USTR Foundational ‘Principles’ Foretell 'High Transparency Standard’

A list of “principles” will set the “foundation for a high transparency standard” the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will follow, said the agency Friday. USTR is committed “to comprehensive public engagement, including outreach to historically overlooked and underrepresented communities, as it develops and implements a trade policy that advances the interests of all Americans,” it said. “USTR will seek public input with respect to new major trade initiatives when feasible even when not required.” Reforming the Section 301 tariff exclusions process on Chinese imports would be “very high on my radar,” if confirmed, “in terms of assessing the process that’s in place for exclusions” and the “decision-making” on them, then-USTR nominee Katherine Tai told her confirmation hearing (see 2102250043). “Transparency and predictability and due process are all critical to the way we want our government to function.”