Trade policy is becoming an ever more essential component of business strategy. Whether this means opening new markets, establishing favorable rules of trade, or using these rules to protect against unfair competition or blunt the impact of adverse trade measures, companies are increasingly considering trade policy as a means of advancing their interests. Steptoe has built a well-earned reputation as a leading firm for assisting companies to develop and execute sophisticated trade policy strategies to improve their competitive position and market access and to minimize risk arising from international trade developments.
The Steptoe trade team possesses a wealth of experience in international trade and investment policy and politics, as well as an understanding of how to leverage trade developments to advance clients' interests. Steptoe distinguishes itself by combining this trade policy and political experience with technical legal expertise in a broad range of trade laws and litigation, international trade agreements (including WTO and free trade agreements) and negotiating contexts. By integrating our political and trade policy knowledge with our deep trade law and litigation experience, we have achieved positive results for our clients in some of the most challenging trade disputes, trade negotiations, and market access efforts.
Steptoe’s trade policy practice is led by Ambassador Susan G. Esserman, who served as Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) and USTR General Counsel, and in prominent trade policy positions at the US Commerce Department, and by Jeff Weiss, who also served in senior positions at USTR, Commerce, and the White House. Other key practice members include Eric Emerson, the former co-head of the firm's International Trade and Investment Group, and partners in our Brussels office who contribute extensive experience in EU trade policymaking. Attorneys in the firm’s trade policy practice work closely with the professionals in our Government Affairs and Public Policy practice – who bring decades of bipartisan political experience and a wide network of contacts –to achieve clients' goals.
Because every company's needs are different, we tailor each strategy to our client's individual priorities and budget. This strategy might involve advocating for a company's interests before the key agencies involved in trade policy, or it might require a broader engagement plan, including advocacy with other Executive Branch agencies and/or members of Congress. Where appropriate and helpful to the client's goals, we work with foreign governments and stakeholders to build effective multinational strategies. Where needed, we call upon a strong network of economic consultants with whom we have worked on past matters.
Noteworthy
Chambers Global
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Global Market Leaders (2008-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions, (The Elite), US (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, US (2020-2025)
- Chambers Global, Disputes, International & Cross-Border Capabilities, US (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade: CFIUS Experts, US (2020-2025)
- Chambers Global, International & Cross-Border Disputes (International Firms), China (2021-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO (International Firms), China (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Asia-Pacific Region (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Europe-wide (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Europe/Belgium (2008-2017)
Chambers Asia-Pacific & Greater China Region
- Chambers Greater China Region, Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms) (2022-2024)
- Chambers Greater China Region, International Trade/WTO (International Firms) (2022-2024)
- Chambers Asia-Pacific, International Trade/WTO, Asia-Pacific Region (2009-2025)
Chambers Europe
- Chambers Europe, International Trade/WTO, Europe/Belgium (2008-2025)
Chambers USA
- Chambers USA, International Trade: CFIUS Experts, Nationwide (2017-2025)
- Chambers USA, International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: The Elite, Nationwide (2017-2025)
- Chambers USA, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, Nationwide (2017-2025)
- Chambers USA, International Trade, Nationwide (2005-2016)
- Chambers USA, International Arbitration: Enforcement, Nationwide (2022)
Legal 500
- Legal 500 US, Government: Government Contracts (2024-2025)
- Legal 500 US, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy (2023-2025)
- Legal 500 US, International Trade: Customs, Export Controls, & Economic Sanctions (2023-2025)
- Legal 500 US, International Trade: CFIUS (2023-2025)
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: International Trade (2007-2022, 2024)
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: International Litigation (2025)
- Legal 500 UK, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (2010-2025)
- Legal 500 UK, Dispute Resolution: Public International Law (2010-2025)
- Legal 500 EMEA, Customs, Trade, WTO & Anti-Dumping, Belgium (2011-2019, 2022)
Law360
- Law360, International Trade Group of the Year (2010-2013, 2015, 2019)
Global Arbitration Review
- Global Arbitration Review, "International arbitration practice that impressed in the past year," (2016)
- Global Arbitration Review, GAR 100 (2017-2023)
Global Investigations Review
- Global Investigations Review (GIR) 100, Top 30 Firms for Investigations Worldwide (2015-2024)
WorldECR
- WorldECR, Sanctions Law Firm of the Year, USA (2018, 2021), Sanctions Highly Commended Law Firm, USA (2017);
- WorldECR, Export Controls, Law Firm of the Year, USA (2015-2016), Highly Commended Law Firm, USA (2017), Runner-Up Law Firm of the Year, USA (2018)
- WorldECR, Sanctions Law Firm of the Year Runner-Up, Rest of the World (2021)
Asia Legal Business
- ALB China Awards, International Firm of the Year: International Trade (Award in 2021, Shortlisted in 2022-2024)
- ALB China Awards, Regulatory Compliance Law Firm of the Year (Shortlisted 2022-2024)
- ALB Hong Kong Awards, Regulation and Investigations Law Firm of the Year (Shortlisted 2020-2021, 2023)
- ALB Japan Awards, Japan Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year (Award in 2021, Shortlisted in 2023-2024)
- ALB Korea Awards, Korea Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year (2022-2023)
China Business Law Journal
- China Business Law Award, International Trade (2013-2023)
- China Business Law Award, Corporate Compliance (2019-2023)
- China Business Law Award, Government and public policy (2022)
- China Business Law Award, Anti-Bribery & Compliance (2015, 2018)
China Law & Practice
-
China Law & Practice, International Firm of the Year: Dispute Resolution, Honorable Mention (2024)
- China Law & Practice, International Firm of the Year: Trade Award (2016, 2018-2020, 2022); Shortlisted (2021)
- China Law & Practice, Shortlisted, International Firm of the Year: Regulatory & Compliance (2018, 2021-2022)
Steptoe has been involved for decades in the most high-profile and complex trade disputes, including those involving solar and polysilicon, steel, lumber, uranium, chemicals, shipbuilding, motorcycles, and aluminum. Especially in such complex, high-stakes matters, integrating the policy, political, and technical legal dimensions of our engagements positions us to achieve our clients' goals that cannot be attained through litigation alone.
