COMMERCE SUBMITS REPORT TO CONGRESS
ON OECD ANTIBRIBERY CONVENTION
Convention Now Fully Ratified
Report Notes First Convictions by Other Parties

Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans today submitted the sixth and final annual report to Congress on implementation of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (Antibribery Convention).

The report indicates that all 35 parties now have legislation in place that criminalizes bribery of foreign public officials by persons within their jurisdiction. Important reviews of parties' actual enforcement of the convention should be finished by the end of 2007.

"The United States will continue to advocate for rigorous enforcement of parties' antibribery laws," said Evans. "We are making strides to end this injustice and will continue to show leadership in the fight against global corruption."

South Korea and Sweden have obtained convictions under their implementing laws and the momentum of new investigations and prosecutions is building among the parties.

The U.S. government estimates that between May 1, 2003 and April 30, 2004, the competition for 47 contracts worth $18 billion may have been affected by bribery by foreign firms of foreign officials.

The Bush Administration has implemented a robust international transparency and anticorruption agenda, which complements the objectives of the Antibribery Convention. Consistent with Trade Promotion Authority, the Administration is seeking and obtaining binding commitments in trade agreements that promote transparency and address corruption of public officials.

The annual report was mandated by Congress under the International Antibribery and Fair Competition Act of 1998 (IAFCA). The IAFCA approved changes in U.S. law to implement the Convention. The report and more information are available at www.export.gov/tcc.