The U.S. Trade Representative’s office announced on Monday that it will seek further reductions in foreign tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enforce reciprocal trade deals, and consider new unfair trade practices investigations. These pledges form part of the Trump administration’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda, released over a week after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The Trump administration’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda, released in Washington on March 2, aims to address deficiencies in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), including regional rules of origin and challenges from investments by non-market economies and industrial overcapacity.
It also plans to manage bilateral trade with China for greater balance and fairness while monitoring compliance with last year’s trade truce. The administration intends to finalize framework deals with the European Union, India, Japan, North Macedonia, South Korea, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Thailand, and Vietnam, and to strike new trade agreements with partners.
Deals with Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan will be finalized, with all agreements enforced through existing trade laws. The U.S. will assess the need for new Section 301 investigations into global overcapacity, abuses in seafood and fisheries, export-driven agricultural policies, pharmaceutical pricing, and digital services taxes.
Efforts will focus on reshoring supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, auto parts, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, metals, and energy technologies. Foreign investment will be attracted without compromising national security.
Trade interests will be advanced via the G7, G20, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and World Trade Organization. While opportunities for World Trade Organization reform are seen as limited, the agenda calls for reassessing most-favored-nation tariffs to pursue bilateral agreements.