Steptoe has assisted clients in achieving successful resolutions of some of the most contentious disputes in the field. For example, we have helped clients attain positive results in antidumping and countervailing duty settlements and suspensions agreements involving lumber, sugar, and uranium trade.
Together with our government affairs and public policy practice, we work to ensure that emerging legislation establishes or maintains favorable trade and investment conditions for our clients. We closely monitor and advise our clients on legislative developments in international trade policy and remain prepared to advocate before key decision makers on behalf of our clients’ diverse interests.
We bring to bear a broad range of experiences in developing market access strategies tailored to our clients' goals and the special regulatory and cultural environment of the specific markets of interest. We are particularly well-positioned to assist clients in enhancing market access in major foreign markets in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, where we have worked closely with government officials and stakeholders. Steptoe has achieved strong results for clients seeking new and expanded access to key markets in Asia (including China, India, Korea, and Japan), the EU, and Brazil.
We have extensively advised governments and companies with respect to WTO, free trade agreement, and investment treaty negotiations. Our most extensive engagement in this area has been advising the South Korean government in the Korea-US and Korea-EU free trade agreement negotiations and implementation, as well as in negotiations for international investment agreements. The Steptoe trade team also assists governments and private companies to address a variety of complex and changing negotiating contexts and political dynamics, such as in regard to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In advising companies on negotiations with foreign governments, we bring to bear insights from negotiating experience arising from former government service.
Steptoe has advised governments in numerous WTO disputes and discussions and has counseled governments on how to utilize technical-level WTO fora to secure favorable terms of trade.
News & Publications
Media Mentions
MLex Quotes Eva Monard on Need for Clear Guidelines Under EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation
June 26, 2025
Client Alerts
DOJ's New FCPA Enforcement Guidelines: Continuity with a Twist
June 16, 2025
By: Iris E. Bennett, Jonathan C. Drimmer, Patrick F. Linehan, Claire Rajan, Wendy Wysong, Lindsay B. Arrieta, Timothy L. Dickinson
Press Releases
Steptoe Practices and Attorneys Earn High Rankings in the Legal 500 United States 2025
June 11, 2025
Global Trade & Investment Law Blog
President Trump Increases Steel and Aluminum Tariffs to 50%
June 6, 2025
Media Mentions
Steptoe Contributes to US Chamber Report Around EU’s Use of Fines Against US Tech Companies
June 6, 2025
Media Mentions
May 21, 2025
Global Trade & Investment Law Blog
May 2, 2025
Events
Webinars
Navigating the Continuing Changes to US International Trade Policy
May 20, 2025
Speakers: Eric C. Emerson, Jeffrey G. Weiss
Webinars
Liberation Day and Its Aftermath: President Trump's Latest Tariff Announcements and Their Impact
April 7, 2025
Speakers: Eric C. Emerson, Kevin Garvey, Jeffrey G. Weiss
Webinars
The Art of the Tariff: What's Next in Trump Trade Policy and How You Can Prepare
March 5, 2025
Speakers: Eric C. Emerson, Jeffrey G. Weiss
Webinars
Policy Perspectives Roundtable Now Focused on Tariffs and Trade
February 6, 2025
Speakers: Jason Abel, Matthew J. Flynn, Meghan Pearce, Jeffrey G. Weiss
Seminars & Events
Mexico's Judicial Reform: Considering the Impact, Implications, and Options Moving Forward
January 23, 2025
Speakers: Hector R. Chavez, Christophe Bondy, Jarod Stewart
Webinars
A New Era in US Trade Policy: Tariffic or Tariffying
January 21, 2025
Speakers: Santiago Gomez Cifuentes, Christopher Forsgren, Meghan Pearce, Jeffrey G. Weiss
Webinars
The Steptoe Update: US, EU, and UK Legal Developments Affecting Asian Companies and Public Actors
December 11, 2024
Speakers: Lee Berger, Eric C. Emerson, Jack R. Hayes, Charles Whiddington
Seminars & Events
Brussels Symposium and Cocktail Reception
November 12, 2024
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eric C. Emerson, Tyler Evans, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Robert Klotz, Patrick F. Linehan, Byron Maniatis, Eva Monard, Eléonore Mullier, Daniel A. Mullen, Darryl Nirenberg, Meredith Rathbone, Jeffrey G. Weiss, Charles Whiddington, Wendy Wysong
Resources
Client Alerts
Assessing the Impacts of Executive Order 13936 on Hong Kong's Status, One Month Later
August 25, 2020
By: Alexandra Baj, Ali Burney, Eric C. Emerson, Edward J. Krauland, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Meredith Rathbone, Wendy Wysong, Martin Willner, Jacob Nelson (International Trade Assistant)
Client Alerts
Trump Administration Pursues Restrictions to Secure US Electricity Grid
May 11, 2020
By: Jeffrey G. Weiss, Daniel A. Mullen, Wendy Wysong, Ali Burney, Jacob Nelson (International Trade Assistant)