One week remains for clients to submit comments in response to review of potential reciprocal tariffs being conducted by the U.S. Trade Representative ("USTR"). Comments are due by March 11, 2025. The USTR solicited comments from the public on global unfair trade practices in a Federal Register notice published February 25, 2025 (90 FR 10677). The review follows the White House's Memorandum on Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs published on February 13, 2025.
The USTR will review comments and identify unfair trade practices and recommend appropriate actions to address those practices. The review will result in delivery of a report to the President which is anticipated by April 1, 2025. Reciprocal tariffs are expected to be announced shortly afterward. Additional remedies for unfair trade practice may follow.
Public comment is intended to assist in identifying any unfair foreign practices that are harmful to domestic interests. Examples of potentially unfair trade practices include any foreign policies that harm the U.S., any barriers to U.S. production or exports, and any failure to address non-market policies. The Memorandum specifically calls for examination of:
- Tariffs imposed on U.S. products;
- Unfair, discriminatory, or extraterritorial taxes imposed by trading partners on U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers, including a value-added tax;
- Costs to U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers arising from non-tariff barriers or measures and unfair or harmful acts, policies, or practices, including subsidies, and burdensome regulatory requirements on U.S. businesses operating in other countries;
- Policies and practices that cause exchange rates to deviate from market value to the detriment of Americans; wage suppression; and other mercantilist policies that make U.S. businesses and workers less competitive; and
- Any other practice that imposes any unfair limitation on market access or any structural impediment to fair competition with the market economy of the U.S.
Comments must include the foreign country involved, a description of the practice of concern, an explanation of the operation of the practice or arrangement, and a quantifiable explanation of the domestic U.S. impact. The USTR will focus on submissions related to countries with the largest trade economies and those with the largest trade deficits in goods with the U.S., including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the E.U., India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the U.K., and Vietnam.
Parties wishing to submit comment may do so through the USTR online portal at https://comments.ustr.gov/s/. Alternative methods to submit are also available. The docket number for this solicitation is USTR-2025-0001.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
