/28/2015 A (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

731-TA-1306 Large residential washers China 12/16/2015 (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

) (

c

)

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.

Note: “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea (South Korea).” a

 “ITA” is the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC). b For cases in which the final action was taken by the ITA, the date shown is the Federal Register notice date of that action. For cases in which the final action was taken by USITC, the date of the 

USITC notification of USDOC is shown.

c Pending as of December 31, 2015.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 245

Table A.11 Antidumping duty orders and suspension agreements in effect as of December 31, 2015

Country Commodity Effective date of original action

Argentina Lemon juice (suspended) Sept. 10, 2007

Belarus Steel concrete reinforcing bar Sept. 7, 2001

Belgium Stainless steel plate in coils May 21, 1999

Brazil Frozen or canned warmwater shrimp and prawns Feb. 1, 2005

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Jan. 28, 2004

Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Oct. 29, 2002

Stainless steel bar Feb. 21, 1995

Circular welded nonalloy steel pipe Nov. 2, 1992

Carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings Dec. 17, 1986

Iron construction castings May 9, 1986

Canada Citric acid and certain citrate salts May 29, 2009

Iron construction castings Mar. 5, 1986

Chile Preserved mushrooms Dec. 2, 1998

China Melamine Dec. 28, 2015

Boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale Oct. 21, 2015

Passenger vehicle and light truck tires Aug. 10, 2015

Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products Feb. 18, 2015

Calcium hypochlorite Jan. 30, 2015

Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Jan. 8, 2015

Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Monosodium glutamate Nov. 26, 2014

Prestressed steel tie wire June 24, 2014

Xanthan gum July 19, 2013

Drawn stainless steel sinks Apr. 11, 2013

Utility-scale wind towers Feb. 15, 2013

Crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells Dec. 07, 2012

High-pressure steel cylinders Jun. 21, 2012

Stilbenic optical brightening agent May 10, 2012

Multilayered wood flooring Dec. 8, 2011

Aluminum extrusions May 26, 2011

Seamless refined copper pipe and tube Nov. 22, 2010

Coated paper Nov. 17 2010

Seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe Nov. 10, 2010

Magnesia carbon bricks Sept. 20, 2010

Narrow woven ribbons Sept. 1, 2010

Steel grating July 23, 2010

Potassium phosphate salts July 22, 2010

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand June 29, 2010

Oil country tubular goods May 21, 2010

Kitchen appliance shelving and racks Sept. 14, 2009

Tow-behind lawn groomers Aug. 3, 2009

Citric acid and certain citrate salts May 29, 2009

Circular welded carbon-quality steel line pipe May 13, 2009

Steel threaded rod April 14, 2009

Circular welded austenitic stainless pressure pipe Mar. 17, 2009

Small-diameter graphite electrodes Feb. 26, 2009

Uncovered innerspring units Feb. 19, 2009

Lightweight thermal paper Nov. 24, 2008

Polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip Nov. 10, 2008

Electrolytic manganese dioxide Oct. 7, 2008

Steel wire garment hangers Oct. 6, 2008

Raw flexible magnets Sept. 17, 2008

Off-the-road tires Sept. 4, 2008

Sodium nitrite Aug. 27, 2008

Laminated woven sacks Aug. 7, 2008

Light-walled rectangular pipe and tube Aug. 5, 2008

Steel nails Aug. 1, 2008

Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe July 22, 2008

Sodium hexametaphosphate Mar. 19, 2008

Certain polyester staple fiber June 1, 2007

Certain activated carbon April 27, 2007

Certain lined paper school supplies Sept. 28, 2006

Artist’s canvas June 1, 2006

Chlorinated isocyanurates June 24, 2005
Appendix A: Data Tables

246 | www.usitc.gov

Country Commodity Effective date of original action

Magnesium April 15, 2005

Tissue paper Mar. 30, 2005

Frozen or canned warmwater shrimp and prawns Feb. 1, 2005

Crepe paper Jan. 25, 2005

Wooden bedroom furniture Jan. 4, 2005

Carbazole violet pigment 23 Dec. 29, 2004

Hand trucks Dec. 2, 2004

Polyethylene retail carrier bags Aug. 9, 2004

Ironing tables Aug. 6, 2004

Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol Aug. 6, 2004

Malleable iron pipe fittings Dec. 12, 2003

Refined brown aluminum oxide Nov. 19, 2003

Barium carbonate Oct. 1, 2003

Polyvinyl alcohol Oct. 1, 2003

Non-malleable cast iron pipe fittings Apr. 7, 2003

Ferrovanadium Jan. 28, 2003

Folding gift boxes Jan. 8, 2002

Honey Dec. 10, 2001

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Nov. 29, 2001

Pure magnesium (granular) Nov. 19, 2001

Foundry coke Sept. 17, 2001

Steel concrete reinforcing bars Sept. 7, 2001

Preserved mushrooms Feb. 19, 1999

Carbon steel plate Oct. 24, 1997

Crawfish tail meat Sept. 15, 1997

Persulfates July 7, 1997

Furfuryl alcohol June 21, 1995

Pure magnesium (ingot) May 12, 1995

Glycine Mar. 29, 1995

Cased pencils Dec. 28, 1994

Silicomanganese Dec. 22, 1994

Paper clips Nov. 25, 1994

Fresh garlic Nov. 16, 1994

Helical spring lock washers Oct. 19, 1993

Sulfanilic acid Aug. 19, 1992

Carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings July 6, 1992

Silicon metal June 10, 1991

Axes and adzes Feb. 19, 1991

Bars and wedges Feb. 19, 1991

Hammers and sledges Feb. 19, 1991

Picks and mattocks Feb. 19, 1991

Tapered roller bearings June 15, 1987

Porcelain-on-steel cooking ware Dec. 2, 1986

Petroleum wax candles Aug. 28, 1986

Iron construction castings May 9, 1986

Barium chloride Oct. 17, 1984

Chloropicrin Mar. 22, 1984

Potassium permanganate Jan. 31, 1984

France Low-enriched uranium Feb. 13, 2002

Brass sheet and strip Mar. 6, 1987

Germany Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Sodium nitrite Aug. 27, 2008

Seamless pipe Aug. 3, 1995

Brass sheet and strip Mar. 6, 1987

India Oil country tubular goods Sept. 10, 2014

Commodity matchbooks Dec. 11, 2009

Certain lined paper school supplies Sept. 28, 2006

Frozen or canned warmwater shrimp and prawns Feb. 1, 2005

Carbazole violet pigment 23 Dec. 29, 2004

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Jan. 28, 2004

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film July 1, 2002

Silicomanganese May 23, 2002

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Dec. 3, 2001

Carbon steel plate Feb. 10, 2000

Preserved mushrooms Feb. 19, 1999
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 247

Country Commodity Effective date of original action

Stainless steel bar Feb. 21, 1995

Stainless steel wire rod Dec. 1, 1993

Sulfanilic acid Mar. 2, 1993

Welded carbon-steel pipe May 12, 1986

Indonesia Monosodium glutamate Nov. 26, 2014

Coated paper Nov. 11, 2010

Polyethylene retail carrier bags May 4, 2010

Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Oct. 29, 2002

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Dec. 3, 2001

Steel concrete reinforcing bars Sept. 7, 2001

Carbon steel plate Feb. 10, 2000

Preserved mushrooms Feb. 19, 1999

Iran Raw in-shell pistachios July 17, 1986

Italy Stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings Feb. 23, 2001

Stainless steel wire rod Sept. 15, 1998

Pasta July 24, 1996

Granular polytetrafluoroethylene resin Aug. 30, 1988

Brass sheet and strip Mar. 6, 1987

Pressure-sensitive plastic tape Oct. 21, 1977

Japan Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated flat-rolled steel products May 29, 2014

Polyvinyl alcohol July 2, 2003

Welded large-diameter line pipe Dec. 6, 2001

Tin- and chromium-coated steel sheet Aug. 28, 2000

Large-diameter seamless pipe June 26, 2000

Small-diameter seamless pipe June 26, 2000

Stainless steel sheet and strip July 27, 1999

Stainless steel wire rod Sept. 15, 1998

Clad steel plate July 2, 1996

Stainless steel bar Feb. 21, 1995

Gray portland cement and clinker May 10, 1991

Brass sheet and strip Aug. 12, 1988

Carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings Feb. 10, 1987

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Dec. 8, 1978

Kazakhstan Silicomanganese May 23, 2002

Korea Welded line pipe Dec. 1, 2015

Steel nails July 13, 2015

Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Oil country tubular goods Sept. 10, 2014

Large residential washers Feb. 15, 2013

Large power transformers Aug. 31, 2012

Light-walled rectangular pipe and tube Aug. 5, 2008

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Jan. 28, 2004

Polyester staple fiber May 25, 2000

Carbon steel plate Feb. 10, 2000

Stainless steel sheet and strip July 27, 1999

Stainless steel plate in coils May 21, 1999

Stainless steel wire rod Sept. 15, 1998

Welded ASTM A-312 stainless steel pipe Dec. 30, 1992

Circular welded non-alloy steel pipe Nov. 2, 1992

Latvia Steel concrete reinforcing bars Sept. 7, 2001

Malaysia Steel nails July 13, 2015

Welded stainless steel pressure pipe July 21, 2014

Polyethylene retail carrier bags Aug. 9, 2004

Stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings Feb. 23, 2001

Mexico Sugar (suspended) Dec. 29, 2014

Steel concrete rebar Nov. 6, 2014

Prestressed steel tie wire June 24, 2014

Large residential washers Feb. 15, 2013

Seamless refined copper pipe and tube Nov. 22, 2010

Magnesia carbon bricks Sept. 20, 2010

Light-walled rectangular pipe and tube Aug. 5, 2008

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Jan. 28, 2004

Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Oct. 29, 2002

Fresh tomatoes (suspended) Nov. 1, 1996
Appendix A: Data Tables

248 | www.usitc.gov

Country Commodity Effective date of original action

Circular welded non-alloy steel pipe Nov. 2, 1992

Moldova Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Oct. 29, 2002

Steel concrete reinforcing bars Sept. 7, 2001

Oman Steel nails July 13, 2015

Philippines Stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings Feb. 23, 2001

Poland Steel concrete reinforcing bars Sept. 7, 2001

Romania Small-diameter seamless pipe Aug. 10, 2000

Russia Silicon metal Mar. 26, 2003

Ammonium nitrate (suspended) May 19, 2000

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products (suspended) July 12, 1999

Carbon steel plate (suspended) Oct. 24, 1997

Uranium (suspended) Oct. 16, 1992

Solid urea July 14, 1987

South Africa Uncovered innerspring units Dec. 11, 2008

Ferrovanadium Jan. 28, 2003

Stainless steel plate in coils May 21, 1999

Spain Chlorinated isocyanurates June 24, 2005

Stainless steel wire rod Sept. 15, 1998

Stainless steel bar Mar. 2, 1995

Sweden Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Taiwan Steel nails July 13, 2015

Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products Feb. 18, 2015

Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Oil country tubular goods Sept. 10, 2014

Steel wire garment hangers Dec. 10, 2012

Stilbenic optical brightening agent May 10, 2012

Narrow woven ribbons Sept. 1, 2010

Polyethylene retail carrier bags May 4, 2010

Raw flexible magnets Sept. 17, 2008

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film July 1, 2002

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Nov. 29, 2001

Polyester staple fiber May 25, 2000

Stainless steel sheet and strip July 27, 1999

Stainless steel plate in coils May 21, 1999

Stainless steel wire rod Sept. 15, 1998

Helical spring lock washers June 28, 1993

Welded ASTM A-312 stainless steel pipe Dec. 30, 1992

Circular welded non-alloy steel pipe Nov. 2, 1992

Light-walled rectangular pipe Mar. 27, 1989

Carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings Dec. 17, 1986

Small-diameter carbon steel pipe May 7, 1984

Thailand Welded stainless steel pressure pipe July 21, 2014

Frozen or canned warmwater shrimp and prawns Feb. 1, 2005

Polyethylene retail carrier bags Aug. 9, 2004

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Jan. 28, 2004

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Nov. 29, 2001

Carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings July 6, 1992

Welded carbon steel pipe Mar. 11, 1986

Trinidad and Tobago Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Oct. 29, 2002

Turkey Welded line pipe Dec. 1, 2015

Oil country tubular goods Sept. 10, 2014

Light-walled rectangular pipe and tube May 30, 2008

Pasta July 24, 1996

Welded carbon steel pipe May 15, 1986

Ukraine Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Nov. 29, 2001

Silicomanganese Sept. 17, 2001

Ammonium nitrate Sept. 12, 2001

Steel concrete reinforcing bars Sept. 7, 2001

Carbon steel plate (suspended) Oct. 24, 1997

Solid urea July 14, 1987

United Arab Emirates Steel nails May 10, 2012

Polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip Nov. 10, 2008

Venezuela Silicomanganese May 23, 2002

Vietnam Steel nails July 13, 2015

Oil country tubular goods Sept. 10, 2014
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 249

Country Commodity Effective date of original action

Welded stainless steel pressure pipe July 21, 2014

Utility-scale wind towers Feb. 15, 2013

Steel wire garment hangers Feb. 5, 2013

Polyethylene retail carrier bags May 4, 2010

Uncovered innerspring units Dec. 11, 2008

Frozen or canned warmwater shrimp and prawns Feb. 1, 2005

Frozen fish fillets Aug. 12, 2003

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.

Note: “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea (South Korea).”
Appendix A: Data Tables

250 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.12 Countervailing duty cases active in 2015, by USITC investigation number

USITC investigation no. Product Country of origin Date of institution USITC prelim ITAa prelim ITA final USITC final Date of final actionb

Affirmative = A; Negative = N; (C) = Not applicable; (d) = Pending;

701-TA-510 Calcium hypochlorite China 12/18/2013 A A A A 1/21/2015

701-TA-511 Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products China 12/31/2013 A A A A 2/5/2015

701-TA-512 Steel wire rod China 1/31/2014 A A A A 1/2/2015

701-TA-513 Sugar Mexico 3/28/2014 A A A A 11/6/2015

701-TA-514 53-foot domestic dry containers China 4/23/2014 A A A N 6/1/2015

701-TA-516 Steel nails Korea 5/29/2014 A N N (

c

) 5/20/2015

701-TA-517 Steel nails Malaysia 5/29/2014 A N N (

c

) 5/20/2015

701-TA-518 Steel nails Oman 5/29/2014 A N N (

c

) 5/20/2015

701-TA-519 Steel nails Taiwan 5/29/2014 A N N (

c

) 5/20/2015

701-TA-521 Steel nails Vietnam 5/29/2014 A A A A 7/6/2015

701-TA-522 Passenger vehicle and light truck tires China 6/3/2014 A A A A 8/3/2015

701-TA-523 Boltless steel shelving units China 8/26/2014 A A A A 10/7/2015

701-TA-524 Welded line pipe Korea 10/16/2014 A N N (

c

) 10/13/2015

701-TA-525 Welded line pipe Turkey 10/16/2014 A A A A 11/20/2015

701-TA-526 Melamine China 11/12/2014 A A A A 12/18/2015

701-TA-527 Melamine Trinidad & Tobago 11/12/2014 A A A N 12/18/2015

701-TA-528 Uncoated paper China 1/21/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-529 Uncoated paper Indonesia 1/21/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-530 Supercalendered paper Canada 2/26/2015 A A A A 12/3/2015

701-TA-531 Polyethylene terephthalate resin China 3/10/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-532 Polyethylene terephthalate resin India 3/10/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-533 Polyethylene terephthalate resin Oman 3/10/2015 A N (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-534 Corrosion-resistant steel products China 6/3/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-535 Corrosion-resistant steel products India 6/3/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-536 Corrosion-resistant steel products Italy 6/3/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-537 Corrosion-resistant steel products Korea 6/3/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-538 Corrosion-resistant steel products Taiwan 6/3/2015 A N (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-539 Heavy walled rectangular welded pipes Turkey 7/21/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-540 Cold-rolled steel flat products Brazil 7/28/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-541 Cold-rolled steel flat products China 7/28/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-542 Cold-rolled steel flat products India 7/28/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-543 Cold-rolled steel flat products Korea 7/28/2015 A N (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-544 Cold-rolled steel flat products Russia 7/28/2015 A A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-545 Hot-rolled steel flat products Brazil 8/11/2015 A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-546 Hot-rolled steel flat products Korea 8/11/2015 A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-547 Hot-rolled steel flat products Turkey 8/11/2015 A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-548 Welded stainless steel pressure pipe India 9/30/2015 A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-549 Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe Pakistan 10/28/2015 A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

701-TA-550 Iron mechanical transfer drive components China 10/28/2015 A (

d

) (

d

) (

d

) (

d

)

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.

Note: “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea (South Korea).” a

 “ITA” is the International Trade Administration of the USDOC. b For cases in which the final action was taken by the ITA, the date shown is the Federal Register notice date of that action. For cases in which the final action was taken by USITC, the date of the 

USITC notification of USDOC is shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 251

Table A.13 Countervailing duty orders and suspension agreements in effect as of December 31, 2015

Country Commodity Effective date of original action

Brazil Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Oct. 22, 2002

Heavy iron construction castings May 15, 1986

Canada Supercalendered paper Dec. 10, 2015

China Melamine Dec. 28, 2015

Boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale Oct. 21, 2015

Passenger vehicle and light truck tires Aug. 10, 2015

Crystalline silicon photovoltaic products Feb. 18, 2015

Calcium hypochlorite Jan. 30, 2015

Carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod Jan. 8, 2015

Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Chlorinated isocyanurates Nov. 13, 2014

Drawn stainless steel sinks April 11, 2013

Utility-scale wind towers Feb. 15, 2013

Crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells Dec. 07, 2012

High pressure steel cylinders Jun. 21, 2012

Multilayered wood flooring Dec. 8, 2011

Aluminum extrusions May 26, 2011

Coated paper Nov. 17, 2010

Seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe Nov. 10, 2010

Magnesia carbon bricks Sept. 21, 2010

Narrow woven ribbons Sept. 1, 2010

Steel grating July 23, 2010

Potassium phosphate salts July 22, 2010

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand July 7, 2010

Oil country tubular goods Jan. 20, 2010

Kitchen appliance shelving and racks Sept. 14, 2009

Citric acid and certain citrate salts May 29, 2009

Welded stainless steel pressure pipe Mar. 19, 2009

Circular welded carbon-quality steel line pipe Jan. 23, 2009

Lightweight thermal paper Nov. 24, 2008

Raw flexible magnets Sept. 17, 2008

Off-the-road tires Sept. 4, 2008

Sodium nitrite Aug. 27, 2008

Laminated woven sacks Aug. 7, 2008

Light-walled rectangular pipe and tube Aug. 5, 2008

Circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe July 22, 2008

India Oil country tubular goods Sept. 10, 2014

Commodity matchbooks Dec. 11, 2009

Lined paper school supplies Sept. 28, 2006

Carbazole violet pigment 23 Dec. 29, 2004

Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Feb. 4, 2004

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film July 1, 2002

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Dec. 3, 2001

Carbon steel plate Feb. 10, 2000

Sulfanilic acid Mar. 2, 1993

Indonesia Coated paper Nov. 17, 2010

Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Dec. 3, 2001

Carbon steel plate Feb. 10, 2000

Iran Roasted in-shell pistachios Oct. 7, 1986

Raw in-shell pistachios Mar. 11, 1986

Italy Pasta July 24, 1996

Korea Large residential washers Feb. 15, 2013

Carbon steel plate Feb. 10, 2000

Stainless steel sheet and strip Aug. 6, 1999

Mexico Sugar (suspended) Dec. 29, 2014

South Africa Stainless steel plate in coils May 11, 1999

Taiwan Non-oriented electrical steel Dec. 3, 2014

Thailand Hot-rolled carbon steel flat products Dec. 3, 2001

Turkey Welded line pipe Dec. 1, 2015

Steel concrete rebar Nov. 6, 2014

Oil country tubular goods Sept. 10, 2014

Pasta July 24, 1996

Welded carbon steel pipe Mar. 7, 1986
Appendix A: Data Tables

252 | www.usitc.gov

Country Commodity Effective date of original action

Vietnam Steel nails July 14, 2015

Steel wire garment hangers Feb. 5, 2013

Polyethylene retail carrier bags May 4, 2010

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.

