United States Commercial Service
Encyclopedia
The impact of this work ripples throughout the U.S. economy—broadening and deepening the U.S. exporter base, removing obstacles to the export success of U.S. small- and medium-sized companies, advancing U.S. business interests abroad, and supporting job creation in the United States. In 2009, the CS helped in more than 12,000 export transactions in nearly 200 international markets worth billions of dollars. Further information
The CS helps small- and medium-sized American businesses increase international sales by providing:
- Online and customized market research.
- Support for U.S. exhibitors in selected overseas and domestic trade shows to attract qualified business partners.
- Fee-based programs to introduce exporters of U.S. products to qualified buyers and distributors.
- Individualized trade counseling and advocacy.
- Training programs on subjects such as export documentation, export controls, and the basics of exporting.
- An export promotion magazine and website for U.S. exporters to reach international buyers, Commercial News USA.
The U.S. Commercial Service, through its Strategic Corporate Partnership program , has Public Private Partnership agreements with 17 private organizations, including several banks, legal and regulatory organizations, transportation and shipping organizations, event organizers, trade risk service companies and ThinkGlobal Inc., the publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce. ThinkGlobal Inc. works with the U.S. Commercial Service to help U.S. colleges and universities recruit international students. A multimedia website for international student recruitment is available at ThinkEducationUSA.
History
Today's U.S. Commercial Service was foreshadowed in 1897 when the United States Department of StateUnited States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
created the Bureau of Foreign Commerce and approved for the first time public distribution of diplomatic, consular and commercial reports. Also in 1897, U.S. Senator Albert J. Beveridge
Albert J. Beveridge
Albert Jeremiah Beveridge was an American historian and United States Senator from Indiana.-Early years:Albert J. Beveridge was born October 6, 1862 in Highland County, Ohio and his parents moved to Indiana soon after his birth, and his boyhood was one of hard work...
sounded a theme for the next century: "American factories are making more than the American people can use … fate has written our policy for us — the trade of the world must and shall be ours." Although many today may reject this rhetoric and espouse instead the mutual benefits of trade, the central role of trade in our politics and in our economic prosperity seems beyond question.
1903 The short-lived United States Department of Commerce and Labor
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
The United States Department of Commerce and Labor was a short-lived Cabinet department of the United States government, which was concerned with Business.It was created on February 14, 1903...
is established, subsuming the State Department's Bureau of Foreign Commerce and the Treasury Department's Bureau of Statistics.
1911 The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the predecessor of the International Trade Administration
International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that promotes United States exports of nonagricultural U.S...
, is created in the Department of Commerce and Labor.
1913 The Departments of Commerce and Labor become separate departments.
1927 The Foreign Commerce Service is established by Act of Congress (March 3, 1927, Foreign and Domestic Commerce Act of 1927, also called the Hoch Act, 44 Stat. 1394) "for promotion of foreign and domestic commerce." Trade commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
s are granted diplomatic status and retitled "commercial attaches".
1928 Ms. Addie Viola Smith is appointed Trade Commissioner
Trade Commissioner
Trade Commissioner is the title of a government official whose primary duties are to promote international trade agreements and export trade programs on behalf of a national or regional government authority. Such envoys are normally posted abroad, often being permanently resident in the country or...
of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, assigned to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. Smith was the first female Trade Commissioner in the bureau, was paid comparably to her male peers, and received constant commendations on her work and diplomacy. Despite all this, she was still regarded as handicapped because of her gender.
1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
abolishes the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce and all other non-State Department foreign services. The commercial officers are reabsorbed into State.
1979 In June, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
signs the "Trade Agreements Act of 1979," which transfers overseas commercial programs from the Department of State to Commerce.
1980 The Foreign Commercial Service is established under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The name is changed to the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service in 1981 in order to emphasize the linkage of domestic and overseas operations under a single organizational purpose.
1980 Commercial News USA, an export promotion magazine, is published by the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service. The magazine is still published today as part of a public-private partnership with ThinkGlobal Inc..
