Trade Issues & Agreements
There are numerous trade issues and agreements that affect the United States and consequently, California. Each region and issue page below gives an overview, and links to related organizations and documents.
There are numerous trade issues and agreements that affect the United States and consequently, California. Each region and issue page below gives an overview, and links to related organizations and documents.
On January 1, 2005, the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement came into effect. The Agreement eliminates tariffs on 99 percent of U.S. manufactured goods exported to Australia, accounting for 93 percent of all U.S. exports to the nation.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, came into force on December 30, 2018 for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Singapore, with Vietnam follows on January 14, 2019. Brunei, Chile, Malaysia and Peru will begin 60 days after they complete their ratification process. The agreement creates the third largest free trade area in the world by GDP.
California is one of the 10 largest economies in the world with a gross state product of over $4 trillion. International trade and investment are major parts of our economic engine that broadly benefit businesses, communities, consumers and state government. California’s economy is diverse, and the state’s prosperity is tied to exports and imports of both goods and services by California-based companies, to exports and imports through California’s transportation gateways, and to movement of human and capital resources.
According to the USTR, AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for more than 1,800 products, in addition to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program. Thirty-two countries currently are eligible for AGOA benefits.
2025 Economic Impact of Travel Visit California, April 2026
According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, a tariff or duty (the words are used interchangeably) is a tax levied by governments on the value, including freight and insurance, of imported products. Different tariffs are applied on different products by different countries. Some countries have very high duties and taxes, and others relatively low duties and taxes.
SelectUSA is a U.S. government-wide program led by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since its inception, SelectUSA has facilitated more than US$270 billion in investment, creating and/or retaining over 240,000 U.S. jobs.
Recent News
World Trade Report: Trade reform to boost growth; inaction can cost 10% global GDP WTO, September 15, 2026
Export-Import Bank: CalChamber Backs Long-Term Reauthorization to Help Jobs CalChamber, September 15, 2026
Japan Ratifies Free Trade Deal with United States
Agricultural Coalition for USMCA