Note: “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea (South Korea).” 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 253

Table A.14 Reviews of existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders and suspended 

investigations completed in 2015, by date of completion

USITC investigation 

number Product Country of origin Action

Completion 

datea

731-TA-1124 Electrolytic manganese dioxide Australia Revoked 1/9/2015

701-TA-451 Lightweight thermal paper China Continued 1/16/2015

731-TA-1126 Lightweight thermal paper China Continued 1/16/2015

731-TA-1132 Polyethylene terephthalate film China Continued 1/16/2015

731-TA-1134 Polyethylene terephthalate film United Arab Emirates Continued 1/16/2015

731-TA-1153 Tow-behind lawn groomers China Continued 1/22/2015

731-TA-986 Ferrovanadium China Continued 1/28/2015

731-TA-987 Ferrovanadium South Africa Continued 1/28/2015

731-TA-1127 Lightweight thermal paper Germany Revoked 1/30/2015

731-TA-1020 Barium carbonate China Continued 2/2/2015

731-TA-1131 Polyethylene terephthalate film Brazil Revoked 2/6/2015

701-TA-458 Kitchen appliance shelving and racks China Continued 2/24/2015

731-TA-1154 Kitchen appliance shelving and racks China Continued 2/24/2015

701-TA-459 Commodity matchbooks India Continued 4/6/2015

731-TA-1155 Commodity matchbooks India Continued 4/6/2015

731-TA-1046 Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol China Continued 4/6/2015

701-TA-432 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand India Continued 4/10/2015

731-TA-1024 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Brazil Continued 4/10/2015

731-TA-1025 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand India Continued 4/10/2015

731-TA-1026 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Korea Continued 4/10/2015

731-TA-1027 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Mexico Continued 4/10/2015

731-TA-1028 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Thailand Continued 4/10/2015

AA1921-188 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand Japan Continued 4/10/2015

701-TA-463 Oil country tubular goods China Continued 5/7/2015

731-TA-1159 Oil country tubular goods China Continued 5/7/2015

731-TA-1014 Polyvinyl alcohol China Continued 5/12/2015

731-TA-1016 Polyvinyl alcohol Japan Continued 5/12/2015

731-TA-1017 Polyvinyl alcohol Korea Revoked 5/27/2015

731-TA-1013 Saccharin China Revoked 6/9/2015

701-TA-456 Citric acid and certain citrate salts China Continued 6/11/2015

731-TA-1151 Citric acid and certain citrate salts Canada Continued 6/11/2015

731-TA-1152 Citric acid and certain citrate salts Canada Continued 6/11/2015

731-TA-1059 Hand trucks China Continued 7/30/2015

731-TA-1163 Woven electric blankets China Revoked 8/1/2015

731-TA-776 Preserved mushrooms Chile Continued 8/14/2015

731-TA-777 Preserved mushrooms China Continued 8/14/2015

731-TA-778 Preserved mushrooms India Continued 8/14/2015

731-TA-779 Preserved mushrooms Indonesia Continued 8/14/2015

731-TA-1070A Crepe paper China Continued 8/31/2015

731-TA-130 Chloropicrin China Continued 8/31/2015

731-TA-1092 Diamond sawblades China Continued 9/2/2015

731-TA-1047 Ironing tables China Continued 9/28/2015

701-TA-464 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand China Continued 9/28/2015

731-TA-1160 Prestressed concrete steel wire strand China Continued 9/28/2015

731-TA-149 Barium chloride China Continued 10/27/2015

701-TA-465 Steel grating China Continued 10/29/2015

731-TA-1161 Steel grating China Continued 10/29/2015

701-TA-437 Carbazole violet pigment 23 India Continued 11/2/2015

731-TA-1060 Carbazole violet pigment 23 China Continued 11/2/2015

731-TA-1061 Carbazole violet pigment 23 India Continued 11/2/2015

731-TA-753 Cut-to-length carbon steel plate China Continued 12/3/2015

731-TA-754 Cut-to-length carbon steel plate Russia Continued 12/3/2015

731-TA-756 Cut-to-length carbon steel plate Ukraine Continued 12/3/2015

701-TA-473 Potassium phosphate salts China Continued 12/4/2015

731-TA-1173 Potassium phosphate salts China Continued 12/4/2015

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.

Note: “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea (South Korea).” a The completion date shown is the date of the USITC notification of USDOC, except in the case of a revocation where the date shown is the 

date of ITA’s Federal Register notice.
Appendix A: Data Tables

254 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.15 Section 337 investigations and related proceedings completed by the Commission during 

2015 and those pending on December 31, 2015

Status of 

investigation Article Countrya Commission determinationb

Completed

337-TA-055 Certain Novelty Glasses Hong Kong One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order rescinded. 

337-TA-087 Certain Coin-Operated Audio Visual Games and 

Components Thereof

Taiwan, Japan One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order modified.

337-TA-105 Certain Coin-Operated Audio Visual Games and 

Components Thereof (viz., Rally-X and Pac Man)

Taiwan, Japan One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order modified.

337-TA-112 Certain Cube Puzzles Taiwan, Japan One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order modified.

337-TA-287 Certain Strip Lights Taiwan One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order rescinded.

337-TA-295 Certain Novelty Teleidoscopes Hong Kong One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order rescinded.

337-TA-562 Certain Incremental Dental Positioning Adjustment 

Appliances and Methods of Producing Same

British Virgin Islands, 

Pakistan

One related (ancillary) remand 

enforcement proceeding, terminated based 

on a settlement agreement.

337-TA-613 Certain 3G Mobile Handsets and Components Thereof Finland One related (ancillary) remand proceeding; 

terminated based on a finding of no 

violation.

337-TA-723 Certain Inkjet Ink Cartridges with Printheads and 

Components Thereof

Taiwan, Hong Kong, 

China

One related (ancillary) modification 

proceeding; modification denied.

337-TA-744 Certain Mobile Devices, Associated Software, and 

Components Thereof

No foreign 

respondents

One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order rescinded.

337-TA-823 Certain Kinesiotherapy Devices and Components 

Thereof

Sweden, China, 

Netherlands

One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; exclusion order and cease and 

desist orders rescinded.

337-TA-841 Certain Computer and Computer Peripheral Devices 

and Components Thereof and Products Containing the 

Same

Taiwan, Japan, France, 

Korea

One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; consent order rescinded. 

337-TA-883 Certain Opaque Polymers Turkey, Netherlands Issued limited exclusion order and cease 

and desist order.

337-TA-884 Certain Consumer Electronics with Display and 

Processing Capabilities

Japan, Taiwan, China Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-887 Certain Crawler Cranes and Components Thereof China Issued limited exclusion order and cease 

and desist order.

337-TA-888 Certain Silicon Microphone Packages and Products 

Containing Same

China Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-893 Certain Flash Memory Chips and Products Containing 

Same

Taiwan, Japan, Hong 

Kong

Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-895 Certain Multiple Mode Outdoor Grills and Parts Thereof China, Hong Kong Issued limited exclusion order and cease 

and desist orders.

337-TA-897 Certain Optical Disc Drives, Components Thereof, and 

Products Containing the Same

Hong Kong, Korea, 

Japan, Taiwan

Terminated based on a finding of no 

violation.

337-TA-899 Certain Vision-Based Driver Assistance System Cameras 

and Components Thereof

No foreign 

respondents

Terminated based on withdrawal of the 

complaint.

337-TA-907 Certain Vision-Based Driver Assistance System Cameras 

and Components Thereof

No foreign 

respondents

Terminated based on a finding of no 

violation.

337-TA-908 Certain Soft-Edged Trampolines and Components 

Thereof

Australia Terminated based on a finding of no 

violation.

337-TA-909 Certain Non-Volatile Memory Devices and Products 

Containing Same

Thailand, United 

Kingdom, Germany

Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-910 Certain Television Sets, Television Receivers, Television 

Tuners, and Components Thereof

Taiwan, Korea, Japan, 

China

Terminated based on a finding of no 

violation.

337-TA-913 Certain Hemostatic Products and Components Thereof Denmark Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-914 Certain Sulfentrazone, Sulfentrazone Compositions, 

and Processes for Making Sulfentrazone

China Terminated based on a finding of no 

violation.

337-TA-916 Certain Non-Volatile Memory Chips and Products 

Containing the Same

Taiwan, Hong Kong, 

Japan

Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-918 Certain Toner Cartridges and Components Thereof China, Hong Kong, Issued general exclusion order and cease 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 255

Status of 

investigation Article Countrya Commission determinationb

Macau and desist orders.

337-TA-921 Certain Marine Sonar Imaging Devices, Including 

Downscan and Sidescan Devices, Products Containing 

the Same, and Components Thereof

Taiwan Issued limited exclusion order and cease 

and desist orders.

337-TA-922 Certain Devices Containing Non-Volatile Memory and 

Products Containing the Same

United Kingdom, 

Thailand

Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-922 Certain Devices Containing Non-Volatile Memory and 

Products Containing the Same

United Kingdom, 

Thailand

One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; consent order rescinded.

337-TA-923 Certain Loom Kits for Creating Linked Articles China Issued general exclusion order.

337-TA-924 Certain Light Reflectors and Components, Packaging, 

and Related Advertising Thereof

Hong Kong, China Terminated based on withdrawal of the 

complaint.

337-TA-925 Certain Communications or Computing Devices, and 

Components Thereof

Taiwan, Korea Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-926 Certain Marine Sonar Imaging Systems, Products 

Containing the Same, and Components Thereof

Taiwan Issued limited exclusion order and cease 

and desist order.

337-TA-928 Certain Windshield Wipers and Components Thereof Belgium Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-931 Certain Formatted Magnetic Data Storage Tapes and 

Cartridges Containing the Same

Japan Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-932 Certain Consumer Electronics and Display Devices with 

Graphics Processing and Graphics Processing Units 

Therein

Korea Terminated based on a finding of no 

violation.

337-TA-938 Certain Coaxial Cable Connectors and Components 

Thereof and Products Containing Same

No foreign 

respondents

Terminated based on withdrawal of the 

complaint.

337-TA-940 Certain Snowmobiles with Engines Having Exhaust 

Temperature-Controlled Engine Technology and 

Components Thereof

Canada Terminated based on withdrawal of the 

complaint.

337-TA-942 Certain Wireless Devices, Including Mobile Phones and 

Tablets III

Taiwan, Singapore Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-948 Certain Toy Figurines and Toy Sets Containing the Same Canada Terminated based on consent orders and 

settlement agreements.

337-TA-950 Certain Electronic Products, Including Products With 

Near Field Communication (‘‘NFC’’) System-Level 

Functionality and/or Battery Power-Up Functionality, 

Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same

No foreign 

respondents

Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement.

337-TA-955 Certain Protective Cases for Electronic Devices and 

Components Thereof

United Kingdom Terminated based on withdrawal of the 

complaint.

337-TA-960 Certain Toner Supply Containers and Components 

Thereof

Taiwan Terminated based on a consent order.

337-TA-961 Certain Lip Balm Products, Containers for Lip Balm, and 

Components Thereof

China Terminated based on a settlement 

agreement and withdrawal of the

complaint.

Pending

337-TA-698 Certain DC-DC Controllers and Products Containing the 

Same

Hong Kong, Taiwan One related (ancillary) remand 

enforcement proceeding, pending before 

the Commission.

337-TA-854 Certain Two-Way Global Satellite Communication 

Devices, Systems and Components Thereof

No foreign 

respondents

One related (ancillary) rescission 

proceeding; pending before the 

Commission

337-TA-929 Certain Beverage Brewing Capsules, Components 

Thereof, and Products Containing the Same

China, Hong Kong Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-930 Certain Laser Abraded Denim Garments Canada, Italy, Sweden Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-933 Certain Stainless Steel Products, Certain Processes for 

Manufacturing or Relating to Same and Certain 

Products Containing Same

India, Germany, 

Taiwan

Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-934 Certain Dental Implants Brazil Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-935 Certain Personal Transporters, Components Thereof, 

and Manuals Therefor

China Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-936 Certain Footwear Products Canada, Italy, 

Australia, Japan, China 

Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-937 Certain Windshield Wipers and Components Thereof Mexico Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-939 Certain Three-Dimensional Cinema Systems 

and Components Thereof

Korea Pending before the Commission.
Appendix A: Data Tables

256 | www.usitc.gov

Status of 

investigation Article Countrya Commission determinationb

337-TA-941 Certain Graphics Processing Chips, Systems on a Chip, 

and Products Containing the Same

Taiwan, Hong Kong Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-943 Certain Wireless Headsets Japan, Germany, 

Australia, Singapore, 

Ireland, Denmark 

Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-944 Certain Network Devices, Related Software and 

Components Thereof (I)

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-945 Certain Network Devices, Related Software and 

Components Thereof (II)

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-946 Certain Ink Cartridges and Components Thereof China, Hong Kong Pending before the Commission.

337-TA-947 Certain Light-Emitting Diode Products and Components 

Thereof

China, Taiwan Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-949 Certain Audio Processing Hardware and Software and 

Products Containing Same

Taiwan, China, Japan Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-951 Certain Lithium Metal Oxide Cathode Materials, 

Lithium-Ion Batteries for Power Tool Products 

Containing Same, and Power Tools Products With 

Lithium-Ion Batteries Containing Same

Belgium, Japan Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-952 Certain Electronic Devices, Including Wireless 

Communication Devices, Computers, Tablet 

Computers, Digital Media Players, and Cameras

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-953 Certain Wireless Standard Compliant Electronic 

Devices, Including Communication Devices and Tablet 

Computers

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-954 Certain Variable Valve Actuation Devices and 

Automobiles Containing the Same

Mexico, Italy, Serbia, 

United Kingdom

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-956 Certain Recombinant Factor VIII Products Denmark Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-957 Certain Touchscreen Controllers and Products 

Containing the Same

China Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-958 Certain Automated Teller Machines and Point of Sale 

Devices and Associated Software Thereof

Canada Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-959 Certain Electric Skin Care Devices, Brushes and 

Chargers Therefor, and Kits Containing Same

China, Korea, United 

Kingdom, Canada, 

Israel 

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-962 Certain Resealable Packages with Slider Devices No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-963 Certain Activity Tracking Devices, Systems, and 

Components Thereof

Mauritius Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-964 Certain Windscreen Wipers and Components Thereof Mexico Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-965 Certain Table Saws Incorporating Active Injury 

Mitigation Technology and Components Thereof

Germany Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-966 Certain Silicon-on-Insulator Wafers France Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-967 Certain Document Cameras and Software for Use 

Therewith

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-968 Certain Radiotherapy Systems and Treatment Planning 

Software, and Components Thereof

Sweden, United 

Kingdom, Germany, 

China 

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-969 Certain Blood Cholesterol Test Strips and Associated 

Systems Containing Same

Korea Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-970 Certain Height-Adjustable Desk Platforms and 

Components Thereof

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-971 Certain Air Mattress Systems, Components Thereof, 

and Methods of Using the Same

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-972 Certain Automated Teller Machines, ATM Modules, 

Components Thereof, and Products Containing the 

Same

Korea Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-973 Certain Wearable Activity Tracking Devices, Systems, 

and Components Thereof

No foreign 

respondents

Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-974 Certain Aquarium Fittings and Parts Thereof China Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-975 Certain Computer Cables, Chargers, Adapters, 

Peripheral Devices and Packaging Containing the Same

China Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-976 Certain Woven Textile Fabrics and Products Containing 

Same

India Pending before the ALJ.

337-TA-977 Certain Arrowheads With Deploying Blades and China Pending before the ALJ.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 257

Status of 

investigation Article Countrya Commission determinationb

Components Thereof and Packaging Therefor

337-TA-978 Certain Chassis Parts Incorporating Movable Sockets 

and Components Thereof

Canada Pending before the ALJ.

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.

a The country designation is based on the address of the foreign respondents named in the notice of investigation. “Hong Kong” refers to 

“Hong Kong, China;” “Macau” refers to “Macau, China;” and “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea (South Korea).” b ALJ = administrative law judge.
Appendix A: Data Tables

258 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.16 Outstanding section 337 exclusion orders as of December 31, 2015

Investigation no. Article Countrya

Date patent 

expiresb

337-TA-69 Certain Airtight Cast-Iron Stoves Taiwan, Korea Nonpatent

337-TA-87 Certain Coin-Operated Audio-Visual Games and Components Thereof Japan, Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-105 Certain Coin-Operated Audio-Visual Games and Components Thereof 

(viz., Rally-X and Pac-Man)

Japan, Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-112 Certain Cube Puzzles Taiwan, Japan Nonpatent

337-TA-114 Certain Miniature Plug-In Blade Fuses Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-118 Certain Sneakers with Fabric Uppers and Rubber Soles Korea Nonpatent

337-TA-137 Certain Heavy-Duty Staple Gun Tackers Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea Nonpatent

337-TA-152 Certain Plastic Food Storage Containers Hong Kong, Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-167 Certain Single Handle Faucets Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-174 Certain Woodworking Machines Taiwan, South Africa Nonpatent

337-TA-195 Certain Cloisonne Jewelry Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-197 Certain Compound Action Metal Cutting Snips and Components 

Thereof

Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-229 Certain Nut Jewelry and Parts Thereof Philippines, Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-231 Certain Soft Sculpture Dolls, Popularly Known as “Cabbage Patch 

Kids,” Related Literature and Packaging Therefor

No foreign respondents Nonpatent

337-TA-266 Certain Reclosable Plastic Bags and Tubing Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, 

Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia

Nonpatent

337-TA-279 Certain Plastic Light Duty Screw Anchors Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-285 Certain Chemiluminescent Compositions and Components Thereof 

and Methods of Using, and Products Incorporating, the Same

France Nonpatent

337-TA-319 Certain Automotive Fuel Caps and Radiator Caps and Related 

Packaging and Promotional Materials

Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-321 Certain Soft Drinks and Their Containers Colombia Nonpatent

337-TA-378 Certain Asian-Style Kamaboko Fish Cakes Japan Nonpatent

337-TA-380 Certain Agricultural Tractors under 50 Power Take-Off Horsepower Japan Nonpatent

337-TA-424 Certain Cigarettes and Packaging Thereof No foreign respondents Nonpatent

337-TA-440 Certain 4-Androstenediol China July 13, 2018

337-TA-481/491 Certain Display Controllers with Upscaling Functionality and Products 

Containing Same; and Certain Display Controllers and Products 

Containing Same

Taiwan Feb. 24, 2017

337-TA-486 Certain Agricultural Tractors, Lawn Tractors, Riding Lawnmowers, and 

Components Thereof 

China Nonpatent

337-TA-487c Certain Agricultural Vehicles and Components Thereof China, Netherlands, France, 

Germany, Canada

Nonpatent

337-TA-494 Certain Automotive Measuring Devices, Products Containing Same, 

and Bezels for Such Devices

Taiwan Nonpatent

337-TA-498 Certain Insect Traps No foreign respondents Jan. 30, 2018

337-TA-500 Certain Purple Protective Gloves Malaysia Nonpatent

337-TA-505 Certain Gun Barrels Used in Firearms Training Systems Switzerland, Netherlands Aug. 25, 2017

337-TA-512 Certain Light-Emitting Diodes and Products Containing Same Malaysia Sept. 22, 2017

Sept. 22, 2017

Sept. 22, 2017

Sept. 22, 2017

Sept. 22, 2017

July 27, 2018

July 27, 2018

July 27, 2018

337-TA-514 Certain Plastic Food Containers China Dec. 23, 2017

Dec. 23, 2017

337-TA-522 Certain Ink Markers and Packaging Thereof China, India, Korea, Hong Kong Nonpatent

337-TA-539 Certain Tadalafil or Any Salt or Solvate Thereof and Products 

Containing Same 

India, Panama, Haiti, Nicaragua, 

Mexico, Australia

June 12, 2016

337-TA-541 Certain Power Supply Controllers and Products Containing Same Taiwan Sept. 24, 2019

Sept. 24, 2019

337-TA-545 Certain Laminated Floor Panels Canada, China, Malaysia June 10, 2017

June 10, 2017

June 10, 2017

337-TA-549 Certain Ink Sticks for Solid Ink Printers Korea Apr. 29, 2022

Apr. 29, 2022

Apr. 29, 2022

337-TA-557 Certain Automotive Parts Taiwan June 22, 2018
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 259

Investigation no. Article Countrya

Date patent 

expiresb

July 27, 2018

Sept. 28, 2018

Oct. 5, 2018

Oct. 26, 2018

Mar. 1, 2019

Mar. 22, 2019

337-TA-563 Certain Portable Power Stations and Packaging Therefor China Feb. 4, 2017

Nonpatent

337-TA-565 Certain Ink Cartridges and Components Thereof Hong Kong, China, Germany, 

Korea

May 18, 2019

May 18, 2019

Apr. 3, 2022

Aug. 17, 2023

Aug. 26, 2023

337-TA-567 Certain Foam Footwear Canada Mar. 28, 2020

Oct. 3, 2020

337-TA-575 Certain Lighters Hong Kong, China Nonpatent

337-TA-582 Certain Hydraulic Excavators and Components Thereof Canada Nonpatent

337-TA-588 Certain Digital Multimeters, and Products with Multimeter 

Functionality

Hong Kong, China Nonpatent

337-TA-590 Certain Coupler Devices for Power Supply Facilities, Components 

Thereof, and Products Containing Same

Taiwan, Germany, China Aug. 5, 2024

337-TA-603 Certain DVD Players and Recorders and Certain Products Containing 

Same

China, Hong Kong Jan. 30, 2016

337-TA-604 Certain Sucralose, Sweeteners Containing Sucralose, and Related 

Intermediate Compounds Thereof

China, United Kingdom, Hong 

Kong

Oct. 17, 2017

Apr. 18, 2023

337-TA-611 Certain Magnifying Loupe Products and Components Thereof China May 20, 2022

337-TA-615 Certain Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and Products Containing the 

Same

China Nov. 21, 2020

May 3, 2021

Apr. 28, 2025

337-TA-617 Certain Digital Televisions and Certain Products Containing Same 

and Methods of Using Same

Taiwan, Hong Kong, China Apr. 9, 2018

337-TA-629 Certain Silicon Microphone Packages and Products Containing the 

Same

Malaysia June 21, 2021

Sept. 16, 2022

337-TA-637 Certain Hair Irons and Packaging Thereof Singapore, China, Hong Kong Nonpatent

