Bureau of Resources and Trade Assistance

The Bureau of Resources and Trade Assistance (BRTA) is the principal point of contact within the Department on special import problems involving industries experiencing difficulty from import competition and on resources problems, particularly in the field of energy and international trade in primary commodities. It also extends assistance to qualified firms injured by increased imports.

Traditionally, U.S. trade policy has been characterized as one which seeks the expansion of two-way trade with other countries on a basis of international nondiscriminatory treatment of exports and imports. A policy of this nature, however, requires that policymakers take into consideration any undue hardships that might fall on individual industries, firms, or workers

due to heavy or sudden influx of certain imports. Important considerations of national security also cannot be ignored.

To carry out its role, BRTA develops and administers certain programs relating to imports and resources, monitors the effects of imports upon domestic markets, analyzes the supply-demand situation for energy and other resources, represents the Department in inter-agency discussions and international negotiations related to import resources problems, and recommends positions of the Department on legislation concerning imports and resources.

The Bureau seeks to assure adequate supplies of basic commodities to meet U.S. requirements. In this connection it works with other interested departments in assessing the current and long-term problems of supply and demand and in the development of U.S. policy toward intergovernmental commodity consultations and arrangements. It also participates in negotiations or discussions in international forums.

The Bureau has responsibility for the implementation of certain public laws which regulate or control the importation of specified articles, or which otherwise pertain to import affairs. Such statutory programs pertain to foreign trade zones; duty-free entry of scientific equipment; watches assembled in U.S. territories and imported into the U.S. under quota; and government property surplused abroad and returned to the U.S. by the purchaser.

The Bureau has a major responsibility for administering the textile import program and the bilateral trade and apparel import restraint agreements under it, which cover approximately 75 percent of U.S. cotton, wool and man-made fiber textile and apparel imports. The Bureau also participates in the negotiation of these agreements which seek to prevent import disruption to the domesic market. The Bureau prepares economic studies of the domestic fiber, textile and apparel industry, and compiles, interprets and publishes statistics on international textile trade. It reviews legislation and recommends Government action concerning the economic position of these industries.

The Bureau undertakes a variety of activities to promote U.S. textile and apparel exports. Trends and developments that affect overseas markets are studied and recommendations are made for the improvement of export performance. Tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports are reviewed and measures are proposed to reduce these obstacles. Foreign trade and investment opportunities are disseminated to hundreds of U.S. firms, while companies new to exporting are furnished information and advice.

Bureau of East-West
Trade

The Bureau of East-West Trade promotes trade with the communist countries. Its objective is to develop a trade relationship that will bring economic benefits, and at the same time, improve mutual understanding between the United States and the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China and the other communist countries of Eastern Europe.

The Bureau's tasks are to:

Assist in the development of EastWest trade policy.

Help the U.S. business community to take advantage of East-West trade opportunities.

In shaping policy, the Bureau is guided by the U.S. Government's longterm commitment to expand EastWest trade. The Bureau, working with the Departments of Treasury, State, Defense and other executive agencies, as well as with Congress, seeks to normalize East-West trade and to lower governmental barriers to trade.

In assisting the U.S. business community, the Bureau recognizes that as a late starter, the United States lags far behind its major competitors in Western Europe and Japan in doing business with the communist countries. A primary activity of the Bureau is to create an awareness in the U.S. business community of the potential benefits in East-West trade.

Bureau business counselors offer practical information and advice to individual companies both on the general problems of entering the unfamiliar markets of the centrally planned economies and on specific transactions. The counselors acquaint companies with the basic do's and

don'ts in East-West trade, assess market opportunities for company products and advice on contract negotiations and financing arrangements.

The Bureau sponsors U.S. exhibitions and technical seminars that place U.S. companies in direct contact with their possible trading partners in communist countries. The Bureau helps arrange for communist trade delegations to visit the United States and to meet interested companies. Country desk officers provide the business community with information about general economic conditions in each communist country, as well as about the organizational structure of foreign trading organizations.

