U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a statement May 22 to commemorate of the start of World Trade Week, emphasizing the importance of trade on a global scale.

“Trade can strengthen our existing relationships and forge new ones. And trade must also support more opportunities and prosperity for the United States and the global economy," Tai said in the statement. "That is why the Biden-Harris Administration is writing a new story on trade that centers on workers’ ambitions."

Tai emphasized the impact of trade on workers' lives and livelihoods around the globe, highlighting the contributions of American workers on the trade sector. She added that the Biden-Harris Administration aims to prioritize workers' ambitions and strengthen the middle class through initiatives such as the Investing in America agenda.

"At USTR, we are meeting with local leaders and small business owners where they live so we can advocate for their interests, and collecting data to ensure that the benefits of our trade reach all Americans, particularly historically overlooked communities," she wrote.

The administration is actively pursuing robust labor standards with U.S. trade partners around the world, and also seek to partner with them in combating forced labor in global supply chains. It is also committed to implementing environmentally friendly policies and recently signed the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Collaborating with partners and allies, the U.S. seeks to establish innovative trade arrangements like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework to enhance economic resilience.

The administration sees the potential of trade as a positive force, she said, adding that the trade office remained "focused on using our existing trade tools – and developing new ones when necessary – to improve the lives of American workers and those around the world."

 The White House also planned to work closely with Congress to create a policy "that prioritizes inclusive economic growth," Tai wrote.