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U.S. International Trade Commission Strategic Plan FY 2026–2030
Sets forth the mission, vision, values, strategic goals, and strategic objectives that will guide the U.S. International Trade Commission during fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Other Information
The U.S. International Trade Commission is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency established by Congress with trade-related mandates. Its functions include:
* adjudicating matters involving dumped or subsidized imports, increased imports, intellectual property infringement and other unfair import practices;
* providing independent, objective, and timely analysis of trade and competitiveness issues to the President and Congress; and
* maintaining the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
The Commission is headed by six Commissioners nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
In developing this Strategic Plan, the Commission consulted appropriate congressional committees and the U.S. Trade Representative and posted a draft on its website for public comment.
The source does not state a separate Vision sentence; the Vision in this StratML rendition is inferred from the source's combined 'Vision and Values' section.
Appendix 1 identifies key statutory responsibilities under the Tariff Act of 1930, the Trade Act of 1974, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, including antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, unfair-import and factfinding investigations, safeguards, maintenance of the HTS and Harmonized System responsibilities, Mexican long-haul trucking determinations, and biennial reports on automotive rules of origin.
Submitter's Note: This StratML rendition has been compiled from the source by ChatGPT and reviewed in the form at https://stratml.us/forms/Claude/Part1.html
🏢United States International Trade Commission USITC Serves as an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency established by Congress to carry out trade-related statutory responsibilities.
Stakeholders:
🏢 🏢 👥 👥 👥 👥 | Source & SubmitterSource:https://www.usitc.gov/documents/usitc_strategic_plan_2026... Period: to Published: |
Vision
Expertise and innovative, data-driven methods at the forefront of research, analysis, and trade adjudication.
Mission
To apply expertise in international trade matters to serve policymakers and the public by assessing and addressing unfair imports and other trade practices that injure U.S. industries, providing information and analysis of international trade and competitiveness issues, and maintaining the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
Values
Goal 1: Investigations 🔗
Conduct efficient and effective investigations.
Other Information
The Commission administers and applies U.S. laws concerning investigations of subsidized and dumped imports that allegedly injure domestic industries, increased imports that allegedly injure domestic industries, and imports that allegedly infringe domestic intellectual property rights or are otherwise unfairly imported. It also conducts factfinding investigations and provides technical assistance as requested by the President and Congress or by statute. Information must be examined objectively, and resulting determinations and reports must be well-reasoned, timely, and consistent with law. Commission determinations can significantly affect competitive conditions, profitability, and employment in affected U.S. industries. Increasing complexity, variable and increased caseloads, and resource constraints require the Commission to balance timeliness, transparency, due process, thoroughness, and quality.
Objective 1.1: Proceedings 🔗
Conduct expeditious and transparent proceedings.
Stakeholders:
👥Parties : Participate in Commission investigations and benefit from reliable processes that ensure fair, timely, and transparent decisions consistent with applicable U.S. laws.
👥Domestic Industries : Depend on timely decisions when harmed by unfairly traded imports.
👥Policymakers : Depend on timely Commission information and analysis to understand trade impacts and support decision-making.
Other Information
Commission investigations involve industries, product markets, and parties representing a broad range of interests, from individual inventors and small companies to multinational companies and unions representing thousands of workers. Governing statutes establish deadlines for import injury investigations and require unfair import or section 337 investigations to be resolved at the earliest practicable time; factfinding investigations have deadlines established by requestors or statute. Transparency requires accurate public information to be readily available while proprietary, confidential unclassified, and national security information is protected from disclosure. Increasing complexity presents challenges to timeliness. Strategies include continually assessing investigative processes to improve timeliness; meeting statutory and external deadlines; timely posting of investigation documents and information on the Commission website; and advancing technology to present information that is timely, clear, searchable, and easy to navigate.
Objective 1.2: Engagement and Data 🔗
Engage the public, stakeholders, and experts and collect relevant data to inform and support investigations.
Stakeholders:
👥Requestors : Communicate priorities and information needs to help the Commission anticipate requests and respond to changing public policy goals.
👥Stakeholders : Provide information and feedback supporting investigations, process improvements, communications, and public trust.
👥External Experts : Contribute information and perspectives on important and emerging trade-related matters.