337-TA-643 Certain Cigarettes and Packaging Thereof Moldova, Belize, Singapore, 

Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Gibraltar, 

United Kingdom, Switzerland

Nonpatent

337-TA-644 Certain Composite Wear Components and Products Containing Same India, Italy Aug. 27, 2017

337-TA-650d Certain Coaxial Cable Connectors and Components Thereof and 

Products Containing Same

Taiwan, China Aug. 2, 2017

Jan. 24, 2020

337-TA-655 Certain Cast Steel Railway Wheels, Processes for Manufacturing or 

Relating to Same and Certain Products Containing Same

China Nonpatent

337-TA-678 Certain Energy Drink Products No foreign respondents Nonpatent

337-TA-679 Certain Products Advertised as Containing Creatine Ethyl Ester No foreign respondents Nonpatent

337-TA-691 Certain Inkjet Ink Supplies and Components Thereof China, Hong Kong Mar. 9, 2018

May 11, 2018

337-TA-700 Certain MEMS Devices and Products Containing Same No foreign respondents Jan. 29, 2021

337-TA-718 Certain Electronic Paper Towel Dispensing Devices and Components 

Thereof

Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, 

Turkey

Feb. 9, 2021

Feb. 9, 2021

Mar. 15, 2021

May 27, 2021

337-TA-720 Certain Biometric Scanning Devices, Components Thereof, Associated 

Software, and Products Containing the Same

Korea May 9, 2017

Jan. 16, 2023

337-TA-722 Certain Automotive Vehicles and Designs Therefore China Jan. 3, 2020

337-TA-723 Certain Inkjet Ink Cartridges with Printheads and Components 

Thereof

Taiwan, China, Hong Kong Aug. 30, 2019

July 24, 2020

July 24, 2020

Oct. 30, 2020

Oct. 30, 2020

337-TA-725 Certain Caskets Mexico July 9, 2016

Sept. 13, 2020

337-TA-730 Certain Inkjet Ink Supplies and Components Thereof China Aug. 20, 2023

Oct. 29, 2023
Appendix A: Data Tables

260 | www.usitc.gov

Investigation no. Article Countrya

Date patent 

expiresb

337-TA-739 Certain Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and Products Containing 

Same

China Oct. 21, 2023

337-TA-740 Certain Toner Cartridges and Components Thereof China, Hong Kong, Canada, 

Korea, Macau

Feb. 16, 2016

Feb. 16, 2016

Dec. 20, 2016

Dec. 20, 2016

Dec. 20, 2016

Dec. 20, 2016

Feb. 18, 2018

Sept. 22, 2019 

July 18, 2021

July 15, 2022

July 15, 2022

Apr. 29, 2023

May 21, 2023

Dec. 19, 2024

337-TA-754 Certain Handbags, Luggage, Accessories, and Packaging Thereof China Nonpatent

337-TA-759 Certain Birthing Simulators and Associated Systems China May 8, 2016

May 8, 2016

337-TA-763 Certain Radio Control Hobby Transmitters and Receivers 

and Products Containing Same

China Oct. 18, 2025

Nonpatent

337-TA-780 Certain Protective Cases and Components Thereof China, Hong Kong Sept. 29, 2023

May 11, 2024

June 15, 2024

June 15, 2024

Mar. 22, 2025

Apr. 19, 2025

Jan. 25, 2029

Nonpatent

337-TA-791/826 Certain Electric Fireplaces, Components Thereof, Manuals for Same, 

Certain Processes for Manufacturing or Relating to Same and Certain 

Products Containing Same; and Certain Electric Fireplaces, 

Components Thereof, Manuals for Same, Certain Processes for 

Manufacturing or Relating to Same and Certain Products Containing 

Same

China Nonpatent

337-TA-796 Certain Electronic Digital Media Devices and Components Thereof Korea Sept. 6, 2026

Jan. 5, 2027

337-TA-804 Certain LED Photographic Lighting Devices and Components Thereof China, Taiwan Dec. 7, 2021

Dec. 7, 2021

337-TA-807 Certain Digital Photo Frames and Image Display Devices and 

Components Thereof

Taiwan, Canada, Japan July 6, 2020

Dec. 26, 2020

Oct. 29, 2021

337-TA-829 Certain Toner Cartridges and Components Thereof Vietnam, Mexico, China, Hong 

Kong, Canada

March 26, 2016

March 26, 2016

337-TA-832 Certain Ink Application Devices and Components Thereof 

and Methods of Using the Same

Canada, China Feb. 28, 2020

Sept. 2, 2020

337-TA-849 Certain Rubber Resins and Processes for Manufacturing Same China, Hong Kong, Canada Nonpatent

337-TA-861/867 Certain Cases for Portable Electronic Devices; and Certain Cases for 

Portable Electronic Devices

Taiwan, Hong Kong, China Feb. 6, 2029

337-TA-878 Certain Electronic Devices Having Placeshifting or Display Replication 

Functionality and Products Containing Same

No foreign respondents May 26, 2019

May 26, 2019

June 7, 2025

June 7, 2025

June 7, 2025

May 1, 2029

337-TA-883 Certain Opaque Polymers Turkey, Netherlands Nonpatent

337-TA-887 Certain Crawler Cranes and Components Thereof China May 12, 2027

337-TA-890 Certain Sleep-Disordered Breathing Treatment Systems and 

Components Thereof

China May 11, 2017

Feb. 16, 2018

March 19, 2023
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 261

Investigation no. Article Countrya

Date patent 

expiresb

March 19, 2023

July 20, 2027

337-TA-894 Certain Tires and Products Containing Same China, Thailand June 4, 2016

March 9, 2018

Jan. 19, 2024

March 2, 2024

March 2, 2024

337-TA-895 Certain Multiple Mode Outdoor Grills and Parts Thereof China May 4, 2027

337-TA-918 Certain Toner Cartridges and Components Thereof China, Hong Kong, Macau Dec. 26, 2027

Dec. 26, 2027

Dec. 26, 2027

Dec. 26, 2027

March 24, 2028

337-TA-919 Certain Archery Products and Related Marketing Materials China March 30, 2018

Jan. 15, 2023

Nonpatent

337-TA-921 Certain Marine Sonar Imaging Devices, Including Downscan and 

Sidescan Devices, Products Containing Same, and Components 

Thereof

Taiwan July 14, 2019

July 14, 2029

337-TA-923 Certain Loom Kits for Creating Linked Articles China Dec. 15, 2031

337-TA-926 Certain Marine Sonar Imaging Systems, Products Containing the 

Same, and Components Thereof

Taiwan Aug. 2, 2025

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.

a This column lists the countries of the foreign respondents named in the notice of investigation. “Hong Kong” refers to “Hong Kong, 

China;” “Macau” refers to “Macau, China;” and “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea.” b Multiple dates indicate the expiration dates of separate patents within the investigation.

c

There are three outstanding exclusion orders in inv. no. 337-TA-487. d There are two outstanding exclusion orders in inv. no. 337-TA-650.
Appendix A: Data Tables

262 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.17 U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by source, 2013–15

Source 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Thousand $

India 4,222,990 4,445,068 4,478,654 0.8

Thailand 3,335,700 3,491,637 3,549,138 1.6

Brazil 2,290,603 1,899,126 1,899,125 0.0

Indonesia 1,835,159 1,683,443 1,659,225 -1.4

Philippines 1,267,828 1,329,448 1,357,773 2.1

Turkey 1,215,588 1,139,228 1,194,293 4.8

South Africa 1,090,017 1,364,540 1,137,265 -16.7

Ecuador 183,662 291,046 315,653 8.5

Tunisia 146,534 81,009 203,248 150.9

Pakistan 224,766 160,011 179,262 12.0

Sri Lanka 158,439 178,512 174,850 -2.1

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 50,155 96,618 111,010 14.9

Kazakhstan 100,431 213,705 104,377 -51.2

Bolivia 157,112 100,995 100,879 -0.1

Venezuela 110,262 90,751 94,370 4.0

Georgia 107,444 151,597 88,733 -41.5

Uruguay 92,184 76,624 86,587 13.0

Egypt 70,853 67,152 69,508 3.5

Cambodia 41,085 55,922 68,945 23.3

Paraguay 79,579 60,533 66,306 9.5

Côte d’Ivoire 84,655 71,881 59,789 -16.8

Serbia 36,015 38,629 48,911 26.6

Zimbabwe 5,795 50,685 46,077 -9.1

Armenia 86,784 81,323 45,693 -43.8

Lebanon 56,274 40,196 43,024 7.0

Subtotal, top 25 GSP beneficiaries in 2015 17,049,912 17,259,680 17,182,696 -0.4

All other beneficiaries 1,454,514 1,444,324 227,477 -84.3

Total U.S. imports for consumption under GSP 18,504,426 18,704,004 17,410,173 -6.9

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 263

Table A.18 Value of U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by USITC digest sector, 

2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 2,965 2,643 2,933 10.9

2 Forest products 600 643 680 5.8

3 Chemicals and related products 3,700 3,529 3,331 -5.6

4 Energy-related products 711 846 0 -100.0

5 Textiles and apparel 569 524 570 8.9

6 Footwear 4 10 7 -28.5

7 Minerals and metals 3,909 4,175 3,473 -16.8

8 Machinery 2,092 2,287 2,033 -11.1

9 Transportation equipment 1,684 1,786 2,091 17.1

10 Electronic products 959 1,076 1,030 -4.3

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 1,311 1,186 1,262 6.4

Total U.S. imports for consumption under GSP 18,504 18,704 17,410 -6.9

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.19 Share of U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by USITC digest sector, 

2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

Percent of eligible imports

1 Agricultural products 16.0 14.1 16.8

2 Forest products 3.2 3.4 3.9

3 Chemicals and related products 20.0 18.9 19.1

4 Energy-related products 3.8 4.5 0.0

5 Textiles and apparel 3.1 2.8 3.3

6 Footwear 0.0 0.1 0.0

7 Minerals and metals 21.1 22.3 19.9

8 Machinery 11.3 12.2 11.7

9 Transportation equipment 9.1 9.5 12.0

10 Electronic products 5.2 5.8 5.9

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 7.1 6.3 7.3

Total U.S. imports for consumption under GSP 100.0 100.0 100.0

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Appendix A: Data Tables

264 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.20 Leading U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under GSP, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

7113.19 Jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal other than silver 334 267 337 26.2

2202.90 Nonalcoholic beverages, n.e.s.o.i. (including milk-based drinks and nonalcoholic beer) 184 228 274 20.0

8415.90 Parts, n.e.s.o.i., of air conditioning machines 262 381 263 -31.1

7202.41 Ferrochromium, containing more than 4% (wt.) carbon 320 458 259 -43.4

4015.19 Gloves, except surgical and medical gloves, of vulcanized rubber, n.e.s.o.i. 238 208 242 16.3

7606.12 Aluminum alloy rectangular (including square) plates, sheets and strip, over 0.2 mm thick 266 274 222 -19.1

8708.94 Steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes for motor vehicles 125 157 212 34.9

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 206 202 201 -0.6

2106.90 Food preparations n.e.s.o.i. 211 203 198 -2.5

6802.99 Worked monumental or building stone n.e.s.o.i., of stone n.e.s.o.i. 196 181 186 3.0

7202.30 Ferrosilicon manganese 172 293 178 -39.1

4412.31 Plywood consisting solely of sheets of wood (excl. bamboo), each ply not exceeding 6 mm in thickness, trop wd spec in subhead nt 1 145 159 176 10.8

8483.10 Transmission shafts (including camshafts and crankshafts) and cranks 134 138 174 26.7

6802.91 Worked monumental or building stone n.e.s.o.i., of marble, travertine and alabaster 123 135 174 28.9

8481.80 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves, n.e.s.o.i. 145 191 164 -13.8

2008.99 Fruit and other edible parts of plants, n.e.s.o.i., prepared or preserved, whether or not containing added sweetening or spirit, 

n.e.s.o.i. 150 165 164 -0.4

4011.10 New pneumatic tires, of rubber, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars) 347 186 163 -12.6

7323.93 Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of stainless steel 134 139 162 16.0

8409.99 Parts for use with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines, n.e.s.o.i. 101 126 157 24.3

8708.70 Road wheels and parts and accessories thereof for motor vehicles 118 113 146 28.8

9001.50 Spectacle lenses of materials other than glass 128 139 146 4.6

1509.10 Olive oil and its fractions, virgin, not chemically modified 115 47 142 204.7

8501.10 Electric motors of an output not exceeding 37.5 w 90 109 141 29.1

7801.10 Refined lead, unwrought 36 175 131 -25.1

7403.11 Refined copper cathodes and sections of cathodes 130 106 124 16.5

Total of items shown 4,410 4,780 4,736 -0.9

All other HTS products 14,094 13,924 12,677 -9.0

Total of all commodities 18,504 18,704 17,410 -6.9

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; trop wd = tropical wood.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 265

Table A.21 U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under AGOA, by source, 2013–15

Source 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Thousand $

Angola 6,000,958 3,539,542 1,830,054 -48.3

South Africa 2,578,496 1,750,301 1,727,143 -1.3

Chad 2,397,799 1,632,682 1,478,697 -9.4

Nigeria 10,818,897 2,798,015 1,403,195 -49.9

Kenya 336,601 417,136 427,437 2.5

Lesotho 320,807 288,889 299,314 3.6

Congo, Republic of 1,039,454 360,168 254,572 -29.3

Mauritius 188,260 218,173 206,906 -5.2

Gabon 924,951 607,486 167,003 -72.5

Ethiopia 31,714 35,675 40,780 14.3

Malawi 47,084 57,386 40,232 -29.9

Madagascar (

a

) 42 39,831 93723.2

Tanzania 10,360 17,486 28,166 61.1

Senegal 11 24 15,544 65803.6

Ghana 60,489 57,046 9,655 -83.1

Botswana 5,856 9,458 8,251 -12.8

Côte d’Ivoire 229 555 530 -4.5

Cape Verde 146 333 523 57.0

Djibouti 0 411 464 12.7

Rwanda 9 187 435 132.5

Mozambique 1,362 802 284 -64.6

Zambia 8 36 265 643.4

Uganda 56 59 144 143.3

Cameroon 36,427 23,005 53 -99.8

Mali (

a

) 6 14 137.7

Togo 0 3 11 308.7

Guinea 6 0 4 (

b

)

Burkina Faso 7 10 3 -74.6

Swaziland 53,940 59,076 (

a

) -100.0

Niger (

c

) 2 0 -100.0

Total U.S. imports for consumption under AGOA 24,853,927 11,873,995 7,979,510 -32.8

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

a Neither Madagascar nor Mali were AGOA eligible in 2013, and Swaziland was not AGOA eligible in 2015.

b Undefined.

c

Less than $500.
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266 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.22 Leading U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under AGOA, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 20,039 7,919 4,814 -39.2

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 2,098 1,298 1,344 3.5

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 771 580 278 -52.0

6203.42 Men’s or boys’ trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts of cotton, not knitted or crocheted 140 166 179 7.9

6205.20 Men’s or boys’ shirts of cotton, not knitted or crocheted 149 148 148 0.0

6110.30 Sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, vests and similar articles of manmade fibers, knitted or crocheted 99 98 102 3.9

0802.62 Macadamia nuts, shelled, fresh or dried 52 71 101 42.3

6104.63 Women’s or girls’ trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts of synthetic fibers, knitted or crocheted 84 84 98 16.3

7202.11 Ferromanganese, containing more than 2% (wt.) carbon 180 183 89 -51.4

6204.62 Women’s or girls’ trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts of cotton, not knitted or crocheted 88 95 88 -6.4

6105.20 Men’s or boys’ shirts of manmade fibers, knitted or crocheted 49 53 60 14.7

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 465 514 55 -89.2

6109.90 T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, of textile materials n.e.s.o.i., knitted or crocheted 40 53 47 -11.1

0805.10 Oranges, fresh 51 41 46 12.7

3823.70 Industrial fatty alcohols 61 46 42 -9.1

2204.21 Wine of fresh grapes (other than sparkling wine) and grape must with fermentation prevented, etc. by adding alcohol, containers of 

not over 2 liters 33 33 35 4.3

6204.63 Women’s or girls’ trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts of synthetic fibers, not knitted or crocheted 30 36 32 -12.1

6103.43 Men’s or boys’ trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts of synthetic fibers, knitted or crocheted 28 32 31 -2.8

2401.20 Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped 37 48 26 -46.7

6104.53 Women’s or girls’ skirts and divided skirts of synthetic fibers, knitted or crocheted 5 14 21 49.5

6104.62 Women’s or girls’ trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts of cotton, knitted or crocheted 22 19 21 10.9

6203.43 Men’s or boys’ trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts of synthetic fibers, not knitted or crocheted 8 15 19 30.5

6110.20 Sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, vests and similar articles of cotton, knitted or crocheted 27 28 19 -32.1

8111.00 Manganese and articles thereof, including waste and scrap 23 25 19 -25.8

2207.10 Ethyl alcohol, un-denatured, of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher 17 17 16 -7.0

Total of items shown 24,597 11,615 7,730 -33.4

All other HTS products 257 258 249 -3.6

Total of all commodities 24,854 11,874 7,980 -32.8

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 267

Table A.23 U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under CBERA, by source, 2013–15

Source 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Thousand $

Trinidad and Tobago 1,640,709 1,234,474 828,770 -32.9

Haiti 362,266 405,395 433,516 6.9

Bahamas 141,654 158,191 88,416 -44.1

Jamaica 90,231 71,768 81,220 13.2

Belize 104,777 60,582 36,895 -39.1

Guyana 4,532 11,857 35,004 195.2

Barbados 2,081 5,295 22,570 326.3

St. Kitts and Nevis 18,933 18,341 12,334 -32.8

Grenada 295 443 1,717 288.0

St. Lucia 3,210 1,162 1,263 8.7

Aruba 18 75 93 24.5

Antigua and Barbuda 24 19 79 314.6

Dominica 170 66 77 16.1

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 141 182 16 -91.4

British Virgin Islands 103 50 9 -82.3

Sint Maartena 5,365 3 -100.0

Curaçaoa 0 0 (

b

)

Monserrat 0 0 0 (

b

)

Total U.S. imports for consumption under CBERA 2,369,144 1,973,267 1,541,980 -21.9

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 

a The Netherlands Antilles no longer exists, but CBERA trade is reported for one portion of the Netherlands Antilles that includes Sint 

Maarten in 2014–15. Eligibility for Sint Maarten itself has not been implemented. Curaçao, the other part of the Netherlands Antilles, was 

a designated CBERA beneficiary in 2014–15, but no CBERA trade was reported. b Undefined.
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Table A.24 Leading U.S. imports for consumption claiming eligibility under CBERA, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

2905.11 Methanol (methyl alcohol) 1172 1024 649 -36.6

6109.10 T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments of cotton, knitted or crocheted 209 247 272 9.9

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 371 192 145 -24.7

6110.20 Sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, vests and similar articles of cotton, knitted or crocheted 118 121 121 -0.1

3903.11 Polystyrene, expandable, in primary forms 140 156 87 -44.2

1701.14 Other cane sugar, raw, in solid form, raw, not containing added flavoring or coloring matter, n.e.s.o.i 0 20 28 42.5

7108.13 Gold, nonmonetary, semimanufactured forms n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) (

a

) (

a

) 21 23112.5

0714.30 Yams, (dioscorea spp.), fresh, chilled, frozen, or dried) 17 18 20 11.9

9030.33 Instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking voltage, current, resistance or power, with a recording device (excluding

multimeters), n.e.s.o.i. 0 0 18 4191.8

6109.90 T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, of textile materials n.e.s.o.i, knitted or crocheted 11 13 18 30.1

0804.50 Guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, fresh or dried 12 13 14 7.1

2106.90 Food preparations n.e.s.o.i. 8 10 13 37.5

2103.90 Sauces and preparations therefor, n.e.s.o.i; mixed condiments and mixed seasonings 11 14 13 -6.4

0807.20 Papayas (papaws), fresh 12 8 8 2.1

2009.19 Orange juice, other than frozen, whether or not sweetened 5 7 8 18.4

2009.11 Orange juice, frozen, whether or not sweetened 7 9 6 -34.3

2008.99 Fruit and other edible parts of plants, n.e.s.o.i, prepared or preserved, whether or not containing added sweetening or spirit, n.e.s.o.i. 5 5 5 4.8

2933.61 Melamine 17 17 4 -75.0

2202.90 Nonalcoholic beverages, n.e.s.o.i. (including milk-based drinks and nonalcoholic beer) 4 4 4 5.5

2005.99 Vegetables, and mixtures of vegetables prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar, acetic acid or sugar, not frozen 5 4 4 2.8

0406.30 Cheese, processed, not grated or powdered 2 3 4 31.8

8525.50 Transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television 11 10 4 -62.8

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 0 0 4 (

b

)

8504.31 Electrical transformers n.e.s.o.i., having a power handing capacity not exceeding 1 kva (

a

) (

a

) 3 1612.7

1006.30 Rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed 0 1 3 111.9

Total of items shown 2,137 1,897 1,475 -22.2

All other HTS products 232 77 67 -13.2

Total of all commodities 2,369 1,973 1,542 -21.9

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; kva = kilovolt-amps. a Less than $500,000.

b Undefined.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 269

Table A.25 WTO dispute settlement cases to which the United States was a party, developments in 

2015

Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

DS217 United States—Continued 

Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act 

of 2000 (Byrd Amendment)

Australia, Brazil, 

Chile, European 

Communities 

(EC), India, 

Indonesia, Japan, 

Korea, Thailand

Complaining parties request consultations (12/21/00).

