Within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the Division of Career Services (DCS) and the Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), share the administration of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act.

The Trade Act of 1974 created a program of Trade Adjustment Assistance (called TAA) to help individuals who become unemployed as a result of increased foreign competition to return to suitable employment.

This law was amended in 1993 to contain special provisions for workers of companies adversely affected by competition from Canada or Mexico, NAFTA/TAA (NAFTA). It was again amended in 2002 with the creation of the Trade Reform Act of 2002. This law repealed the NAFTA Program, however, created Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance services and benefits (ATAA) and the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC).

Trade services and allowances may include Employment Counseling, Vocational Testing, Job Placement, Supportive Services, Paid Retraining Programs, Job Search Allowances, Relocation Allowances, and Weekly Subsistence Benefit Payments, ATAA and HCTC.