A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House to ask the U.S. trade representative to push Mexico and Canada to establish an investment screening regime and coordinate on "shared threats from investments in strategically important economic sectors and critical infrastructure in North America."

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., this week criticized the Trump administration’s decision to suspend the Bureau of Industry and Security's 50% rule (see 2510300024) and allow exports of Nvidia H200 chips to China, suggesting the U.S. is sacrificing national security for improved trade relations with China.

Almost 75 House members, from both parties, asked the U.S. trade representative to hold Canada accountable for not meeting its dairy commitments under USMCA. The U.S. already brought two panels against Canada over the issue of its tariff rate quota administration, and while it won some arguments in the first dispute, Canada's fixes were ruled adequate in the second (see 2311240002).

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, speaking at a business event Dec. 4, said that the U.S. doesn't want to confront China in concert with allies right now.

Boston-based e-commerce company Wayfair has urged the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to address several non-tariff trade barriers that it says hinder its ability to export goods into Canada.

House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, introduced a bill that would either require the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to seek a dispute settlement panel over Mexican energy policies, or to make compliance with USMCA in energy a condition of continuing a pact.

Arkansas’ six-member congressional delegation urged U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Nov. 6 to delay implementation of the new U.S.-EU trade deal (see 2507280027 and 2508210017) until the EU revises its deforestation reporting requirements. In a letter to Greer, the lawmakers reiterated their view that the regulation would harm American timber exports (see 2503170052). Greer’s office didn't respond to a request for comment.

President Donald Trump told reporters after his trade talks with China that the U.S. didn't discuss allowing exports of Nvidia's new Blackwell advanced AI chip to China. "We're not talking about the Blackwell," he said Oct. 30 on Air Force One.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after two days of meeting with Chinese negotiators, he anticipates a threatened additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods won't come Nov. 1, and that the Chinese will defer their critical minerals export control licensing scheme.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told a TV reporter that he and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were leaving for Malaysia on Oct. 22, to hold trade talks with their Chinese counterparts.