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MERICAN business today is presented with a challenging opportunity in world trade.

Faced with a large trade deficitprimarily because of growing oil imports-and with intense and increasing competition in world markets from other industrial countries, the Nation clearly needs to maintain its competitive strength at home and abroad.

U.S. manufacturers increasingly are aware that every market is a world market, whether it is in the neighboring state or on the opposite side of the globe. Instant communications, rapid transportation, lower foreign tariffs, narrowing wage differentials and higher standards of living have created rising demands everywhere for more products from other countries.

Headed by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Domestic and International Business, DIBA has as its primary mission the conduct of the Department's activities aimed at promoting progressive American business policies, economic growth, and the strengthening of the international commercial position of the United States. Its mission is carried out by five bureaus, 43 District Offices strategically located throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, and by numerous overseas trade promotion facilities. The five bureaus are the Bureau of

International Commerce, Bureau of Domestic Commerce, Bureau of Resources and Trade Assistance, Bureau of East-West Trade, and Bureau of International Economic Policy and Research.

Through its bureaus and supporting staffs at home and abroad, DIBA conducts programs involving:

• Expansion of exports;

• Expansion of East-West trade and other commercial relations with State trading economies;

• Expansion of trade in the Near East and North Africa;

• Support in U.S. negotiations to improve the Nation's international trade and financial situation;

• Promotion of business-consumer relations;

• Energy programs;

• Import program administration; • Export control administration; • Restrictive trade practices or foreign boycotts;

• Collection, analysis, and dissemination of selected information on various industries, commodities, and markets;

Bureau of International Commerce

The Bureau of International Commerce bears chief responsibility for developing and implementing the Department's export expansion programs.

Under the direction of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Commerce, BIC encourages non-exporting firms to enter the export business and assists firms already engaged in exporting by developing and disseminating information on specific foreign markets for specific products. Counseling services are provided to U.S. business people interested in entering into international trade, and an Export Information Reference Room which offers U.S. firms information on significant overseas projects and foreign markets is made available for their use. The Bureau helps U.S. businesses take advantage of foreign market opportunities by direct trade promotion activities, geared to the specific needs of U.S. firms in particular overseas markets.

BIC's Major Export Projects Program is designed to help U.S. firms win contracts for planning, engineering, and construction of large foreign highway, transportation, and industrial systems projects, including equipment and turnkey installations, with an export value of $5 million or more. The program provides direct assistance to U.S. companies at each phase of development, from alerting firms of projects in the planning stage to furnishing advice on bidding procedures and financial arrangements.

The Overseas Business Opportunities Program is designed to assist U.S. firms in consummating sales of products/equipment with a value of $1 million or more. The program provides personalized assistance to firms identified as having the capability to bid against foreign competitors for specific high value export sales opportunities.

The Overseas Products and Investment Opportunities Staff assist U.S. firms in investigating, evaluating and acting on selected product export leads and overseas investment and licensing opportunities. Specialists provide U.S. businesses with information and counseling on locating potential foreign partners and licensees, seeking investment data on specific regions and countries, or finding sources of capital for proposed overseas projects.

The Trade Opportunities Program is a computer-assisted service designed to automatically send U.S. subscribers specific direct export sales or overseas representation leads provided by more than 200 U.S. Commercial posts throughout the world. Subscribers specify, by countries, product lines and type of sale or bid situation -the category of leads they desireand receive only the leads that fit their specifications.

The Foreign Buyer Program helps U.S. businesses make contact with foreign buyers visiting the United States. Business appointments are made, plant visits scheduled and complete itineraries arranged to bring the foreign buyer together with the appropriate U.S. business supplier. The program also promotes foreign attendance at domestic trade shows, providing a variety of services to carry out this activity and facilitate the scheduling of appointments with U.S. firms.

The Export Promotion Multiplier Program utilizes the services of public agencies and private organizations capable of enhancing export trade through their international financing, transportation, insurance, and marketing facilities. The Bureau of International Commerce provides support and assistance materials to these groups in extending the export awareness message and specific export opportunities to the broadest possible segment of U.S. industry.

In addition, the Bureau provides assistance to U.S. firms through 42 District Export Councils. The Councils, which are composed of business executives experienced in all phases of export trade, assist in many of the workshops, seminars, and clinics arranged by Commerce District Offices in cooperation with local trade groups and the Small Business Administration.

Export Information Services available through BIC include: World Traders Data Reports (WTDR): Information on specific foreign companies compiled by U.S. Foreign Service Missions is available to U.S. firms upon request. WTDRS provide essential data on history, operations, sales, territory, business connections, reputation and names of chief executives of firms.

