Bilateral Trade Affairs

The Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs formulates and implements policy on bilateral trade issues. It represents the Departmentof of State in interagency meetings and on delegations to bilateral and regional trade negotiations. The office also works closely with foreign governments, U.S. business, U.S. Government agencies, and other interested parties.

The Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs comprises two divisions: Developed Country Trade and Developing Countries and Trade Organizations.

Developed Country Trade

The Developed Country Trade Division (EB/TPP/BTA/DCT) in conjunction with geographic bureaus in the Department of State and other U.S. Government agencies develops and implements trade policy with respect to Europe, the New Independent States (NIS), Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico including NAFTA. Specifically, this division:

• Represents the Department in interagency meetings and on delegations in bilateral meetings;

• Advances regional and multilateral opening initiatives in both goods and services;

• Monitors and addresses barriers in aerospace, telecommunications, and e-commerce trade;

• Addresses unfair trade practices through participation in interagency trade compliance activities such as the Section 301 Committee;

• Works with other U.S. Government agencies on responses to decisions in WTO cases;

• Works closely with business on trade promotion and trade compliance issues.

Developing Countries and Trade Organizations (EB/TPP/BTA/ODC)

The Developing Countries and Trade Organizations Division in conjunction with geographic bureaus in the State Department and other U.S. Government agencies develops and implements trade policy with respect to Central and South America, Africa, Europe (except NIS), and Asia and the Pacific. Specifically it:

• Represents the Department in interagency meetings and on delegations in bilateral meetings;

• Advances regional and multilateral opening initiatives in both goods and services;

• Works closely with business on trade promotion and trade compliance issues: the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

• Monitors the progress of WTO accession efforts

• Coordinates with other U.S. Government agencies on the General System of Preferences (GSP) program.