The Role of the US Trade Representative and the Legal Framework for Formulation of US Trade Policy

This report is the first of a series in which White & Case’s International Trade Group will examine the Biden administration’s trade agenda and the key institutions that shape US trade policy.

On February 25, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Ms. Katherine Tai to serve as United States Trade Representative (USTR).¹ The hearing followed the recent appointments of 13 individuals to serve in senior staff positions at USTR, announced on February 8.²

There is considerable interest in how members of President Biden’s administration will shape the US trade agenda going forward, particularly given the unprecedented shifts in US trade policy and the multilateral trading system in recent years. USTR, a creation of Congress that is part of the Executive Office of the President, plays a central role in the development, implementation and enforcement of US trade policy. Understanding the mission of the USTR, as well as its statutory role in the broader legal framework and interagency process for formulating US trade policy is of critical importance when considering how personnel decisions may influence the direction of policy.

The US Legal Framework for Trade Policy Formulation

In the United States, as in most countries, trade policy is a central component of economic policy and foreign policy. Trade policy is frequently discussed in terms of its impact on employment, wages, and industrial competitiveness. However, US policymakers and the Congress have long recognized that trade policy has broader implications, including for national security, the environment, innovation and technology policy, and public health, among other considerations. Trade policy decisions necessarily impact a broad and diverse range of stakeholders within and outside the US government. The US legal framework for the formulation of trade policy attempts to accommodate these varied, overlapping, and sometimes competing interests.

The foundation for US trade policy starts with the Constitution. Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution gives Congress authority over the key levers of trade policy, including the power to impose duties and to otherwise “regulate Commerce with foreign Nations[.]” At the same time, the President has broad authority under Article II of the US Constitution to conduct foreign affairs, including the power to negotiate international treaties with the advice and consent of the US Senate.

Given this constitutional framework, the advancement of US trade priorities requires cooperation and compromise between Congress and the Executive Branch. For example, Congress, under a series of laws, including the Trade Act of 1974³ and various subsequent iterations of trade promotion authority (“TPA”), has delegated to the President the authority to negotiate trade agreements involving the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers, subject to certain statutory negotiating objectives and consultation requirements. Under TPA, Congress retains its authority to approve or reject the agreements negotiated by the President, though it commits to do so via an “up-or-down” vote within specified timeframes. This enables the President to negotiate trade agreements credibly and effectively through his foreign affairs powers under Article II without having to achieve the 2/3 majority in the Senate that is needed to approve a treaty.

Congress has also played a key role in establishing the Executive Branch entities and processes that are involved in the formulation of trade policy. In the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Congress called for the President to appoint a “Special Representative for Trade Negotiations,” which later became the USTR.⁵ Through subsequent legislative actions, Congress significantly expanded USTR’s responsibilities, elevated the USTR to a cabinet-level position within the White House, and placed USTR in charge of the interagency process for the development and coordination of US trade policy.⁶

The Role of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

The US Trade Representative is a Cabinet-level official with the rank of Ambassador. The USTR serves as the President’s principal trade adviser and negotiator, and is the chief US spokesperson on trade. USTR’s mission is to obtain foreign market access for US goods and services through the negotiation of trade agreements and, where necessary, enforcement initiatives. More broadly, USTR is responsible for coordinating, developing, and implementing trade policy through an interagency process as well as stakeholder engagement and outreach. USTR’s role in the broader legal framework for the formulation of US trade policy is depicted in the flowchart below.

Interagency Process for Trade Policy

Given the wide range of interests implicated by trade policy, a key role of the USTR is to coordinate an interagency process to ensure that the Executive Branch can reach consensus and resolve policy disagreements.⁷ Within the guidelines set by the laws enacted by Congress, overarching trade policy decisions of the Executive Branch are made by the President and his Cabinet, including the USTR, whereas the task of animating broad principles is developed at the Deputy, Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary level and fleshing out detailed policy positions is carried out at the agency staff level. Even at the lower levels of the process, where decisions are guided by overarching policy mandates from higher levels, there are often significant disagreements and competing viewpoints among the agencies.

The coordination of trade policy across US Government agencies occurs through the following three-tiered interagency structure:

Tier 1: Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC)

The TPSC is administered and coordinated by USTR. Its members are drawn from subcabinet, senior civil servant level staff from 20 member agencies, including the Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Justice, Interior, Labor, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Energy, and Transportation, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Economic Council, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget, among others. There are more than 90 TPSC subcommittees responsible for specialized areas and several task forces that work on particular issues. Among other activities, the TPSC develops policy papers, holds meetings, and solicits input from the public through hearings and requests for written comments.

Tier 2: Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG)

When agencies cannot reach consensus on an issue at the TPSC staff level, the issue is elevated to the TPRG, which is comprised of Deputy- and Undersecretary-level officials. This is not uncommon, though efforts are made to avoid elevating issues (e.g., through successive TPSC meetings).

Tier 3: Trade Policy Committee (National Economic Council (NEC) / National Security Council (NSC))

Unresolved issues of the greatest importance are elevated to Cabinet-level officials for resolution. Coordination at this level is carried out by members of the National Economic Council and the National Security Council. These officials are responsible for resolving disagreements among agencies and making recommendations to the President.

Private Sector Trade Advisory Committees and Stakeholder Engagement

The trade advisory committee system, established by Congress in the Trade Act of 1974, was created to ensure that US trade policy and trade negotiating objectives adequately reflect US public and private sector interests.⁸ Advisory committee members represent the full span of US economic interests, including manufacturing; agriculture; digital trade; intellectual property; services; small businesses; labor; environmental, consumer and public health organizations; and state and local governments.

The trade advisory committees provide information and advice on US negotiating objectives, the operation of trade agreements, and other matters arising in connection with the development, implementation, and administration of US trade policy. The advisory committee system is organized into three tiers:

• The President’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations consists of members appointed by the President, and typically is composed of CEOs representing a diverse range of industries and stakeholders.
• There are five Policy Advisory Committees (dealing with environment, labor, agriculture, Africa, and state and local governments), the members of which are appointed by USTR alone or in conjunction with other Cabinet officers.
• There are 20 Technical and Sectoral Advisory Committees in the areas of industry (ITACs) and agriculture (ATACs). Each committee is comprised of individuals with subject-matter expertise in a particular sector or policy area (e.g., services, intellectual property, energy, chemicals, and animal products). Members of these committees are appointed jointly by USTR and the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce.

Outlook

Historically, input from Congress and the interagency and advisory committee processes have played important roles in the formulation of US trade policy. Not all administrations have approached trade policymaking in same way, however. During the Trump administration, the White House played a more assertive role in the formulation of trade policy—a signature campaign issue for President Trump—with input from Congress, the interagency process, and external stakeholders taking on less significance than in the past. It is expected that the Biden administration will return to a more traditional approach in which trade policy decisions are more often deliberated through the interagency process and consultations with Congress and other stakeholders play a more prominent role.

President Biden’s nominee for USTR, Ms. Katherine Tai, has significant experience representing Members of Congress in discussions with the Executive Branch concerning trade policy….