Help with Trade Problems
While trade barriers and unfair practices take many forms, the most common examples are listed below:
- Intellectual property infringement - including copyright, patent and trademarks.
- Lack of competitive bidding for foreign government tenders.
- Competition from unfairly traded (i.e., dumped or foreign government subsidized) imports.
- Unfair and trade distortive subsidies provided by foreign governments to overseas competitors.
- Foreign trade remedy investigations conducted inconsistent with international obligations.
- Burdensome certification and testing requirements that are not required by domestic manufacturers.
- Increasing imports and unfair competition.
- Concerns over other foreign trade barriers to export or investment.
The U.S. government helps U.S. exporters resolve trade barriers every day through programs like ITA’s Trade Agreements Compliance program.
Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Abroad
Learn what constitutes intellectual property and how to protect your rights domestically and internationally. Receive guidance on how to file patents, trademarks and/or copyrights in the U.S. and abroad.
Advocacy for Exporters - Fair Access to Foreign Contracts
How can I insure a fair bidding process on a foreign contract? If your company is bidding on a foreign contract the Advocacy Center can help level the playing field.
Problems with Dumped or Subsidized Imports
Is your business harmed by unfairly traded imports? Import Administration’s Petition Counseling experts are here to help you understand the options available under the U.S. unfair trade laws. Our staff can assist you in understanding the petition process for an investigation of the unfairly traded imports, guide you in compiling the information necessary for a petition, and review your draft petition to help ensure it meets the requirements for a potential investigation.
If your company is interested in tracking, researching, and/or participating in ongoing U.S. antidumping/countervailing duty proceedings, learn more about these proceedings on the Import Administration website.
Addressing Unfair Foreign Government Subsidies
Are You Being Harmed by Unfair Foreign Government Subsidies?
Import Administration’s Subsidies Enforcement Office will answer your questions regarding foreign subsidy practices and the tools available to stop unfairly subsidized imports from hurting your business. We continually monitor and evaluate foreign subsidy practices and can assist you in identifying those that can be remedied under the Subsidies Agreement of the World Trade Organization or under the U.S. countervailing duty law.
Foreign Trade Remedy Investigations
If you find yourself facing a foreign government’s trade remedy (e.g., antidumping, countervailing duty or safeguard) investigation of your exports to that country, don’t panic, but do act quickly. Import Administration’s Trade Remedy Compliance Staff (TRCS) and Subsidies Enforcement Office (SEO) are your first stop for questions and concerns regarding foreign trade remedy actions. TRCS can assist you to better understand what you will be facing in foreign antidumping and safeguards investigations and the SEO can do the same for foreign countervailing duty (anti-subsidy) cases. We can point out deadlines you won’t want to miss, and provide support to help ensure that the foreign authorities conduct the investigation fairly and according to international rules.
Foreign Technical Barriers to Trade
Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries.
Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets.
Trade Assistance for U.S. Firms and Workers
Globalization has greatly increased competition at home for U.S. companies. Now, more than ever, it is important to understand your rights and be aware of existing U.S. policies and programs that ensure fair competition and provide transition assistance to affected workers.
Report a Trade Barrier
If you feel your company’s exports or foreign bids have been, or may be adversely affected by a trade barrier or unfair business practice, you may file a complaint electronically with the Trade Compliance Center within the International Trade Administration.
