Trump is trying to wage an ambitious trade war with a shrinking army
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has hit a staffing low point even as its workload expands exponentially. Former officials say it is taking a toll.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) agency is grappling with an ambitious workload while facing a shrinking workforce, leading to subpar results. Since President Donald Trump took office, the agency has aggressively implemented new tariffs, initiated trade negotiations, and reopened the North American trade pact. However, after the Supreme Court invalidated some of Trump's initial tariffs, the USTR has taken on four additional investigations into unfair trade practices.
Despite facing a smaller staff, the agency is struggling to meet the mounting demands, resulting in errors like sending letters to the wrong officials and rushing investigations to justify new duties. This hasty work is leaving the agency vulnerable to legal challenges, with tariff challengers already criticizing the lack of detail and reasoning in recent reports.
The USTR spokesperson maintains that the agency's work is thorough and results-oriented, but former officials are critical of the rushed nature of the agency's efforts.
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