Negotiations and Agreement Compliance

Overview

Wiley Rein’s International Trade Practice actively advises clients on international negotiations. We represent U.S. companies and industries in critical trade negotiations, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union. We also represent U.S. companies and industries on a variety of U.S.-China trade negotiations, including ongoing negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). Moreover, we advise clients on prospective trade negotiations, so that their views and concerns are considered before the launch of new negotiations.

In these and other trade negotiations, we present client views and proposals on current or potential negotiations to the trade policy makers, such as the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and U.S. Departments of Commerce, Treasury, State and Agriculture, as well as the White House and Congress. We participate directly with such multilateral trade organizations as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and also participate in the informal "interested persons" groups that always emerge in the negotiation context. We use all available trade policy tools to solve specific problems concerning imports or in foreign countries (e.g., lack of market access and discriminatory practices). Finding the proper means to enlist government support in connection with a trade or market access initiative is often a complex but highly useful undertaking that requires an understanding of the interaction between the various agencies and Congress. This work also includes advising domestic and foreign clients on the implementation of international obligations (e.g., how to comply with WTO obligations).

We represent a wide range of industry goods and services sectors in trade negotiations, including areas as diverse as manufacturing, telecommunications and Internet services, and professional services. For example, Wiley Rein has led efforts to address the trade-distorting practices of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), working closely with the U.S. government to include strong and enforceable SOE disciplines in future trade agreements.

Contact Us

Alan H. Price
202.719.3375 | aprice@wileyrein.com

Timothy C. Brightbill
202.719.3138 | tbrightbill@wileyrein.com

Christopher B. Weld
202.719.4651 | cweld@wileyrein.com

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