ANALYSIS: How the US Is Using Trade Rules for Non-Trade Reasons

The US government is developing new rules and enforcing existing ones that further its environmental protection, human rights, and national security objectives by regulating the trade in goods.

While using trade rules to address non-trade issues isn’t new, the US government increased its use of these measures in 2022. Both import and export requirements are being used to pressure Russia and Belarus to end the war in Ukraine, and to address human rights violations in China.

2023 will see enhanced use of such measures to target not only Russia and China, but also countries that boycott Israel. The Biden administration ...