Trade Overviews

• Language of Trade
  Issued by the U.S. Department of State, this publication contains a glossary of trade terminology, a list of acronyms used in international trade, and a chronology of major events in international trade since 1916.
  
  
• The Pros and Cons of Pursuing Free-Trade Agreements
  Article from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office that briefly presents reasons for and against the pursuit of free-trade agreements.
  
  
• Unleashing the Trade Winds: A Building-Block Approach
  An article written by the U.S. Trade Representative about the U.S. commitment to a free-trade policy.
  
  
• International Statistics on Trade
  Provides links to statistics on U.S. international trade, research and development expenditures, and net oil imports.
  
  
• Foreign Commerce and Trade
  This report presents data on the flow of goods, services, and capital between the United States and other countries; changes in official reserve assets of the United States; international investments; and foreign assistance programs.
  
  
• International Trade and Investment: An Historical and Contemporary Survey of Research and Analysis
  This report examines the benefits of adopting international economic policies that promote greater trade and investment.
  
  
• Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements
  This report outlines the Administration's guiding trade principles and priorities, and reviews the major trade policy developments. It also chronicles U.S. activities in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other multilateral forums, regional and bilateral trade negotiations, and trade law enforcement.
  
  
• The Year in Trade: Operation of the Trade Agreement Program
  This report is one of the principal means by which the U.S. International Trade Commission provides Congress with factual information on trade policy and its administration. The trade agreements program includes "all activities consisting of, or related to, the administration of international agreements which primarily concern trade and which are concluded pursuant to the authority vested in the President by the Constitution" and congressional legislation.
  
  
• 2006 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers
  This report, prepared by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), surveys significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports. It also provides, where feasible, quantitative estimates of the impact of these foreign practices on the value of U.S. exports. Information is also included on some of the actions taken to eliminate foreign trade barriers.
  
  
• The National Export Strategy - Report to Congress
  This report from the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) outlines the Administration's trade promotion policy.
  
  
• International Electronic Commerce: Definitions and Policy Implications
  This report provides information on emerging issues regarding international electronic commerce (IEC), including: the U.S. Government's collection of data on IEC; the removal of obstacles and facilitation of IEC; the adaptation of commercial and legal frameworks; and the addressing of barriers through international trade agreements and negotiations.
  
  
• U.S. Exports, General Imports, and Trade Balance in Goods: 1970 to 2004
  Table containing historical statistics on U.S. exports, general imports, and trade balance in goods.
  
  
• U.S. Exports, Imports, and Merchandise Trade Balance by Country: 2000-2004
  Table presenting statistics on U.S. exports, imports, and merchandise trade balance by country.
  
  
• The Global War on Terrorist Finance
  This issue of Economic Perspectives demonstrates how the United States and its allies around the world continue to use all of our authorities, relationships and expertise to attack sources, conduits, and proceeds of the underwriters of terror.
  
  
• Microenterprise: Laying The Foundation For Economic Development
  This issue of Economic Perspectives discusses insights from key government officials and leading scholars in the field of microenterprise on access to finance and enterprise development and its societal implications.
  

• World Trade Agreement (WTO)
  Full-text of the World Trade Agreement of 1994 which established the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  
  
• Agricultural Policy Reform in the WTO - The Road Ahead
  This U.S. Economic Research Service report quantifies the costs of global agricultural distortions and the potential benefits of their full elimination. It also analyzes the effects on U.S. and world agriculture if only partial reform is achieved in liberalizing tariffs, tariff-rate quotas (limits on imported goods), domestic support, and export subsidies.
  
  
• Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
  Text of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).
  
  
• An Overview of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement)
  A comprehensive text overview of the TRIPS Agreement.
  
  
• World Intellectual Property Organization
  Background on the World Intellectual Property Organization, which is working to develop an international intellectual property system.
  
  
• U.S. Trade Representative (regional multilateral trade agreements)
  Background on the U.S. Trade Representative, which is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries.
  
  
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations
  Background on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which works to promote economic growth, social progress, cultural development, peace and stability among countries in the region.
  
  
• European Union
  An overview of the European Union, including its function and history.
  

• U.S. International Trade: Data and Forecasts
  This report analyzes U.S. trade balances and provides comparative trade statistics. It also discusses recent developments in, and forecasts for, U.S. merchandise.
  
  
• Top Ten Countries with which the U.S. Trades
  Values for the top ten countries with which the U.S. trades.
  
  
• Top Ten Countries with which the U.S. Has a Trade Deficit
  Values for the top ten countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit.
  
  
• Top Ten Countries with which the U.S. has a Trade Surplus
  Values for the top ten countries with which the U.S. has a trade surplus.
  
  
• U.S. Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan Africa - Fifth Annual Report
  The Fifth Annual Report of the U.S. International Trade Commission. This report documents trade and investment flows between the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
• Comprehensive Report on U.S. Trade and Investment Policy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa and Implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act
  This report, prepared by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, discusses U.S. trade and investment policy toward sub-Saharan Africa, including the implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the designation of AGOA beneficiary countries, the impact that AGOA has had on U.S. trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa, and information on reforms being undertaken by AGOA beneficiary countries.
  
  
• North American Free Trade Agreement Between The Government of Canada, The Government of the United Mexican States and The Government of the United States of America (NAFTA)
  Links to the complete text of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) section-by-section. (Need Internet Access).
  
  
• North American Free Trade Agreement-NAFTA
  Links to the U.S. Trade Representative site on NAFTA. This site includes news, reports, and speeches.
  
  
• NAFTA at Ten: A Decade of Strengthening a Dynamic Relationship
  This brochure highlights the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) record on expanding trade, creating jobs, and increasing foreign direct investment in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It also provides a snapshot of NAFTA's work on environmental, labor and border issues.
  
  
• Sixth Report to Congress on the Operation of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
  This report prepared by the U.S. Trade Representative describes the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Also featured are statistics on U.S. trade with the Caribbean Basin countries, as well as brief reports assessing the performance of 15 countries in complying with eligibility criteria reflecting key U.S. policy objectives.
  
  
• Second Report to Congress on the Operation of the Andean Trade Preference Act as Amended
  The objective of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), as amended by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) (together referred to as ATPA/ATPDEA), is to promote broad-based economic development, diversify exports, consolidate democracy, and defeat the scourge of drug trafficking by providing sustainable economic alternatives to drug-crop production in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. This report shows that the ATPA/ATPDEA continues to achieve this goal.
  
  
• The Impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act
  This document prepared by the U.S. Trade Representative reports on the impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) on U.S. industries and consumers.
  
  
• Free Trade of the Americas
  Links to information about the FTAA
  
  
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
  A summary of APEC from the United States Trade Representative.