1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated January 24, 2022Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 grants the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) a range of responsibilities and authorities to investigate and take action to enforce U.S. rights under
2、trade agreements and respond to certain foreign trade practices. Prior to the Trump Administration and since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, the United States used Section 301 authorities primarily to build cases and pursue dispute settlement at the WTO. Former Presi
3、dent Trump was more willing to act unilaterally under these authorities. The Trump Administration attributed this shift in policy to its determination to close a persistent gap between U.S. and foreign government practices that it said disadvantaged U.S. firms. In addition, it justified many of its
4、tariff actionsparticularly those against Chinaby pointing to alleged weaknesses in WTO dispute settlement procedures and the inadequacy or nonexistence of WTO rules to address certain Chinese trade practices. It also cited the failure of past trade negotiations and agreements to enhance reciprocal m