The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting public feedback to assist it with identifying significant foreign barriers to, or distortions of, U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and U.S. electronic commerce for inclusion in the 2024 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report. As standards are referenced among the topics of interest, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) encourages relevant stakeholders to respond by the October 23 deadline.
The USTR is required to publish the NTE report on an annual basis per the Trade Act of 1974, and covers significant foreign trade barriers in various markets. The USTR notes that it will consider responses to the notice “as part of the annual review of the operation and effectiveness of all U.S. trade agreements regarding telecommunications products and services that are in force with respect to the United States.” [See the 2023 NTE Report].
The USTR publishes the NTE through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC). Among the 14 topics of foreign trade barriers that the TPSC seeks information on is technical barriers to trade (TBT), and the USTR requests examples that include unnecessarily trade restrictive or discriminatory standards; conformity assessment procedures; or technical regulations, including unnecessary or discriminatory technical regulations or standards for telecommunications products. Additionally, USTR seeks information about services—specifically, examples of prohibitions or restrictions on foreign participation in the market, discriminatory licensing requirements or standards, local-presence requirements, and unreasonable restrictions on what services may be offered.
Access the notice in the Federal Register to get additional details and requirements for submissions.