US Vows to 'Get Tougher' on Trade Enforcement

Washington: U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has said Washington will "get tougher" on trade enforcement against the so-called "unfair trade practices" of its partners around the world. Strengthening trade enforcement has been "a priority" for President Barack Obama this year, Kirk said Wednesday in testimony to the Senate on trade issues, Xinhua reported. He said the new Inter-agency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC) will "challenge more aggressively unfair trade practices". Obama last month signed an executive order to establish the ITEC. It was said to serve as the primary forum within the federal government for the USTR (US Trade Representative) and other agencies to coordinate enforcement of US trade rights under international trade agreements and enforcement of domestic trade laws.