Interagency Launch of D.C. Central Deal Team Takes Economic Statecraft to the Next Level

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2020
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
Phone: 202-482-3809

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Commerce Acting Under Secretary for International Trade Joe Semsar and Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Keith Krach launched the first D.C. Central Deal Team meeting on February 18, at the State Department. The departments announced an integrated approach to strategically support U.S. businesses abroad.

The D.C. Central Deal Team is a new, proactive multi-agency U.S. government body. It will advance U.S. strategic economic interests by: facilitating and identifying new business opportunities for U.S. companies abroad; proactively supporting U.S. companies competing for contracts; developing a common methodology and sharing best practices for Embassy Deal Teams; assembling prepackaged solutions to support U.S. companies abroad; and, ensuring integration of the multiple programs at various U.S government agencies and financial entities. The D.C. Central and Embassy Deal Teams are an important part of establishing a level playing field for U.S. businesses and taking economic statecraft to the next level.

The D.C. Central Deal Team will track, promote, and marshal government support to secure new business opportunities for U.S. companies in key economic sectors abroad. Acting Under Secretary Semsar highlighted that the private sector is one of America’s greatest assets and the Deal Teams initiative is a way for the government to catalyze support for U.S. exports and investments abroad. The D.C. Central Deal Team and Embassy Deal Teams are also a critical component in establishing a trusted Growth Network of like-minded nations, companies, and civil society. While U.S. government agencies have unique mandates, Under Secretary Krach noted that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and all the agencies share the common goal of accelerating economic growth that is key to economic security.

This meeting also included senior officials from: The Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, State, Transportation, and Treasury; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA); the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM); the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC); the National Economic Council (NEC); the National Security Council (NSC); and Prosper Africa.

For more information, please visit https://www.state.gov/deal-teams/

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