This is historical material “frozen in time.” The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Home
Agencies
Goals
Initiatives
Programs

API
About
FAQ

You are hereHome

Primary tabs

View(active tab)
Show Changes

Strategic Objective

Increase U.S. exports by broadening and deepening the U.S. exporter base (ITA, BIS, ESA, MBDA, EDA)

Strategic Objective

Themes:

International Affairs

DOC.gov

Facebook Twitter Linkdin Mail RSS

XML

CSV

Overview
Progress Update

Overview

Recognizing the important role of exports to the U.S. economy, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative in 2010. U.S. exports have increased steadily since the launch of this initiative, reaching a record $2.2 trillion in 2012. However, the nation still remains below its full export potential. U.S. firms under-export compared to competitor industrialized nations. Of the U.S. companies that do export merchandise, 58 percent export to only one market. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that approximately 80 percent of world economic growth

Progress Update

During FY 2014, the Department of Commerce (DOC) made good progress in broadening and deepening the U.S. exporter base through strong execution toward several key strategies supporting this objective: educating U.S. companies and communities on the benefits of exporting; provision of tailored export assistance to U.S. companies and communities to connect U.S. companies to foreign markets and qualified buyers and partners; utilizing public-private partnerships to increase U.S. exports worldwide; and reducing the transaction costs and complexities of exporting.

In 2013, U.S. exports of goods and services supported 11.3 million jobs; the United States is on-track for a fifth straight record-breaking year of exports for the 2014 calendar year.

FY 2014 Accomplishments include:

The Department announced a successor effort to the National Export Initiative, NEI/NEXT, which focuses on helping more American companies – especially small and medium-sized businesses – begin exporting and reach more foreign markets.
ITA’s Global Markets unit also expanded its ability to serve U.S. businesses overseas and support the President’s Trade Africa, Power Africa and Asia Rebalance initiatives by opening new offices in markets in Africa and Asia: Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Burma, plus Wuhan, China.
In FY 2014, 73 percent of clients from the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Global Markets unit reported that the Department helped them achieve their export objectives, exceeding the annual target of 69 percent. 83 percent of Global Markets clients said they are highly likely to recommend Global Markets assistance.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published and implemented several regulations to control the hundreds of thousands of defense articles the President determined in 2014 no longer warranted control under the State Department's International Traffic in Arms Regulations. BIS has also set the stage to publish more such regulations in 2015. The regulations accomplish the national security objectives of the Export Control Reform effort in that they help increase interoperability with our close allies, help the defense industrial base by reducing incentives to avoid US-origin content, and allow the Government to focus its resources on transactions and destinations of more concern. The regulations and BIS's implementation of them have been well received by U.S. industry, the allies, and the national security community.
ITA reached over 2,000 companies reached through Branded Events (ex. Discover Global Markets and Trade Winds) and 92 percent of survey respondents from these events plan to use our services to build their businesses.
BusinessUSA initiated development of MyUSA feature, which will provide personalized updates to entrepreneurs and businesses on exporting.
BusinessUSA initiated a contact center pilot project with ITA to provide Tier 1 services for callers.
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) invested approximately $59M in 66 economic development grants (including infrastructure, technical assistance, and planning) to help communities and regions build the capacity to support export-related activities.
In February 2014, the President charged agencies, including Commerce, with helping connect more rural businesses to global opportunities through the Made in Rural America export and investment initiative. Federal agencies engaged 1,000+ rural business owners and other key stakeholders at Made in Rural America Regional Export Forums in eight states where the Administration and partners convened the full suite of export-related resources for rural businesses and communities.
ITA certified 107 overseas trade fairs certified in 28 countries hosting 3,600 U.S. exhibitors resulting in 1710 increase-to- market successes and 690 new-to-market successes.
ITA brought over 13,000 buyers to 28 U.S. trade events. Led and certified 47 trade missions in 2014 with approximately 640 companies participating.
$1.26 billion in exports were generated from public-private partnerships under ITA’s Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) for Q1-3.
ITA’s Strategic Partnership Program completed the FY15 Memoranda of Agreement renewal process and currently has 100 public-private partnerships with States, local chambers of commerce, and finance institutions, e-commerce and shipping and logistics companies.
The President signed the Executive Order on the International Trade Data System to improve the flow of Government required information on exports and imports in order to shorten the time it takes to get goods through U.S. ports.