Panel is established (08/23/01) and composed (10/25/01).

Panel report is circulated (09/16/02).

U.S. notifies Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) it will appeal panel decision 

(10/18/02).

Appellate Body report is circulated (01/16/03).

Arbitrator finds that U.S. has failed to implement the DSB 

recommendations and rulings (01/15/04).

Arbitrator circulates decisions relating to level of suspension of concessions 

to offset U.S. Byrd Amendment distributions (08/31/04).

Authority to retaliate granted (11/26/04, 12/17/04).

DSB authorizes or takes note of various requests or agreements to suspend 

concessions (2004–05).

U.S. states at DSB meeting that recent changes bring U.S. law into 

conformity with its WTO obligations (02/17/06).

Japan and EC notify DSB annually of the new list of products on which the 

additional import duty would apply, prior to the entry into force of a level 

of suspension of concessions (2006–14).

Japan notifies DSB that as the level of authorization was marginal, no 

suspension of concessions would be applied for the tenth year starting 

September 1, 2014 (08/18/14).

Japan notifies the DSB that it will continue its non-application of the 

suspension of concessions because the authorized level continues to be 

marginal (09/18/15).

DS316 European Communities—

Measures Affecting Trade in 

Large Civil Aircraft

United States U.S. requests consultations with EC (10/06/04).

Panel is established (07/20/05) and composed (10/17/05).

Panel report is circulated (06/30/10).

European Union (EU) notifies DSB it will appeal decision to Appellate Body 

(07/21/10); U.S. does the same (08/19/10).

Appellate Body report is circulated (05/18/11).

DSB adopts Appellate Body and panel reports (06/01/11).

EU informs DSB it intends to implement DSB recommendation (06/17/11).

EU informs DSB it has taken steps to bring its measures into conformity 

with obligations (12/01/11).

U.S. requests consultations with EU under Article 21.5 and requests 

authority to take countermeasures (12/09/11).

EU objects to requested level of U.S. measures and requests matter be 

referred to arbitration under Article 22.6; DSB refers to arbitration 

(12/22/11).

U.S. and EU request arbitrator to suspend work (01/19/12).

Arbitrator suspends work until either party requests resumption 

(01/20/12).

DS322 United States—Measures 

Relating to Zeroing and Sunset 

Reviews

Japan Japan requests consultations (11/24/04).

Panel is established (02/28/05) and composed (04/15/05).

Panel report is circulated (09/20/06).

Japan informs the DSB it will appeal the decision (10/11 /06); U.S. informs 

the DSB it will also appeal (10/23/06).

Appellate Body report is circulated (01/9/07).

DSB adopts Appellate Body and panel reports (01/23/07).

Implementation of adopted reports. Japan asks that a reasonable period of 

time for implementation be determined by binding arbitration pursuant to 

Article 21.3(c) of the DSU (03/29/07); DSB appoints arbitrator ((04/27/07). 

U.S. and Japan inform DSB they have agreed on a reasonable period of 

time, expiring December 24, 2007, and no longer seek to have the 

reasonable period of time determined through binding arbitration 

(05/04/07). 

Compliance proceedings. Japan requests establishment of a compliance 

panel (04/07/08), and DSB refers to the original panel (04/18/08). Article 

21.5 compliance panel report is circulated (04/24/09). U.S. notifies DSB it 

will appeal compliance panel decision to the Appellate Body (05/20/09). 

Article 21.5 Appellate Body report is circulated (08/18/09), and the DSB 
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Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

adopts Appellate Body and compliance panel reports (08/31/09).

Proceedings under Article 22 of the DSU (remedies). Japan seeks 

authorization to suspend concessions pursuant to Article 22.2 of the DSU 

(01/10/08). U.S. objects to the level of suspension and requests the matter 

be referred to arbitration under Article 22.6 of the DSU (01/18/08). The DSB 

agrees to refer to arbitration (01/21/08). U.S. and Japan ask arbitrator to 

suspend work (06/06/08); Japan asks arbitrator to resume (04/23/10); U.S. 

and Japan ask arbitrator to suspend work (12/15/10); and U.S. and Japan 

inform the DSB of a memorandum of understanding regarding the dispute 

(02/06/12). Japan withdraws request for authorization to suspend

concessions/obligations under Article 22.6 after U.S. completes steps 

notified to the DSB in February 2012 (08/03/12). Arbitrator informs DSB, 

following receipt of request from Japan and U.S., that no award is 

necessary, that it is not necessary to issue a decision, and that work is 

considered completed (08/14/12).

DS350 United States—Continued 

Existence and Application of 

Zeroing Methodology

European 

Communities

EC requests consultations (10/02/06).

Panel is established (06/04/07) and composed (07/06/07). 

Panel report is circulated (10/01/08).

EC (11/06/08) and U.S. (11/18/08) notify DSB of decision to appeal.

Appellate Body report is circulated (02/04/09); DSB adopts Appellate Body 

and panel reports (02/19/09).

U.S. and EC agree that a reasonable period for the U.S. to implement the 

DSB’s recommendations and rulings is December, 19, 2009 (06/02/09).

EU and U.S. notify the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 22 

(01/04/10).

EU and U.S. inform the DSB of a memorandum between the U.S. and 

European Commission which envisages a roadmap addressing the dispute 

(02/06/12).

DS353 United States—Measures 

Affecting Trade in Large Civil 

Aircraft—Second Complaint

European 

Communities

EC requests consultations (06/27/05).

Panel is established (02/17/06) and composed (11/22/06).

Panel chairman informs DSB multiple times that panel needs additional 

time to complete work in light of complexities of the dispute (05/18/07, 

07/11/08, 12/16/09, 07/07/10).

Panel report is circulated (03/31/11).

EU notifies DSB that it will appeal the decision to the Appellate Body 

(04/01/11); the U.S. also notifies its decision to appeal (04/28/11).

Appellate Body report is circulated (03/12/12); DSB adopts Appellate Body 

and panel reports (03/23/12).

U.S. informs DSB it intends to implement DSB recommendations and rulings 

(04/13/12).

EU and U.S. inform DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 22 of 

DSU and Article 7 of SCM Agreement (04/24/12).

U.S. notifies DSB of withdrawal of subsidies and removal of adverse effects 

in this dispute, and that it fully complies with DSB recommendations and 

rulings (09/23/12).

Compliance proceedings: EU requests consultations under Article 21.5 

(09/25/12), and then requests establishment of a compliance panel 

(10/11/12). A compliance panel is composed (10/30/12). The chair initially 

informs the DSB that, due to the scale and complexity of the dispute, the 

panel expects to circulate its report within the first half of 2014 (01/15/13). 

The chair later informs the DSB that the panel does not expect to complete 

its work before mid-2015 (05/27/14).

Countermeasures: EU requests authority to take countermeasures under 

Article 22 of the DSU and Articles 4, 10, and 7.9 of the SCM Agreement 

(09/27/12). The U.S. objects to the level of suspension of concessions and 

other obligations, and refers the matter to arbitration under Article 22.6 of 

the DSU (10/22/12). At the DSB meeting it is agreed to refer the matter to 

arbitration (10/23/10). The U.S. and EU later ask the arbitrator to suspend 

arbitration proceedings (11/27/12), and the arbitrator suspends 

proceedings (11/28/12).

DS363 China—Measures Affecting 

Trading Rights and Distribution 

Services for Certain Publications 

and Audiovisual Entertainment 

Products

United States U.S. requests consultations with China (04/10/07).

Panel is established (11/27/07) and composed (03/27/08).

Panel report is circulated (08/12/09).

China (09/22/09) and U.S. (10/05/09) notify the DSB of their respective 

decisions to appeal the panel decision to the Appellate Body.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 271

Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

Appellate Body report is circulated (12/21/09).

DSB adopts Appellate Body and panel reports (01/19/10).

China and U.S. inform DSB that they have agreed that a reasonable period 

for China to implement the DSB recommendations and rulings is by March 

14, 2011 (07/12/10).

China reports to DSB that it has made efforts to implement DSB 

recommendations and rulings, but the U.S. expresses concern about lack of 

progress by China (03/25/11).

U.S. and China inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 

22 of the DSU (04/13/11).

China reports to the DSB it has completed amendments to most measures 

and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. (02/22/12).

China tells the DSB that it has ensured full implementation of DSB 

recommendations and rulings except for measures concerning films for 

theatrical release. U.S. states that it is not in a position to agree that China 

has fully implemented DSB recommendations and rulings in all areas except 

films for theatrical release (03/23/12).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB of key elements relating to theatrical 

release as set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) noted at 

the Feb. 22, 2012, DSB meeting (05/09/12).

China tells DSB it has taken all necessary steps and has complied with DSB 

recommendations. U.S. says that MOU represented significant progress but 

not a final resolution (05/24/12).

DS379 United States—Definitive AntiDumping and Countervailing 

Duties on Certain Products from 

China

China China requests consultations with U.S. (09/19/08).

Panel is established (01/20/09) and composed (03/04/09).

Panel report is circulated (10/22/10).

China notifies DSB it will appeal the panel’s decision to the Appellate Body 

(12/01/10).

Appellate Body report is circulated (03/11/11).

DSB adopts Appellate Body and panel reports (03/25/11).

China and the U.S. inform DSB that they have agreed that a reasonable time 

for the U.S. to implement the DSB’s recommendations and rulings is 

February 25, 2012 (07/05/11).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB that they have modified the reasonable 

time period, with the period to expire April 25, 2012 (01/17/12).

China and U.S. notify the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 

22 of the DSU (05/11/12).

U.S. tells the DSB it has brought the measures at issue into full compliance 

with DSB recommendations and rulings (08/31/12); however, China says 

that it does not agree with the U.S. claim to such effect (09/28/12).

DS381 United States—Measures 

Concerning the Importation, 

Marketing and Sale of Tuna and 

Tuna Products

Mexico Mexico requests consultations with the U.S. (10/24/08).

Panel is established (04/20/09) and composed (12/14/09).

Panel chairman informs DSB panel expects to issue report in February 2011 

(06/15/10).

Parties agree on new panel member following death of one member 

(08/12/10).

Panel report is circulated (09/15/11).

U.S. notifies the DSB of its decision to appeal the panel’s decision 

(01/20/12); Mexico does the same (01/25/12).

Appellate Body report is circulated (05/16/12); DSB adopted the Appellate 

Body and panel reports (06/13/12).

U.S. states that it intends to implement the DSB recommendations and 

rulings (06/25/12), and the U.S. and Mexico inform the DSB that they have 

agreed that a reasonable period of time to do so is by July 13, 2013 

(09/17/12).

U.S. advises DSB that it has made effective a final rule amending dolphinsafe labelling requirements, bringing its requirements into compliance 

(07/23/13).

Mexico and U.S. inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 

22 of the DSU (08/02/13).

Compliance proceedings. Mexico requests establishment of a compliance 

panel (11/14/13); DSB agrees to refer to the original panel (01/22/14); 

panel is composed (01/27/14).

Compliance panel report circulated to members (04/14/15).

U.S. notifies the DSB of decision to appeal certain issues of law covered in 
Appendix A: Data Tables

272 | www.usitc.gov

Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

the compliance panel report (06/05/15); Mexico files an appeal in the same 

dispute (06/10/15).

Appellate Body report is circulated to members (11/20/15).

DSB adopts Article 21.5 Appellate Body reports and panel reports, as 

modified by Appellate Body reports (12/03/15).

DS384 United States—Certain Country 

of Origin Labelling (COOL) 

Requirements 

Canada Canada requests consultations with the U.S. (12/01/08).

Single panel is established to examine this dispute and DS386 (11/19/09); 

panel composed (05/10/10).

Panel report is circulated (11/18/11).

U.S. notifies the DSB that it will appeal the decision to the Appellate Body 

(03/23/12), and Canada notifies the DSB it will do the same (03/28/12).

Appellate Body report is circulated (06/29/12); the DSB adopts the 

Appellate Body and panel reports (07/23/12).

Reasonable period of time, arbitration. U.S. informs DSB it intends to 

implement DSB recommendations and rulings and will need a reasonable 

period of time to do so (08/21/12). Canada requests that reasonable time 

to implement be determined through binding arbitration (09/13/12), and 

requests that the Director-General appoint an arbitrator (09/26/12); 

arbitrator appointed (10/04/12). Arbitrator determines that the reasonable 

time is by May 23, 2013 (12/04/12). U.S. informs DSB that USDA has issued 

a final rule that brings U.S. labelling requirements into compliance 

(05/24/13). Canada disagrees that changes bring U.S. requirements into 

compliance, and the U.S. and Canada inform DSB of agreed procedures 

under Articles 21 and 22 of DSU (06/10/13).

Compliance proceedings. Canada requests establishment of a compliance 

panel (08/19/13); DSB refers to original panel if possible (09/25/13); 

compliance panel composed (09/27/13) to review matters in DS384 and 

DS386. Compliance panel issues report finding violation in this dispute and 

DS386 (10/20/14). United States notifies the DSB it will appeal decision to 

the Appellate Body (11/28/14). Canada files appeal (12/12/14).

Compliance Appellate Body report is circulated to members (05/18/15).

DSB adopts Article 21.5 Appellate Body reports and panel reports, as 

modified by Appellate Body reports (05/29/15).

Canada requests authorization from DSB to suspend, pursuant to Article 

22.2 of the DSU, application of certain tariff concessions and related 

obligations to U.S. under the GATT 1994 (06/04/15).

U.S. objects to level of suspension of concessions and obligations proposed 

by Canada (06/16/15).

DSB takes note that the matter has been referred to arbitration as required 

under Article 22.6 of the DSU ((06/17/15).

Decision of arbitrator is circulated to members (12/07/15).

Canada requests authorization from DSB to suspend application of certain 

tariff concessions and related obligations to the U.S. under the GATT 1994 

in the amount of CAD $1,054,729 on an annual basis (12/07/15).

DSB authorizes Canada to suspend application to the U.S. of concessions or 

other obligations (12/21/15).

DS386 United States—Certain Country 

of Origin Labelling 

Requirements

Mexico Mexico requests consultations with the U.S. (12/17/08).

Single panel is established to examine this dispute and DS384 (11/19/09); 

panel composed (05/10/10).

Panel report is circulated (11/18/11).

U.S. notifies the DSB that it will appeal decision to the Appellate Body 

(03/23/12), and Mexico notifies the DSB it will do the same (03/28/12).

Appellate Body report is circulated (06/29/12); Appellate Body and panel 

reports are adopted (07/23/12).

Reasonable period of time, arbitration. U.S. informs DSB it intends to 

implement DSB recommendations and rulings (08/21/12). Mexico requests 

that reasonable time to implement be determined through binding 

arbitration (09/13/12), and requests that the Director-General appoint an 

arbitrator (09/26/12); arbitrator appointed (10/04/12). Arbitrator 

determines that the reasonable time is by May 23, 2013 (12/04/12). U.S. 

informs DSB that USDA has issued a final rule that brings U.S. labelling 

requirements into compliance (05/24/13). Mexico disagrees that changes 

bring U.S. requirements into compliance, and the U.S. and Mexico inform 

DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 22 of DSU (06/10/13).
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Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

Compliance proceedings. Mexico requests establishment of a compliance 

panel (08/19/13); DSB refers to original panel if possible (09/25/13); 

compliance panel composed (09/27/13) to review matters in DS384 and 

DS386. Compliance panel issues report finding violation in this dispute and 

DS384 (10/20/14). 

United States notifies the DSB it will appeal decision to the Appellate Body 

(11/28/14). 

Mexico files appeal (12/12/14).

Compliance Appellate Body report is circulated (05/18/15).

DSB adopts the Article 21.5 Appellate Body reports and panel reports, as 

modified by the Appellate Body reports. (05/29/15).

Mexico requests authorization from the DSB, pursuant to Article 22.2 of the 

DSU, to suspend application of certain tariff concessions and related 

obligations to the U.S. under the GATT 1994 (06/04/15).

Mexico submits corrigendum concerning requested amount of suspension 

of concessions (06/12/15).

Mexico resubmits its request for DSB authorization to suspend concessions 

to U.S. under GATT 1994 (06/17/15).

U.S. objects to level of suspension of concessions or other obligations 

proposed by Mexico; parties agree that the matter has been referred to 

arbitration (06/22/15).

Decision of arbitrator circulated to members (12/07/15).

Mexico requests authorization from DSB to suspend application to U.S. of 

tariff concessions and other related obligations in the goods sector under 

the GATT 1994 in an amount of US$227,758, 000 annually (12/07/15).

DSB authorizes Mexico to suspend application to U.S. of concessions or 

other obligations (12/21/15).

DS387 China—Grants, Loans and Other 

Incentives

United States U.S. requests consultations (12/19/08).

DS389 European Communities—

Certain Measures Affecting 

Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat 

Products from the United States

United States U.S. requests consultations (01/16/09).

Panel established (11/19/09).

DS403 Philippines—Taxes on Distilled 

Spirits

United States U.S. requests consultations (01/14/10).

Single panel established to consider DS403 and DS396 (complaint by the 

EU) (04/20/10); panel composed (07/05/10).

Panel report circulated to members (08/15/11).

Philippines notifies the DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Body 

(09/23/11), as does EU (09/28/11).

Appellate Body report is circulated (12/21/11), and DSB adopts the 

Appellate Body and panel reports (01/20/12).

Philippines states that it intends to implement DSB’s recommendations and 

ruling and would require a reasonable period of time to do so (02/22/12), 

and Philippines and U.S. inform DSB that they have agreed that the 

reasonable period of time is by March 8, 2013 (04/20/12).

Philippines reports enactment of legislation that completes implementation 

of the DSB’s recommendations and rulings (01/28/13).

DS404 United States—Anti-dumping 

Measures on Certain Shrimp 

from Viet Nam

Vietnam Vietnam requests consultations (02/01/10).

Panel is established (05/18/10) and composed (07/26/10).

Panel report is circulated (07/11/11); and the DSB adopts the panel report 

(09/02/11).

Vietnam and U.S. inform DSB they have agreed that a reasonable period of 

time for the U.S. to implement the DSB recommendations expires on July 2, 

2012 (10/31/11).

DS406 United States—Measures 

Affecting the Production and 

Sale of Clove Cigarettes

Indonesia Indonesia requests consultations (04/07/10).

Panel established (07/20/10) and composed (09/09/10).

Panel report circulated to members (09/02/11).

U.S. notifies DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Body (01/05/12).

Appellate Body report is circulated to members (04/04/12) and adopted 

(04/24/12).

U.S. informs DSB of its intent to implement DSB recommendations and 

rulings in a manner that protects public health and respects its WTO 

obligations, and will need a reasonable period of time to do so (05/24/12).

Indonesia and the U.S. inform the DSB that the reasonable period of time is 
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Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

by July 24, 2013 (06/14/12).

Proceedings under Article 22 of the DSU (remedies). Indonesia requests 

authorization from DSB to suspend concessions or other obligations under 

Article 22.2 of the DSU (08/12/13). U.S. objects to level of suspension of 

concessions or other obligations and refers the matter to arbitration 

pursuant to Article 22.6 of the DSU (08/22/13). Matter referred to 

arbitration at DSB meeting (08/23/13). U.S. and Indonesia request 

arbitrator to suspend circulation of arbitrator’s award (06/23/14), and 

arbitrator does so (06/24/14). U.S. and Indonesia notify the DSB they have 

reached a mutually agreed solution, and that Indonesia is withdrawing its 

request to suspend concessions or other obligations (10/03/14). Chair of 

arbitrator notifies DSB it is not necessary to issue a decision, and that the 

arbitrator has completed its work (10/08/14).

DS413 China—Certain Measures 

Affecting Electronic Payment 

Services

United States U.S. requests consultations (09/15/10).

Panel is established (03/25/11) and composed (07/04/11).

Panel report is circulated to members (07/16/12) and adopted by DSB 

(08/31/12).

China states that it intends to implement the DSB’s recommendations and 

rulings and will need a reasonable period of time to do so (09/28/12).

China and U.S. inform the DSB that the reasonable period of time for China 

to implement is by July 31, 2013 (11/22/12).

China reports to the DSB that it has fully implemented the DSB’s 

recommendations and rulings; the U.S. states that it does not agree, and 

that it will monitor and review China’s actions (07/23/13).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 

and 22 of the DSU (08/19/13).

DS414 China—Countervailing and Antidumping Duties on Grain 

Oriented Flat-rolled Electrical 

Steel from the United States

United States U.S. requests consultations (09/15/10).

Panel established (03/25/11) and composed (05/10/11).

Panel report circulated to members (06/15/12).

China notifies DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Body 

(07/20/12).

Appellate Body report is circulated to members (10/18/12) and adopted by 

DSB (11/16/12).

Reasonable period of time; arbitrator’s determination. China states that it 

intends to implement the DSB’s recommendations and rulings and will need 

a reasonable period of time to do so (11/30/12). U.S. requests that the 

reasonable period of time be determined through binding arbitration 

pursuant to Article 21.3(c) of the DSU (02/08/13). Director-General 

appoints arbitrator (02/28/13). Arbitration report circulated; arbitrator 

determines that the reasonable period of time is July 31, 2013 (05/03/13). 

