The Trade Agreement Act<\/a> (or T.A.A.), passed in 1979, is U.S. legislation designed to protect and optimize the trade operations between the United States and associated countries. The Act, comprised of agreements and negotiations settled between the U.S. and those other countries, outlines its purpose as, among other things, \u201c[to foster] an open world trading system;<\/a> to expand opportunities for the commerce of the United States\u2026 and <\/a>to improve the rules of international trade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When referring to goods and products purchased or traded under this Act, they will be considered \u201cTAA compliant\u201d if they satisfactorily abide by the rule of origin. The rule states that the product must be of the U.S. or one of its approved countries. To be \u201cof\u201d those regions, the rule states it must be \u201cwholly the growth, product, or manufacture of that country or instrumentality, or in the case of an article which consists in whole or in part of materials from another country or instrumentality, it has been substantially transformed into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was so transformed.\u201d As of January 2025, there are 127 TAA compliant countries, which span all continents (in addition to the United States itself, of course, which is not included in that number).What is \u201cTAA Compliant\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So, what does this mean? In short, the product must be made in an approved country or must at least be substantially transformed within that country. This \u201csubstantial transformation\u201d usually comes in the form of processing and\/or manufacturing taking place in an approved country after being brought in from a non-approved country. As an example, ingredients brought in from other countries that are baked into a processed food product have been substantially transformed.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhich countries are TAA compliant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You can scroll your mouse to explore the interactive map below, or view the complete list of countries here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n