Next Steps in FY 2015:

ITA will continue training for client-facing staff to improve client satisfaction and meeting their objectives.
ITA will push trade-related data and information (through Application Programming Interfaces) to 5 more strategic partners in order to utilize public-private partnerships to increase U.S. exports.
FY 2015 Q2 – ITA will hold Discover Global Markets event on Sustainable Solutions in order to connect U.S. companies to international market prospects. The conference will address the link between advanced research and innovation, global business and planetary sustainability.
Complete Customer Service Survey of ITA clients in order to provide more customer-oriented programs and services.
ITA will publish 19 Top Markets studies in order to provide more industry-specific information.
ITA will develop and disseminate toolkits for economic development officials on promoting exports and investment in regions in order to educate communities on the benefits of exporting.
FY 2015 Q4 – ITA will host Trade Winds event in South Africa to connect U.S. companies to foreign markets and qualified buyers.
NIST will hold ExporTech or similar export training programs in all 50 states in order to educate more U.S. manufacturing companies and their communities on the benefits of exporting.
Award and administer EDA and MDCP grants.
BusinessUSA will launch MyUSA feature in order to automate the delivery of personalized information to the customer.

Expand All

Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal:

Expand the U.S. economy through increased exports and inward foreign investment that lead to more and better American jobs

Statement:

Expand the U.S. economy through increased exports and inward foreign investment that lead to more and better American jobs

Strategic Objectives

Increase opportunities for U.S. companies by opening markets globally (ITA, USPTO, NTIA, NOAA)

Statement:

Increase opportunities for U.S. companies by opening markets globally (ITA, USPTO, NTIA, NOAA)

Description:

The strength of the U.S. economy continues to depend on competitive manufacturing and services sectors and a vibrant open global marketplace. Growth in key foreign markets will help drive global economic recovery. More than one billion new consumers worldwide will enter the middle class during the next 15 years, and their buying power will increase the consumption of goods and services worldwide.

As economies around the world grow, some foreign governments develop policies that create barriers to U.S. companies in those markets. Such trade barriers and other unfair trade practices cost U.S. companies billions of dollars in lost revenue. Trade barriers result not only in financial loss, but also limit the ability of U.S. companies to expand production, hire additional workers, or pursue investment opportunities. Studies indicate that trade openness has added between $800 billion to $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy since World War II, amounting to $7 thousand to $13 thousand per U.S. household.Removing the remaining trade barriers could result in an additional $400 billion to $1.3 trillion annually, or about an additional $4 thousand to $12 thousand per U.S. household.

The Department will deploy its policy and promotional tools to help U.S. firms compete for new opportunities globally. A renewed focus on global competitiveness will help strengthen the long-term health of U.S. industries and stimulate domestic job creation. The Department will also use its strong expertise on export promotion and industry-economic-country issues to conduct holistic analyses of U.S. trade issues and needs, make recommendations, and take actions.

Learn More

FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve export objectives

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the percentage of companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve their export objectives to 71 percent.

Description:

Exports are important to U.S. economic prosperity. The International Trade Administration (ITA) is committed to providing high-quality assistance that helps U.S. companies achieve their export objectives. This priority goal focuses on improving the quality of assistance ITA’s trade and commercial specialists provide to companies. ITA’s delivery of substantive, high value-added assistance is affirmed when companies receiving this assistance respond that they have achieved their export objectives. The Global Markets business unit within ITA is the organizational lead on this priority goal. It is imperative that Global Markets staff worldwide – all of whom interact with U.S. companies – are unified behind a common goal that focuses on unique needs of our customers. The FY12 – FY13 baseline average percentage of companies assisted that achieved their export objectives is 67 percent for ITA’s fee-for-service clients. To achieve this priority goal, Global Markets has sought to understand individual U.S. company needs to be successful internationally and, subsequently, offered a customized approach that draws on the full resources available across ITA and the Federal Government to meet those needs. This strategic shift towards offering a more consultative approach steers ITA professionals toward identifying the problems and challenges with exporting, and designing holistic solutions. It focuses ITA on engaging with clients to offer substantive, high value-added assistance, such as helping companies select the best markets to enter, overcoming export trade barriers, or finding suitable international business partners.

