Multilateral Trade Affairs

The Office of Multilateral Trade Affairs (MTA) is on the front lines of global trade policy, building support for the U.S. Trade Agenda. Our work opens foreign markets to U.S. businesses and keeps them open through enforcement of our trade laws and agreements. We enhance the efficiency of global trade and ensure fair treatment for American workers.  MTA brings foreign policy expertise to support U.S. engagement at global trade policy organizations and shares trade expertise with officials at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. Our expertise is especially strong in labor, environment, services, manufactured goods, government procurement, anti-corruption, energy, trade remedies, customs, textiles, standards, competition policy, and trade capacity building in multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization, World Customs Organization, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.  We challenge countries to adopt fair, evidence-based laws that create opportunities for U.S. businesses. We ensure that foreign partners adhere to their international trade commitments and enforce the rules of the road to promote fair trading relationships to benefit U.S. farmers, workers, and companies.  We promote resilient critical supply chains, including through mechanisms such as the 2022 Supply Chain Ministerial, the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council , Indo-Pacific Economic Framework , and the COVID-19 Global Action Plan, among others.