USTR Seeks ITAC Member Nominations for 4-Year ‘Charter Term’

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is accepting nominations for members of any of 15 Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) for a new four-year “charter term” ending in February 2026, says a notice for Tuesday’s Federal Register. ITACs, under a program run jointly by USTR and the Commerce Department, “provide detailed policy and technical advice, information, and recommendations” on trade barriers, negotiation of trade agreements and the implementation of existing trade agreements affecting industry sectors,” says the notice. ITACs also “perform other advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters,” it says. There’s no deadline for applications, as the program “will accept nominations throughout the charter term,” it says. The ITACs recently came to light during the Section 301 litigation when it was disclosed in previously confidential “decision memos” that USTR consulted with members in 2018 before imposing the List 3 tariffs on Chinese imports (see 2203250038). ITAC members generally supported the Trump administration’s effort to curb China’s unfair trade practices but expressed concern about the negative effect that the tariffs would have on U.S. businesses and consumers, said one of the memos. None of the advice ITAC members gave USTR proposed “any viable alternatives to increased tariffs as a tool for obtaining the elimination of China’s unfair trade practices,” said the memo.