U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is an agency of the Executive Office of the President responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade and commodity and trade-related investment policy.
The head of the office holds the title of United States Trade Representative (USTR), which is a Cabinet-level position (though not technically within the Cabinet). The United States Trade Representative and Deputy United States Trade Representatives (DUSTR) carry the title of Ambassador.
The agency provides trade policy leadership and negotiating expertise in major areas of responsibility including the following:
- All matters within the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT);
- Trade, commodity and trade-related investment matters dealt with by international institutions such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD);
- Other trade and trade-related investment issues including intellectual property protection issues and import policy; and
- Enforcement and implementation of U.S. trade laws.
The Special 301 Report
Since the early 1980s, the USTR has played a key role in the expansion of intellectual property laws worldwide, and monitored efforts by other governments to protect IP rights. To this end the USTR issues an annual Special 301 Report which “examines in detail the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights” in many countries around the world. Countries may be designated in the categories of Priority Foreign Country, Section 306 Monitoring, Priority Watch List, or Watch List.
USTR: Who We Are
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is an agency of over 200 people, a highly committed group of professionals who have decades of specialized experience in trade issues and regions of the world. They negotiate directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, resolve disputes and participate in global trade policy organizations. They also meet with governments, business groups, legislators and public interest groups to gather input on trade issues and explain the president’s trade policy positions. The agency was founded in 1962 and has offices in Geneva and Brussels.
Contact USTR
USTR website: http://www.ustr.gov
Office of Public Affairs and Private Sector Liaison
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W., Room 103
Washington, D.C. 20506
Phone: 202/395-3350
FAX: 202/395-7226
Office of the General Counsel
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W., Room 223
Washington, D.C. 20506
Phone: 202/395-3432
FAX: 202/395-3911
Office of Agriculture
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W., Room 423
Washington, D.C. 20506
Phone: 202/395-5006
FAX: 202/395-3911
Office of Industry
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W., Room 420
Washington, D.C. 20506
Phone: 202/395-5656
FAX: 202/395-3911
Office of Environment and Intellectual Property
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W., Room 409
Washington, D.C. 20506
Phone: 202/395-7320
FAX: 202/395-3911
Office of Services, Investment and Science
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W., Room 409
Washington, D.C. 20506
Phone: 202/395-3606
FAX: 202/395-3911
Office of Textiles
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W., Room 300
Washington, D.C. 20506
Phone: 202/395-3026
FAX: 202/395-3911
Note: The article above may not contain current information.
See also…