United States Trade Representative - Definition and Overview

The Office of the United States Trade Representative, or USTR, is an arm of the executive branch of the United States government. It is responsible the United States' international trade policy, at unilateral, bilateral or multilateral levels.

The head of the office holds the title of United States Trade Representative, which is a Cabinet-level position (though not technically within the Cabinet). The position is currently held by Ambassador Robert Zoellick.

The views of the USTR tend to reflect those of large American corporations.

Since the early 1980s, the USTR has played a key role in the expansion of intellectual property laws worldwide.

List of United States Trade Representatives

See also

• World Trade Organization
• Generalized System of Preferences
• TRIPS