Book excerpt: This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. This annual report presents an inventory of the most important foreign barriers affecting U.S. exports of goods and services, foreign direct investment by U.S. persons, and protection of intellectual property rights. Such an inventory facilitates negotiations aimed at reducing or eliminating these barriers. The report also provides a valuable tool in enforcing U.S. trade laws, with the goal of expanding global trade and strengthening the rules-based trading system, which benefits all nations, and U.S. producers and consumers in particular. The report provides quantitative estimates of the impact of these foreign practices on the value of U.S. exports. Includes info. on some of the actions taken to eliminate foreign trade barriers. Charts and tables.