China and U.S. inform DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 22 of 

DSU (08/19/13). China and U.S. inform DSB of agreed procedures under 

Articles 21 and 22 of DSU (08/19/13).

Compliance proceedings. U.S. requests consultations pursuant to Article 

21.5 of the DSU (01/13/14). U.S. requests establishment of a compliance 

panel (02/13/14); the DSB agrees to refer to original panel if possible 

(02/26/14); the panel is composed (03/17/14). 

Compliance panel report circulated to members (07/31/15).

DSB adopts compliance panel report (08/31/15).

China informs DSB that the antidumping and countervailing duty measures 

on imports of GOES from the U.S. expired on April 10, 2015 (08/31/15).

DS419 China—Measures Concerning 

Wind Power Equipment

United States U.S. requests consultations (12/22/10).

EU and Japan request to join consultations (01/12/11 and 01/17/11, 

respectively).

DS420 United States—Anti-Dumping 

Measures on CorrosionResistant Carbon Steel Flat 

Products from Korea

Korea Korea requests consultations (01/31/11).

Korea requests establishment of a panel (09/15/11).

Korea withdraws request for panel (09/27/11).

Korea requests establishment of a panel (02/09/12).

Korea informs DSB of agreement on procedures between U.S. and Korea 

(02/14/12).

Panel is established (02/22/12).

Prior to composition of the panel, Korea requests that panel proceedings be 

suspended in accordance with Article 12.12 of the DSU until further

notification (06/12/12).

DS422 United States—Anti-dumping China China requests consultations (02/28/11).
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Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

Measures on Shrimp and 

Diamond Sawblades from China

Panel is established (10/25/11) and composed (12/21/11).

Panel report is circulated (06/08/12), and DSB adopts panel report 

(07/23/12).

China and U.S. inform DSB that they have agreed that the reasonable 

period of time for the U.S. to implement is by March 23, 2013 (07/27/12).

U.S. informs DSB that it has fully implemented DSB recommendations and 

rulings; China states that it does not share U.S. view as U.S. has not revoked 

antidumping duty on sawblades (03/26/13). 

DS424 United States—Anti-dumping 

Measures on Imports of 

Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip 

in Coils from Italy

European Union EU requests consultations (04/01/11).

Japan requests to join the consultations (04/18/11).

DS427 China—Anti-dumping and 

Countervailing Duty Measures 

on Broiler Products from the 

United States

United States U.S. requests consultations (09/20/11).

Panel established (01/20/12) and composed (05/24/12).

Panel report circulated (08/02/13) and is adopted by DSB (09/25/13).

China informs DSB it intends to implement DSB recommendations and 

rulings (10/22/13).

China and U.S. inform DSB that they have agreed that a reasonable period 

of time to implement is by July 9, 2014 (12/19/13).

China informs the DSB that it has fully implemented the DSB 

recommendations and rulings, but the U.S. disagrees that China has fully 

complied (07/22/14).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 

and 22 of the DSU (07/15/14).

DS429 United States—Anti-Dumping 

Measures on Certain Shrimp 

from Viet Nam

Vietnam Vietnam requests consultations (02/20/12).

Panel is established (02/27/13) and composed (07/12/13).

Panel report is circulated (11/17/14). Vietnam notifies DSB it will appeal 

decision to the Appellate Body (01/06/15).

Appellate Body report is circulated to members (04/07/15).

DSB adopts Appellate Body report and panel report, as upheld by the 

Appellate Body report (04/22/15).

U.S. informs DSB that it intends to implement the DSB’s recommendations 

and ruling, and will need a reasonable period of time to do so (05/20/15).

Vietnam requests that the reasonable period of time be determined 

through binding arbitration pursuant to Article 21.3(c) of the DSU 

(09/17/15).

Award of the arbitrator is circulated to the members; arbitrator determines 

the reasonable period of time is 15 months, to expire on July 22, 2016 

(12/15/15).

DS430 India—Measures Concerning 

the Importation of Certain 

Agricultural Products from the 

United States

United States U.S. requests consultations (03/06/12).

Panel is established (06/25/12) and composed (02/18/13).

Panel report is circulated (10/14/14). India and U.S. request DSB to extend 

period for filing an appeal by 60 days (11/06/14), and DSB agrees 

(11/18/14).

India notifies DSB it will appeal the decision to the Appellate Body 

(01/26/15).

Appellate Body issues its report (06/04/15).

DSB adopts the Appellate Body report and the panel report, as modified by 

the Appellate Body report (06/19/15).

India informs the DSB it intends to implement the DSB’s recommendations 

and rulings and will need a reasonable period of time to do so (07/13/15).

India and the U.S. inform the DSB that they have agreed that the 

reasonable period of time is 12 months, to expire on June 19, 2016 

(12/08/15). 

DS431 China—Measures Related to 

the Exportation of Rare Earths, 

Tungsten and Molybdenum

United States U.S. requests consultations (03/13/12).

Single panel is established to examine DS431 (as well as DS432 and DS433 

brought by the EU and Japan) (07/23/12); panel is composed (09/24/12).

Panel report is circulated (03/26/14).

U.S. notifies the DSB that it will appeal the decision to the Appellate Body 

(04/08/14); China notifies the DSB it will appeal the decision in this dispute 

(04/17/14) and the other two disputes (04/25/14).

Appellate Body issues three reports in one document (08/07/14); DSB 

adopts Appellate Body and panel reports (08/29/14).

China informs the DSB that it intends to implement the DSB’s 

recommendations and rulings, and will need a reasonable period of time to 
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Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

do so (09/26/14). China and U.S. inform the DSB they have agreed that a 

reasonable period of time will expire on May 2, 2015 (12/08/14).

China informs the DSB that the export duties and export quotas and 

restrictions on trading rights of exporting enterprises found to be 

inconsistent with WTO rules have been removed and China has fully 

implemented the DSB’s recommendations and rulings; the U.S. indicated it 

does not share China’s assessment it has fully complied (05/20/15).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 

and 22 of the DSU (05/21/15). 

DS436 United States—Countervailing 

Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled 

Carbon Steel Flat Products from 

India

India India requests consultations (04/12/12).

Panel is established (08/31/12) and composed (02/18/13).

Panel report is circulated (07/14/14).

India notifies the DSB that it will appeal the decision (08/08/14), and U.S. 

files an appeal (08/13/14).

Appellate Body issues its report (12/08/14); and the DSB adopts the 

Appellate Body and panel reports (12/19/14).

U.S. informs the DSB that it intends to implement the DSB’s 

recommendations and rulings and will need a reasonable period of time to 

do so (01/16/15).

DS437 United States—Countervailing 

Duty Measures on Certain 

Products from China

China China requests consultations (05/25/12).

Panel is established (09/28/12) and composed (11/26/12).

Panel report is circulated (07/14/14).

China appeals the panel decision to the Appellate Body (08/22/14); U.S. 

files a cross-appeal of a preliminary determination by the panel (08/27/14).

Appellate Body issues its report (12/18/14); DSB adopts Appellate Body and 

panel reports (01/16/15).

U.S. informs DSB that it intends to implement the DSB’s recommendations 

and rulings and that it will need a reasonable period of time to do so 

(02/13/15).

China requests that the reasonable period of time be determined through 

binding arbitration pursuant to Article 21.3(c) of the DSU (06/26/15).

China requests the Director-General to appoint the arbitrator (07/09/15); 

the Director-General appoints the arbitrator (07/17/15).

Award of the arbitrator is circulated to members. The arbitrator determines 

that the reasonable period of time expires on April 1, 2016 (10/09/15).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 

and 22 of the DSU (04/15/16). 

DS440 China—Anti-dumping and 

Countervailing Duties on 

Certain Automobiles from the 

United States

United States U.S. requests consultations (07/05/12).

Panel is established (10/23/12) and composed (02/11/13).

Panel report is circulated (05/23/14), and adopted by the DSB (06/18/14).

DS444 Argentina—Measures Affecting 

the Importation of Goods

United States U.S. requests consultations (08/21/12).

Single panel is established to examine DS438, DS44, and DS445 (01/28/13); 

the panel is composed (05/27/13).

Panel report is circulated (08/22/14).

Argentina notifies DSB of its decision to appeal (09/26/14).

Appellate Body issues its reports in DS438, DS444, and DS445 (01/15/15); 

and the DSB adopts the Appellate Body and panel reports (01/26/15).

Argentina informs the DSB that it intends to implement the DSB’s 

recommendations and rulings and that it will need a reasonable period of 

time to do so (02/23/15).

Argentina and the U.S. inform the DSB that they had agreed that the 

reasonable period of time would expire on December 31, 2015 (07/02/15).

The U.S. and Argentina inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 

21 and 22 of the DSU (01/18/16).

DS447 United States—Measures 

Affecting the Importation of 

Animals, Meat and Other 

Animal Products from Argentina

Argentina Argentina requests consultations (08/30/12).

Panel is established (01/28/13) and composed (08/08/13).

Panel report is circulated to members (07/24/15).

DSB adopts the panel report (08/31/15).

DS448 United States—Measures 

Affecting the Importation of 

Fresh Lemons

Argentina Argentina requests consultations (09/03/12).

Argentina requests establishment of a panel (12/06/12); establishment is 

deferred (12/17/12).

DS449 United States—Countervailing 

and Anti-dumping Measures on 

Certain Products from China

China China requests consultations (09/17/12).

Panel is established (12/17/12) and composed (03/04/13).

Panel report is circulated (03/27/14).
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U.S. International Trade Commission | 277

Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

China notifies the DSB it will appeal the decision to the Appellate Body 

(04/08/14); the U.S. notifies the DSB of its decision to appeal (04/17/14).

Appellate Body issues its report (07/07/14), and the DSB adopts the 

Appellate Body and panel reports (07/22/14); U.S. informs DSB it intends to 

implement the DSB recommendations and rulings and will need a 

reasonable period of time to do so (08/21/14).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB that they had agreed that the reasonable 

period of time would expire on July 22, 2015 (02/20/15).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB that they had mutually agreed to modify 

the reasonable period time so as to expire on August 5, 2015 (07/23/15).

China and the U.S. inform the DSB of agreed procedures under Articles 21 

and 22 of the DSU (08/21/15).

DS450 China—Certain Measures 

Affecting the Automobile and 

Automobile-Parts Industries

United States U.S. requests consultations (09/17/12).

DS455 Indonesia—Importation of 

Horticultural Products, Animals 

and Animal Products

United States U.S. requests consultations (01/10/13).

Panel is established (04/24/13).

DS456 India—Certain Measures 

Relating to Solar Cells and Solar 

Modules

United States U.S. requests consultations (02/06/13); U.S. requests supplementary 

consultations (02/10/14).

Panel is established (05/23/14) and composed (09/24/14).

Panel report is circulated to members (02/24/16).

Panel chair informs DSB that it had issued the final report to the parties on 

August 28, 2015, and that public circulation was originally scheduled for 

late December 2015; due to several requests from the parties, circulation 

was delayed due to continuing discussions relating to the dispute 

(02/25/16).

India notifies the DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Body certain 

issues of law and legal interpretation in the panel report (04/20/16).

DS464 United States—Anti-dumping 

and Countervailing Measures 

on Large Residential Washers 

from Korea

Korea Korea requests consultations (08/29/13).

Panel is established (01/22/14) and composed (06/20/14).

Panel report is circulated to members (03/11/16).

U.S. notifies the DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Body certain 

issues of law and legal interpretation in the panel report (04/19/16). 

DS465 Indonesia—Importation of 

Horticultural Products, Animals 

and Animal Products 

United States U.S. requests consultations (08/30/13).

DS471 United States—Certain 

Methodologies and Their

Application to Anti-dumping 

Proceedings Involving China

China China requests consultations (12/3/13).

Panel is established (03/26/14) and composed (08/28/14).

Chair of panel informs DSB that the start of proceedings was deferred due 

to unavailability of Secretariat lawyers, and in light of amount and 

complexity of work involved, the panel expects to issue its final report in 

June 2016 (02/23/15).

DS478 Indonesia—Importation of 

Horticultural Products, Animals 

and Animal Products

United States U.S. requests consultations (05/08/14).

U.S. requests establishment of a panel (03/18/15); panel established 

(05/20/15); panel composed (10/08/15).

DS487 United States—Conditional Tax

Incentives for Large Civil 

Aircraft

European Union EU requests consultations (12/19/14).

EU requests establishments of a panel (02/12/15); panel established 

(02/23/15); panel composed (04/13/15).

DS488 United States—Anti-dumping 

Measures on Certain Oil 

Country Tubular Goods from 

Korea

Korea Korea requests consultations (12/22/14).

Korea requests establishment of a panel (02/23/15).

DSB establishes panel (03/25/15).

Parties agree on composition of the panel (07/13/15).

DS489 China—Measures Related to 

Demonstration Bases and 

Common Service Platforms 

Programmes

United States U.S. requests consultations (02/11/15).

U.S. requests establishment of a panel (04/09/15).

DSB establishes a panel (04/22/15).

China and U.S. inform the DSB that they had reached an agreement in 

relation to the dispute in the form of a memorandum of understanding 

(04/14/16).

DS491 United States--Anti-dumping 

Measures and Countervailing 

Measures on Certain Coated 

Paper from Indonesia

Indonesia Indonesia requests consultations (03/13/15).

Indonesia requests establishment of a panel (07/09/15).

DSB establishes a panel (09/28/15).

Indonesia requests the Director-General to compose the panel (01/25/16); 

panel composed (02/04/16).

DS501 China--Tax Measures United States U.S. requests consultations (12/08/15).
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Case no. Title Complainant Action (month/day/year)

Concerning Certain 

Domestically Produced Aircraft

Source: WTO, “Chronological List of Disputes Cases,” https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_status_e.htm, 

(accessed at various times during March–May 2016). 

Note: This list focuses on formal actions in disputes during 2015; some intermediate procedural actions are omitted. Selected pre-2015 and

post-2015 actions are noted to place the 2015 actions in context. “Korea” refers to the “Republic of Korea (South Korea).” 

Table A.26 NAFTA Chapter 19 substantive challenges to original and five-year review determinations of 

USITC and USDOC, developments in 2015

File no. Dispute Action (month/day/year)

USA-CDA-2015-1904-01 Supercalendered Paper from Canada (AD) (Investigating 

authority: International Trade Administration)

Request for panel review (11/18/15). 

Status: Active.

USA-CDA-2015-1904-02 Supercalendered Paper from Canada (AD) (investigating 

authority: International Trade Commission

Request for panel review (12-30-15).

Status: Terminated.

USA-MEX-2014-1904-02 Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Mexico and Turkey 

(AD) (Investigating authority: International Trade 

Commission)

Request for panel review (12/01/14). 

Status: Active. 

USA-MEX-2014-1904-01 Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Mexico (AD) 

(Investigating authority: International Trade 

Administration)

Request for panel review (10/16/14). Panel 

review precluded. Status: Terminated.b

Status: Active.b

MEX-USA-2012-1904-01 Chicken Thighs and Legs (AD) (Investigating authority: 

Secretaría de Economía)

Request for panel review (09/03/12). 

Hearing date (08/25/15). Status: Active.

MEX-USA-2012-1904-02 Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether (AD) (Investigating 

authority: Secretaría de Economía)

Request for panel review (10/09/12). 

Hearing date (03/10/15). Status: Active.

MEX-USA-2015-1904-01 Ammonium Sulfate from U.S. and China (AD) 

(investigating authority: Secretaría de Economía)

Request for panel review (11/06/15)

Status: Active 

Source: NAFTA Secretariat, “Status Report: NAFTA and FTA Dispute Settlement Proceedings,” http://www.nafta-secalena.org/en/StatusReport.aspx (accessed March 24, 2015).

Note: This list includes active cases during 2014, including those in which little if any formal action occurred during 2014.

a AD stands for antidumping duty and CVD stands for countervailing duty. b The request for panel review was subsequently withdrawn and the status of the case changed to “terminated.” See notice of the U.S. 

NAFTA Secretariat published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2015, 80 Fed. Reg. 30661.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 279

Table A.27 U.S. total exports to the EU, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 13,982 14,843 14,133 -4.8

2 Forest products 5,171 5,273 5,355 1.6

3 Chemicals and related products 57,275 59,057 62,813 6.4

4 Energy-related products 26,479 23,944 17,493 -26.9

5 Textiles and apparel 2,512 2,600 2,611 0.4

6 Footwear 111 105 89 -15.2

7 Minerals and metals 21,191 24,458 22,453 -8.2

8 Machinery 19,333 21,126 20,794 -1.6

9 Transportation equipment 52,986 56,772 59,666 5.1

10 Electronic products 46,501 49,445 48,412 -2.1

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 8,949 10,502 10,458 -0.4

12 Special provisions 7,595 8,018 8,412 4.9

Total 262,086 276,142 272,688 -1.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.28 U.S. general imports from the EU, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 21,484 22,786 23,554 3.4

2 Forest products 4,752 4,945 5,088 2.9

3 Chemicals and related products 86,886 96,137 105,998 10.3

4 Energy-related products 24,483 22,335 14,247 -36.2

5 Textiles and apparel 5,696 6,227 6,079 -2.4

6 Footwear 1,869 2,091 2,062 -1.4

7 Minerals and metals 29,461 32,626 29,978 -8.1

8 Machinery 41,886 47,552 45,932 -3.4

9 Transportation equipment 91,012 100,003 105,834 5.8

10 Electronic products 43,078 45,081 44,776 -0.7

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 17,412 17,870 19,190 7.4

12 Special provisions 19,626 20,546 23,265 13.2

Total 387,643 418,201 426,006 1.9

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
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Table A.29 Leading U.S. total exports to the EU, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 29,070 30,799 32,846 6.6

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 10,064 10,483 11,245 7.3

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 18,181 15,442 11,191 -27.5

3002.10 Antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products 5,078 6,911 8,304 20.2

9018.90 Instruments and appliances for medical, surgical or veterinary sciences, n.e.s.o.i., and parts and accessories thereof 4,177 4,381 4,395 0.3

8703.33 Passenger motor vehicles with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel), cylinder capacity over 2,500 cc 3,434 3,741 3,855 3.0

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 3,391 3,554 3,696 4.0

7108.12 Gold, nonmonetary, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 1,504 3,293 3,670 11.4

9701.10 Paintings, drawings and pastels, hand executed works of art, framed or not framed 2,911 3,837 3,586 -6.5

7102.39 Diamonds, nonindustrial, worked, including polished or drilled 3,503 4,355 3,535 -18.8

9018.39 Medical etc. needles n.e.s.o.i., catheters, cannulae and the like; parts and accessories thereof 2,779 2,902 2,872 -1.0

3822.00 Composite diagnostic or laboratory reagents, other than pharmaceutical preparations of heading 3002 or 3006 2,577 2,624 2,735 4.2

8703.32 Passenger motor vehicles with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel), cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 2,500 cc 1,931 2,326 2,528 8.7

2701.12 Bituminous coal, whether or not pulverized, but not agglomerated 4,533 3,818 2,465 -35.4

3002.20 Vaccines for human medicine 698 1,411 2,216 57.1

1201.90 Soybeans, other than seed 1,528 1,860 1,879 1.0

0802.12 Almonds, fresh or dried, shelled 1,452 1,675 1,792 7.0

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 1,533 1,974 1,747 -11.5

8471.50 Digital processing units other than those of 8471.41 and 8471.49, n.e.s.o.i. 1,268 1,487 1,604 7.8

7113.19 Jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal other than silver 1,375 1,597 1,543 -3.4

9021.39 Artificial joints and parts and accessories thereof, n.e.s.o.i. 1,243 1,451 1,442 -0.6

2934.99 Nucleic acids and there salts, whether or not chemically defined; other heterocyclic compounds, n.e.s.o.i. 1,733 984 1,418 44.0

2937.19 Polypeptide, protein and glycoprotein hormones, their derivatives and structural analogues 1,158 1,139 1,406 23.5

9018.19 Electro-diagnostic apparatus (and apparatus for functional exploratory examination or for checking physiological parameters) 

n.e.s.o.i., and parts, etc. 1,426 1,481 1,382 -6.7

9021.90 Artificial parts of the body n.e.s.o.i.; and parts and accessories thereof 1,051 1,055 1,273 20.6

Total of items shown 107,598 114,578 114,622 0.0

All other products 154,488 161,565 158,066 -2.2

Total of all commodities 262,086 276,142 272,688 -1.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 281

Table A.30 Leading U.S. general imports from the EU, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 16,708 18,461 24,196 31.1

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 14,829 18,759 23,469 25.1

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 18,281 18,371 17,911 -2.5

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 15,456 12,980 9,013 -30.6

8411.91 Parts of turbojets or turbo propellers 7,085 7,314 7,564 3.4

8802.40 Airplanes and other aircraft n.e.s.o.i., of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kg 5,778 6,642 7,289 9.7

2934.99 Nucleic acids and salts, whether or not chemically defined; other heterocyclic compounds, n.e.s.o.i. 3,715 4,818 7,246 50.4