1983 As international trade fairs are privatized, the Commercial Service begins the Certified Trade Fair Program to
provide trade fair participants with a support network, a set of standards and official U.S. endorsement.
1985 The Matchmaker, one of the most popular Commercial Service programs, is launched. The program brings
small and medium-sized U.S. exporters into direct contact with foreign importers, resulting in hundreds of sales and contracts.
1990 The Gold Key Service, conceived in the late 1980s by the Commercial Service in Paris, becomes widely available to U.S. exporters in 1990. The GKS offers U.S. exporters custom-tailored overseas services. Today, the Gold Key Service is available in 104 countries and averages over 1,000 meetings per year.
1992 Funding from the 1992 Freedom Support Act
Freedom Support Act
The FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 is an act passed by the United States Congress. It is not to be confused with the Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2005 ....
and USAID helps create American Business Centers. The ABCs are designed to operate in the developing markets of Russia and the Newly Independent States to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in the U.S.
1993 The U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership is formed. Working with USAID, the Commercial Service launches the
USAEP program to focus U.S. government resources on the quickly growing environmental products and services sector, in which U.S. companies excel.
1994 Four pilot U.S Export Assistance Centers open in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
and Miami. Today there are 106 USEACs throughout the nation that offer export counseling, market research, trade events and international finance solutions to U.S. exporters.
1994 The first Commercial Centers open in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
in July, and Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
in November. Later, more centers open in Shanghai and Johannesburg. These facilities offer U.S. firms a place to take advantage of all Commercial Service programs and services, as well as rental office space, computers, fax and phone, and display space.
1995 The new Commercial Service's official logo is unveiled. The logo is suggestive of the flag of the United States in
motion. Three oversized stars represent the major components of the Commercial Service: the Office of International Operations; the Office of Domestic Operations; and Global Trade Programs.
1995 Commercial Service Teams are created to better leverage internal resources. Today, there are 18 Global Teams. Fourteen represent major industry sectors while four regionally focused teams concentrate on trade promotion in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa/Middle East. The Global Teams network within the Commercial Service to bring together manpower and expertise from around the world to help US companies develop export markets. The 18 teams are as follows:
Aerospace & Defense, ANESA (Africa, Near East, S. Asia), Agribusiness, Asia/Pacific, Automotive & Transportation, Education & Training, Energy, Environmental Technology, Europe, Franchising, Healthcare Technology, Information & Communication Technology, Manufacturing, Publishing, Safety & Security, Textile & Apparel, Travel & Tourism, Trade Americas
1995 A United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
grant issued to the state of Georgia helps develop Commercial Service videoconferencing tools for client use. This service allows U.S. firms, especially those in rural areas, to meet with potential trading partners without the expense of international travel.
1996 The Commercial Service opens its first post in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. As the globalization phenomenon creates a new trading ethos, the Commercial Service helps U.S. businesses enter this and other developing markets.
1998 For the first time, an ambassadorship is offered to a member of the Commercial Service. George Mu, a senior commercial officer, accepts the position of ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
in 1998.
1998 The Commercial Service moves aggressively into the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
world when it broadcasts its first webcast, "Mexico and Canada: Doing Business with our Friendly Neighbors." Webcasting becomes a popular method for delivering timely information to Commercial Service clients.
1998 The Embassy Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
bombing in August kills many people, and blinds Commercial Service Officer Ellen Bomer.
1998 The first Export Assistance Center located on Native American Tribal lands opens in Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
. The San Manuel tribe sees the EAC as a "future for our children." The partnership with the tribe is one of many efforts to assist underserved groups.
2000 The Commercial Service celebrates 20 years of successful U.S. export promotion.
2000-2004 Increasing U.S. Exports Through Trade Promotion: from 2000 to 2004 the USFCS helps companies create a yearly average of 11,613 export transactions. Of these successes, 90 percent are generated by small and medium-sized businesses. The USFCS Advocacy Center helps U.S. businesses generate an annual average of $134 million in export sales during this period. New Markets, New Challenges: USFCS responds to the changing global economy by focusing its resources on where U.S. companies want to be now, and where they need to be in the future. New offices are opened in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, China, Central America and sub-Saharan Africa. New One-Stop Shop for Trade Promotion at Commerce: In 2004, the USFCS assumes responsibility for all Commerce Department trade promotion activities. As a result of this reorganization, the USFCS now directs the Advocacy Center; the Trade Information Center; and Business Information Centers for China, the Middle East, the Newly Independent States and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Thanks to this consolidation, the USFCS network is now able to offer U.S. businesses a broader array of information and support services in the emerging markets of today
2009 Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, celebrates its 30th anniversary.
2011 Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, rolls out a redesigned website at Commercial News USA.
Gold Key Matching Service
The Gold Key Matching Service is a fee-based service available to U.S.-based companies to introduce U.S.-made products to potential agents, distributors, sales representatives, association and government contacts, licensing or joint venture partners, end-users and other strategic business partners in the U.S. company's targeted exportExport
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
market. Typically the U.S. company makes application through their closest U.S. Export Assistance Center in the United States, which forwards the information about the client company and its products to one of the U.S. Commercial Service offices located in a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the United States. There, a commercial specialist, assistant or contractor
Contractor
Contractor may refer to:* General contractor, organization or individual that contracts with another organization or individual for the construction of a building, road or other facility...
under the supervision of a U.S. Commercial Service officer will research potential business partners, select the most promising according to such factors as matching product lines, reputation and country coverage, provide the U.S. company's representative with an appointment schedule of one or more days of one-on-one meetings in the foreign country, and accompany the U.S. representative to the meetings.
Commercial News USA
Commercial News USA is the official United States Department of Commerce showcase for American-made products and services. The catalog-style magazine is designed to help American companies promote products and services to buyers in more than 178 countries--at a fraction of the cost of other advertising options. Each issue reaches a quarter million readers worldwide. Advertising in Commercial News USA provides American companies with an unparalleled opportunity to market products and services around the world. Advertisers in Commercial News USA have the potential to increase export sales with a minimal investment. Commercial News USA is distributed bi-monthly to readers outside the United States. This export promotion magazine, which is free, is mailed directly to qualified recipients and distributed by U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service personnel at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.District Export Council
District Export Councils are closely affiliated with the U.S. Commercial Service's U.S. Export Assistance Centers. The 60 District Export Councils (DECs) nationwide are organizations of leaders from local business communities. DEC Members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. These international trade professionals use their knowledge and international business experience to act as consultants to small and medium sized businesses who want to export their products into markets outside of the United States. The energies of more than 1,800 exporters and export service providers throughout the United States, volunteer their time to promote numerous trade related activities. The DECs sponsor a nationally-focused “Export University” that brings the best practices for exporting and global business to business audiences around the U.S. For more than 30 years, DECs have served the United States by assisting companies in their local communities export, thus promoting our country's economic growth and creating new and higher-paying jobs for their communities.See also
- Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsAgreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsThe Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights is an international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization that sets down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property regulation as applied to nationals of other WTO Members...
- Doha RoundDoha roundThe Doha Development Round or Doha Development Agenda is the current trade-negotiation round of the World Trade Organization which commenced in November 2001. Its objective is to lower trade barriers around the world, which will help facilitate the increase of global trade...
- Generalized System of PreferencesGeneralized System of PreferencesThe Generalized System of Preferences, or GSP, is a formal system of exemption from the more general rules of the World Trade Organization ,...
- International Trade AdministrationInternational Trade AdministrationThe International Trade Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that promotes United States exports of nonagricultural U.S...
- International Trade Commission
- Office of the United States Trade RepresentativeOffice of the United States Trade RepresentativeThe Office of the United States Trade Representative is the United States government agency responsible for developing and recommending United States trade policy to the president of the United States, conducting trade negotiations at bilateral and multilateral levels, and coordinating trade...
- World Trade OrganizationWorld Trade OrganizationThe World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...