Trade Agreements Secretariat
The Trade Agreements Secretariat is responsible for the fair and impartial administration of dispute settlement actions under 14 U.S. Free Trade Agreements.
The Trade Agreements Secretariat (TAS) works closely with counterparts in 20 U.S. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) partner countries to ensure that the United States and its exporters are treated fairly and in accordance with agreed upon FTA commitments.
In instances where other countries may not be abiding by their FTA obligations, TAS performs a valuable compliance function to complement FTA enforcement actions and level the playing field for U.S. companies. Current activities include:
- 15 NAFTA and USMCA disputes
- Involves 27 U.S. companies and 4 Trade Associations
- Impacts over 3.8 million U.S. workers
- Impact more than $8.1 billion in subject merchandise
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TAS Electronic Filing (e-filing) System
The TAS electronic filing system is a new secure online system for administering disputes under Chapters 10 and 31 of USMCA.
Key Features of the E-filing System
- Document Filing, Docketing, and Storage: Interested parties are able to file dispute documents electronically through the online system. The TAS e-filing system also logically organizes filings for easy access and serves as a central repository for all documents related to a dispute.
- Account Creation: All users participating in and providing materials for proceedings are able to create secure accounts and file documents electronically. In addition, members of the public can create an account to view and download public documents associated with USMCA disputes.
- Online Public Reading Room: All users within the TAS e-filing system, including the public, will be able to view public versions of dispute filings, timelines and service lists.
Recent FTA Dispute Settlement News and Announcements
Oral Arguments in the Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination dispute (Secretariat Dispute Number: USA-CDA-2017-1904-02) will take place on September 27-29, 2023 and will be live-streamed publicly. Please use this link to access the Zoom live-stream.
The Panel’s Final Report in the Automotive Rules of Origin dispute (USA-MEX-2022-31-01) was released by the Parties on January 11, 2023. The report can be publicly accessed on the TAS E-filing System.
