Washington, D.C. -- Working to help U.S. businesses stay at the forefront of the ever-expanding world marketplace, the International Trade Administration is requesting a budget of $360.1 million for fiscal year 2001, reflecting program increases of $42 million.

"We have no higher priority than helping U.S. businesses expand exports that support high-wage jobs and economic security for Americans," said David L. Aaron, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. "This budget focuses on stepping up our trade compliance efforts to ensure a level playing field for U.S. firms abroad, helping small and medium-sized businesses enter the global marketplace, and encouraging the growth of e-commerce in world markets."

The International Trade Administration budget, which calls for an additional 197 staff positions, reflects a number of Presidential priorities, and includes the following:

• $21.2 million for a Trade Compliance Initiative, including the development of an overseas contingent of trade experts to support enforcement of U.S. trade laws. 

 
• $11.6 million to strengthen efforts to ensure that e-commerce is fully utilized by U.S. exporters, thereby increasing competitiveness and high-wage American jobs.

 
• $4 million for a Clean Energy and Environmental Exports Initiative designed to boost U.S. environmental technology exports. Part of the President's Clean Energy Initiative, this effort aims to double U.S. environmental technologies exports. 

 
• $4.5 million to support export assistance and development for rural-based Native American firms as part of broader efforts to enhance economic opportunity in rural communities of the United States.
• $700 thousand to support the development of an Exporter Data Base Enhancement initiative to more fully measure the impact of trade on the economy at the regional, state, metropolitan, and local levels.