Trade remedy laws are a major vehicle to protect domestic agriculture and industry in the USA from dumped import of foreign goods. Of course, sometimes the use of these laws conflict with free trade agreements, such as NAFTA.
US industries may petition the government for relief against dumped imports that are sold at less than fair value or for assistance against subsidized imports funded by foreign government programs. Dumping and subsidizing imports constitute unfair trade practices. In order to meet the challenge, US Government imposes levies on such imports under the antidumping and countervailing duty laws.
Under the safeguard laws, the President determines whether to provide assistance or relief to affected domestic industries facing serious injury or threat of such harm from rising Chinese or other imports or from increased imports from Canada or Mexico, as a result of NAFTA agreements. Global safeguard investigations do not require the finding of any unfair trade practice.
The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration manages the Trade Adjustment Assistance program for enterprises. The Department of Labor administers the Trade Adjustment Assistance program and the NAFTA transitional assistance program for workers.
The ITC determines whether imports from a non WTO- member country upset any program of the Department of Agriculture or if, imports from a Communist country is causing market distortion in the US. The ITC also investigates into complaints of patent, trademark or copyright violation in import trade.
The US Trade Representative investigates into complaints of denial of benefits to the US by foreign countries under trade agreements or into actions burdensome or oppressive to US Commerce. On the results of such investigation, the US can impose trade sanctions against non compliant countries or errant trading partners.
The Department of Commerce institutes investigations into the impact of imports on the US Security.
(More :http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/trao/trade_laws.htm)
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