About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (June 15, 2017)

handle is hein.crs/goveaqh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Cogesoa esac evc Infrming th eiltv eaesne11 June 15, 2017 U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) Background The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), an independent U.S. government export promotion and foreign assistance agency, aims to support U.S. jobs by linking U.S. firms to export opportunities for development projects in developing and middle-income countries through funding pre-export assistance. It is permanently authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended (22 U.S.C. §2421), and operates under the Secretary of State's policy guidance. In 1992, Congress established TDA as an independent agency (P.L. 102-549), but its predecessor dates to the 1980s. The TDA Director is appointed by the President, by and with the Senate's advice and consent. TDA presents legislative, oversight, and appropriations issues. President Trump's FY2018 budget request to eliminate TDA may intensify congressional interest. Funding. TDA is small relative to other export promotion and foreign assistance agencies. Congress appropriated $75 million for TDA in FY2017 ($15 million above FY2016). TDA has an estimated 57 full-time equivalent staff in FY2017. The President's FY2018 budget requests $12.1 million for an orderly closeout of TDA starting that year. Programs. TDA provides grants to foreign project sponsors (public or private entities that can make decisions and implement projects), who select U.S. firms (primarily smaller firms) to perform TDA-funded project preparation activities. These and other TDA activities include: Feasibility studies that assess technical, financial, legal, environmental, and other aspects of infrastructure development projects that may lead to follow-on business, to assist projects in securing financing and achieving implementation. Pilot projects that provide analysis, evaluation, and empirical data to demonstrate the effectiveness of U.S. goods, services, and technologies in the foreign buyer's setting, in order to secure project funding. Technical assistance to support legal and regulatory reform, the establishment of industry standards, and infrastructure-planning activities, to enhance the business environment for U.S. exports. * Training programs for foreign decision-makers (e.g., on technology or regulatory requirements) to support the sale of U.S. goods and services. Reverse trade missions to bring foreign delegations to the United States to meet with U.S. firms and observe the design, manufacture and operation of U.S products and services, in order to foster commercial ties. Conferences and workshops to connect U.S. firms with foreign project sponsors. Examples of TDA Activities In 2014, TDA awarded a grant of $871 thousand to a Colombian utility company for a feasibility study to determine the viability of constructing geothermal plants in Colombia. Other recent examples include TDA's support in 2016 for India's Smart Cities plan for safe, efficient, and integrated urban infrastructure through funding $3 million in technical assistance and $455 thousand for a reverse trade mission to showcase U.S goods and services to Indian decisionmakers. TDA collaborates on initiatives with other agencies, such as the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) on clean energy financing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Some projects that use TDA- funded project preparation services also may use financing from the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) for exporting. TDA participates in the Trade Promotion Coordination Committee (TPCC), an interagency body that coordinates U.S. export promotion efforts government-wide. Requirements. The FAA directs TDA to promote U.S. private sector participation in developing and middle- income countries and to give special emphasis to economic sectors with notable U.S. export potential, e.g., energy, transportation, telecommunications, and the environment. It also instructs TDA to, as much as possible, require firms and other entities to share the costs of TDA-funded project planning and to reimburse TDA for its expenditures if project implementation is successful. Activity. TDA targets its support in priority markets that it has determined offer solid prospects for success, U.S. export growth opportunity, and strong development benefits. It prioritizes projects where its support could sway an opportunity in favor of a U.S. firm again a foreign competitor or help a key project reach final stages. Figure I. TDA FY20 17 Priority Markets ) Source: TDA FY20 17 congressional budget justification. Notes: TDA funding is available in Power Africa countries (in yellow), pending finalization of transfer funding. https:/crsreports.congress. go

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most