National Export Initiative
Trade Advocacy and Export Promotion
Under the National Export Initiative
Export Counseling: Since the launch of the NEI in January 2010, the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) has helped more than 16,000 U.S. companies achieve a verified export sale for a total of $164 billion in exports supported. Within that period, ITA’s assistance supported an estimated 217,800 jobs in 2010, and 429,260 jobs in 2011.
In 2012 alone, 2,718 American companies working with ITA’s U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service – including more than 2,300 small- and medium-sized enterprises – were able to export for the first time or increase their exports by selling to new markets. The Commercial Service works in more than 70 countries to connect U.S. businesses with buyers overseas. Through “Partnership Posts” the Commercial Service supports Department of State economic officers to provide similar services in an additional 577 countries.
Learn more about international business and export opportunities.
Advocacy Center: The Commerce Department’s Advocacy Center serves to level the playing field on behalf of U.S. companies competing for international government contracts. From 2010 through 2012, the Advocacy Center coordinated an interagency group in support of the National Export Initiative to assist hundreds of businesses win foreign government contracts totaling approximately $112 billion in U.S export content.
In 2012, advocacy wins totaled approximately $36.6 billion in U.S. export content, almost double the amount in 2010. By instituting an aggressive new client outreach program, the Advocacy Center has nearly doubled the number of active cases from 326 on January 1, 2010, to 657 at the end of 2012, operating at an all-time record level. Agencies throughout the federal government are coordinated and engaged in the Advocacy effort – for example, the Department of State assisted with more than $2.5 billion worth of deals in the fourth quarter of 2012 alone.
Opening the World to U.S. Businesses: Since the launch of the NEI, the Department of Commerce has coordinated 135 trade missions to 55 countries with more than 1,463 companies participating. These companies have secured more than $22 billion so far in export sales as a direct result of these trade missions. From 2010 through 2012, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has led 164 agribusinesses on Agribusiness Trade Missions, resulting in $38 million in sales, though numerous other negotiations remain ongoing.
Bringing Foreign Buyers to the United States: Since the launch of the NEI, the ITA’s International Buyer Program has recruited over 38,000 foreign buyers to visit major U.S. trade shows and directly connect with U.S. companies. The amount generated by export successes attributed to this program totals more than $2.3 billion so far.
The U.S. government also has brought foreign buyers to the United States through reverse trade missions, allowing buyers to observe the design, manufacture, and operation of U.S. equipment and services. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has consistently increased its investment in reverse trade missions, supporting 79 missions that connected more than 450 foreign buyers with 3,400 U.S. company representatives in fiscal year 2012 alone.
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