International Trade: Export Enhancement Program Bonus Overpayments

NSIAD-90-83 Published: Feb 07, 1990. Publicly Released: Feb 07, 1990.

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the adequacy of the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) controls over the Export Enhancement Program's (EEP) bonus payments to U.S. exporters of surplus government-owned agricultural commodities.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Foreign Agricultural Service	The Administrator, FAS, should complete the review of the eight apparent overpayments and recover any actual overpayments from the exporters.	Closed – Implemented FAS acted to recoup six bonus overpayments; the other two were resolved and found not to be overpaid. An intermediate phase of a new automated bonus payment system is in place and is being used.
Foreign Agricultural Service	The Administrator, FAS, should develop sufficient internal controls over the bonus payment process to safeguard against future overpayments.	Closed – Implemented FAS developed and implemented an automated computer database program to administer the agreements entered into under the EEP. An intermediate phase of this system is in place and is being used. This phase sets up the necessary internal controls to safeguard against bonus overpayments.

Full Report

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Topics

International Affairs

Accounting proceduresAgricultural productsCommodity marketingExport regulationExportingGovernment collectionsInteragency relationsInternal controlsInternational tradeOverpayments