Comments to International Trade Administration on Cause of Significant Trade Deficits for 2016

ITIF submitted comments to the International Trade Administration pursuant to the Trump administration's investigation of significant trade deficits with certain nations. The filing urges the administration to: 1) Focus on the overall U.S. trade balance and health of U.S. traded sectors; 2) Recognize that sustained trade deficits are concerning, representing debts future generations of Americans must repay; 3) Place primary attention on countries which aggressively use innovation mercantilist trade practices, not on countries running trade surpluses largely as a result of legitimate comparative advantage in certain sectors; 4) Focus on advanced-technology industries that are the most critical to the U.S. economy; and 5) Develop a focused U.S. trade strategy tied to an overall industrial and competitiveness strategy.