Trade agreements help open markets and expand opportunities for American workers and businesses and can help your company enter and compete more easily in the global marketplace. Trade agreements are also a tool for promoting fair competition and encouraging foreign governments to adopt open and transparent rulemaking procedures as well as non-discriminatory laws and regulations. Trade agreements can strengthen the business climate by including commitments on issues of concern along with the reduction and elimination of tariffs. Trade agreements may include commitments on topics such as:

• Improving intellectual property right protection
• Enhancing labor rights
• Government procurement
• Opening service sectors to competition
• Enhancing rules on foreign investment
• Environmental standards
• Improving customs facilitation

The United States is party to many bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade agreements. Countries with which the U.S. has active bi-lateral trade agreements include: Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Peru, Oman, and Singapore. The active multi-lateral trade agreements that the U.S. has signed include the North American Free-Trade Agreement and the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The U.S. is also party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT, overseen by the WTO) along with 152 other countries. U.S. trade agreements with Panama, Korea, and Columbia are pending congressional approval. The U.S. is also in negotiations on trade agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) which includes Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland.

For the latest legislative action on free trade agreements, please visit http://www.export.gov/fta.

Tradeagreements.gov

TradeAgreements.gov is an interagency effort by the United States Government to provide the public with the latest information on America's trade agreements. A joint effort between the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, State, Treasury and the Office of the United States Trade Representative, this site will be regularly updated with news about existing agreements, as well as pending free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

The Americas

There are currently several free trade agreements that serve North, South and Central America. Below is a brief excerpt about the countries particpating in each agreement, as well as the products in high demand for those countries. More information about each agreement can be found by clicking the link following the excerpt. more...

Australia & Pacific

There are currently two free trade agreements that serve Australia and the Pacific Region. Below is a brief excerpt about the countries particpating in each agreement, as well as the products in high demand for those countries. More information about each agreement can be found by clicking the link at the end of each description. more...

Southwest Asia & Africa

There are multiple free trade agreements with countries in southwest Asia and Africa. Below is a brief listing of the countries involved in each agreement, as well as key information to the agreements. Click the link to find more detailed information on each Free Trade Agreement. more...

Pending Free Trade Agreements

In an effort to continue expanding economic opportunities for U.S. exporters, the United States is in the process of implementing three more free trade agreements with Columbia, Korea, and Panama. more...