The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) posted a “Report on the Impact of Free Trade Agreements on Buy American Laws” (Report) on its website, dated February 2024. The Report was in response to a directive in the infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Biden administration is intent on closing what it regards as a “giant loophole” that has allowed infrastructure projects to be built with products (other than iron and steel) “sourced from anywhere in the world.” To that end, it has proposed
During his term, President Trump issued a number of Buy American directives. Of those that proposed concrete action, two have been enshrined in U.S. regulations, one that would reduce U.S. commitments under international agreements is pending and another was
On October 30th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a list of essential medicines, medical countermeasures and critical inputs to comply with the president’s August 6 executive order. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) must take action
One of the central pillars of the Trump administration’s trade policy has been the negotiation of new agreements. That aim prompted the president to request an extension of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). However, so far, he has not launched negotiations
In response to an April presidential directive, the Secretary of Commerce is to present the President with a Buy American report by November 24. That report is to include “specific recommendations to strengthen implementation of Buy American Laws”. In
Until recently, Brazil has shown little interest in the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) or foreign procurement markets. Instead, it adopted procurement policies that favored its own suppliers and created barriers to participation by foreign
In an August 21 Federal Register notice, the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) invited comments on the costs and benefits to U.S. industry of government procurement obligations under trade agreements and the impact of those
On April 18, 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) that elaborates on his directive to the Executive Branch to “Buy American and Hire American”. The Buy American portion of the Order seeks to maximize the use of U.S.-made products
The House of Representatives’ expansion of set-asides for U.S. small businesses could raise objections from trading partners. Tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2016, as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in mid-May,