	Introduction

Historically, the U.S. government has played an active role in promoting U.S. exports of goods and services by administering various forms of export assistance through federal government agencies. In 2010, President Obama introduced a National Export Initiative (NEI), a strategy for doubling U.S. exports to $3.14 trillion in 2015, to generate and support U.S. jobs. Congress has had a long-standing interest in the effectiveness and efficiency of federal export promotion activities and their role in generating economic growth and jobs. Congress may exercise export promotion authority in a number of ways, including through oversight, authorization, and funding of federal export promotion programs. U.S. The five key components of the NEI are to (1) improve advocacy and trade promotion efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters; (2) increase access to export financing; (3) reinforce efforts to remove barriers to trade, such as through free trade agreements (FTAs); (4) enforce trade rules; and (5) pursue policies to promote strong, sustainable, and balanced growth at the global level. Global economic factors. Determining the Goals of Export Promotion

Although the main goal of export promotion policy generally is to increase U.S. exports, supporters of such policies often have other goals as well. From an economic perspective, much of the debate over export promotion involves whether some market failure actually has occurred, and whether government intervention can produce net benefits for the economy as a whole. Opponents of export promotion programs dispute that significant market failures have occurred, and warn that government intervention may interfere with the efficient operation of the market. Another aspect to the economic debate about export promotion is the existence of foreign countries' export promotion programs. Supporters of government export promotion often argue that such policies are needed to offset the effects of similar programs used by foreign governments. Effectiveness of Export Promotion Activities

Congressional debate on the effectiveness of U.S. export promotion efforts has grown with the introduction of the NEI. Many argue that providing export assistance to U.S. firms would be of limited help if such firms faced significant tariff and non-tariff trade barriers and poor protection of intellectual property rights overseas. Thus, it is argued that efforts to ensure foreign compliance with existing trade agreements and the negotiation of new FTAs should be part of a strategy to boost U.S. exports. Others argue that more can be done to address U.S. barriers to exports, such as U.S. export controls on dual-use products, which some contend may be too restrictive and may put U.S. exporters at a disadvantage vis-à-vis foreign competitors. Finally, many argue that the United States should make a greater effort to induce countries that are heavily dependent on exports to implement policies that increase domestic consumption. They contend that countries with high savings and relatively low consumption should put more efforts into increasing private consumption as an engine for future economic growth. Reorganization of Federal Agencies Involved in Export Promotion

The introduction of the NEI has drawn greater attention to whether the trade policy structure of the federal government is suited to boosting U.S. exports and supporting U.S. jobs effectively and efficiently. 2987 (Berman) would require the TPCC to review the proposed annual budget of each federal agency before it is submitted to the OMB and the President when assessing the federal export promotion and financing budget; require the government-wide strategic plan for federal trade promotion efforts developed by the TPCC to take into account recommendations from a representative number of U.S. exporters, including SMEs and U.S. workers; direct the President to issue an executive order and regulations necessary to provide the TPCC with the authority to carry out its duties and to implement the strategic plan; require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment once every five years on overseas markets with the greatest potential for increasing U.S. exports and to redeploy the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service based on the assessment; and to amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require each chief of mission to develop a plan for effective diplomacy to remove or reduce obstacles to U.S. exports.
For many years, the U.S. government has played an active role in promoting U.S. commercial exports of goods and services by administering various forms of export assistance through federal government agencies. Congress has had a long-standing interest in the effectiveness and efficiency of federal export promotion activities and may exercise export promotion authority in a number of ways, including through oversight, authorization, and funding roles.
The recent global economic downturn has renewed congressional interest in U.S. government efforts to expand U.S. exports levels. In addition, in 2010, President Obama introduced a National Export Initiative (NEI), a strategy for doubling U.S. exports by 2015 to generate U.S. jobs. The NEI's key components are to (1) improve advocacy and trade promotion efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters; (2) increase access to export financing; (3) reinforce efforts to remove barriers to trade, such as through free trade agreements (FTAs); (4) enforce trade rules; and (5) pursue policies to promote strong, sustainable, and balanced global economic growth. The NEI also contains a focus on expanding specific U.S. exports, such as exports from small businesses.
The growing interest in federal export promotion raises a number of issues for the 112th Congress. One debate involves export promotion definitions. Based on varying views, activities that constitute export promotion can range from direct forms of export assistance (such as commercial advocacy or export financing) to broader forms (such as negotiating FTAs). Although the main goal of export promotion policy generally is to boost U.S. exports, policymakers may use export promotion to advance other goals, such as macroeconomic, economic sector-specific, or international trade policy goals, and may differ on how to prioritize such goals.
From an economic perspective, much of the debate over export promotion involves whether some market failure actually has occurred, and whether government intervention can produce net benefits for the economy as a whole. Opponents of export promotion programs dispute that significant market failures have occurred, and warn that government intervention may interfere with efficient operation of the market. Although export promotion might increase the ability of certain U.S. firms to export, a combination of macroeconomic and other factors may determine the overall level of U.S. exports. Another aspect to the economic debate is the existence of foreign countries' export promotion programs. Supporters of export promotion often argue that such policies are needed to offset the effects of similar programs used by foreign governments.
Congressional debate on the effectiveness of U.S. export promotion has grown with the introduction of the NEI. Many argue that providing export assistance to U.S. firms would be of limited help if such firms faced significant tariff and non-tariff trade barriers and poor protection of intellectual property rights overseas. Thus, it is argued that efforts to ensure foreign compliance with existing trade agreements and the negotiation of new FTAs should be part of a strategy to boost U.S. exports. Others argue that more can be done to address U.S. barriers to exports, such as U.S. export controls on dual-use products, which some contend may be too restrictive and may put U.S. exporters at a disadvantage vis-à-vis foreign competitors. Finally, many argue that greater efforts should be made to induce countries with high savings and relatively low consumption and that are heavily dependent on exporting for their economic growth to implement policies that would make private consumption the engine of future economic growth, which would enhance their demand for U.S. goods and services. The NEI also has drawn greater attention to whether the trade policy structure and organization of the federal government is suited to boosting U.S. exports and supporting U.S. jobs effectively and efficiently.