Executive Order 13277: Delegation of Certain Authorities and Assignment of Certain Functions Under the Trade Act of 2002
President: George W. Bush
Delegated most presidential functions under the Trade Act of 2002’s trade-promotion and Andean-trade divisions to USTR and specified cabinet officials, while reserving identified negotiating, proclamation and congressional-submission decisions to the President.
Status: Completed/expired. Is Executive Order 13277 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13277 is completed or expired. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 13277 do?
The order assigned these duties: U.S. Trade Representative — Exercise most delegated Division B and C authorities and coordinate required reports; State and Labor Secretaries — Operate labor and environmental consultation mechanisms and prepare assigned reports.
Checked the delegated Trade Act functions and EO 13346 amendment against the order text and statutory notes. The trade-promotion negotiation window’s expiry is kept distinct from any continuing reporting or implementation duties.
Before and after
Before the order
The Trade Act of 2002 created new negotiating, consultation, reporting and Andean preference functions that were assigned in statute to the President.
After the order
USTR and partner agencies used the delegations for trade negotiations, congressional consultations, labor and environmental reviews and Andean preference administration. EO 13346 amended the reserved-authority list in 2004. The 2002 negotiating window expired in 2007; later trade agreements and preference extensions were handled under subsequent statutes and delegations.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Trade Representative | Exercise most delegated Division B and C authorities and coordinate required reports | Under each statutory schedule |
| State and Labor Secretaries | Operate labor and environmental consultation mechanisms and prepare assigned reports | During covered negotiations |
| President | Retain the listed negotiating, proclamation, designation and submission decisions | When the statute required presidential action |
What happened next
EO 13277 signed.
EO 13277 allocated Trade Act of 2002 functions across the executive branch.
EO 13346 amended the reserved presidential authority in section 1(b)(3).
The extended 2002 trade-promotion negotiating window expired.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Delegation did not bypass Congress: implementing legislation still had to satisfy the procedures Congress specified, and the President retained the decisions the order expressly reserved. Some reporting and implementation functions may remain relevant to agreements negotiated under the 2002 Act, but the authority to enter new agreements under its expedited procedures expired.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- USTR — 2007 expiration statement (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on October 2, 2026. How we research →