Commerce Department and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to Jointly Promote U.S. Exports

For Immediate Release: November 9, 2007
Contact: Charlie Skuba or Matt Englehart (202) 482-3809

Commerce Department and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to Jointly Promote U.S. Exports

TAMPA - The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in which the two organizations will work together to promote U.S. exports. The MoA was signed at the National District Export Council conference in Tampa, Fla. by Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Christopher A. Padilla and Dan Christman, the Chamber’s Senior Vice President for International Affairs.

“U.S. exports are at an all-time high. To continue that momentum we will work aggressively to help businesses expand international sales and encourage more U.S. companies to sell globally,” said Padilla. “This agreement will enable us to increase the number of export-ready and new-to-market companies, and will enhance on-site support to better serve exporters.”

The pooling of resources will facilitate the introduction of export-ready companies to potential customers, and will provide them with enhanced benefits such as counseling and overseas market assistance through joint efforts in the following:

Cooperating to provide market information, technical assistance, and counseling, as well as referring companies for services provided by other organizations.
Coordinating activities and programs such as export conferences, seminars, and export education programs for U.S. businesses.
Promotion of trade events through media and other outreach activities.
Establishing shared office space at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce located in Washington.

The U.S. Commercial Service, part of the International Trade Administration, promotes the export of domestic goods and services and advocates for American companies abroad through its global network of more than 250 offices. In the international arena, the Chamber advocates an open trade and investment environment and works within the United States and abroad to reduce policy, regulatory and information barriers to the successful global expansion of U.S. firms.

According to the Department of Commerce, small and medium-sized businesses account for 96 percent of U.S. exporters, but only about 30 percent of the value of U.S. goods’ exports. There is vast untapped export potential among small and medium-sized firms, and nearly two-thirds of all exporters only sell to one foreign market. The Commerce Department works to boost exports by expanding the number of exporters, and the number of markets to which they sell products and services. For more information, visit www.export.gov.

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