Other Information
The Commission's reputation for independence depends partly on the integrity of investigative activities. Broad public engagement and comprehensive collection of relevant and reliable information support analysis of complex trade and competitiveness issues. The Commission uses Federal Register notices, surveys, briefings, and direct engagement to obtain feedback and information. It also seeks procedural input from organizations representing attorneys, economists, and other professionals active before the Commission. Strategies include focusing on feedback from agency decision-makers, stakeholders, and reviewing courts; conducting outreach about investigatory processes; leveraging technologies to improve information flows and transparency; maintaining and enhancing relationships with requestors to anticipate needs; and collaborating with U.S. and international external experts to gather information, remain at the forefront of research, and incorporate varied perspectives.
Goal 2: Information and Analysis 🔗
Provide accurate information and sound and informed analysis.
Other Information
The global trading environment continues to evolve and become increasingly complex. U.S. industries, firms, policymakers, and stakeholders rely on the Commission for sound and informed decisions and reliable, rigorous, expert analysis and information. The Commission develops expertise on complex industry structures and competitiveness, technology and intellectual property, international trading relationships and agreements, supply chains, and the effects of trade on employment, investment, and innovation. The Commission also maintains the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, which provides product-specific tariff information, supports accurate collection of tariff revenues, and enables compilation of trade-flow data. The Commission uses objective approaches to data collection and analysis, develops comprehensive and current records, scrutinizes multiple information sources, maintains industry expertise, monitors emerging competitiveness and technology issues, and refines economic models, databases, and analytic skills.
Objective 2.1: Analysis and Determinations 🔗
Provide comprehensive, evidence-based analysis and determinations.
Stakeholders:
👥Policymakers : Use Commission information and analysis to understand international trade and competitiveness issues and inform policy decisions.
👥Requestors : Request and use Commission studies and analysis addressing trade and competitiveness issues.
👥Public : Uses publicly available Commission research, information, data, and analysis concerning international trade and competitiveness.
Other Information
Statutory requestors seek information and analysis on trade-agreement provisions, foreign barriers, U.S. domestic policies, production and trade performance, and the effects of imports on U.S. markets. The Commission identifies priority research areas involving developments in trade, industry competitiveness, and the U.S. and global economies, and advances data collection and analysis to address increasingly complex industries, proceedings involving many countries, and emerging products and industries. Because workload is unpredictable and varies in scope and complexity, the Commission deploys multidisciplinary teams of investigators, economists, industry and financial analysts, statisticians, and attorneys. Strategies include identifying priority research areas; investing strategically in analytical tools and staff skills based on anticipated policy priorities and trade needs; and incorporating new capabilities and improved analytical tools in statutory work products and investigation determinations.
Objective 2.2: Information 🔗
Provide clear and accurate information.
Stakeholders:
👥Policymakers : Use reliable trade data and information to support analysis and policy decisions.
👥Researchers : Use Commission data, publications, and information resources to conduct research on international trade and competitiveness.
👥Public : Uses Commission trade data and information resources for understanding international trade and competitiveness.
Other Information
The Commission must provide clear, accurate, and timely information and analysis to statutory requestors and stakeholders. It uses technologies, including interactive graphics, to make information and underlying data clearer, more searchable, navigable, accessible, and available, and is exploring modernization of electronic reports and the HTS for both general and technical users. Public access to Commission documents, statistical information, and supporting data, subject to legal protections, helps Commission work withstand public and judicial scrutiny. Strategies include expanding public access to documents, statistics, and underlying data; providing underlying data for factfinding investigations where appropriate; improving Section 508 accessibility; improving HTS usability based on stakeholder feedback; ensuring accurate and timely publication of the HTS; and responding to public inquiries and providing educational resources about tariff and trade information.
Goal 3: Organizational Excellence 🔗
Continuously advance organizational excellence.
Other Information
Efficient and effective management increases the Commission's ability to meet its mission. This goal promotes collaboration and shared responsibility and underpins the Commission's commitment to continuous process improvement and support for its other strategic goals and mission. Each year, the Commission's Annual Performance Plan also addresses major management challenges identified by the agency's Inspector General in the most recent semiannual report to Congress. The five objectives supporting this goal address human resources; budget, acquisitions, and finance; information technology; data governance; and operational effectiveness.
Objective 3.1: Workforce 🔗
Attract, recruit, develop, and retain a qualified, accountable, and versatile workforce.
Stakeholders:
👥Employees : Apply specialized knowledge, skills, flexibility, and adaptability to accomplish the Commission's mission.
👥Managers and Team Leaders : Support workforce development, performance management, accountability, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.
