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European Union Trade Restrictions Affect SME Businesses

 Many scientific instruments manufacturers are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and are affected by trade related barriers from the EU.  Please make your case known.

July 25, 2013
News Release 13-069
Inv. No. 332-541
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819


USITC TO INVESTIGATE HOW EUROPEAN UNION TRADE RESTRICTIONS AFFECT EXPORTS OF U.S. SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs)

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking information for a report that will identify trade-related barriers that U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perceive as disproportionately (as compared to large firms) affecting their exports to the European Union (EU).
The investigation, Trade Barriers that U.S. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on June 18, 2013.
In her request letter, the USTR noted that the report will help U.S. negotiators attain broad input from SMEs as part of the domestic consultation process to support negotiations related the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency will:
  • report on barriers faced by U.S. SMEs exporting both goods and services;
  • focus primarily on barriers identified by U.S. SMEs that have experience in exporting to the EU;
  • identify barriers by economic sector or by special issue to the degree practicable; and
  • focus on sectors with high concentrations of SMEs.
The report will build on three previous studies on SMEs that were released by the USITC in 2010. The USITC will deliver the report to the USTR by January 31, 2014.
The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with this at 9:30 a.m. on October 8, 2013. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on September 13, 2013, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later 5:15 p.m. on October 15, 2013. All written submissions will be available for public inspection.
Further information on the scope of the investigation is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated July 25, 2013, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the address above or at 202-205-2000.
USITC general fact-finding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.

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