As part of the U.S. government's commitment to the vigorous enforcement of trade agreements and to ensuring our trading partners' adherence to the terms of those agreements, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce (Commerce) have continued their close collaboration to monitor and strictly enforce the obligations of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (Subsidies Agreement, or Agreement). The Subsidies Agreement, which establishes multilateral disciplines on subsidies, is the primary instrument for reining in the use of distortive subsidy practices worldwide. The United States pursues enforcement of its rights under the Subsidies Agreement through its participation in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Subsidies Committee, bilateral contacts, multilateral pressure and, where justified, WTO dispute settlement proceedings. The basic goal of these activities is to deter distortive subsidization and prevent or remedy harm caused to U.S. producers and workers as a result of such subsidies by foreign governments. By working actively to address some of the most important causes of unfair trade distortions, the subsidies enforcement program is helping to strengthen the open, competitive trading environment that is of enormous benefit to American producers and consumers alike.