The Biden Administration Says Its Trade Policy Puts People Over Corporations. Documents on Baby Formula Show Otherwise.

ProPublica found evidence of meddling in 21 countries, plus Hong Kong , Taiwan and the European Union .

The Biden administration has publicly promised a different approach to foreign regulations.

The U.S. has long used its diplomatic and political muscle to advance the interests of companies like Abbott , which makes Similac and Mead Johnson .

Before 2020 , the U.S. questioned proposed formula regulations in WTO forums more often than any other country.

The Biden administration has relied almost entirely on the trade letters.

The letters carry an implicit threat, often asking for the scientific rationale behind countries’ proposals.

Taiwan , for example, changed a proposed formula labeling law after the US objected to language that said, “Breastfed babies are the healthiest babies”.

Lori Wallach , director of the Rethink Trade program from the the American Economic Liberties Project , said that Biden ’s trade representative, Katherine Tai , has made a significant effort to reduce corporate influence at USTR . But Wallach said it’s possible some career trade officials are still “marching along to the corporate drums that have been setting their path for the last decades .”.