U.S. Trade Policy Making Process
U.S. trade policy development is a cooperative undertaking, involving numerous federal agencies who all play a key role in ensuring the competitiveness of U.S. businesses.
EPA's Role in Trade Policy Development
EPA supports development and implementation of U.S. trade and environment policy. The Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) serves as the EPA coordinator, and as a liaison to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and U.S. Government agencies and offices engaged in trade and investment policy formulation. Other EPA offices also take lead roles in coordinating international trade and investment policy development in specific areas. For example:
- EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) has a lead role in coordinating EPA activities with respect to trade and environment issues dealing with sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and biosafety.
- The Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and OCSPP have lead roles in coordinating EPA activities with respect to technical barriers to trade/standards-related measures pertaining to their statutory responsibilities and authorities.
- The Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) leads the development of EPA and U.S. policy on international trade in recycled materials and solid waste management.
- The Office of General Counsel serves as EPA's lead for environmental related trade disputes and legal review of trade issues for EPA.
Other Federal Roles in Trade Policy Development
USTR plays a lead federal role in the development of trade policies and has the primary responsibility, with the advice of the interagency trade policy organization, for developing and coordinating the implementation of U.S. trade policy.
Since these policies have direct implications for many stakeholders, USTR must take into account the interest of Congress, the public (individuals, groups, and businesses), federal agencies, and state and local governments to be successful. USTR utilizes numerous advisory committees to seek input.
USTR chairs and administers the principal mechanism for developing and coordinating U.S. government positions on international trade and investment, a committee structure called the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), established through the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The TPSC is responsible for developing interagency consensus on trade policy matters and relies on nearly 50 subcommittees responsible for work in specialized areas. This type of comprehensive analysis ensures that the United States fully evaluates trade and investment deals in light of the commitments of a wide range of U.S. agencies.
EPA is an active member of the TPSC. OITA works with EPA program offices to secure thorough policy and technical input. EPA participates in meetings of the TPSC subcommittees, TPSC and, when higher level resolution is needed, the Deputy-level Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG).
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Learn more about the mission of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee
USTR administers the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC), which provides policy advice to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, EPA and other federal agencies on issues pertaining to the nexus between the environment and trade. Members are briefed on environment and trade related issues and can provide input and guidance to the Administration and members of Congress.
The TEPAC is required by its charter to be “broadly representative of key sectors and groups of the economy, with an interest in trade and environment policy issues.” The committee’s members includes representatives from environmental and consumer interest groups, agriculture, services, and non-federal governments. TEPAC meetings are announced through Federal Register notices and are published on the USTR website.
- Learn more about the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC)