US Department of State
Within the Executive Branch, the State Department is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency that works to advance U.S. objectives and interests in shaping a freer, more secure, and more prosperous world through its primary role of developing and implementing foreign policy.
US Trade Representatives (USTR)
USTR is America’s chief trade negotiator and principal trade policy advisor to the President. USTR is responsible for developing and implementing trade policies, which promote world growth, and create new opportunities for American businesses, workers, and agricultural producers.
Foreign Agricultural Service, US Department of Agriculture (FAS)
FAS works to improve foreign market access for U.S. agricultural products and operates programs designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of the U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace. FAS has the responsibility for the USDA’s overseas activities – market development, international trade agreements, negotiations, and collection and analysis of market information.
The US Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank)
The Ex-Im Bank is an independent U.S. Government agency that helps finance overseas sales of U.S. goods and services. With the mission to create jobs through exports, the Ex-Im provides guarantees of working capital loans for U.S. exports, guarantees repayment of loans, or makes loans to foreign purchasers of U.S. goods and services. Ex-Im also provides credit insurance that protects U.S. exporters against non-payment risks by foreign buyers.
US Trade and Development Agency (TDA)
TDA helps U.S. companies pursue overseas business opportunities, enabling them to compete for infrastructure and industrial projects in middle-income and developing countries through funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various forms of technical assistance.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID works around the world to further America’s foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing countries. USAID is the main U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.
Market Access Compliance, US Department of Commerce (MAC)
MAC’s goal is to obtain market access for American firms and workers as well as to achieve full compliance by foreign nations with trade agreements they signed with the United States.
Trade Compliance Center, US Department of Commerce (TCC)
TCC is the U.S. Government’s resource to help American exporters facing foreign trade barriers and to assure that foreign countries comply with their trade commitments.
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
OPIC assists U.S. investors through four main activities designed to promote overseas investment and reduce associated risks: insuring against a range of political risks, financing through loans and loan guaranties, financing private investment funds that provide equity to businesses overseas, and advocating interests of the American business community overseas.
US Small Business Administration – Office of International Trade
Providing financial, technical, and management assistance to help small businesses grow and succeed overseas, OIT’s goal is to help any firm wishing to export and to connect lenders and borrowers with mutual opportunities. SBA is the nation’s largest single financial backer of small businesses.
Bureau of Export Administration, US Department of Commerce (BXA)
BXA seeks to advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic interests by regulating exports of critical goods and technologies that could be used to damage those interests. BXA enforces compliance with regulations, cooperates with like-minded nations to obtain global support for this effort, assists nations that are key exporters or transit points for sensitive goods and technologies, and monitors the U.S. defense industrial base to ensure it remains strong.
Office of Defense Trade Controls, US Department of State (DTC)
DTC controls the export and temporary import of defense articles and services by taking final action on license applications and other requests for approval for defense trade exports, retransfers, and handling matters related to trade compliance, enforcement, and reporting.
Office of Foreign Assets Control, US Treasury Department (OFAC)
OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted countries, terrorism sponsoring organizations, and international narcotics traffickers based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals.
Department of Defense
The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country.
Department of the Interior
The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) seeks to make the federal government more accountable to the American people for the tax dollars it spends and the results it achieves. The Department of the Interior is complying with GPRA by developing a performance management system that provides useful information to managers and promotes accountability for results. GPRA has three main components, strategic plans, annual performance plans, and annual performance reports.