Agent/Distributor Service: Upon request, a U.S. business person may obtain a list of up to six potential agents in each country in which he has an interest in establishing an agent or distributor relationship for specific products.

Export Mailing List Service: Provides U.S. businesses with names, commodity, line and type of business activity information on foreign firms that are potential trading partners,

tries with the best potential overseas markets for their products.

The program identifies the best foreign markets for each of these industries through market surveys in 15 to 20 countries. Country market surveys containing individual country findings are published together in "Global Market Surveys."

Trade Fairs give U.S. firms an opportunity to display and sell their products. The Bureau sponsors industry participation in U.S. sections of selected major international exhibitions around the world, an activity that generates millions of dollars in U.S. exports each year.

Trade Centers are permanent commercial showrooms abroad where the products of various U.S. industries are displayed and sold, and new U.S. exporters find agents and distributors. Centers are presently located in Cologne, London, Mexico City, Milan, Osaka, Paris, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tehran, Tokyo, Moscow, Warsaw and Sao Paulo. The Centers are used to promote researched and relevant U.S. products and are also available to individual companies to promote U.S.- made products or services.

Trade Missions are selected groups of high ranking business people who carry U.S. business proposals to business people abroad. Trade Missions talk business, locate buyers and distributors, bring back marketing opportunities for U.S. producers, and, in some cases, transact business on the spot.

In response to the dramatically changed economic situation and significant new business opportunities in the Near East and North African countries, BIC has formed a Commerce Action Group for the Near

East (CAGNE), to serve as a focal

point for the total Department of

Commerce program for this geographic area. In addition to imple

menting all of the previously delineat

ed export enhancement activities for the Near Eastern countries, CAGNE coordinates Commerce Department participation in the special, bilateral Joint Commissions that have been formed with Egypt, Israel, Tunisia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. These commissions are designed to mobilize the resources of both countries and assist the foreign government in its program of industrialization and development. CAGNE organizes the extensive participation of U.S. business, including consulting, engineering and construction firms, in implementing the agreements reached by these commissions, thereby serving as a catalyst to introduce U.S. equipment, products and services to the various Near Eastern countries' development programs.

To insure maximum results from its export expansion programs, the Bureau's Office of Market Planning provides principal direction to the planning and strategy development, and directs the analysis of ongoing Bureau programs to insure viability. It coordinates all Bureau publications, communications programs and information systems, and represents Commerce interests with respect to U.S. commercial activities abroad.

Bureau of Domestic Commerce

The Bureau of Domestic Commerce (BDC) promotes and fosters the growth and development of domestic business and industry.

The Bureau's objectives are to provide policy analysis, information, services and assistance essential to business growth and technological development within the framework of the free enterprise system.

To these ends, the Bureau studies and analyzes key competitive factors including technological changes within and across industries so that the Federal Government and domestic industry may respond effectively to challenges and problems relating to industrial development.

The Bureau analyzes and maintains factual data on U.S. industries both to support policy decisions and program actions within Government, and to inform and advise private sectors of the economy on developments and actions contributing to sound economic growth.

The Bureau's annual U.S. Industrial Outlook provides information useful to U.S. industry for planning, production, marketing, and capital investment. The report reviews the prospects of the construction and the wholesale and retail trades and other industries accounting for about 85 percent of U.S. manufacturing. It analyzes factors influencing demand, output and foreign trade, and highlights trends in the various industries.

The Bureau also publishes periodicals covering the chemicals, construction, containers and packaging, copper, printing and publishing, and pulp, paper and board industries; market research data; and a variety of special industry studies and reports.

To aid the business community further, the Bureau provides facilities, including the Office of the Ombudsman, to receive and respond to business inquiries and to provide technical advice and assistance. The Ombudsman was established to serve as one central place in the Federal Government where business people and others could address their requests for information and services, as well as voice their complaints, criticisms and suggestions.

Any business person interested in obtaining the services of this office should contact the Ombudsman, Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230, or call (202) 377-4054.

The Bureau also provides a working forum for business and Government on domestic business policy issues, particularly economic and financial issues, consumer protection, labormanagement relations, industrial pollution and short-supply situations.

Additionally, in fulfilling program responsibilities for defense production and industrial readiness, the Bureau administers a system of priorities and allocations to assure that defense and certain energy contractors acquire critical materials and equipment on a timely basis. It reviews stockpile requirements, identifies essential industries and their sources of supply and administers the National Defense Executive Reserve, consisting of 600 business people trained to keep industry operating during periods of national emergency.