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July 10, 2017

REMINDER: U.S. Trade Representative Wants Public Input On WTO/Free Trade Agreements And Trade Preference Programs By July 29

As Connecting the Dots reported last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a call for public comment on “all trade agreements and preference programs.” The comments will be considered as part of the USTR’s review of trade violations and abuses, which is due to be released in October 2017.

The USTR is “looking for comments on performance of the trade agreements, WTO agreements and trade preference programs” and also wants “details of specific harm or benefit brought by any of the pacts, including violations and unfair treatment, as well as whether any of the deals has not met predictions laid out at its signing.”

The USTR announcement said the focus for solicited public comments “includes, but is not limited to” the following areas:

  • Harm to American workers, including the offshoring of factories and jobs and downward pressure on wage and income growth.
  • Harm of intellectual property rights, the rate of innovation, or research and development in the United States.
  • Unmet predictions on new jobs created, favorable trade balance effects, expanded market access, lowered trade barriers, or increased United States exports.

Public comments, which can be submitted through www.regulations.gov, are due on July 29, 2017. The docket number for this matter is USTR-2017-0010. Click here to read the USTR’s statement calling for comments. 

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