The United States negotiates and implements free trade agreements (FTAs) and preferential trade legislations (PTLs), also known as preference programs, to promote prosperity for the U.S. economy. FTAs and PTLs open up new markets for U.S. exports, protect American producers and workers, and encourage free and equitable trade among our trading partners. CBP’s Office of Trade oversees the implementation of these international instruments subsequent to their negotiation by the U.S. Trade Representative and passage by the U.S. Congress. Through the Office of Trade, CBP manages a portfolio of 14 comprehensive free trade agreements that the United States has in effect with 20 countries. In 2020, the United States implemented a phase-one trade agreement with Japan and in 2023, the United States and Japan concluded an agreement focusing on free trade in critical minerals. Additionally, CBP manages the implementation, compliance, and enforcement of over nine preferential trade legislation programs including the Generalized Systems of Preferences and the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act.
Through the Office of Trade, CBP raises awareness of U.S. trade programs among stakeholders, and provides subject matter expertise to new and ongoing trade negotiations. The Office of Trade supports businesses and trading partners in promoting trade compliance and enforcement. CBP also reviews trade compliance activities such as fraudulent trade practices, transshipments, false importers claims, undervaluation, and undercounting of goods. Additionally, CBP assesses areas of potential non-compliance and high-risk industries to ensure that only goods that comply with FTAs and PTLs rules of origin requirements claim preferential duty benefits, and that the appropriate duties are paid on imported goods that are not entitled to such preferential treatment. When dealing with fraudulent trade practice such as commercial fraud and deceptive business practices, CBP collaborates closely with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Commercial Fraud Programs Unit.
The Trade Agreements Priority Trade Issue has oversight over most commodities receiving preferential trade treatment. The textile and apparel provision within an agreement is managed through the Textiles Priority Trade Issue. To learn more about the va
Trade Programs
Preferential Trade Legislation
Click on any of the links below to learn more about the respective trade program:
- African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
- Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which comprises both the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)
- Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
Learn More
- Can My Good Benefit from a Free Trade Agreement?
- FTA and PTL Utilization Report
- Implementation and Expiration Dates
- Merchandise Processing Fee
- Softwood Lumber
- Non-Textile Utilization Report Fiscal Year 2022
Related Links
- To learn more about the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement, visit the USMCA (FTA).
- To learn more about Textiles and Apparel including textile provisions within Trade Agreements, visit Priority Trade Issue: Textiles.
- To view trade policy and enforcement updates, visit Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS).
- Check out the Customs Ruling Online Search System (CROSS) to view the database of published rulings and the requirements for Electronic Ruling Requests page to learn more about the procedures under the rulings program.
- Report a Trade Violation - e-Allegations provides a means for the public to report to CBP any suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the U.S.
- Quota Enforcement and Administration – Quota Bulletins and Commodity Graph Reports and Tariff Preference Levels.
- To view the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) – visit the United States International Trade Commission (USITC).
- Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration – Additional information related to Free Trade Agreements.
- Also, visit the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) – Trade Agreements and other Preference Programs.