Learn More

Increase U.S. exports by broadening and deepening the U.S. exporter base (ITA, BIS, ESA, MBDA, EDA)

Statement:

Increase U.S. exports by broadening and deepening the U.S. exporter base (ITA, BIS, ESA, MBDA, EDA)

Description:

Learn More

FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve export objectives

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the percentage of companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve their export objectives to 71 percent.

Description:

Learn More

Increase high-impact inward foreign direct investment in the United States (ITA, ESA, EDA)

Statement:

Increase high-impact inward foreign direct investment into the United States (ITA, ESA, EDA)

Description:

The United States has been the world’s largest recipient of foreign direct investment since 2006. Every day, foreign companies establish new operations in the United States or provide additional capital to existing businesses. With the world’s largest consumer market, skilled and productive workers, highly innovative culture, strong and effective legal system, predictable regulatory environment, and low cost energy resources, the United States has an attractive investment climate. In addition, the nation’s strong commitment to environmental protection adds sustainability to U.S. assets. To remain a premier investment destination, the United States must continue to nurture and build upon these strengths that make firms want to invest here.

Foreign direct investment in the United States contributes significantly to U.S. economic growth and prosperity. In 2011, value added by majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign companies accounted for 4.7 percent of total U.S. private output. These firms employed 5.6 million people in the United States, or 4.1 percent of private-sector employment. The United States competes with countries that have aggressive national programs to encourage businesses to move to or expand within their own borders. In response to this competition, President Obama announced a federal SelectUSA initiative in 2011. Led by the Department, SelectUSA, involves multiple Department bureaus, includes other federal agencies, and works alongside U.S. states and localities to advocate aggressively for the United States as a premier destination. This coordinated federal effort assures the global investment community that America is open for business. Furthermore, Department advocacy is backed up by capacity building grants to help communities create an economic ecosystem in which the private sector can leverage regional and community assets to promote foreign investment.

Learn More

FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve export objectives

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the percentage of companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve their export objectives to 71 percent.

Description:

Learn More

Strengthen fair competition in international trade for U.S. firms and workers by addressing and resolving foreign unfair trade practices and enforcing international trade agreements (ITA)

Statement:

Strengthen fair competition in international trade for U.S. firms and workers by addressing and resolving foreign unfair trade practices and enforcing international trade agreements (ITA)

Description:

Efforts to enhance U.S. commercial competitiveness and maximize potential U.S. exports can be thwarted by unfair and injurious practices of foreign firms and their governments. Only with a level playing field can U.S. companies strengthen and develop the capacity to expand into new markets or maintain market share at home and abroad.

As the federal agency charged with administering the U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty laws, the Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) helps domestic manufacturers compete against unfairly traded imports into the United States. ITA’s petition counseling unit helps U.S. workers and firms who assert damage from violations. Focus is on assuring that small and medium-sized enterprises understand their rights and the requirements for filing a petition to initiate an investigation of possible foreign dumping and subsidization. Once petitions seeking relief under the trade remedy laws are filed, ITA investigates the allegations. When imports are found to be dumped or subsidized and a cause of injury to U.S. industry, ITA instructs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect duties to offset the impact.

The Department also offers assistance to U.S. exporters and investors, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, by coordinating government resources to overcome trade barriers. This assistance educates U.S. industry on international trade agreements that maintain open markets . ITA’s trade experts monitor foreign government compliance with the more than 250 trade agreements so companies, investors, and workers realize the benefits of the agreements. Through its full range of legal, analytical, investigatory, trade policy, and commercial expertise, the Department provides robust and comprehensive services to help U.S. exporters confront, forestall, and resolve foreign unfair trade practices.

Learn More

FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve export objectives

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the percentage of companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve their export objectives to 71 percent.

Description:

Learn More

Agency Priority Goals

FY 14-15: Companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve export objectives

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the percentage of companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve their export objectives to 71 percent.

Description:

Learn More

Agency Priority Goals

FY 14-15 Agency Priority Goal:

Companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve export objectives

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the percentage of companies assisted by Global Markets that achieve their export objectives to 71 percent.

Description:

Learn More

Download
Featured Report

Agency Plans and Reports

Agency Strategic Plan

Accessibility
Privacy Policy