 Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a Federal
entitlement program which offers help to workers who lose
their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a
result of increased imports.
Under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, workers whose
employment is adversely affected by increased imports may
apply for TAA. TAA includes a variety of benefits and
reemployment services to help unemployed workers prepare for
and obtain suitable employment.
TAA is a transitional program that combines aspects of two
laws that are in effect:
- Title I of the Workforce Investment Act for dislocated
workers, and the
- Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, under the Trade
Act of 1974.
TAA offers help to workers whose company (Primary Firms) has
been impacted or is threatened to be impacted as a direct
result of increased imports from Canada or Mexico. In other
words, if workers lose their jobs when a plant in the United
States closes and moves the production to Canada or Mexico,
of if a company’s production has declined in direct response
to imports from Canada or Mexico, these workers would be
eligible for assistance such as rapid response and the
opportunity to engage in long-term training while receiving
cash payments and other reemployment benefits.
 The TAA program also covers workers in companies (secondary
firms) that are indirectly affected by trade with Canada or
Mexico. For example, if a secondary firm supplied materials
to a primary firm who has been or was directly affected
under TAA; these workers may also be eligible for
assistance.
Secondary firms include:
- Companies that supply materials to a primary firm that has
been directly affected by shifts in production to, or
imports from, Canada or Mexico;
- Companies that assemble or finish components produced by a
primary firm that has been directly affected by shifts in
production to, or imports from, Canada or Mexico; and
- Family farms and farm workers who do not meet the group
eligibility requirements.
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