Request for Comments and Public Hearing on U.S. Intent to Enter into Trade Negotiations with the European Union

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking public comments on a proposed U.S.-EU Trade Agreement, including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating positions. The Administration’s aim in negotiations with the EU is to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers and to achieve fairer, more balanced trade. USTR requests that small businesses, generally defined by the Small Business Administration as firms with fewer than 500 employees, or organizations representing small business members, which submit comments to self-identify as such, so that it may be aware of issues of particular interest to small businesses. Interested parties may comment on issues including, but not limited to, the following:

a. General and product-specific negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement.

b. Relevant barriers to trade in goods and services between the U.S. and the EU that should be addressed in the negotiations.

c. Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removal or reduction of tariffs and removal or reduction of non-tariff barriers on articles traded with the EU.

d. Treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under the proposed agreement, including comments on:

i. Product-specific import or export interests or barriers.

ii. Experience with particular measures that should be addressed in the negotiations.

iii. Ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities in the context of the proposed agreement.

e. Customs and trade facilitation issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.

f. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade that should be addressed in the negotiations.

g. Other measures or practices that undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers that should be addressed in the negotiations.

Comments and requests to appear must be received by Monday, December 10, 2018. The hearing will be held on December 14, 2018, in the Auditorium of the Herbert C. Hoover Building, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.

• Read the hearing notice here.
• Comment on the proposal here.
• Advocacy Contact: Rosalyn Steward at (202) 205-7013.