15 U.S.C. § 4729 — Report on export policy

Page 2171 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 4729 (A) be made available to the public; (B) identify the 50 to 100 environmental in- frastructure and procurement projects in foreign markets that have the greatest po- tential in the calendar quarter for United States exports of environmental tech- nologies, goods, and services; and (C) include trade promotion events, such as trade missions and trade fairs, in the en- vironmental sector; and (2) provide, through the National Trade Data Bank and other information dissemination channels, information on opportunities for en- vironmental businesses in foreign markets and information on Federal export promotion pro- grams. (j) Environmental technology export alliances Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary is authorized to use the Market Development Cooperator Pro- gram to support the creation on a regional basis of alliances of private sector entities, nonprofit organizations, and universities, that support the export of environmental technologies, goods, and services and promote the export of products complying with United States environmental, safety, and related requirements. (k) ‘‘Environmental business’’ defined For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘envi- ronmental business’’ means a business that pro- duces environmental technologies, goods, or services. (Pub. L. 100–418, title II, § 2313, as added Pub. L. 102–429, title II, § 204(a), Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2202; amended Pub. L. 103–392, title IV, § 402, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4099.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 4721 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(D), was amended, and section 4721(i)(5) does not define ‘‘States’’. However, such term is defined else- where in that section. AMENDMENTS 1994—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 103–392, § 402(a), added subsecs. (c) and (d), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (e), and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to overseas services for exporters. Subsecs. (f) to (k). Pub. L. 103–392, § 402(b), added sub- secs. (f) to (k). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries REPORT ON INSURANCE FEASIBILITY Section 204(b) of Pub. L. 102–429 directed that, not later than 1 year after Oct. 21, 1992, chairperson of Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, after con- sultation with appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government, submit a report to Con- gress that analyzes (1) the extent to which Federal in- vestment insurance and export financing programs suf- ficiently protect against business failures or default on obligations arising from changes by a foreign govern- ment in its environmental laws or regulations, and (2) the advisability and feasibility of expanding coverage of such programs, or creating new programs, to address such risks. § 4728a. State and Federal Export Promotion Co- ordination Working Group (a) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to pro- mote exports as an opportunity for small busi- nesses. In exercising their powers and functions in order to advance that policy, all Federal agencies shall work constructively with State and local agencies engaged in export promotion and export financing activities. (b) Establishment The President shall establish a State and Fed- eral Export Promotion Coordination Working Group (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Work- ing Group’’) as a subcommittee of the Trade Promotion Coordination Committee (in this sec- tion referred to as the ‘‘TPCC’’). (c) Purposes The purposes of the Working Group are— (1) to identify issues related to the coordina- tion of Federal resources relating to export promotion and export financing with such re- sources provided by State and local govern- ments; (2) to identify ways to improve coordination with respect to export promotion and export financing activities through the strategic plan developed under section 4727(c) of this title; (3) to develop a strategy for improving co- ordination of Federal and State resources re- lating to export promotion and export financ- ing, including methods to eliminate duplica- tion of effort and overlapping functions; and (4) to develop a strategic plan for consid- ering and implementing the suggestions of the Working Group as part of the strategic plan developed under section 4727(c) of this title. (d) Membership The Secretary of Commerce shall select the members of the Working Group, who shall in- clude— (1) representatives from State trade agencies representing regionally diverse areas; and (2) representatives of the departments and agencies that are represented on the TPCC, who are designated by the heads of their re- spective departments or agencies to advise the head on ways of promoting the exportation of United States goods and services. (Pub. L. 100–418, title II, § 2313A, as added Pub. L. 114–125, title V, § 504(a), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 177.) Executive Documents DELEGATION OF FUNCTIONS Functions of President under