Other Information
The Commission's workforce is integral to mission accomplishment. The agency requires qualified staff with highly specialized knowledge in trade analysis, nomenclature systems, analytic methods, and government policies, laws, and regulations affecting trade. Staff must also be flexible and adaptable enough to perform different roles as the composition and volume of workload fluctuate, and staffing levels must be adequate for increased workloads. During the five-year planning period, a substantial portion of the workforce will become eligible to retire. Historically, attrition has been approximately ten percent of the workforce, while workload has increased in both quantity and complexity. Challenges include budget constraints and difficulty attracting qualified candidates in some occupations because of public- and private-sector pay disparities. Strategies include focusing on efficient and effective recruitment; ensuring robust succession planning; continuing to train and develop skilled, effective, and engaged managers, team leaders, and staff; enhancing performance management systems to improve accountability and organizational success; and continuing to develop accurate, innovative, and efficient human-capital management systems and processes supporting the strategic goals.
Objective 3.2: Funds 🔗
Ensure responsible, diligent, and transparent stewardship of taxpayer funds.
Stakeholders:
👥Taxpayers : Expect accountability, transparency, and effective stewardship in the Commission's use of appropriated funds.
👥Managers : Assess resource requirements and align financial resources with strategic goals and objectives.
Other Information
The Commission relies on effective use of limited financial resources to carry out its strategic goals. Stewardship of appropriated funds and financial oversight are fundamental to the accountability and transparency expected by taxpayers and directed by the President. The Commission continually assesses and enhances budget formulation and execution, acquisition activities, accounting operations, internal controls, internal rules, and the identification and consideration of organizational risks. Strategies include evaluating resource needs across agency activities and aligning funds with strategic goals and objectives through risk analysis and prioritization; incorporating that information into budget preparation and execution; promoting outcome-based metrics when evaluating acquisition requests and ensuring that requests align with strategic needs; and advancing the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial data to support transparent reporting and reinforce public trust in stewardship of funds.
Objective 3.3: Technology 🔗
Implement and maintain reliable and secure systems that promote efficiency, resilience, innovation, and portability.
Stakeholders:
👥Employees : Depend on secure, reliable, and effective information technology to perform the Commission's work.
👥Public : Uses Commission technology-enabled services and information resources.
Other Information
Reliable and secure IT services are crucial to accomplishing the agency mission. The Commission provides leadership, strategy, resource management, and processes for technologies, security, infrastructure, and IT management resources. Strategies include reliable IT solutions promoting network and application resilience; modern technology aligned with the business environment, policy goals, and statutory requirements; technical architecture supporting automation and efficiency; a risk-based information security program balancing performance, security, availability, and accessibility; and best practices, strengthened IT controls, stakeholder collaboration, and transparency in IT resource management.
Objective 3.4: Data 🔗
Manage, use, and release data to inform decision-making.
Stakeholders:
👥Employees : Create, manage, analyze, protect, and use Commission data in carrying out mission and administrative functions.
👥Data Users : Depend on accessible, reliable, well-managed, and appropriately protected Commission data.
Other Information
Data are essential to all Commission work. The Commission is developing a data-centered approach and enhancing data-governance policies and practices. Strategies include improving coordination and planning of agency-wide data initiatives; escalating data-policy issues for holistic resolution; elevating data maturity; advancing strategic use of data; and improving data access, transparency, and protection. To make data discoverable, the Commission will maintain and upgrade data search and extraction tools; identify, describe, document, and inventory data assets; deploy technologies that improve information flows; and protect data appropriately from creation through destruction.
Objective 3.5: Operational Efficiency 🔗
Evaluate and improve processes and communications.
Stakeholders:
👥Employees : Collaborate across organizational boundaries and contribute expertise and ideas to improve Commission operations.
👥Managers : Identify and manage organizational risks, improve processes, and align operations with strategic priorities.
Other Information
Operational effectiveness depends on continually evaluating and improving business processes and communications. Managers lead and control agency activities and measure and improve the processes for which they are responsible. Strategies include internal process evaluations and enterprise risk management (ERM); improved agency-wide policy development; modernization of IT infrastructure and management systems; integration of ERM into strategic planning, performance management, and budgeting; modernization of administrative policies, procedures, guidance, and related materials; and streamlined personnel-vetting and information-security processes. The Commission also uses public feedback to improve its website and web applications, including EDIS, IDS, the HTS system, and DataWeb.