The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) is an independent, quasijudicial Federal agency with broad investigative responsibilities on matters of trade. The agency investigates the effects of dumped and subsidized imports on domestic industries and conducts global safeguard investigations. The Commission also adjudicates cases involving imports that allegedly infringe intellectual property rights. Through such proceedings, the agency facilitates a rules-based international trading system. The Commission also serves as a Federal resource where trade data and other trade policy-related information are gathered and analyzed. The information and analysis are provided to the President, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and Congress to facilitate the development of sound and informed U.S. trade policy. The Commission makes most of its information and analysis available to the public to promote understanding of international trade issues.
The mission of the Commission is to (1) administer U.S. trade remedy laws within its mandate in a fair and objective manner; (2) provide the President, USTR, and Congress with independent analysis, information, and support on matters of tariffs, international trade, and U.S. competitiveness; and (3) maintain the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
The Commission has five major operations that serve its external customers:
- Import Injury Investigations
- Intellectual Property-Based Import Investigations
- Industry and Economic Analysis
- Tariff and Trade Information Services
- Trade Policy Support
Learn more about the history of the USITC:
Two Centuries of Tariffs - The Background and Emergence of the United States International Trade Commission
USITC Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) Results
The USITC is a dynamic and mission-driven agency with excellent work-life balance, regularly listed as one of the Best Places to Work in the federal government. The in 2017 USITC is ranked #2 among Small Agencies (100-999 employees) in the Partnership for Public Service’s (PPS) rankings of the Best Places to Work. While the 2018 PPS rankings are still forthcoming, the USITC 2018 Index Score has improved from 80.9% to 83.0%, demonstrating that one of the best places to work is getting even better:
The Commission views employee engagement and an inclusive work environment as critical to mission accomplishment. Each year, the USITC conducts an in-depth analysis of the results of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey and uses those results to make the Commission a better place to work. These efforts include the formation of management and staff focus groups to assist in the development of action plans to further improve the work environment.