Executive Order 13796: Addressing Trade Agreement Violations and Abuses
President: Donald J. Trump
Directed Commerce and USTR to review trade agreements and significant WTO trade relationships within 180 days.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13796 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13796 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 13796 do?
EO 13796 required Commerce and the US Trade Representative to review US trade and investment agreements and certain WTO trade relationships where the United States had significant goods deficits. Reviews were to identify suspected violations, perceived unfair treatment, performance against stated goals and lawful remedies within 180 days. The order did not terminate an agreement or impose a tariff by itself. The reviewed primary record establishes the review directive, but not the completion or effect of every proposed remedy.
Before and after
Before the order
Existing agreements and WTO commitments governed trade relationships.
After the order
Commerce and USTR were directed to assess them and propose lawful action.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce and USTR | Review covered agreements and trade relationships | Within 180 days |
| Commerce and USTR | Identify violations and recommend remedies | Report to President |
| Agencies | Take appropriate lawful action | Separate authority required |
What happened next
EO 13796 signed.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Changing an international obligation or trade measure required the relevant statute, agreement process or separate executive action.
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.
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 23, 2026. How we research →