9701.10 Paintings, drawings and pastels, hand executed works of art, framed or not framed 5,210 4,931 6,686 35.6

3002.10 Antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products 4,308 5,004 6,496 29.8

3002.20 Vaccines for human medicine 2,383 3,065 4,988 62.7

3004.39 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc., containing hormones or other steroids used primarily as hormones, but not containing 

antibiotics, n.e.s.o.i. 3,608 3,738 4,530 21.2

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 4,526 4,754 4,334 -8.8

7102.39 Diamonds, nonindustrial, worked, including polished or drilled 4,198 4,107 4,062 -1.1

3004.31 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc., containing insulin but not containing antibiotics 3,587 4,926 4,055 -17.7

8411.12 Turbojets of a thrust exceeding 25 kN 3,595 4,156 3,568 -14.1

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 5,550 6,696 3,153 -52.9

8407.34 Spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines for propulsion of vehicles except railway or tramway stock, over 1,000 cc cylinder 

capacity 2,672 3,001 2,976 -0.8

2933.59 Heterocyclic compounds containing a pyrimidine ring (hydrogenated or not) or a piperazine ring in the structure, n.e.s.o.i. 4,096 3,357 2,873 -14.4

2204.21 Wine of fresh grapes (other than sparkling wine) and grape must with fermentation prevented, etc. by adding alcohol, containers of 

not over 2 liters 2,789 2,884 2,826 -2.0

2935.00 Sulfonamides 353 2,037 2,609 28.1

9021.39 Artificial joints and parts and accessories thereof, n.e.s.o.i. 2,794 2,425 2,467 1.7

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 2,180 2,540 2,414 -4.9

3302.10 Mixtures of odoriferous substances and mixtures (including alcoholic solutions) with a basis of these substances used in the food or 

drink industries 2,017 2,125 2,404 13.1

3002.90 Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, etc. uses; toxins, cultures of microorganisms (excluding yeasts) and similar 

products n.e.s.o.i. 1,682 2,609 2,357 -9.7

2933.99 Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom(s) only, n.e.s.o.i. 4,138 1,955 2,332 19.3

Total of items shown 141,538 151,656 161,818 6.7

All other products 246,105 266,545 264,188 -0.9

Total of all commodities 387,643 418,201 426,006 1.9

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; kN = kilonewtons.
Appendix A: Data Tables

282 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.31 U.S. total exports to China, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 26,835 25,738 21,623 -16.0

2 Forest products 6,900 7,021 6,432 -8.4

3 Chemicals and related products 14,543 14,721 14,451 -1.8

4 Energy-related products 3,145 2,120 2,652 25.1

5 Textiles and apparel 1,387 1,274 1,011 -20.6

6 Footwear 51 56 81 45.2

7 Minerals and metals 12,199 10,933 8,009 -26.7

8 Machinery 9,554 10,106 10,036 -0.7

9 Transportation equipment 26,069 29,992 28,791 -4.0

10 Electronic products 19,304 19,867 21,189 6.7

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 777 857 956 11.6

12 Special provisions 957 992 955 -3.8

Total 121,721 123,676 116,186 -6.1

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.32 U.S. general imports from China, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 6,989 7,006 6,808 -2.8

2 Forest products 8,275 8,834 9,472 7.2

3 Chemicals and related products 29,470 31,873 31,009 -2.7

4 Energy-related products 511 634 537 -15.3

5 Textiles and apparel 46,469 47,220 48,910 3.6

6 Footwear 17,016 17,064 17,277 1.2

7 Minerals and metals 27,786 30,927 31,944 3.3

8 Machinery 44,345 48,035 50,431 5.0

9 Transportation equipment 18,052 21,474 23,856 11.1

10 Electronic products 176,141 186,332 188,954 1.4

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 60,788 62,863 67,865 8.0

12 Special provisions 4,592 4,490 4,818 7.3

Total 440,434 466,754 481,881 3.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 283

Table A.33 Leading U.S. total exports to China, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 12,587 13,924 15,439 10.9

1201.90 Soybeans, other than seed 13,300 14,476 10,529 -27.3

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 4,972 7,236 6,549 -9.5

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 1,936 2,749 3,474 26.4

1007.90 Grain sorghum, other than seed 95 1,467 2,115 44.1

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 3,279 2,991 2,043 -31.7

7404.00 Copper waste and scrap 2,791 2,116 1,684 -20.4

2303.30 Brewing or distilling dregs and waste, whether or not in the form of pellets 1,382 1,247 1,582 26.8

8486.20 Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits 834 1,136 1,432 26.0

8517.12 Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks 1,434 1,094 1,317 20.4

7602.00 Aluminum waste and scrap 2,245 1,762 1,307 -25.8

4707.10 Waste and scrap of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard 1,073 1,024 1,077 5.2

4101.50 Whole hides and skins, of a weight exceeding 16 kg, or bovine/equine animals, whether or not de-haired or split 1,042 1,125 917 -18.5

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 652 804 901 12.1

2711.12 Propane, liquefied 140 285 898 215.1

5201.00 Cotton, not carded or combed 2,183 1,108 864 -22.0

4703.21 Chemical wood pulp, soda or sulfate, other than dissolving grades, semi-bleached or bleached, coniferous 812 831 858 3.3

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 509 713 823 15.5

8542.39 Electronic integrated circuits, n.e.s.o.i. 653 764 737 -3.6

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 468 840 719 -14.4

3002.10 Antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products 270 328 632 92.4

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 581 606 609 0.5

8542.32 Memories, electronic integrated circuits 1,044 707 594 -16.0

9018.90 Instruments and appliances for medical, surgical or veterinary sciences, n.e.s.o.i., and parts and accessories thereof 375 520 586 12.7

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 580 506 529 4.7

Total of items shown 55,236 60,358 58,218 -3.5

All other products 66,485 63,317 57,968 -8.4

Total of all commodities 121,721 123,676 116,186 -6.1

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Appendix A: Data Tables

284 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.34 Leading U.S. general imports from China, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8517.12 Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks 37,596 41,904 40,400 -3.6

8471.30 Portable digital automatic data processing machines, weight not more than 10 kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, 

keyboard and a display 39,610 38,583 36,573 -5.2

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 11,904 13,244 16,810 26.9

9503.00 Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls’ carriages; dolls; other toys; etc. 9,467 10,311 11,538 11.9

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines,

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 8,794 10,636 10,811 1.6

8504.40 Electrical static converters; power supplies for automatic data processing machines or units of 8471 4,061 4,474 4,699 5.0

9504.50 Video game consoles and machines, other than those of subheading 9504.30 4,653 4,537 4,690 3.4

8528.72 Reception apparatus for television, color, n.e.s.o.i. 2,991 4,190 4,362 4.1

8443.99 Parts and accessories of printers, copying machines and facsimile machines, n.e.s.o.i. 3,741 3,915 3,548 -9.4

6403.99 Footwear, with outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather and uppers of leather n.e.s.o.i., not covering the ankle 4,293 3,868 3,528 -8.8

6402.99 Footwear, with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics n.e.s.o.i., not covering the ankle 3,803 3,494 3,367 -3.6

9401.61 Seats with wooden frames, upholstered, n.e.s.o.i. 2,762 2,953 3,356 13.7

8471.50 Digital processing units other than those of 8471.41 and 8471.49, n.e.s.o.i. 2,791 2,877 3,188 10.8

4202.92 Container bags, boxes, cases and satchels n.e.s.o.i., with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materials 3,101 3,057 3,160 3.4

8471.70 Automatic data processing storage units, n.e.s.o.i. 3,787 3,595 3,147 -12.5

9403.20 Metal furniture, n.e.s.o.i. 2,699 2,843 3,112 9.5

8543.70 Electrical machines and apparatus, having individual functions, n.e.s.o.i. 2,012 2,336 2,944 26.0

6110.20 Sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, vests and similar articles of cotton, knitted or crocheted 3,308 3,117 2,874 -7.8

6404.19 Footwear, with outer soles of rubber or plastics and uppers of textile materials, n.e.s.o.i. 2,387 2,525 2,869 13.6

8443.31 Machines which perform two or more of the functions of printing, copying or fax transmission, capable of connecting to an adp 

machine or to a network 3,544 3,183 2,829 -11.1

6403.91 Footwear, with outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather and uppers of leather n.e.s.o.i., covering the ankle 2,471 2,805 2,814 0.3

8471.80 Automatic data processing units, n.e.s.o.i. 1,531 1,977 2,787 41.0

8523.51 Solid-state non-volatile semiconductor storage devices 1,368 2,083 2,719 30.5

9403.60 Wooden furniture, n.e.s.o.i. 2,420 2,516 2,672 6.2

9405.40 Electric lamps and lighting fittings, n.e.s.o.i. 2,422 2,504 2,621 4.7

Total of items shown 167,515 177,527 181,419 2.2

All other products 272,919 289,227 300,466 3.9

Total of all commodities 440,434 466,754 481,881 3.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; adp = automatic data processing.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 285

Table A.35 U.S. total exports to Canada, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 26,568 27,380 25,952 -5.2

2 Forest products 11,008 10,787 10,173 -5.7

3 Chemicals and related products 40,537 41,280 38,090 -7.7

4 Energy-related products 25,837 33,635 22,105 -34.3

5 Textiles and apparel 5,423 5,533 5,159 -6.8

6 Footwear 459 497 496 -0.3

7 Minerals and metals 31,002 30,598 26,354 -13.9

8 Machinery 30,651 32,192 28,930 -10.1

9 Transportation equipment 77,507 78,028 73,260 -6.1

10 Electronic products 35,152 35,174 32,155 -8.6

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 9,432 9,903 8,794 -11.2

12 Special provisions 7,179 7,414 8,549 15.3

Total 300,755 312,421 280,017 -10.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.36 U.S. general imports from Canada, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 24,941 26,362 25,197 -4.4

2 Forest products 18,088 18,939 18,059 -4.6

3 Chemicals and related products 33,299 33,520 32,159 -4.1

4 Energy-related products 110,230 117,932 71,185 -39.6

5 Textiles and apparel 2,323 2,302 2,243 -2.6

6 Footwear 47 58 73 24.3

7 Minerals and metals 32,671 33,261 29,819 -10.4

8 Machinery 13,591 13,657 12,894 -5.6

9 Transportation equipment 71,545 74,271 73,705 -0.8

10 Electronic products 9,101 9,090 8,930 -1.8

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 4,402 4,513 5,244 16.2

12 Special provisions 12,320 13,893 15,684 12.9

Total 332,558 347,798 295,190 -15.1

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Appendix A: Data Tables

286 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.37 Leading U.S. total exports to Canada, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 5,073 11,664 8,108 -30.5

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 6,506 7,424 7,804 5.1

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 6,156 6,442 6,629 2.9

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 5,960 6,802 6,241 -8.2

8704.31 Motor vehicles for goods transport n.e.s.o.i., with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, gvw not over 5 metric tons 7,462 6,881 6,229 -9.5

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 7,918 8,202 4,958 -39.6

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 5,402 5,073 4,640 -8.5

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 5,403 5,361 4,033 -24.8

8407.34 Spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines for propulsion of vehicles except railway or tramway stock, over 1,000 cc cylinder 

capacity 3,590 3,047 2,992 -1.8

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 2,499 2,824 2,742 -2.9

2711.21 Natural gas, gaseous 3,705 4,440 2,213 -50.2

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 2,201 2,384 2,165 -9.2

8471.30 Portable digital automatic data processing machines, weight not more than 10 kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, 

keyboard and a display 1,980 2,177 2,053 -5.7

8701.20 Road tractors for semi-trailers 1,889 2,048 1,969 -3.9

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 1,998 2,207 1,964 -11.0

8708.40 Gear boxes for motor vehicles 3,163 2,379 1,924 -19.1

8481.80 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves, n.e.s.o.i. 1,660 1,691 1,563 -7.6

8517.12 Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks 643 997 1,480 48.5

8708.30 Brakes and servo-brakes; parts thereof 1,315 1,380 1,460 5.8

8471.50 Digital processing units other than those of 8471.41 and 8471.49, n.e.s.o.i. 1,605 1,619 1,393 -14.0

7606.12 Aluminum alloy rectangular (including square) plates, sheets and strip, over 0.2 mm thick 1,198 1,253 1,244 -0.7

8708.80 Suspension shock absorbers for motor vehicles 1,370 1,271 1,235 -2.8

8708.94 Steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes for motor vehicles 1,155 1,151 1,231 6.9

8537.10 Boards, panels, consoles, etc. with electrical apparatus, for electric control or distribution of electricity, for a voltage not exceeding 

1,000 v 1,210 1,325 1,170 -11.7

8409.91 Parts for use with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines (including rotary engines), n.e.s.o.i. 996 1,144 1,163 1.6

Total of items shown 82,056 91,185 78,601 -13.8

All other products 218,698 221,236 201,415 -9.0

Total of all commodities 300,755 312,421 280,017 -10.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; gvw = gross vehicle weight. 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 287

Table A.38 Leading U.S. general imports from Canada, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 76,654 83,155 46,974 -43.5

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 25,458 23,952 21,081 -12.0

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 17,679 18,628 21,038 12.9

2711.21 Natural gas, gaseous 9,168 12,615 7,303 -42.1

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 9,381 7,851 5,863 -25.3

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 7,131 5,727 4,755 -17.0

4407.10 Coniferous wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, etc., over 6 mm (.236 in.) thick 4,226 4,810 4,425 -8.0

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 2,587 3,165 3,717 17.4

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 3,129 3,404 3,561 4.6

8802.40 Airplanes and other aircraft n.e.s.o.i., of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kg 2,294 3,331 3,139 -5.8

3104.20 Potassium chloride 3,073 2,483 2,764 11.3

7108.12 Gold, nonmonetary, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 3,183 3,266 2,618 -19.8

7601.20 Aluminum alloys, unwrought 2,112 2,661 2,483 -6.7

8407.34 Spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines for propulsion of vehicles except railway or tramway stock, over 1,000 cc cylinder 

capacity 1,900 2,458 2,402 -2.3

2716.00 Electrical energy 2,429 2,670 2,399 -10.1

7601.10 Aluminum, not alloyed, unwrought 2,358 2,083 2,141 2.8

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 2,321 2,194 1,979 -9.8

3901.90 Polymers of ethylene n.e.s.o.i., in primary forms 1,836 2,150 1,884 -12.4

8802.30 Airplanes and other aircraft n.e.s.o.i., of an unladen weight exceeding 2,000 kg but not exceeding 15,000 kg 1,193 1,072 1,859 73.3

3901.20 Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more, in primary forms 1,357 1,445 1,405 -2.8

4703.21 Chemical wood pulp, soda or sulfate, other than dissolving grades, semi-bleached or bleached, coniferous 1,446 1,518 1,396 -8.0

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 1,367 1,486 1,357 -8.7

0102.29 Cattle, live, other than purebred breeding 1,263 1,743 1,304 -25.2

1905.90 Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and similar baked products, n.e.s.o.i., and puddings, whether or not containing chocolate, fruit, nuts or 

confectionary 898 1,014 1,144 12.8

7403.11 Refined copper cathodes and sections of cathodes 1,274 1,359 1,112 -18.2

Total of items shown 185,717 196,240 150,100 -23.5

All other products 146,841 151,558 145,090 -4.3

Total of all commodities 332,558 347,798 295,190 -15.1

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Appendix A: Data Tables

288 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.39 U.S. total exports to Mexico, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 18,874 20,101 18,295 -9.0

2 Forest products 5,733 5,827 5,859 0.6

3 Chemicals and related products 33,712 35,761 34,153 -4.5

4 Energy-related products 23,531 24,097 19,071 -20.9

5 Textiles and apparel 5,360 5,734 5,991 4.5

6 Footwear 121 120 134 11.3

7 Minerals and metals 20,903 23,067 22,786 -1.2

8 Machinery 21,215 23,138 23,454 1.4

9 Transportation equipment 39,139 41,345 42,273 2.2

10 Electronic products 47,935 50,644 54,142 6.9

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 2,655 3,018 3,085 2.2

12 Special provisions 6,893 7,395 7,133 -3.5

Total 226,070 240,249 236,377 -1.6

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.40 U.S. general imports from Mexico, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 19,296 21,196 22,968 8.4

2 Forest products 1,652 1,814 1,950 7.5

3 Chemicals and related products 9,652 10,654 10,750 0.9

4 Energy-related products 34,813 30,282 13,687 -54.8

5 Textiles and apparel 5,830 5,974 5,899 -1.2

6 Footwear 549 499 494 -1.0

7 Minerals and metals 19,278 19,404 17,983 -7.3

8 Machinery 26,357 28,926 29,915 3.4

9 Transportation equipment 85,151 96,238 103,998 8.1

10 Electronic products 65,188 64,651 72,093 11.5

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 5,382 6,113 6,537 6.9

12 Special provisions 7,408 8,323 8,468 1.7

Total 280,555 294,074 294,741 0.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 289

Table A.41 Leading U.S. total exports to Mexico, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 9,310 10,453 10,662 2.0

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 11,450 10,685 9,140 -14.5

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 7,270 7,783 5,764 -25.9

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 4,521 3,550 5,002 40.9

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 2,471 2,648 3,456 30.5

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 3,195 3,246 3,240 -0.2

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 3,227 2,822 3,121 10.6

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 2,385 2,362 2,771 17.3

8408.20 Compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel), for the propulsion of vehicles except railway or 

tramway stock 2,255 3,802 2,665 -29.9

2603.00 Copper ores and concentrates 1,548 2,178 2,502 14.9

8538.90 Parts for electrical apparatus for electrical circuits, boards, panels etc. for electric control or distribution of electricity, n.e.s.o.i. 1,931 2,322 2,429 4.6

3926.90 Articles of plastics, n.e.s.o.i. 2,156 2,389 2,405 0.7

8708.40 Gear boxes for motor vehicles 2,123 2,273 2,370 4.3

1005.90 Corn (maize), other than seed corn 1,788 2,282 2,336 2.4

8471.70 Automatic data processing storage units, n.e.s.o.i. 2,307 2,254 2,306 2.3

2711.21 Natural gas, gaseous 2,164 2,875 2,178 -24.2

8542.39 Electronic integrated circuits, n.e.s.o.i. 2,027 2,004 1,828 -8.8

8536.90 Electrical apparatus for switching, protecting or making connections to or in electrical circuits, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v, 

n.e.s.o.i. 1,600 1,804 1,809 0.3

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 1,779 1,921 1,629 -15.2

8528.71 Reception apparatus for television, not designed to incorporate a video display or screen 746 916 1,588 73.4

8409.91 Parts for use with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines (including rotary engines), n.e.s.o.i. 1,380 1,516 1,569 3.5

7326.90 Articles of iron or steel, n.e.s.o.i. 1,435 1,559 1,507 -3.3

8544.49 Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 80 v, not fitted with connectors 1,429 1,492 1,477 -1.0

1201.90 Soybeans, other than seed 1,534 1,825 1,426 -21.9

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 1,840 1,597 1,359 -14.9

Total of items shown 73,872 78,555 76,539 -2.6

All other products 152,198 161,693 159,839 -1.1

Total of all commodities 226,070 240,249 236,377 -1.6

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Appendix A: Data Tables

290 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.42 Leading U.S. general imports from Mexico, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 15,332 14,852 16,387 10.3

8471.50 Digital processing units other than those of 8471.41 and 8471.49, n.e.s.o.i. 11,196 10,480 13,389 27.8

8704.31 Motor vehicles for goods transport n.e.s.o.i., with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, gvw not over 5 metric tons 9,898 11,903 12,816 7.7

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 31,940 27,740 12,487 -55.0

8528.72 Reception apparatus for television, color, n.e.s.o.i. 10,757 10,792 11,052 2.4

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 6,547 7,272 10,164 39.8

8701.20 Road tractors for semi-trailers 5,010 6,810 7,997 17.4

8544.30 Insulated ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets for vehicles, aircraft and ships 5,686 6,522 7,074 8.5

9401.90 Parts of seats (except parts of medical, dentists, barbers and similar seats), n.e.s.o.i. 5,179 5,782 6,385 10.4

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 3,871 4,239 4,613 8.8

8537.10 Boards, panels, consoles, etc. with electrical apparatus, for electric control or distribution of electricity, for a voltage not exceeding 

1,000 v 3,462 3,668 3,817 4.0

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 3,256 3,689 3,770 2.2

8704.22 Motor vehicles for goods transport n.e.s.o.i., with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel), gvw over 5 but 

not over 20 metric tons 3,293 4,019 3,394 -15.5

9018.90 Instruments and appliances for medical, surgical or veterinary sciences, n.e.s.o.i., and parts and accessories thereof 2,784 3,038 3,157 3.9

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 2,761 2,759 3,075 11.4

8708.40 Gearboxes for motor vehicles 2,278 2,435 2,974 22.1

8418.10 Combined refrigerator-freezers fitted with separate external doors 2,441 2,517 2,793 11.0

2203.00 Beer made from malt 1,925 2,450 2,720 11.0

8407.34 Spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines for propulsion of vehicles except railway or tramway stock, over 1,000 cc cylinder 

capacity 2,752 2,785 2,702 -3.0

7108.12 Gold, nonmonetary, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 3,668 2,778 2,673 -3.8

8409.91 Parts for use with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines (including rotary engines), n.e.s.o.i. 2,103 2,246 2,426 8.0

