USTR issues ag, tech export barriers reports

USTR issues ag, tech export barriers reports    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative added two new reports to its annual National Trade Estimate (NTE), which were issued to Congress on Wednesday.
   The two reports focus on sanitary and phytosanitary barriers and technical barriers to trade that harm the ability of America's agricultural producers and manufacturers to export worldwide.
   U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk first promised a sharper focus on these trade barriers during a July 2009 speech at U.S. Steel's plant in Braddock, Pa.
   'This year, we've gone beyond the obligatory reporting to focus on some of the toughest hurdles America's farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and service providers face when they try to sell overseas,' Kirk said in a statement. 'USTR will take the information in these new reports, as well as in the National Trade Estimate itself, and use all the tools that we have to get these markets open to American products.'
   All three reports, in addition to fact sheets detailing key barriers identified and successes in reducing sanitary and phytosanitary and technical barriers, are available on line at https://www.ustr.gov/trade-topics/enforcement.