Legal Definitions - United States Trade Representative

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is the highest-ranking official in charge of negotiating trade agreements and advising the President on foreign-trade policy. The USTR is a member of the President's Cabinet and is responsible for producing annual reports on trade barriers and other issues affecting U.S. trade.

• The USTR is currently negotiating a new trade deal with China to address issues such as intellectual property theft and market access.
• The USTR has also been involved in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico.

These examples illustrate how the USTR is responsible for negotiating and implementing trade agreements that benefit the United States. By addressing issues such as intellectual property theft and market access, the USTR helps to protect American businesses and workers from unfair competition. The renegotiation of NAFTA also demonstrates how the USTR can work to update and improve existing trade agreements to better serve U.S. interests.