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Trade Policy and Programs

Port of Baltimore. AP/Wide World PhotosThriving international commerce has long served U.S. interests by promoting U.S. prosperity and job-creation and promoting peaceful foreign relations. U.S. trade policy is based on two primary goals:

  • To expand access for American exporters to overseas markets, and
  • To ensure that commercial competitors and partners abroad observe fair trade practices.

To achieve these goals, the State Department and others in the U.S. helped establish the system of international trade rules administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The U.S. Government works to lower barriers to trade through negotiations both multilaterally in the WTO and bilaterally in negotiations with individual nations and regional groups. Currently a major round of negotiations is underway aimed at making trade more free and fair. We also work hard, including through U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas, to ensure that foreign governments live up to their trade commitments.

Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. AP/Wide World PhotosMany U.S. agencies are involved in the formulation of U.S. trade policy and negotiating positions, under the coordination of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The State Department's Trade Policy and Programs (TPP) division actively participates in the policymaking process to ensure that U.S. foreign policy goals are fully considered in the formulation of our trade policy.

The Trade Policy and Programs division is divided into three offices with responsibility for the diverse aspects of trade policy:

The Trade Policy and Programs division is led by the Economic and Business Affairs (EB) bureau's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Shaun Donnelly.

  
Highlights
U.S., Uruguay Sign Bilateral Investment Treaty
On October 25 the U.S and Uruguay signed the U.S. - Uruguay Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in Montevideo, Uruguay.  This agreement levels the playing field and ensures that Americans are treated equitably by increasing protection for U.S. investments in this South American nation. This agreement will also deepen our economic relationship with Uruguay, thus encouraging two-way trade. [more]

U.S.-China Economic Relationship
Under Secretary Larson's remarks a Beijing University on the contribution of Food and Agriculture to growing the U.S.-China economic relationship.

The American Vision of U.S.-India Economic Cooperation
Under Secretary Larson's remarks to the delegates of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit: “Raising the Bar: U.S.-India Economic Relations”.

Council of the Americas' 34th Annual Washington Conference
Remarks by
Secretary Powell and Assistant Secretary Noriega on "Crisis and Opportunity: Realizing the Hopes of a Hemisphere".

NAFTA: Ten Years After
Assistant Secretary Wayne testifies on the benefits this treaty has brought to both the American people and our neighbors.

  
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