USTR Asks for ITC Analysis on WTO Environmental Goods Pact

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman recently asked for International Trade Commission analysis on hundreds of green goods in light of ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations on the Environmental Goods Agreement. That request follows USTR’s request earlier in August for analysis on a green goods pact struck between Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members (see 1508250029). That goods list is likely to form the basis for the EGA, officials have said. But Froman requested analysis on far more products, ranging from animal and vegetable fats to refrigerators and freezers. A USTR spokesman cautioned that the agency is not endorsing the goods listed in the request. “This is a scenario where as a matter of course we cast a very wide net and list every product mentioned by the U.S. as well as any trading partner involved in the negotiation purely for informational purposes,” he said.