1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Rural Exports Act of 2018 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Rural businesses are often located far from information clusters and major transportation corridors. (2) Because of their location, rural businesses face higher barriers to accessing international markets. (3) A dedicated Rural Export Center within the United States and Foreign Commercial Service providing business- and product-specific support can help companies in the United States looking to export their products. 3. Establishment of the Rural Export Center (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Assistant Secretary The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service appointed pursuant to section 2301(a)(2) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 ( 15 U.S.C. 4721(a)(2) ). (2) Commercial Service The term Commercial Service means the United States and Foreign Commercial Service established under section 2301(a)(1) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 ( 15 U.S.C. 4721(a)(1) ). (b) Establishment of the Rural Export Center (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish a Rural Export Center (in this section referred to as the Center ) for the purpose of providing businesses located in rural areas in the United States with resources to help those businesses export their products. (2) Location of the Center (A) In general The Center shall be established at an office of the Commercial Service in the United States in existence before the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) Criteria for selecting location In selecting a location for the Center, the Assistant Secretary shall give preference— (i) based on expertise and operations at Commercial Service offices that support rural businesses exporting to new markets before the date of the enactment of this Act