The Office of the United States Trade Representative has opened a public comment period seeking information on foreign trade barriers affecting United States exports and American investment overseas, as the agency begins work on its 2027 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers.

The request covers barriers affecting United States exports of goods and services, as well as American foreign direct investment. The annual National Trade Estimate report is intended to identify significant foreign trade restrictions and inform U.S. trade policy and negotiations.

USTR said written comments must be submitted by October 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The agency is encouraging submissions through Regulations.gov under Docket No. USTR-2026-0498.

The latest request comes as the Trump administration continues to make trade policy a central part of its economic agenda. United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer said the administration is seeking to identify and address foreign practices that it considers barriers to American businesses and workers.

“On his first day back in office, President Trump instituted an America First Trade Policy to reverse decades of foreign trade practices that disadvantaged American workers and businesses,” Greer said in the USTR announcement.

Greer also pointed to tariffs and trade agreements pursued by the administration, saying they had been used to eliminate foreign trade barriers, raise workers’ wages and strengthen domestic supply chains. Those claims reflect the administration’s characterization of its trade record.

The National Trade Estimate is an annual report required under United States trade law. USTR says the report is prepared with information from other federal agencies, United States embassies, public submissions and trade advisory committees. The 2026 edition covered more than 60 trading partners and examined barriers affecting goods, services, foreign investment and electronic commerce.

The report groups trade barriers into categories including import policies, tariffs and other import charges, quantitative restrictions, licensing requirements.

Customs practices and other measures that can restrict market access. It also examines issues involving services, intellectual property, investment and digital commerce.

For businesses and other stakeholders, the public comment process provides an opportunity to bring specific foreign regulations, policies or practices to the United States government’s attention. USTR says commenters discussing multiple countries should provide separate attachments for each country while making a single submission.

The agency’s 2027 report will follow the release of its 2026 National Trade Estimate, which was submitted to President Trump and Congress on March 31. USTR described that report as an inventory of significant foreign trade barriers and a tool for trade negotiations and enforcement.

The 2027 comment period will remain open until October 29, after which USTR and the Trade Policy Staff Committee will use submissions alongside information gathered from United States government agencies and other sources in preparing the annual report.