Production and Trade

The following resources cover various incentives, subsidies, policies and rules that affect production and trade.

Incentives

Business Ready (B-READY) (World Bank) External
This is World Bank's flagship report that replaces the discontinued Doing Business Report.External It aims to provide a quantitative assessment of the business environment around the world, to support private sector development. The first B-READY report is expected in September, 2024.

Subsidies

WTO Documents Online External
The US reported to the World Trade Organization subsidies in agriculture, energy and fuels, fisheries, lumber, medical, steel, non-fuel exploration, shipyards, watch and jewelry sectors. Information is available from the WTO Documents library. Click on "Search Documents", and enter "G/SCM/N/253/USA" in the "Document Symbol" box. Major legislation providing for other subsidies include the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Competition Policy

Competition policy in the U.S. is known as 'anti-trust' law. Major legislation includes: Sherman Act (1890; 15 U.S.C. 52-53), Clayton Act (1914; 29 U.S.C. 52-53), Trade Commission Act (1914), and Antitrust Modernization Commission Act (2002).

Antitrust Cooperation Agreements. Antitrust Division, Dept. of Justice
The US has competition cooperation agreements or memorandum of understanding with the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, European Union, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Russia, as well as agreements within free trade agreements (i.e., Australia, Chile, Columbia, Korea, NAFTA, Peru, Singapore).
Guidelines and Policy Statements. Antitrust Division, Dept. of Justice
"The mission of the Antitrust Division is to promote economic competition through enforcing and providing guidance on antitrust laws and principles."
Sherman Anti-Trust Act Signed into Law (Business Section, Library of Congress)
A research guide on the history of Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
Clayton Antitrust Act Enacted (Business Section, Library of Congress)
History of the Clayton Antitrust Act that was intended to prevent anticompetitive practices, and strengthened provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.

State Trading, State-owned Enterprises (SOE)
Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE)

State Trading Enterprises. U.S. Trade Representative
The US reported to the WTO the following state owned enterprises (SOEs): Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Isotope Production and Distribution Program Fund (IPD). GSEs identified are Federal National Mortgage Association (known as Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (known as Freddie Mac), Federal Home Loan Bank System, and Farm Credit System.
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
Farm Credit System External
Federal Home Loan Bank System
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) External
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) External
Isotope Production and Distribution Program Fund (IPD)
Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)

Government procurement

Agreement on Government Procurement External
Providing preference to domestic suppliers of goods and services is considered by some a trade barrier. WTO rules exclude government procurement from application of these disciplines. There is a pluralateral Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), of which the United States is a member. In addition to federal government coverage, 37 US states have agreed to participate. The agreement covers 47 WTO members.
e-GPA Portal External
The US also includes government procurement provisions in its free trade agreements. The U.S. schedule of commitments to WTO GPA members is found at the e-GPA portal
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
FAR constitute the principal set of rules regarding government procurement in the United States.

Intellectual Property Rights

US Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks.
Design Patent (U.S. PTO)
Trade Secret (Legal Information Institute. Cornell Law School) External
18 U.S. Code Chapter 90—Protection of Trade Secrets External
Copyright.gov
National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center
Intellectual Property. US Trade Representative

U.S. Trade Policy: A Research Guide