USTR

Earlier this week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative took targeted action to restore American shipbuilding and address China’s efforts to dominate maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.  These actions come after a year-long Section 301 investigation.   “Ships...

The Trump administration is considering a different plan for fees on Chinese ships visiting U.S. ports.  The Economic Times said significant pushback against the plan came from industries that all said the idea would bring economic devastation.  The cha...

President Trump’s administration calculated its raft of new tariffs primarily based on existing trade balances — a departure from pledges to match the tariff rates and other trade barriers from other countries.  In a statement published last week to explain its methodology for tariffs that rocked the globe, the United States Trade Representative detailed a formula that divides a country’s trade su

The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office recently launched an investigation into China’s efforts to dominate the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.  After an investigation, the USTR released proposed actions, including assessing fees up to $1.5 million on ships ar...

On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Jamieson Greer as the new United States Trade Representative.  Greer is a trade lawyer who served as chief of staff to then-USTR Robert Lighthizer during the previous Trump administration.   Five Democrats and 51 Republicans voted for the confirmation.   Many ...

President Trump’s pick for U.S. Trade Representative was challenged repeatedly at his Senate confirmation hearing last week over Trump’s tariff wars and their harm to farmers and consumers.  Jamieson Greer, the former USTR Chief of Staff during Trump's first term, came under swift and even ‘hot’ questioning by Finance Committee senators over the President’s newest tariff war with Canada, Mexico, a

It’s been over four years since the United States has entered into a free trade agreement.  Many in the Ag community will say that is one of the many pressures making farming more challenging these days.  House Ag Committee member Dan Newhouse said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative h...

Jamieson Greer is President-elect Trump’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative.  Greer was an aide in the office during Trump’s first term and will help steer the incoming president’s trade agenda.  A graduate of the University of Virginia’s Law School, Greer was chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Rep during Trump’s first term in o...

The USDA and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative are accepting applications for new members to serve on the agricultural trade advisory committees.  The Agricultural Trade Policy Advisory Committee is comprised of senior representatives from across the U.S. a...

The USDA is forecasting a record farm trade deficit next year, which raises the specter of an earlier debate and questions over the administration’s policy not to do free trade agreements.  The $42.5 billion farm trade deficit, if realized, again raises the issue of the administration rejecting market-opening free trade deals.   “...