The publication is reproduced in full below:
CELEBRATING THE WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ADMINISTRATION DURING WORLD TRADE MONTH 2021
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HON. RON KIND
of wisconsin
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, in recognition of the end of World Trade Month in May, I rise today to thank the professionals of the International Trade Administration (ITA) for their work to strengthen the international competitiveness of U.S. industry, promote trade and investment, and ensure fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements.
ITA has a tangible and direct impact on the lives of American workers and the success of American businesses. It also provides great return on investment in terms of U.S. taxpayer dollars spent. Each dollar that Congress appropriated to ITA in FY20 returned $313 to the U.S. economy. ITA's global workforce is deployed across 106 domestic offices and nearly 80 foreign markets worldwide. Teams comprised of trade specialists, business and industry specialists, and economists provide unique sectoral and analytical expertise that supports U.S. Government efforts to protect the interests of U.S. businesses of all sizes and help them grow their exports. Their specialized knowledge across a broad range of sectors, policy programs, and economic activity is specifically tailored to inform decisions across the government, from trade negotiations, to trade enforcement, to supply chain resilience, to inward investment and national security.
ITA works on behalf of U.S. companies to promote a fair and rules-
based international trading system that enhances American competitiveness. Core to this mission is strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws and taking action when our trading partners engage in unfair trade practices or do not play by the rules. ITA leverages its expertise in antidumping and countervailing duties to level the playing field for domestic manufacturing, and similarly its expertise in trade agreements compliance and Foreign Trade Zones to support job creation and encourage investment in the United States.
ITA's work also helps to safeguard and create jobs in the United States. It is a well-known fact that businesses that export, on average, pay higher wages and create more jobs than their non-exporting counterparts. As of late April 2021, since October 2020, ITA had assisted over 1,500 rural businesses, more than 1,500 woman-owned businesses, and over 1,300 minority-owned businesses. Thus far in FY21, the organization has assisted more than 20,000 U.S. companies with their export needs despite the setbacks created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, SelectUSA, the foreign direct investment arm of the organization, has facilitated more than $84 billion in client-
verified investment and supported more than 106,000 jobs since its inception in 2011.
In closing, as we continue to celebrate the benefits of global trade, I appreciate this opportunity to recognize the hard and often unsung work and accomplishments of the professionals at ITA.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 95
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