Breadcrumb

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.

Weekly Trade Focus: APEC

 

October 19, 2026

WASHINGTON – Last week, Ambassador Jamieson Greer met with blue-collar workers and toured advanced manufacturing facilities, spanning from the nation’s largest ski manufacturer to a new semiconductor fabrication plant in development. Back at his alma mater, Ambassador Greer met with students and faculty at Brigham Young University (BYU) to discuss how President Trump’s trade policy is rebalancing global trade to secure lasting benefits for Americans today and the generations to follow.

October 19, 2026

WASHINGTON – The United States today announced the successful resolution of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) facility-specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) matter regarding the Alimentos Grole, S.A. de C.V. (Alimentos Grole or the company) facility in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico, where workers alleged they were previously denied their freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

October 13, 2026

WASHINGTON — The Office of the United States Trade Representative has invoked the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review whether workers at Carolina Performance Fabrics, S.A. de C.V. (Carolina), located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The United States has suspended liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the Carolina facility, which manufactures specialized, high-performance textiles for the automotive industry.

October 09, 2026

WASHINGTON — Next week, Ambassador Jamieson Greer will travel across Utah to tour advanced manufacturing plants, ranging from a major semiconductor facility to a plant producing consumer goods, like basketball hoops, kayaks, and folding chairs. The two-day swing will highlight the Trump Administration’s work to revitalize our industrial base and strengthen our supply chain resilience. While in Utah, Ambassador Greer will join a panel for the G20 Interfaith Forum focused on unleashing human potential for the common good.

October 08, 2026

WASHINGTON — The Office of the United States Trade Representative has invoked the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review whether workers at GLM Components Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (GLM Components), located in Puebla, Mexico, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The United States has suspended liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the GLM Components facility, which manufactures auto parts.

Background

October 07, 2026

October 05, 2026

WASHINGTON — Last week, Ambassador Jamieson Greer hosted the G20 Trade Ministers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the G20 Trade Ministerial. During the ministerial, Ambassador Greer led discussions on a wide range of topics, including eliminating forced labor in global supply chains, updating the Most-Favored Nation (MFN) principle, denouncing the weaponization of trade in food, and addressing structural excess capacity and production.