In the State of the Union speech President Obama set a goal of doubling American exports by 2015.
The Commerce Department is launching a National Export Initiative to work on getting this done.
The National Export Initiative is focused on three key areas:
1. A more robust effort by this administration to expand its trade advocacy in all its forms, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises. This effort includes educating U.S. companies about opportunities overseas, directly connecting them with new customers and advocating more forcefully for their interests.
2. Improving access to credit with a focus on small- and medium-sized businesses that want to export.
3. Continuing the rigorous enforcement of international trade laws to help remove barriers that prevent U.S. companies from getting free and fair access to foreign markets.
A key part of the Initiative is the Export Promotion Cabinet. This group includes the Commerce, State and Treasury Departments, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Small Business Administration, the Export Import Bank and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and reports to the president.