8708.95 Safety airbags with inflator system; parts thereof 1,787 1,971 2,311 17.3

8703.22 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,000 cc but 

not over 1,500 cc 809 2,089 2,264 8.4

8704.21 Motor vehicles for goods transport n.e.s.o.i., with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel), gvw not over 5 

metric tons 1,691 2,092 2,243 7.2

8708.94 Steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes for motor vehicles 1,473 1,719 1,948 13.3

Total of items shown 141,900 146,647 144,634 -1.4

All other products 138,655 147,427 150,107 1.8

Total of all commodities 280,555 294,074 294,741 0.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; gvw = gross vehicle weight. 
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 291

Table A.43 U.S. total exports to Japan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 13,395 14,359 12,440 -13.4

2 Forest products 2,251 2,189 2,000 -8.6

3 Chemicals and related products 11,205 11,731 11,201 -4.5

4 Energy-related products 3,309 2,955 2,024 -31.5

5 Textiles and apparel 722 660 569 -13.7

6 Footwear 84 77 75 -2.8

7 Minerals and metals 3,667 3,861 3,590 -7.0

8 Machinery 3,877 4,342 4,794 10.4

9 Transportation equipment 10,517 10,410 10,403 -0.1

10 Electronic products 13,315 13,076 12,382 -5.3

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 1,864 1,945 1,839 -5.5

12 Special provisions 1,011 1,223 1,155 -5.6

Total 65,216 66,827 62,472 -6.5

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.44 U.S. general imports from Japan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 763 781 823 5.3

2 Forest products 468 453 460 1.6

3 Chemicals and related products 12,659 12,641 11,723 -7.3

4 Energy-related products 779 572 660 15.4

5 Textiles and apparel 712 744 769 3.4

6 Footwear 3 2 5 174.3

7 Minerals and metals 7,431 7,392 6,753 -8.6

8 Machinery 18,911 18,805 17,368 -7.6

9 Transportation equipment 67,916 65,174 66,124 1.5

10 Electronic products 24,214 22,875 21,663 -5.3

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 1,223 1,148 1,262 10.0

12 Special provisions 3,495 3,418 3,510 2.7

Total 138,574 134,004 131,120 -2.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Appendix A: Data Tables

292 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.45 Leading U.S. total exports to Japan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 6,164 6,503 6,382 -1.9

1005.90 Corn (maize), other than seed corn 1,849 2,695 2,051 -23.9

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 1,903 2,243 2,014 -10.2

8486.20 Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits 696 779 1,203 54.6

9018.90 Instruments and appliances for medical, surgical or veterinary sciences, n.e.s.o.i., and parts and accessories thereof 1,330 1,205 1,169 -3.0

1201.90 Soybeans, other than seed 1,004 991 1,049 5.9

0203.19 Meat of swine, n.e.s.o.i., fresh or chilled 1,075 1,000 924 -7.6

3002.10 Antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products 441 514 789 53.6

1001.99 Wheat and meslin, not durum wheat, other than seed 1,027 915 747 -18.3

2909.19 Acyclic ethers (excluding diethyl ether) and their halogenated, sulfonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives 668 855 720 -15.7

9018.39 Medical etc. needles n.e.s.o.i., catheters, cannulae and the like; parts and accessories thereof 805 738 681 -7.7

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 740 746 677 -9.3

7113.19 Jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal other than silver 510 615 605 -1.7

0201.30 Meat of bovine animals, boneless, fresh or chilled 708 753 598 -20.6

8536.69 Electrical plugs and sockets for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v 65 311 597 92.2

2711.12 Propane, liquefied 544 906 567 -37.5

2804.61 Silicon, containing by weight not less than 99.99% of silicon 643 747 557 -25.4

0203.29 Meat of swine, n.e.s.o.i., frozen 723 726 542 -25.4

9021.39 Artificial joints and parts and accessories thereof, n.e.s.o.i. 692 531 536 0.8

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 657 602 529 -12.0

1214.90 Forage products, n.e.s.o.i., including rutabagas (swedes), mangolds, fodder roots, hay, clover, forage kale, vetches, etc., whether or 

not in pellet form 579 502 476 -5.2

3822.00 Composite diagnostic or laboratory reagents, other than pharmaceutical preparations of heading 3002 or 3006 465 450 397 -11.8

0202.30 Meat of bovine animals, boneless, frozen 456 556 395 -28.9

4403.20 Coniferous wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood or roughly squared, not treated 455 424 361 -14.8

8486.90 Machines and apparatus of a kind used for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers, etc., parts and accessories 303 298 349 17.4

Total of items shown 24,501 26,604 24,916 -6.3

All other products 40,715 40,224 37,556 -6.6

Total of all commodities 65,216 66,827 62,472 -6.5

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 293

Table A.46 Leading U.S. general imports from Japan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 22,097 20,474 22,456 9.7

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 13,054 12,145 11,912 -1.9

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 3,810 4,847 4,755 -1.9

8443.99 Parts and accessories of printers, copying machines and facsimile machines, n.e.s.o.i. 3,164 2,987 2,878 -3.6

8708.40 Gear boxes for motor vehicles 3,366 3,088 2,294 -25.7

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 2,314 2,192 2,169 -1.1

8429.52 Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders with 360 degree revolving superstructure, self-propelled 1,871 2,055 2,032 -1.1

8411.91 Parts of turbojets or turbo propellers 1,666 1,870 1,913 2.3

8703.22 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,000 cc but 

not over 1,500 cc 2,523 1,186 1,375 15.9

8409.91 Parts for use with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines (including rotary engines), n.e.s.o.i. 1,249 1,329 1,225 -7.8

8525.80 Television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders 1,449 1,066 1,033 -3.1

9018.19 Electro-diagnostic apparatus (and apparatus for functional exploratory examination or for checking physiological parameters) 

n.e.s.o.i., and parts, etc. 781 878 946 7.8

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 397 408 924 126.2

9102.11 Wristwatches, battery powered, with cases of materials (except of or clad with precious metal) n.e.s.o.i., with mechanical display 

only 1,023 982 921 -6.2

8486.20 Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrates circuits 1,604 1,517 894 -41.1

8701.90 Tractors, n.e.s.o.i. 783 774 866 11.9

8408.90 Compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel engines), n.e.s.o.i. 811 953 862 -9.5

8486.90 Machines and apparatus of a kind used for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers, etc., parts and accessories 957 901 836 -7.2

8481.80 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves, n.e.s.o.i. 751 803 771 -4.0

8407.21 Outboard engines for marine propulsion 593 701 707 0.8

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 676 733 682 -6.9

8541.40 Photosensitive semiconductor devices, including photovoltaic cells; light-emitting diodes 545 596 665 11.5

8504.40 Electrical static converters; power supplies for adp machines or units of 8471 653 692 655 -5.4

8457.10 Machining centers for working metal 715 786 644 -18.1

3818.00 Chemical elements doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms; chemical compounds doped for use in 

electronics 603 615 625 1.7

Total of items shown 67,456 64,577 65,038 0.7

All other products 71,119 69,426 66,082 -4.8

Total of all commodities 138,574 134,004 131,120 -2.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; adp = automatic data processing.
Appendix A: Data Tables

294 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.47 U.S. total exports to South Korea, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 5,836 7,511 6,755 -10.1

2 Forest products 866 890 829 -6.8

3 Chemicals and related products 7,158 7,409 6,902 -6.8

4 Energy-related products 1,607 1,993 1,378 -30.8

5 Textiles and apparel 409 391 381 -2.7

6 Footwear 94 88 74 -16.5

7 Minerals and metals 4,081 3,700 3,214 -13.1

8 Machinery 5,944 6,822 6,234 -8.6

9 Transportation equipment 6,379 6,152 7,844 27.5

10 Electronic products 7,974 8,021 8,407 4.8

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 768 810 824 1.7

12 Special provisions 569 684 656 -4.1

Total 41,687 44,471 43,499 -2.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.48 U.S. general imports from South Korea, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 638 671 736 9.8

2 Forest products 540 616 578 -6.1

3 Chemicals and related products 5,030 5,855 6,234 6.5

4 Energy-related products 3,035 3,067 2,928 -4.5

5 Textiles and apparel 1,313 1,331 1,327 -0.3

6 Footwear 23 18 22 20.4

7 Minerals and metals 5,550 7,712 6,907 -10.4

8 Machinery 6,635 7,104 7,720 8.7

9 Transportation equipment 20,868 23,956 27,021 12.8

10 Electronic products 16,701 17,371 16,166 -6.9

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 828 820 896 9.2

12 Special provisions 1,274 997 1,292 29.7

Total 62,433 69,518 71,827 3.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 295

Table A.49 Leading U.S. total exports to South Korea, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 2,613 2,001 3,947 97.3

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 2,456 2,579 2,750 6.7

8486.20 Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits 1,321 2,181 1,932 -11.4

1005.90 Corn (maize), other than seed corn 243 1,056 657 -37.8

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 341 401 602 50.0

8486.90 Machines and apparatus of a kind used for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers, etc., parts and accessories 444 460 578 25.8

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 688 700 485 -30.6

0203.29 Meat of swine, n.e.s.o.i., frozen 188 346 388 12.3

8431.43 Parts for boring or sinking machinery, n.e.s.o.i. 461 477 346 -27.4

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 468 417 342 -17.9

0202.30 Meat of bovine animals, boneless, frozen 215 335 325 -3.0

8542.39 Electronic integrated circuits, n.e.s.o.i. 393 346 313 -9.3

1001.99 Wheat and meslin, not durum wheat, other than seed 340 416 303 -27.2

8411.91 Parts of turbojets or turbo propellers 223 223 299 34.5

2106.90 Food preparations n.e.s.o.i. 247 255 290 13.8

0202.20 Meat of bovine animals, cuts with bone in (other than half or whole carcasses), frozen 265 365 290 -20.4

7602.00 Aluminum waste and scrap 239 258 266 3.3

1214.90 Forage products, n.e.s.o.i., including rutabagas (swedes), mangolds, fodder roots, hay, clover, forage kale, vetches etc., whether or 

not in pellet form 244 234 266 13.8

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 274 248 259 4.6

2926.10 Acrylonitrile 327 359 249 -30.6

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 162 175 247 41.0

2701.12 Bituminous coal, whether or not pulverized, but not agglomerated 511 376 238 -36.8

4101.50 Whole hides and skins, of a weight exceeding 16 kg, or bovine/equine animals, whether or not de-haired or split 294 271 237 -12.4

5201.00 Cotton, not carded or combed 177 208 237 13.9

8481.80 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves, n.e.s.o.i. 209 270 233 -13.5

Total of items shown 13,345 14,953 16,082 7.6

All other products 28,342 29,518 27,417 -7.1

Total of all commodities 41,687 44,471 43,499 -2.2

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Appendix A: Data Tables

296 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.50 Leading U.S. general imports from South Korea, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8703.23 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,500 cc but 

not over 3,000 cc 8,578 10,159 11,552 13.7

8517.12 Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks 6,087 6,523 6,395 -2.0

8703.24 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3,000 cc 2,268 2,794 3,517 25.8

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 2,495 2,782 2,611 -6.1

8703.22 Passenger motor vehicles with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1,000 cc but 

not over 1,500 cc 1,257 1,527 2,077 36.0

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 1,523 1,815 1,846 1.7

8542.39 Electronic integrated circuits, n.e.s.o.i. 1,692 1,518 1,305 -14.0

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 1,049 1,273 1,296 1.8

4011.10 New pneumatic tires, of rubber, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars) 1,010 939 1,109 18.2

8418.10 Combined refrigerator-freezers fitted with separate external doors 1,027 993 1,031 3.9

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 834 878 900 2.4

8523.51 Solid-state non-volatile semiconductor storage devices 417 630 692 9.9

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 486 591 659 11.4

8541.40 Photosensitive semiconductor devices, including photovoltaic cells; light-emitting diodes 211 304 641 110.6

2902.20 Benzene 357 816 616 -24.5

8708.40 Gear boxes for motor vehicles 614 402 503 25.2

7306.29 Casing or tubing for oil or gas drilling, of iron or steel, n.e.s.o.i. 785 1,265 502 -60.3

8429.52 Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders with 360 degree revolving superstructure, self-propelled 456 488 502 2.9

8451.29 Drying machines (except centrifugal type) for textile yarns, fabrics or made up textile articles, with a dry linen capacity exceeding 10 

kg 597 441 466 5.6

8708.94 Steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes for motor vehicles 411 451 459 1.8

8409.91 Parts for use with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines (including rotary engines), n.e.s.o.i. 364 395 402 1.8

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 419 396 372 -6.2

8701.90 Tractors, n.e.s.o.i. 198 284 363 27.6

7306.19 Line pipe for oil or gas pipelines, of iron or steel, n.e.s.o.i. 428 437 351 -19.7

8708.50 Drive axles with differential for motor vehicles 182 239 300 25.5

Total of items shown 33,747 38,343 40,467 5.5

All other products 28,686 31,176 31,361 0.6

Total of all commodities 62,433 69,518 71,827 3.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 297

Table A.51 U.S. total exports to Taiwan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 3,208 3,621 3,296 -9.0

2 Forest products 543 511 426 -16.8

3 Chemicals and related products 4,309 4,368 3,650 -16.4

4 Energy-related products 1,223 990 255 -74.3

5 Textiles and apparel 113 118 103 -13.2

6 Footwear 9 10 10 -3.8

7 Minerals and metals 2,182 1,973 1,381 -30.0

8 Machinery 4,895 4,535 5,103 12.5

9 Transportation equipment 2,339 3,506 3,502 -0.1

10 Electronic products 5,368 5,688 5,962 4.8

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 880 849 1,820 114.4

12 Special provisions 401 499 422 -15.4

Total 25,470 26,670 25,929 -2.8

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.52 U.S. general imports from Taiwan, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 474 500 517 3.4

2 Forest products 215 216 240 11.6

3 Chemicals and related products 3,225 3,570 3,681 3.1

4 Energy-related products 26 55 237 335.7

5 Textiles and apparel 1,140 1,186 1,188 0.2

6 Footwear 50 51 87 70.2

7 Minerals and metals 5,114 5,738 5,798 1.0

8 Machinery 4,006 4,370 4,421 1.2

9 Transportation equipment 3,176 3,364 3,584 6.5

10 Electronic products 16,378 17,327 16,310 -5.9

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 2,819 2,907 3,250 11.8

12 Special provisions 1,315 1,299 1,395 7.4

Total 37,939 40,581 40,708 0.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Appendix A: Data Tables

298 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.53 Leading U.S. total exports to Taiwan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 929 1,922 2,553 32.8

8486.20 Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits 2,355 2,131 2,503 17.5

9306.90 Bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and similar munitions of war and parts thereof; other ammunition and projectiles and 

parts thereof, n.e.s.o.i. 564 528 1,519 187.7

8542.32 Memories, electronic integrated circuits 994 1,247 1,251 0.3

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 511 599 843 40.7

8486.90 Machines and apparatus of a kind used for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers, etc., parts and accessories 538 542 611 12.7

8542.39 Electronic integrated circuits, n.e.s.o.i. 692 710 594 -16.3

1201.90 Soybeans, other than seed 576 725 581 -19.8

7204.49 Ferrous waste and scrap, n.e.s.o.i. 965 803 403 -49.9

1005.90 Corn (maize), other than seed corn 181 395 350 -11.3

1001.99 Wheat and meslin, not durum wheat, other than seed 371 348 284 -18.4

8541.40 Photosensitive semiconductor devices, including photovoltaic cells; light-emitting diodes 40 28 270 878.0

9031.41 Optical instruments for inspecting semiconductor wafers or devices or for inspecting photomasks or reticles used in manufacturing 

semiconductor devices 274 284 257 -9.4

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 405 270 250 -7.3

8475.90 Parts of machines for assembling electric or electronic lamps, tubes etc. in glass envelopes and for manufacturing or hot working 

glass or glassware 122 116 214 83.9

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 398 493 169 -65.7

0201.30 Meat of bovine animals, boneless, fresh or chilled 117 132 165 25.4

8803.90 Parts of balloons, dirigibles, gliders, other aircraft, spacecraft (including satellites), and spacecraft launch vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 74 95 164 73.2

9030.82 Instruments and apparatus with a recording device designed to check or measure semiconductor wafers and devices (such as probe 

testers, resistivity checkers, logic analyzers) 98 110 160 45.7

9030.90 Parts and accessories of instruments and apparatus for measuring, checking or detecting electrical quantities, or ionizing radiations, 

n.e.s.o.i. 133 164 156 -4.7

0207.14 Chicken cuts and edible offal (including livers) frozen 156 137 156 13.5

2106.90 Food preparations n.e.s.o.i. 153 148 156 5.2

2804.61 Silicon, containing by weight not less than 99.99% of silicon 151 178 150 -15.7

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 162 181 148 -18.5

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 217 214 146 -31.7

Total of items shown 11,176 12,500 14,053 12.4

All other products 14,294 14,170 11,876 -16.1

Total of all commodities 25,470 26,670 25,929 -2.8

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 299

Table A.54 Leading U.S. general imports from Taiwan, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8542.39 Electronic integrated circuits, n.e.s.o.i. 1,185 1,381 1,387 0.4

8542.32 Memories, electronic integrated circuits 1,392 1,515 1,221 -19.4

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 1,396 1,421 1,195 -15.9

8517.12 Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks 2,011 1,626 1,143 -29.7

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 623 998 1,112 11.4

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 871 993 1,002 1.0

8523.51 Solid-state non-volatile semiconductor storage devices 553 691 983 42.4

8525.60 Transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus, for radio-broadcasting or television 35 60 692 1046.5

8526.91 Radio navigational aid apparatus 808 812 652 -19.7

8512.20 Electrical lighting or visual signaling equipment, for use on cycles or motor vehicles, except for use on bicycles 491 557 613 10.0

8525.80 Television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders 612 480 562 17.2

7318.14 Self-tapping screws, threaded, of iron or steel 428 479 542 13.1

8712.00 Bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles), not motorized 432 401 535 33.4

7318.15 Threaded screws and bolts n.e.s.o.i., with or without their nuts or washers, of iron or steel 493 511 527 3.2

8708.29 Parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs) for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 463 457 462 1.0

8541.40 Photosensitive semiconductor devices, including photovoltaic cells; light-emitting diodes 645 819 418 -49.0

7318.16 Nuts, threaded, of iron or steel 325 359 372 3.6

8534.00 Printed circuits 371 372 371 -0.2

9506.91 Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics, n.e.s.o.i.; parts and accessories thereof 301 318 366 14.9

8481.80 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves, n.e.s.o.i. 319 366 361 -1.3

8471.30 Portable digital automatic data processing machines, weight not more than 10 kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, 

keyboard and a display 366 445 333 -25.2

8504.40 Electrical static converters; power supplies for adp machines or units of 8471 319 298 315 5.9

4011.10 New pneumatic tires, of rubber, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars) 241 237 303 27.9

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 271 283 296 4.7

9403.20 Metal furniture, n.e.s.o.i. 216 277 293 5.8

Total of items shown 15,167 16,156 16,056 -0.6

All other products 22,772 24,425 24,652 0.9

Total of all commodities 37,939 40,581 40,708 0.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included; adp = automatic data processing.
Appendix A: Data Tables

300 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.55 U.S. total exports to India, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 920 1,128 1,292 14.6

2 Forest products 762 903 714 -20.9

3 Chemicals and related products 3,286 3,142 3,318 5.6

4 Energy-related products 1,308 1,317 1,218 -7.5

5 Textiles and apparel 171 178 182 2.6

6 Footwear 3 3 3 -2.5

7 Minerals and metals 6,533 6,215 7,591 22.1

8 Machinery 1,558 1,533 1,493 -2.6

9 Transportation equipment 3,863 3,735 2,151 -42.4

10 Electronic products 2,668 2,732 2,771 1.5

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 420 398 414 4.1

12 Special provisions 320 326 382 17.2

Total 21,811 21,608 21,530 -0.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.56 U.S. general imports from India, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 4,419 4,444 3,855 -13.3

2 Forest products 179 205 222 8.2

3 Chemicals and related products 8,293 8,875 9,745 9.8

4 Energy-related products 3,946 4,622 2,672 -42.2

5 Textiles and apparel 6,902 7,384 7,953 7.7

6 Footwear 297 349 468 34.0

7 Minerals and metals 10,343 11,072 10,852 -2.0

8 Machinery 1,827 2,191 2,416 10.2

9 Transportation equipment 1,448 1,891 2,021 6.8

10 Electronic products 1,194 1,219 1,159 -4.9

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 2,446 2,566 2,826 10.1

12 Special provisions 514 424 553 30.3

Total 41,809 45,244 44,741 -1.1

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 301

Table A.57 Leading U.S. total exports to India, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

7102.39 Diamonds, nonindustrial, worked, including polished or drilled 3,858 3,724 3,745 0.6

7108.12 Gold, nonmonetary, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 1,515 1,189 2,274 91.3

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 1,591 1,424 772 -45.8

2701.12 Bituminous coal, whether or not pulverized, but not agglomerated 400 411 458 11.3

0802.11 Almonds, fresh or dried, in shell 324 404 446 10.3

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 309 376 371 -1.3

8802.40 Airplanes and other aircraft n.e.s.o.i., of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kg 1,152 1,357 352 -74.1

