Trade Policy & Analysis

Our team includes the following offices: 

Investment Security (OIS): Manages the Department of Commerce’s obligations as a statutory member of the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) in the United States. CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review transactions that could result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. 

For additional information contact: Adam.Vaccaro@trade.gov 

Standards and Intellectual Property (OSIP): OSIP facilitates trade by advancing strategies, policies and programs that strengthen the competitiveness and innovation potential of U.S. industry in world markets. We administer programs to conduct industry outreach and education, perform and provide research and analysis, refine trade and investment policies, and promote trade and market access.

For additional information contact: Stevan.Mitchell@trade.gov

Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA): Conducts economic research that underpins the development of economic and trade policy priorities throughout the Federal government. In addition, OTEA provides a solid foundation of trade and industry data to support the development of national trade policies. OTEA also administers the Export Trading Company Act, which provides antitrust preclearance for export joint ventures.

For additional information contact: Julian.Richards@trade.gov

Trade Negotiations and Analysis (OTNA): Develops U.S. strategies and positions for multi-sectoral trade negotiations with a focus on market access. Conducts analyses on bilateral and multilateral agreements to assess their impact on U.S. industry. OTNA also monitors, evaluates, and addresses market access compliance barriers, and represents the Department on issues relating to the implementation of U.S. trade laws (Section 201, Section 301 and Generalized System of Preferences). 

For additional information contact:  Morgan.Barr@trade.gov

Our programs are as follows: 

Export Trading Company Act

The Export Trading Act (ETCA) was enacted by Congress to enable U.S. firms to collaborate to reduce their exporting costs, become more efficient at exporting, and, in turn, compete more effectively in the global export market. Our team administers the Export Trading Company Act.  Please visit our ETCA webpage for further details. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact:  Amanda.Reynolds@trade.gov 

Foreign Retaliation

Foreign parties sometimes increase their import duties on U.S. exports, generally as part of a retaliation against certain U.S. trade or economic practices. Trade Policy and Analysis analyzes these “retaliation” lists so as to provide information for U.S. exporters on the scope of products effected and assess economic impacts. Please visit our webpage for further details. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact: Brett.Mcgee@trade.gov

Intellectual Property Rights

Our team advances U.S. commercial interests internationally through improvements to intellectual property (IP) laws, policies and practices. We provide assistance to U.S. companies to avoid or overcome IP-related trade barriers, including through advocacy, education and outreach. Through the STOPfakes program, the Intellectual Property Rights team and partner agencies help U.S. companies establish and protect their intellectual property in domestic and export markets. To find more information regarding the STOPfakes program, please visit our webpage. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact: Michelle.King@trade.gov

Jobs Supported by Exports

Our team produces various reports on Jobs Supported by Exports including regional analyses by U.S. states and export destinations.. Please visit our webpage for further details. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact:  Chris.Rasmussen@trade.gov

Miscellaneous Tariff Bills

The Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) is a law that temporarily reduces or suspends the import tariffs paid on particular products imported into the United States. Trade Policy and Analysis provides a report to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees for each MTB cycle. Please visit our webpage for further details. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact: Jeffrey.Eversman@trade.gov

Research Papers

Our team frequently conducts a number of research projects annually that provide in-depth analysis and information on specific countries, regions and markets. To review our papers, please visit our  webpage. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact:  Julian.Richards@trade.gov  

Standards

Our team leads work on standards and conformity assessment related policy issues including those related to the standards development process, potential barriers to market access in global markets, and capacity building efforts to promote regulatory cooperation. The standards team and partner agencies work with trading partners to ensure that regulations do not create trade barriers detrimental to the competitiveness of U.S. industry and engages in various activities to foster successful cooperation to increase trade. Please visit our webpage for further details.

For further inquiry and assistance contact: Anthony.Quinn@trade.gov

Trade Agreements

Trade Policy and Analysis (TP&A) participates in trade agreement negotiations and analysis in areas: market access, government procurement intellectual property, rules of origin, and standards. TP&A analyzes the potential effects of new trade agreements and produce-sector specific reports highlighting the new market access trade agreements will provide to U.S. exporters. TP&A provides the FTA Tariff Tool. To find a specific FTA tariff or rule of origin, please visit our webpage. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact: Katrice.Kelly@trade.gov

Trade Data

Utilizing data from the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and other sources, our team creates customizable databases, tables, and reports to aid stakeholders with their individual decision-making needs. Data on trade at the national, state, and metropolitan level are available as well as information on trade by product/industry. Please visit our webpage for more information. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact:  Anne.Flatness@trade.gov

Trade Laws

Trade Policy and Analysis (TP&A) monitors, evaluates, and addresses market access compliance barriers and represents the Department on issues relating to the implementation of U.S. trade laws (Generalized System of Preferences, Section 201, Section 301, Section 337).

For further inquiry and assistance contact: Christopher.Blaha@trade.gov

Federal Data Strategy

The Federal Data Strategy encompasses a 10-year vision for how the Federal Government will accelerate the use of data to deliver on mission, serve the public, and steward resources while protecting security, privacy, and confidentiality. Visit ITA’s page on the Federal Data Strategy to learn about open data available from ITA. 

For further inquiry and assistance contact: Data_Inquiries@trade.gov