Apparently, if you are the US trade representative, the whole world consists of trade barriers.
Read his whole report here: http://1.usa.gov/1X1W9yc
THE 2016 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT
Trade policy done right bolsters the United States ec
onomy and reinforces our global leadership. That’s
why President Obama has pursued a trade agenda th
at promotes economic growth, supports high-paying
American jobs, and strengthens the middle class – becau
se we know that when the playing field is level,
our workers and businesses can compete – and win – in the global economy.
The United States already has one of
the world’s most open economies. But not all countries are playing
by the same rules, and all too often, our workers
and businesses face significant obstacles when they export
their goods and services abroad. Opening foreign mark
ets through smart, high-standard trade agreements
– and enforcing our existing agreements to ensure th
at other countries live up to their commitments – is
how we can level that playing field and make
trade deliver for the American middle class.
The 2016 National Trade Estimate (NTE) plays a vital
role in our efforts to
open overseas markets for our
businesses and workers by identifying and cataloguing th
e challenges American exporters face worldwide.
The NTE covers 63 economies – from China, Japan, and th
e European Union to India, Brazil, South Africa
and more– and addresses thousands of particular issues
in specific markets, from technical barriers to trade
affecting U.S. auto exports and limits on the flow
of digital data to steel overcapacity, conformity
assessment procedures and local-content rules. Catal
oguing these barriers helps to facilitate efforts to
resolve them. And of course, the Administration con
tinues to work with Congress and stakeholders to
address trade barriers and policy issues as they emerge,
whether or not if they are included in the NTE,
including ongoing issues that have been raised
in the context of U.S. trade agreements.
The status quo is that our workers and businesses fa
ce high tariffs and other complex barriers in many
foreign markets. They compete against workers in so
me countries that do not protect even the most basic
labor rights. And they are competing against companies that get subsidies or other preferential treatment
from their governments, or that are not required to main
tain strong environmental protections. The question
is, what do we do about it? Do we accept this stat
us quo, or do we actively work to change it?
The Obama Administration has demonstrated a commitmen
t to shape the global trading system to reflect
our interests and our values, leveling the playing field for American workers and businesses.
