International Trade:

Coordination of U.S. Export Promotion Activities in Pacific Rim Countries

GGD-94-192, Aug 29, 1994

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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on U.S. export promotion activities in selected Pacific Rim countries, focusing on the level of coordination that exists among federal agencies conducting export promotion activities.

GAO noted that: (1) of the many U.S. agencies that provide a wide range of export promotion services to U.S. businesses operating in the Pacific Rim, the four most important are the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of State, and Agency for International Development; (2) these four agencies assist U.S businesses by facilitating nonagricultural export promotion, helping businesses compete more effectively overseas, providing businesses with information on local market conditions, settling trade disputes, and engaging in regional and bilateral development projects; (3) U.S. export promotion activities in the countries reviewed are better coordinated than in the United States because commercial activities are given a higher priority by the embassies and consulates; (4) the Ambassador or Consul General is the central coordinator of export promotion activities in each country; (5) there were some instances where export promotion activities lacked effective coordination; and (6) although the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee has been required to develop strategic plans that prioritize, coordinate, and reduce duplication in export promotion activities, it has not completed these plans.