Ambassador Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative commissioned a report documenting barriers to U.S. exports among 65 trading partners.  The annual report issued on March 31st surveyed 65 trading partners including groups such as the E.U., the Arab League and the United Kingdom that account for 99 percent of U.S. trade in goods.

The report considered barriers relating to tariffs, import licensing and phyto-sanitary measures that directly affect U.S. export of agricultural commodities.  Many of the restrictions are not based on science and are blatantly protective or punitive.

It is apparent that Ambassador Tai will continue to advocate for U.S. exports following the policies established by her predecessors.  Some of the issues to be addressed include anomalous technical standards imposed by Saudi Arabia, local content requirements required for export to Indonesia, unjustified restrictions that are capriciously imposed by China and retaliatory bans on imported food products by the Russian Federation.