Clashing Over Commerce: A History of US Trade Policy (Markets and Governments in Economic History)

by Douglas A. Irwin

In addition, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) was formally created and given primary responsibility for formulating and coordinating trade policy in the executive branch. USTR had principal responsibility for negotiating trade agreements, but in doing so it had to reflect a balanced perspective from many government agencies, including those representing foreign-policy interests (State Department), business interests (Commerce Department), farm interests (Agricultural Department), worker interests (Labor Department), competition concerns (Justice Department), and consumers and economic efficiency interests (Council of Economic Advisers). Thus, USTR led an extensive, interagency consultative process that guided the formulation of US trade policy.