Comments to the USITC on its Investigation into the Distributional Effects of Trade and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ("the Chamber") is pleased to submit the attached comments as input for the recently launched U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") investigation into "Distributional Effects of Trade and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers" (332-587). The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative requested that the ITC conduct this investigation to examine "the potential distributional effects of goods and services trade and trade policy on U.S. workers by skill, wage and salary level, gender, race/ethnicity, age, and income level, especially as they affect underrepresented and underserved communities."

The Administration has described its commitment to a "worker-centered trade policy" that will "protect and empower workers, drive wage-driven growth, and lead to better economic outcomes for all Americans." While the Chamber's following comments are not comprehensive, they represent an effort, at this early stage in the investigation, to encourage the ITC to adopt an appropriately broad approach to its investigation into the important issues at hand. The Chamber may submit additional comments as the investigation proceeds.