Every week, the USTR website will explore a new trade topic, with background information and current trade data. On July 21 and 22, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will be in Singapore at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial meeting - so this week's trade topic is U.S. trade relations with APEC member economies.
March 19, 2026
WASHINGTON – Today, Ambassador Jamieson Greer announced the enactment of the U.S.-Japan Action Plan on Critical Minerals. Under this Action Plan, the United States and Japan will develop strategic trade policies and border mechanisms to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities and protect the downstream industries that depend on critical minerals imports.
For reports on WTO reform, see below.
March 18, 2026
WASHINGTON – U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard met today to kick off bilateral technical discussions in advance of the USMCA Joint Review on July 1.
March 16, 2026
WASHINGTON – The United States today announced the successful resolution of the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) matter at the ThyssenKrupp Springs & Stabilizers de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (ThyssenKrupp) facility located in the city and state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The United States has resumed liquidation of tariffs on goods from the ThyssenKrupp facility, which manufactures automotive suspension components.
Actions taken by the facility to address the matter include:
Initiation of Section 301 Investigations, Hearings, and Request for Public Comments – March 11, 2026
Comments Docket – The USTR portal for submitting comments opened on March 17, 2026. Comments must be received by April 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.
Initiation of Section 301 Investigations, Hearings, and Request for Public Comments – March 12, 2026
Comments Docket – The USTR portal for submitting comments opened on March 12, 2026. Comments must be received by April 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.
March 13, 2026
WASHINGTON – This week, Ambassador Greer launched a series of Section 301 investigations to ensure a level playing field for American workers and businesses. On March 11, Ambassador Greer initiated Section 301 investigations into various economies to assess potential structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.
March 13, 2026
WASHINGTON – Today, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer joined Ecuadorian Minister of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment Luis Alberto Jaramillo in signing the United States–Ecuador Agreement on Reciprocal Trade.
COMBATING FORCED LABOR IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: Today, the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, launched Section 301 investigations into acts, policies, and practices of 60 economies relating to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
