Office of the United States Trade Representative
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is a department within the Executive Office of the President focused on advising the president on trade issues. It was established by Congress in 1962 with the passage of the Trade Expansion Act.[1] Congress passed several bills in the following decades to expand the office, including the Omnibus Trade and Competitive Act of 1988 and the Trade Act of 2002.[1][2]
President Joe Biden (D) announced Katherine Tai was his nominee to lead the office as U.S. trade representative on December 10, 2020. The Senate confirmed her on March 17, 2021, by a vote of 98-0. Click here to learn more about her confirmation process.
Mission
The USTR provides the following mission on its website:
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American trade policy works toward opening markets throughout the world to create new opportunities and higher living standards for families, farmers, manufacturers, workers, consumers, and businesses. The United States is party to numerous trade agreements with other countries, and is participating in negotiations for new trade agreements with a number of countries and regions of the world. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries. The head of USTR is the U.S. Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the president’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues.[3] |
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—Office of the United States Trade Representative[1] |
Activities
The USTR listed the following areas of expertise and activities on its website:
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—Office of the United States Trade Representative[1] |
Leadership
This table provides a list of U.S. trade representatives from 2001 to 2021.[4]
U.S. trade representatives, 2001-2021 | ||
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Director | Tenure | Administration |
Katherine Tai | 2021-Present | ![]() |
Robert Lighthizer | 2017-2021 | ![]() |
Michael Froman | 2013-2017 | ![]() |
Ron Kirk | 2009-2013 | ![]() |
Susan Schwab | 2006-2009 | ![]() |
Rob Portman | 2005-2006 | ![]() |
Robert Zoellick | 2001-2005 | ![]() |
Executive Office of the President
- See also: Executive Office of the President
The Executive Office of the President (EOP) is a group of federal entities responsible for advising and supporting the president's policy agenda and administration. The EOP's composition has changed over time as different presidential administrations have added, transferred, and removed entities from the office.
Under the Biden administration, the EOP included the following 11 offices:
- Council of Economic Advisers
- Council on Environmental Quality
- Domestic Policy Council
- National Economic Council
- National Security Council
- Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Office of Management and Budget
- Office of National Drug Control Policy
- Office of Public Engagement
- Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Office of the United States Trade Representative. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Joe Biden presidential transition
- Domestic Policy Council
- Council of Economic Advisers
- Executive Branch
- Ballotpedia's Daily Transition Tracker
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, "Mission," accessed March 22, 2021
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "U.S. Trade Policy Functions," December 3, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, "List of Past USTRS," accessed March 22, 2021
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