§2418 Request for information

Summary

When someone asks in writing, the U.S. Trade Representative must give them any available, non-confidential information about three things: what a foreign country’s trade policy or practice is for particular goods, services, investment, or intellectual property; what rights and remedies the United States has under any trade agreement and U.S. law; and any past or current domestic or international actions or proceedings about that policy or practice. If the requested information is not available to the Trade Representative or other federal agencies, the Trade Representative must, within 30 days, either ask the foreign government for it or tell the requester in writing why they will not ask. If a provider of information says in writing that the material is business confidential, would harm trade secrets or profits, and is not public, and the Trade Representative agrees, the Trade Representative will not release it. The provider may have to give a nonconfidential summary. The Trade Representative can still use the confidential material in investigations, share it with federal employees working on the case, or share a version that cannot be linked to the provider.