In preparation for the Office of the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) annual report to Congress on China's compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) has asked for written comments

Yesterday, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released a "negotiating mandate" for the "U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade." The press release from the Office of Trade Negotiation under Taiwan's Executive Yuan noted that both Taiwan and the United States "

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing today for agriculture negotiator Douglas McKalip, and during the hearing McKalip brought up the issue of Chinese restrictions on urea and similar products.

At a budget hearing before a Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee today, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai was asked questions on a number of trade policy issues, many of which focused on China.

As we reported here, the United States and Taiwan announced last week that they would launch a new initiative on bilateral trade issues. USTR is now seeking public comments "on matters relevant to the specified trade areas, including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop negotiating objectives

At a Washington International Trade Association event today, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai commented on a number of Taiwan and China trade issues.

The United States and Taiwan announced today that they would launch a new initiative on bilateral trade issues. In the absence of a free trade agreement, which does not appear likely any time soon, this could end up being the most significant formal bilateral trade-related negotiation between the two governments