In performing these services, the Bureau of East-West Trade maintains contacts with communist governments; with other agencies of the U.S. Government; with bilateral trade organizations, and with U.S. businessmen and foreign trade organizations in each country. Support is also provided to the three government-to-government commercial commissions established with the U.S.S.R., Romania, and Poland. The Bureau thus helps build peaceful commerce between the United States and the communist countries.

International Economic Policy and Research Staff

The Bureau of International Economic Policy and Research (BIEPR) is engaged in the research, analysis

Office of Field Operations

The Office of Field

Operations, through its 43 District Offices throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, serves as the local point of contact with the American business community in carrying out the Department's statutory responsibilities to develop, foster, and promote foreign and domestic commerce.

District Offices are located in the Nation's key cities and major industrial centers. They bring the services of the Department directly and personally to the Nation's business community. As the field representatives of the trade promotion units of the Department of Commerce, each Dis

and formulation of international economic and commercial programs and policies relating to trade, finance, investment and competitive assessment. Its staff members initiate and review research studies on developments affecting U.S. trade and commercial interests abroad; provide statistical information and analysis in the foreign trade of the U.S. and of foreign countries, and represent the Department in international trade and other negotiations.

The staff develops and coordinates the Department's position on trade and commercial policy issues regarding both the industrialized and the developing countries of the world; develops proposals on new tariff and trade measures; develops, coordinates and supervises the Department's participation in international trade negotiations, and develops recommendations with respect to foreign insurance

trict Office is equipped to advise and assist in its own locality on all business matters. The Offices also provide information about and distribute publications of other Commerce agencies. These include the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, and the National Bureau of Standards. District Offices handle more than a million inquiries per year relating to domestic business and foreign trade, conduct seminars, and counsel individual members of the business community. More than 850 Chambers of Commerce, boards of trade, and similar business groups cooperate with the District Offices in servicing and providing information to the business community.

Through the District Offices, businesses are provided with the Depart

and transportation laws and practices as they affect U.S. export trade.

Also within the purview of this unit is a wide variety of matters relating to international finance, particularly those relating to export financing, export guarantees and credit insurance, the foreign lending and assistance activities of U.S. and international agencies, and balance of payments measures.

The staff represents the Department in matters relating to the development of international direct investment. It formulates policy and program recommendations concerning the international commercial and investment operations of American firms, specifically with reference to restrictive business practices, and develops Departmental positions on international monetary issues.

ment's reports and statistical data useful in the conduct of both domestic and foreign trade. They are alerted to trade opportunities abroad and government purchases at home.

Working directly with and for business across the country, District Offices actively promote economic growth by stimulating U.S. firms to seek and expand both domestic and overseas markets for their products.

The Office of Field Operations is also responsible for publishing the COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY. This publication, which is issued daily, lists proposed government procurements by Defense agencies over $10,000 in value and those by civilian agencies over $5,000 in value, in addition to contract awards, and trade opportunities.

HE Office of the Chief Economist

THE

works closely with the President's Council of Economic Advisers, the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board, and other economic policy officials, and serves on various interagency committees and task forces dealing with such matters as overall economic

policy, tax legislation, manpower policy, construction industry problems, government regulations affecting business, and the socio-economic problems of American cities and minority groups. It also serves on U.S. delegations to meetings of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other international organizations. The Office of the Chief Economist serves as an advisory group to all the bureaus within the Department regarding specific problems in their own areas that require data, analysis and forecasts of future developments in the U.S. economy.

The Chief Economist also exercises policy direction and general supervision over the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, two of the most important statistical agencies of government.

Although best known as taker of the National Census of Population and Housing every 10 years, the Bureau of the Census also collects and reports on a wide range of economic and social developments on a continuing basis. A few examples of the numerous current economic reports are those concerning wholesale retail sales, imports and exports, housing starts, and factory orders and shipments. The bureau also conducts censuses of manufacturers, business and agriculture at five-year intervals, and starting in 1985 will conduct a mid-decade census of population and housing.

The function of the Bureau of Economic Analysis is to prepare the economic accounts of the United States and to interpret economic developments in the light of these accounts and other pertinent information. The Bureau uses data from Census and several other agencies in producing broad measures of economic performance, such as the Gross National Product, Personal Income and Corporate Profits.