Inside Trade

September 21, 2025

ITC

USTR labor advisers: U.S. must do more to hold industry feet to the fire

In crafting a supply chain resilience strategy, the U.S. must hold large corporations accountable – with “clear carrots and sticks” – in advancing U.S. economic security interests and workers’ rights, a group of senior labor advisers to the U.S. Trade Representative argued this week. The Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy is made up of labor representatives chosen by USTR to serve as cleared advisers, meaning they provide input and feedback on various policies and negotiations. In...

ITC sets October hearing date for second USMCA auto rules probe

The U.S. International Trade Commission has set a hearing date for a second economic assessment of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement automotive rules of origin, one of five mandated by USMCA implementing legislation. The study of the rules’ economic impact and operations is due to Congress by July 1, 2025, according to a notice issued this week . To inform it, the ITC will hold a public hearing on Oct. 8. The commission kicked off the second study last November . Its...

Lawmakers back bill to develop ‘comprehensive’ Indo-Pacific trade strategy

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation to establish an independent commission that would develop recommendations for a “comprehensive” trade strategy in the Indo-Pacific, which sponsors say is needed to counter China and to “reassert” congressional authority over trade policy. The “ U.S. Trade Leadership in the Indo-Pacific Act ,” led by House Ways & Means member Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), would direct the U.S. International Trade Commission to study the impacts of regional trade agreements in...

New House bill would direct probe of gender bias in U.S. tariff system

House lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a bill that would direct the Treasury Department to examine gender bias and regressivity in the U.S. tariff system following calls from a former trade official for greater scrutiny of the distributional effects of tariffs. “We’ve all heard of the ‘pink tax,’ where women’s products cost more than comparable products for men, but something we haven’t begun to investigate is how our tariff system is also playing a role in price discrepancies,” said Rep. Brittany...

After six TTC meetings, stakeholders eyeing ways to shape what comes next

LEUVEN, BELGIUM -- The sixth ministerial meeting of the U.S.-European Union Trade and Technology Council ministerial concluded on Friday with a pledge to consult stakeholders on the future of the forum and build on lessons learned – and many on both sides of the Atlantic are eager to offer feedback. Both the U.S. and the EU will hold elections later this year, leaving TTC’s future uncertain. Even if the two incumbent presidents, Joe Biden and Ursula von der Leyen, win...

Tai’s Belgium itinerary set: Two days of TTC meetings, side events

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is set to travel to Leuven, Belgium, later this week for the sixth U.S.-European Union Trade and Technology Council ministerial as well as a closed-door meeting with labor and business stakeholders and a public event about the future of trans-Atlantic trade relations, according to an itinerary issued on Monday. She will be in Belgium April 4-5, her office said in her schedule . Officials are eyeing a host of outcomes for the ministerial, set to...

ITC notifies WTO of safeguard investigation into polyester fiber

The U.S. International Trade Commission is launching a global safeguard probe into fine denier polyester staple fiber, according to a notice filed by the U.S. at the World Trade Organization. The U.S. on Monday notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that the commission had initiated the probe following a Feb. 28 petition by three domestic producers seeking relief under sections 201 and 202 of the Trade Act of 1974. Fine denier polyester staple fiber is a synthetic material resembling cotton...

Polyester fiber producers petition ITC for safeguard measures

A group of domestic producers is calling on the U.S. International Trade Commission to initiate a safeguard investigation into fine denier polyester staple fiber, saying the industry is facing an “onslaught” of imports despite antidumping and countervailing duty orders in place for several countries. The Commerce Department in 2018 issued antidumping orders on imports of the material from China, India, Korea and Taiwan as well as countervailing duties on imports from China and India. According to three U.S. producers --...

ITC issues draft industry questionnaire for USMCA auto rules study

The U.S. International Trade Commission is calling on automakers to answer an extensive list of questions to inform a probe into the economic impact and operation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s automotive rules of origin. A draft questionnaire issued by the commission includes detailed questions about companies’ use of duty-free treatment under USMCA; sourcing changes since the agreement’s entry into force; impacts of the deal’s rules of origin on wages, innovation and exports; and technological changes that could impact the rules’...

ITC votes to continue probes into wine bottles from China, Mexico, Chile

The U.S. International Trade Commission has decided to proceed with a set of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into wine bottles imported from China, Mexico and Chile. The ITC voted on Friday to continue the probes, requested last month by a coalition including domestic producer Ardagh Glass Inc. and the United Steelworkers, according to a statement issued by the commission. Accordingly, the Commerce Department “will continue its investigations of imports of glass wine bottles from Chile, China, and Mexico, with...

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