§3106 Review of trade agreement implementation by Trade Representative

Summary

Each year under section 181(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, the U.S. Trade Representative must check how U.S. trade agreements that cover telecommunications are working. That includes every trade deal the United States made under this law and any other in-force deals about telecom products or services. The Trade Representative must decide if a foreign country’s actions break the deal or if they block market opportunities that the agreement was meant to give U.S. telecom firms. When doing the review, the Trade Representative must look at real trade data, including U.S. exports, and talk with the U.S. International Trade Commission about any patterns that don’t match what the agreement’s commitments would predict. If the Trade Representative finds a violation, that finding counts as a formal violation under section 304(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act. Then, using section 301 tools, the Trade Representative must first try steps that most directly affect telecom trade with the offending country unless targeting other sectors would be more effective.