The USTR is seeking information on foreign barriers affecting US exports, services, investment, and digital commerce, with comments due by 29 October 2026 for consideration in the 2027 National Trade Estimate Report.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), invited public comment on 14 September 2026 on foreign barriers to US exports of goods and services and US foreign direct investment for inclusion in the 2027 National Trade Estimate Report.
The deadline to submit comments is 29 October 2026.
The submissions will help identify issues for inclusion in the annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. USTR will also use the comments in its annual assessment of the operation and effectiveness of US trade agreements covering telecommunications products and services.
The report inventories major obstacles to US exports of goods, services, agricultural products, and intellectual property. It also covers barriers to foreign investment and digital commerce. USTR uses this information to negotiate with trading partners and enforce US trade laws.
What counts as a trade barrier
USTR identifies 15 categories of barriers it wants to hear about. These include import tariffs, import restrictions, and customs problems. They also cover technical standards that unfairly block US goods, food safety rules that lack scientific support, and government procurement that excludes American companies.
Intellectual property protection matters too. Countries that fail to protect patents, copyrights, trademarks, or trade secrets create problems for US businesses. Service sector barriers include foreign ownership limits, discriminatory licensing, and restrictions on data movement.
Investment barriers come next. These include caps on foreign ownership, local content requirements, joint venture mandates, and technology transfer demands. USTR also tracks subsidies that help foreign competitors, state-owned enterprises that operate outside market forces, and labour practices that suppress wages or violate workers’ rights.
Environmental concerns round out the list. USTR seeks information on weak enforcement of environmental laws, illegal logging and wildlife trade, and practices that allow countries to undercut environmental standards.
60 trading partners in focus
The report covers trade barriers in more than 60 countries and regional bodies. The list includes major economies like China, India, Japan, and the European Union, alongside emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
The 2026 National Trade Estimate Report is available on the USTR website. USTR plans to use public comments to decide which barriers merit inclusion in the report.
