USTR

Sens. McCormick, Cortez Masto: Mexico and Canada should adopt CFIUS-like tools

The U.S. Trade Representative should push Canada and Mexico to establish foreign investment screening mechanisms aimed at detecting threatening investments from China, Sens. David McCormick (R-PA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) say, eyeing the 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in a bill introduced on Friday. USTR this week kicked off its public consultation process for the first USMCA review, which is set for next summer. Canada and Mexico are similarly preparing for the mandatory assessment. If the countries do...

Senate confirms Switzer as deputy USTR after limiting filibuster on nominees

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Bryan Switzer as deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Asia, textiles, investment, services and intellectual property after the chamber’s GOP majority changed procedural rules to accelerate approvals of sub-Cabinet executive branch nominees by barring filibusters on “en bloc” confirmations that can cover dozens of officials at once. Switzer, a former longtime State Department official who goes by Rick, was one of 48 nominees that lawmakers grouped together under S. Res. 337 ; the bloc passed the...

Sens. Hagerty, Cortez Masto: U.S., allies should trade critical minerals duty-free

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative should negotiate an alliance with like-minded countries that would allow for duty-free critical minerals trade, helping to ensure a robust supply and reduce reliance on China, according to Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN). The two are planning to introduce the “ Restoring American Mineral Security Act ” laying out how USTR, in collaboration with the Treasury, Commerce and State departments, would determine which countries would be eligible for such...

State of the talks: Trump mulls changes to UK deal; Korea not in a hurry

President Trump is considering British-proposed changes to the U.S.-UK tariff deal the two sides struck in May, he said Monday ahead of a visit to London. “They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit,” he told reporters outside the White House. “We made a deal and it's a great deal, and I'm into helping them.” Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May reached a deal that kept in place 10 percent tariffs...

USTR kicks off public consultation on 2026 USMCA review

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is formally seeking public comment that will inform the Trump administration’s statutorily mandated review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement next year, with written input due to arrive the first week of November ahead of a public hearing in Washington, DC, later that month. A Federal Register notice establishing that timeline is slated for publication on Sept. 17, according to a preliminary version posted Tuesday morning. USMCA requires that the three governments conduct their first...

Greer, Bessent: If G7 countries want to end war in Ukraine, they’ll impose tariffs

G7 partners should impose tariffs on countries that import Russian oil if they are “truly committed to ending the war in Ukraine,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a joint statement on Friday, after G7 finance ministers held an “emergency” video call at the request of the U.S. “During today’s call with G7 Finance Ministers, Secretary Bessent reiterated President Trump’s call to our G7 partners that, if they are truly committed to ending the...

USTR seeks input on 2026 National Trade Estimate report

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting public input as it begins to prepare its next National Trade Estimate report on Foreign Trade Barriers. USTR wants comments to help it identify “significant foreign barriers to, or distortions of, U.S. exports of goods and services and U.S. foreign direct investment” for inclusion in the annual, congressionally mandated report, according to a draft Federal Register notice set to be published on Sept. 15. USTR typically issues the NTE report in...

Finance Committee advances Switzer’s deputy USTR nomination

A divided Senate Finance Committee voted Thursday to advance President Trump’s nomination of Bryan Switzer as deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Asia, textiles, investment, services and intellectual property, teeing up a future floor vote on his confirmation. Finance members did not cast their votes publicly -- committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-ID) said during a brief Sept. 4 executive session that they would vote “off the Senate floor” around an oversight hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy...

USTR to hear from range of industry reps in Brazil Section 301 hearing

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Wednesday will hear from a wide array of representatives of sectors including technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and more during a hearing in Washington on the agency’s investigation into Brazilian trade practices. The hearing will kick off with a panel that includes Former World Trade Organization Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, representing Brazil’s Confederação Nacional da Indústria, along with representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. tech groups and Brazilian agricultural and coffee exporter groups,...

USTR again extends exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods

The U.S. will again extend a limited number of exclusions from tariffs on Chinese goods related to healthcare and solar manufacturing, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said on Thursday. The exclusions had been set to expire on Aug. 31. They will be extended through Nov. 29, USTR said in a draft Federal Register notice . In late December 2023, USTR asked for public comment on whether to extend 352 exclusions from Section 301 (Trade Act of 1974) tariffs...

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