3105.30 Diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate) 315 278 287 3.2

2713.11 Petroleum coke, not calcined 231 314 274 -12.8

7204.49 Ferrous waste and scrap, n.e.s.o.i. 142 179 264 47.0

2707.99 Oils and products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar, n.e.s.o.i.; similar products which have a predominate (wt.) 

aromatic constituent, n.e.s.o.i. 402 340 252 -25.9

7113.19 Jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal other than silver 248 237 250 5.7

3815.19 Supported catalysts, n.e.s.o.i. 41 62 200 219.9

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 80 100 193 93.8

7106.91 Silver, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 43 12 158 1257.2

9030.40 Instruments and apparatus n.e.s.o.i., specially designed for telecommunications (for example, cross-talk meters, gain measuring 

instruments etc.) 100 114 145 27.4

8805.10 Aircraft launching gear and parts thereof; deck-arrestors or similar gear and parts thereof 104 127 142 12.6

8409.99 Parts for use with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines, n.e.s.o.i. 104 99 140 41.8

4707.10 Waste and scrap of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard 150 159 135 -15.3

9018.90 Instruments and appliances for medical, surgical or veterinary sciences, n.e.s.o.i., and parts and accessories thereof 142 130 134 3.3

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 191 161 128 -20.4

8481.80 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves, n.e.s.o.i. 72 66 119 81.7

5201.00 Cotton, not carded or combed 90 89 115 29.4

2809.20 Phosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acids 190 143 109 -23.5

0808.10 Apples, fresh 70 68 102 50.4

Total of items shown 11,864 11,563 11,567 0.0

All other products 9,947 10,044 9,963 -0.8

Total of all commodities 21,811 21,608 21,530 -0.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Appendix A: Data Tables

302 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.58 Leading U.S. general imports from India, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

7102.39 Diamonds, nonindustrial, worked, including polished or drilled 7,401 7,590 7,370 -2.9

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 3,669 3,895 4,942 26.9

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 2,825 2,697 1,646 -39.0

7113.19 Jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal other than silver 1,159 1,195 1,309 9.5

0306.17 Shrimps and prawns, frozen, other than coldwater 936 1,272 1,193 -6.2

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 1,102 1,895 994 -47.5

6302.31 Bed linen (other than printed) of cotton, not knitted or crocheted 850 796 792 -0.5

6302.60 Toilet and kitchen linen of cotton terry toweling or similar cotton terry fabrics 585 629 694 10.3

1302.32 Mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived from locust beans, locust bean seeds or guar seeds 1,615 1,190 583 -51.0

3004.20 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc., containing antibiotics, n.e.s.o.i. 424 442 485 9.6

6110.20 Sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, vests and similar articles of cotton, knitted or crocheted 399 403 414 2.5

7113.11 Jewelry and parts thereof, of silver 358 351 344 -2.0

8701.90 Tractors, n.e.s.o.i. 192 210 325 55.0

6206.30 Women’s or girls’ blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses of cotton, not knitted or crocheted 247 259 285 10.0

6403.99 Footwear, with outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather and uppers of leather n.e.s.o.i., not covering the ankle 150 188 243 29.3

6205.20 Men’s or boys’ shirts of cotton, not knitted or crocheted 224 218 239 9.5

6109.10 T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments of cotton, knitted or crocheted 173 188 229 21.8

8708.30 Brakes and servo-brakes; parts thereof 159 227 219 -3.4

0801.32 Cashew nuts, fresh or dried, shelled 265 214 218 1.8

6206.40 Women’s or girls’ blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses of manmade fibers, not knitted or crocheted 149 166 210 26.5

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 160 183 207 13.4

8409.99 Parts for use with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines, n.e.s.o.i. 154 180 200 11.3

7210.49 Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products, not corrugated, 600 mm or more wide, plated or coated with zinc other than 

electrolytically 218 328 187 -43.1

6802.93 Worked monumental or building stone n.e.s.o.i., of granite 166 180 187 3.9

6105.10 Men’s or boys’ shirts of cotton, knitted or crocheted 172 178 186 4.5

Total of items shown 23,750 25,074 23,700 -5.5

All other products 18,058 20,170 21,041 4.3

Total of all commodities 41,809 45,244 44,741 -1.1

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 303

Table A.59 U.S. total exports to Brazil, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 1,958 1,640 877 -46.5

2 Forest products 417 403 360 -10.8

3 Chemicals and related products 10,332 10,338 8,559 -17.2

4 Energy-related products 6,784 7,579 3,951 -47.9

5 Textiles and apparel 274 302 247 -18.1

6 Footwear 2 5 2 -64.5

7 Minerals and metals 1,470 1,250 875 -30.0

8 Machinery 4,354 3,955 2,869 -27.5

9 Transportation equipment 9,399 8,533 7,485 -12.3

10 Electronic products 8,013 7,256 5,557 -23.4

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 317 389 268 -31.0

12 Special provisions 774 779 615 -21.0

Total 44,093 42,429 31,666 -25.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Table A.60 U.S. general imports from Brazil, by USITC digest sector, 2013–15

Sector Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

1 Agricultural products 4,646 4,406 3,981 -9.7

2 Forest products 2,161 2,166 2,207 1.9

3 Chemicals and related products 2,274 2,339 2,043 -12.7

4 Energy-related products 5,761 6,367 4,539 -28.7

5 Textiles and apparel 117 131 142 8.0

6 Footwear 199 208 202 -2.5

7 Minerals and metals 5,232 6,235 5,273 -15.4

8 Machinery 1,067 997 782 -21.6

9 Transportation equipment 3,367 4,251 4,782 12.5

10 Electronic products 262 275 319 15.9

11 Miscellaneous manufactures 461 384 482 25.4

12 Special provisions 2,084 2,778 2,654 -4.4

Total 27,631 30,537 27,405 -10.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Appendix A: Data Tables

304 | www.usitc.gov

Table A.61 Leading U.S. total exports to Brazil, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

8800.00 Civilian aircraft, engines, and parts 5,205 4,731 4,581 -3.2

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 3,777 4,298 1,961 -54.4

3004.90 Medicaments, in measured doses, etc. (excluding vaccines, etc., coated bandages etc. and pharmaceutical goods), n.e.s.o.i. 752 845 634 -24.9

8517.62 Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and 

routing apparatus 852 832 602 -27.7

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 807 974 595 -38.9

8542.31 Processors and controllers, electronic integrated circuits 1,202 769 554 -28.1

2701.12 Bituminous coal, whether or not pulverized, but not agglomerated 981 790 549 -30.5

2711.12 Propane, liquefied 676 929 403 -56.6

3808.91 Insecticides, excluding those specified in subheading note 1 to chapter 38 482 534 357 -33.2

9018.90 Instruments and appliances for medical, surgical or veterinary sciences, n.e.s.o.i., and parts and accessories thereof 335 324 323 -0.3

3105.40 Ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate (monoammonium phosphate) and mixtures thereof with diammonium hydrogen 

orthophosphate (diammonium phosphate) 193 281 303 7.8

8708.99 Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, n.e.s.o.i. 232 242 300 23.9

3901.90 Polymers of ethylene n.e.s.o.i., in primary forms 243 247 270 9.5

2815.12 Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), in aqueous solution (soda lye or liquid soda) 305 276 257 -7.1

2207.10 Ethyl alcohol, un-denatured, of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher 113 263 245 -6.9

8481.80 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves, n.e.s.o.i. 179 196 215 10.0

2836.20 Disodium carbonate 156 169 214 26.2

8431.43 Parts for boring or sinking machinery, n.e.s.o.i. 280 246 211 -14.2

2931.90 Organo-inorganic compounds, n.e.s.o.i. 152 219 204 -6.8

8471.70 Automatic data processing storage units, n.e.s.o.i. 343 300 202 -32.8

9018.39 Medical etc. needles n.e.s.o.i., catheters, cannulae and the like; parts and accessories thereof 199 217 196 -9.7

3105.59 Mineral or chemical fertilizers containing the two fertilizing elements nitrogen and phosphorus, n.e.s.o.i. 207 181 188 3.9

8473.30 Parts and accessories for automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, transcribing machines, 

etc., n.e.s.o.i. 319 265 187 -29.6

3822.00 Composite diagnostic or laboratory reagents, other than pharmaceutical preparations of heading 3002 or 3006 176 183 183 0.2

3808.93 Herbicides, antisprouting products and plant-growth regulators, excluding those specified in subheading note 1 to chapter 38 200 236 173 -26.3

Total of items shown 18,365 18,546 13,907 -25.0

All other products 25,728 23,883 17,759 -25.6

Total of all commodities 44,093 42,429 31,666 -25.4

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 305

Table A.62 Leading U.S. general imports from Brazil, by HTS 6-digit subheading, 2013–15

HTS 6 Description 2013 2014 2015

% change 

2014–15

Million $

2709.00 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude 4,163 5,152 3,698 -28.2

8802.40 Airplanes and other aircraft n.e.s.o.i., of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000 kg 1,135 1,756 2,348 33.7

0901.11 Coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated 1,007 1,265 1,267 0.2

7207.12 Semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, under 0.25% (wt.) carbon, rectangular cross section, width not less than twice the 

thickness 1,487 1,553 1,089 -29.9

4703.29 Chemical wood pulp, soda or sulfate, other than dissolving grades, semi-bleached or bleached, non-coniferous 1,032 932 976 4.7

6802.93 Worked monumental or building stone n.e.s.o.i., of granite 606 639 629 -1.7

2710.19 Petroleum oils, oils from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and products containing by weight 70 percent or more of 

petroleum oils, not biodiesel or waste 1,331 1,022 564 -44.8

8802.30 Airplanes and other aircraft n.e.s.o.i., of an unladen weight exceeding 2,000 kg but not exceeding 15,000 kg 448 308 486 57.9

2207.10 Ethyl alcohol, un-denatured, of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher 1,207 492 486 -1.2

7201.10 Non-alloy pig iron containing 0.5% (wt.) or less phosphorus, in primary forms 688 644 449 -30.2

7224.90 Semi-finished products of alloy steel (other than stainless) n.e.s.o.i. 265 463 368 -20.6

8409.99 Parts for use with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines, n.e.s.o.i. 335 333 349 5.0

1602.50 Meat or meat offal of bovine animals, prepared or preserved, n.e.s.o.i. 225 218 306 40.7

4409.10 Wood continuously shaped (tongued, grooved, rebated, v-jointed, beaded, molded, etc.) along any of its edges or faces, planed, etc. 

or not, coniferous 277 296 291 -1.8

2401.20 Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped 397 251 243 -3.2

7202.93 Ferroniobium 219 288 226 -21.3

2710.12 Light oils and preparations containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals, not containing 

biodiesel, not waste oils 226 100 198 97.8

2009.11 Orange juice, frozen, whether or not sweetened 154 255 183 -28.4

8429.20 Graders and levelers, self-propelled 151 190 182 -4.4

8412.90 Parts for engines and motors, n.e.s.o.i. 183 196 173 -11.8

7108.12 Gold, nonmonetary, unwrought n.e.s.o.i. (other than powder) 65 168 153 -9.0

8803.30 Parts of airplanes or helicopters, n.e.s.o.i. 122 204 153 -24.8

2902.20 Benzene 248 239 151 -36.6

8701.30 Track-laying tractors 41 155 142 -8.3

2601.12 Agglomerated iron ores 31 187 141 -24.4

Total of items shown 16,043 17,306 15,252 -11.9

All other products 11,588 13,231 12,153 -8.1

Total of all commodities 27,631 30,537 27,405 -10.3

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed April 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. N.e.s.o.i. = not elsewhere specified or included.
Appendix A: Data Tables

306 | www.usitc.gov
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 307

Appendix B

Additional Tables Corresponding to 

Figures in the Report
Appendix B: Additional Tables

308 | www.usitc.gov
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 309

In compliance with Section 508, an amendment to the United States Workforce Rehabilitation 

Act of 1973, alternative text is used by screen readers to offer people with disabilities text 

equivalents for non-text elements. The tables in this appendix are referenced in the alternative 

text for the figures contained in this report. 

Table B.1 U.S. trade balance in goods and services, 1996–2015 (millions of dollars)

Year Services Goods

1996 86,935 -191,000

1997 90,155 -198,428

1998 82,081 -248,221

1999 78,450 -337,068

2000 74,266 -446,783

2001 60,858 -422,370

2002 56,290 -475,245

2003 47,754 -541,643

2004 54,882 -664,766

2005 68,558 -782,804

2006 75,573 -837,289

2007 115,821 -821,196

2008 123,765 -832,492

2009 125,920 -509,694

2010 154,020 -648,678

2011 192,020 -740,646

2012 204,398 -741,171

2013 224,193 -702,587

2014 233,138 -741,462

2015 219,552 -759,307

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transaction Accounts, “Table 1: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Exports, Imports, and 

Balances,” updated April 5, 2016, http://www.bea.gov/international/. 

Note: Merchandise trade data are on a balance-of-payments basis.
Appendix B: Additional Tables

310 | www.usitc.gov

Table B.2 U.S. real gross domestic product, percent change, 2006–15

Year Real GDP % change

2006 2.7

2007 1.8

2008 -0.3

2009 -2.8

2010 2.5

2011 1.6

2012 2.2

2013 1.5

2014 2.4

2015 2.4

Source: USDOC, “Gross Domestic Product, Percent Change from preceding period,” http://www.bea.gov/national/xls/gdpchg.xls (accessed 

April 7, 2016). 

Table B.3 Economic growth trends in the world, the United States, and selected economies, 2013-15

Countries 2013 (%) 2014 (%) 2015 (%)

World 3.3 3.4 3.1

United States 1.5 2.4 2.4

European Union 0.2 1.4 1.5

China 7.7 7.3 6.9

Canada 2.0 2.5 1.2

Mexico 1.4 2.3 2.5

Japan 1.6 0.0 0.6

Korea 2.9 3.3 2.7

India 6.9 7.3 7.3

Brazil 2.7 0.1 -3.8

Sources: USDOC, BEA, “Gross Domestic Product: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2015 (Second Estimate),” news release, February 26, 2016, table 

7; OECD, “Country Statistic Profile: European Union 2015,” http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/country-statistical-profile-europeanunion_20752288-table-eu; IMF, “World Economic Outlook Update,” January 19, 2016, 

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/update/01/pdf/0116.pdf; IMF, “World Economic Outlook,” October 2015, table A1.

Note: European Union 2015 data are for the euro area. 2015 data for South Korea are a projection.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 311

Table B.4 U.S. merchandise trade with major trading partners, 2011–15

Country/region Trade flow 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Billion $

European Union

Total exports 269.6 265.7 262.1 276.1 272.7

General imports 368.9 382.2 387.6 418.2 426.0

Merchandise trade balance -99.3 -116.5 -125.6 -142.1 153.3

China

Total exports 104.1 110.5 121.7 123.7 116.2

General imports 399.4 425.6 440.4 466.8 481.9

Merchandise trade balance -295.2 -315.1 -318.7 -343.1 -365.7

Canada

Total exports 281.3 292.7 300.8 312.4 280.0

General imports 315.3 324.3 332.6 347.8 295.2

Merchandise trade balance -34.0 -31.6 -31.8 -35.4 -15.2

Mexico

Total exports 198.3 215.9 226.1 240.3 236.4

General imports 262.9 277.6 280.5 294.2 294.7

Merchandise trade balance -64.6 -61.7 -54.4 -53.8 -58.4

Japan

Total exports 65.8 70.0 65.2 66.8 62.5

General imports 128.9 146.4 138.6 134.0 131.1

Merchandise trade balance -63.1 -76.5 -73.4 -67.2 -68.6

South Korea

Total exports 43.5 42.3 41.7 44.5 43.5

General imports 56.7 58.9 62.4 69.5 71.8

Merchandise trade balance -13.2 -16.6 -20.7 -25.0 -28.3

Taiwan

Total exports 25.9 24.3 25.5 26.7 25.9

General imports 41.4 38.9 37.9 40.6 40.7

Merchandise trade balance -15.5 -14.5 -12.5 -13.9 -14.8

India

Total exports 21.5 22.1 21.8 21.6 21.5

General imports 36.2 40.5 41.8 45.2 44.7

Merchandise trade balance -14.6 -18.4 -20.0 -23.6 -23.2

Brazil

Total exports 43.0 43.8 44.1 42.4 31.7

General imports 31.7 32.1 27.6 30.5 27.4

Merchandise trade balance 11.3 11.7 16.5 11.9 4.3

World

Total exports 1,482.5 1,545.8 1,578.4 1,620.5 1,504.6

General imports 2,208.0 2,276.3 2,268.4 2,347.7 2,241.7

Merchandise trade balance -725.4 -730.4 -690.0 -727.2 -737.1

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 6, 2016).

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
Appendix B: Additional Tables

312 | www.usitc.gov

Table B.5 U.S. merchandise trade with selected major trading partners and the world, 2015

Major trading partner U.S. total exports

U.S. general 

imports

Share of total 

exports

Share of total 

imports 

Million $ Percent

European Union 272,688 426,006 18.1 19.0

China 116,186 481,881 7.7 21.5

Canada 280,017 295,190 18.6 13.2

Mexico 236,377 294,741 15.7 13.1

Japan 62,472 131,120 4.2 5.8

South Korea 43,499 71,827 2.9 3.2

Taiwan 25,929 40,708 1.7 1.8

India 21,530 44,741 1.4 2.0

Brazil 31,666 27,405 2.1 1.2

All others 414,235 428,044 27.5 19.1

World 1,504,597 2,241,664

Source: Official trade statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessible via the USITC DataWeb (accessed March 1, 2016). 

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.
Year in Trade

U.S. International Trade Commission | 313

Table B.6 U.S. private services trade with major trading partners, 2011–15

Country/region Trade flow 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Billion $

European Union

Exports 197.8 197.8 204.6 217.9 214.0

Imports 144.7 146.5 152.8 159.7 164.7

Trade balance 53.1 51.3 51.7 58.2 49.3

China

Exports 28.2 32.8 37.0 42.1 44.9

Imports 11.7 13.0 14.1 14.3 15.8

Trade balance 16.5 19.8 22.9 27.8 29.1

Canada

Exports 57.9 61.6 62.4 61.1 57.0

Imports 30.2 30.8 30.4 29.8 29.9

Trade balance 27.8 30.8 31.9 31.3 27.0

Mexico

Exports 26.1 27.8 29.4 29.6 30.4

Imports 14.5 15.3 17.2 19.4 21.5

Trade balance 11.6 12.5 12.2 10.3 8.9

Japan

Exports 43.3 46.1 46.0 46.1 43.0

Imports 22.1 24.5 27.5 28.3 26.4

Trade balance 21.2 21.6 18.5 17.8 16.6

South Korea

Exports 16.5 17.9 20.7 20.4 22.1

Imports 7.2 8.1 8.3 8.0 8.7

Trade balance 9.3 9.8 12.4 12.5 13.4

Taiwan

Exports 10.5 11.3 11.4 12.3 12.0

Imports 6.2 6.9 7.0 7.3 7.7

Trade balance 4.4 4.4 4.4 5.0 4.3

India

Exports 11.6 12.1 13.3 14.8 16.8

Imports 17.3 18.7 19.3 20.7 23.7

Trade balance -5.7 -6.6 -6.0 -6.0 -6.8

Brazil

Exports 23.1 24.9 26.5 28.0 27.7

Imports 6.9 7.4 7.6 8.4 8.5

Trade balance 16.2 17.4 18.9 19.6 19.2

World

Exports 605.6 633.6 664.9 690.1 690.1

Imports 404.5 424.2 438.4 453.3 469.1

Trade balance 201.1 209.4 226.6 236.9 220.9

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data. “Table 1.3. U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,”

March 17, 2016; and “Table 3.1. U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016.

http://bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=62&step=1%23reqid=62&step=6&isuri=1&6210=1&6200=51#reqid=62&step=2&isuri=1&6210=1. 

Note: Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 2015 Data are preliminary.
Appendix B: Additional Tables

314 | www.usitc.gov

Table B.7 U.S. private services trade with major trading partners and the world, 2015

Major trading partners U.S. exports U.S. imports

Share of U.S. 

exports

Share of U.S 

imports 

Million $ Percent

European Union 214,007 164,717 31.0 35.1

Canada 56,970 29,926 8.3 6.4

Japan 42,998 26,369 6.2 5.6

China 44,873 15,784 6.5 3.4

Mexico 30,401 21,509 4.4 4.6

Brazil 27,659 8,453 4.0 1.8

India 16,839 23,668 2.4 5.0

South Korea 22,139 8,743 3.2 1.9

Australia 17,928 6,877 2.6 1.5

Taiwan 11,998 7,733 1.7 1.6

Singapore 14,347 6,714 2.1 1.4

All others 189,896 148,615 27.5 31.7

World 690,055 469,108

Source: USDOC, BEA, International Transactions data. “Table 1.3. U.S. International Transactions, Expanded Detail by Area and Country,” 

March 17, 2016; and “Table 3.1. U.S. International Trade in Services,” March 17, 2016, 

http://bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=62&step=1%23reqid=62&step=6&isuri=1&6210=1&6200=51#reqid=62&step=2&isuri=1&6210=1.