(a) In general

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the United States Trade Representative, shall have primary responsibility for coordinating a whole-of-government effort to expand United States efforts in supporting United States economic and business interests abroad. The Secretary may delegate responsibilities under this chapter to a senior, Senate-confirmed Department of State official.

(b) Responsibilities

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

The Secretary shall—

(1) chair the interagency coordinating committee established under subsection (c);

(2) develop and implement the joint strategic plan required under subsection (c)(4) for all United States trade-related and trade capacity building and related technical assistance programs, in consultation with the coordinating committee established under subsection (c);

(3) advise the Federal departments and agencies designated by the President to participate in the interagency coordinating committee under this section in identifying the most needed and effective ways for United States diplomatic and consular posts and the departments and agencies that staff such posts to support the expansion of United States trade relations with host governments;

(4) consult with the private sector in the development of government-wide trade expansion efforts, including establishing a point of contact and lead office within the Department of State to receive private-sector recommendations and comments concerning trade capacity assistance, coordination, consultations, and country-specific issues;

(5) consult with the Office of Management and Budget regarding the administrative and human resources needs that may be required to implement the provisions of this chapter; and

(6) brief Congress on trade capacity building programs and make recommendations, as appropriate, to Congress for improvements in trade capacity building efforts.

(c) Economic Diplomacy Action Group

(1) Establishment

The President shall establish an interagency coordinating committee, to be known as the “Economic Diplomacy Action Group”, to coordinate and carry out the purposes of this section.

(2) Leadership

The Group shall be chaired by the Secretary of State and the vice-chairs shall be the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce. The Secretaries and the United States Trade Representative may delegate responsibilities under this chapter to appropriate, senior, Senate-confirmed officials.

(3) Membership

The President may appoint to the Group senior officials from the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Treasury, the Export-Import Bank, the United States Development Finance Corporation, and any such other relevant executive branch department or agency as the President determines to be substantially involved in trade capacity building and related assistance efforts in developing countries.

(4) Development of joint strategic plan

The Group shall develop a joint strategic plan for all United States capacity building and technical assistance programs.

(d) Diplomacy trade expansion advisory committee

(1) Establishment of TEAC

The Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Economic Diplomacy Action Group shall establish a trade expansion advisory committee with selected representatives of the United States private sector and other organizations, including labor organizations, with direct and relevant operational experience in importing from and exporting into developing countries, as appropriate, to provide comment and advice on priorities for trade expansion initiatives. The Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Group may also appoint representatives from select non-profit organizations to the advisory committee if such representatives can demonstrate both a presence in and relevant operational or programmatic experience with trade capacity building efforts in developing countries.

(2) Meetings

The trade expansion advisory committee shall convene at least twice annually or more often as necessary at the call of the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Group.

(3) Strategic planning advice

The trade expansion advisory committee shall advise the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Group on ways that embassies can better support the United States private sector abroad, including assisting the Chair and Vice-Chairs—

(A) in soliciting private-sector advice;

(B) with respect to implementation of strategic planning; and

(C) in advancing the overall mission and goals of United States national security.