Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

The U.S. Trade Representative, a Cabinet-level official in the Executive Office of the President, is the President’s principal advisor on trade policy, chief U.S. trade negotiator, and head of the interagency trade policy coordinating process. USTR administers U.S. law to combat “unfair” foreign trade practices (e.g., “Section 301”), and trade preference programs for developing countries. In creating and elevating USTR, Congress sought to balance competing interests between U.S. domestic and foreign policy, among the range of trade-related agencies, and the many domestic stakeholders. Congress also sought to address concerns that trade policy interests were being overlooked under the State Department’s historical lead. Milestone statutes in the USTR’s evolution include the:

• Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Created an ambassador-level Special Representative for Trade Negotiations (precursor to USTR) to lead the new interagency system to coordinate trade policy, which the act also created.
• Trade Act of 1974. Designated the Special Representative as the chief U.S. trade negotiator, lead of the trade agreements program, and head of the new private sector advisory committee system, which the act also created. Elevated position to cabinet rank and placed it in the White House.
• Trade Agreements Act of 1979. Required the President to submit a trade reorganization plan, including to boost the Special Representative’s coordination and functional roles.
• Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Elevated USTR to coordinate trade policy, serve as the President’s principal trade advisor and trade “spokesperson,” and lead U.S. international trade negotiations. Required USTR to report to both the President and Congress.