subsec. (b) of this sec- tion assigned to Secretary of Commerce, see Ex. Ord. No. 13733, § 1(a), July 22, 2016, 81 F.R. 49515, set out as a note under section 4421 of Title 19, Customs Duties. § 4729. Report on export policy (a) In general Not later than May 31 of each year, the Sec- retary of Commerce shall submit to the Con- gress a report on the international economic po- sition of the United States and, not later than Page 2172 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 4801 1 See References in Text note below. June 30 of each year, shall appear before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af- fairs of the Senate and the Committee on For- eign Affairs of the House of Representatives to testify on issues addressed in that report. (b) Contents (1) In general Each report required under subsection (a) shall address— (A) the state of United States inter- national economic competitiveness, focus- ing, in particular, on the efforts of the De- partment of Commerce— (i) to encourage research and develop- ment of technologies and products deemed critical for industrial leadership; (ii) to promote investment in and im- proved manufacturing processes for such technologies and products; and (iii) to increase United States industrial exports of products using the technologies described in clause (i) to those markets where the United States Government has sought to reduce barriers to exports; (B) the report on the Trade Promotion Co- ordinating Committee strategic plan sub- mitted to the Congress in accordance with section 4727(f) of this title; (C) other specific recommendations of the Department of Commerce to improve the United States balance of trade; (D) the effects on the international eco- nomic competitiveness of the United States of— (i) formal and informal trade barriers; and (ii) subsidies by foreign countries to their domestic industries; (E) the efforts of the Department of Com- merce to reduce trade barriers; (F) the adequacy of export financing pro- grams of the United States Government and recommendations for improving such pro- grams; (G) the status, activities, and effectiveness of the United States commercial centers es- tablished under section 4723a of this title; (H) the implementation of sections 5821 and 5822 of title 22 1 concerning American Business Centers and the Independent States Business and Agriculture Advisory Council; (I) the programs of other industrialized na- tions to assist their companies with their ef- forts to transact business in the independent states of the former Soviet Union; and (J) the trading practices of other Organiza- tion for Economic Cooperation and Develop- ment nations, as well as the pricing prac- tices of transitional economies in the inde- pendent states, that may disadvantage United States companies. (2) Policy basis for reports Portions of each report under this section may incorporate or be based upon relevant re- ports and testimony produced by the Depart- ment of Commerce or other agencies, but the policy views shall be those of the Secretary of Commerce. (Pub. L. 100–418, title II, § 2314, as added Pub. L. 102–429, title II, § 206, Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2204; amended Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1022(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 713.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Sections 5821 and 5822 of title 22, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(H), was, in the original, ‘‘sections 301 and 302 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5821 and 5822)’’, and was translated as meaning sections 301 and 302 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102–511, to reflect the probable intent of Con- gress. AMENDMENTS 1995—Subsec. (b)(1)(G) to (J). Pub. L. 104–66 added sub- pars. (G) to (J). CHAPTER 74—COMPETITIVENESS POLICY COUNCIL Sec. 4801. Findings and purpose. 4802. Council established. 4803. Duties of Council. 4804. Membership. 4805. Executive Director and staff. 4806. Powers of Council. 4807. Annual report. 4808. Authorization of appropriations. 4809. Definitions. § 4801. Findings and purpose (a) Findings The Congress finds that— (1) efforts to reverse the decline of United States industry has been hindered by— (A) a serious erosion in the institutions and policies which foster United States com- petitiveness including a lack of high quality domestic and international economic and scientific data needed to— (i) reveal sectoral strengths and weak- nesses; (ii) identify potential new markets and future technological and economic trends; and (iii) provide necessary information re- garding the competitive strategies of for- eign competitors; (B) the lack of a coherent and consistent government competitiveness policy, includ- ing policies with respect to— (i) international trade, finance, and in- vestment, (ii) research, science, and technology, (iii) education, labor retraining, and ad- justment, (iv) macroeconomic and budgetary issues, (v) antitrust and regulation, and (vi) government procurement; (2) the United States economy benefits when business, labor, government, academia, and public interest groups work together coopera- tively;