Text version of brochure: Supporting U.S. Business at Home and Abroad

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U.S. Department of State
Office of Commercial and Business Affairs

Supporting U.S. Business at Home and Abroad

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The State Department and the Office of Commercial and Business Affairs: Your Global Business Partner.

• U.S. Embassy officers are the eyes, ears, and in-country advocates for U.S. business interests throughout the world.
• We help to ensure that American business people, farmers and workers have a level playing field to compete for foreign trade and investment.
• We negotiate market opening trade agreements that expand opportunities for the sale of American products and services abroad.
• We work to ensure the protection of American intellectual property.
• We help promote and license exports that contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy.
• We help to ensure that companies’ investments overseas are treated fairly.
• We help other countries develop free-market economies and become better trading partners for the United States.

"(We) especially acknowledge the work of the Office of Commercial and Business Affairs...for a coordinated and well-managed flow of information and advocacy... that provided Westinghouse with enormous assistance"...on a nuclear power plant in Bulgaria.
--Westinghouse Electric Company - Pittsburgh, PA

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The Office of Commercial and Business Affairs: Helping place business concerns at the forefront of the foreign policy process.

Assisting business

• Advising U.S. business on project tenders, investment disputes and market strategies as a key member of the U.S. interagency advocacy team.
• Working with U.S. embassies overseas to facilitate U.S. business opportunities.
• Arranging briefings for U.S. businesses on important foreign policy decisions, Administration programs, and key markets overseas.

Building public-private partnerships

• Developing cooperative initiatives with business to advance outreach efforts overseas.
• Ensuring that U.S. business community’s views are reflected in American foreign policy.

Amplifying American public diplomacy efforts by encouraging corporate social responsibility

• Recognizing U.S. company best practices overseas through the Secretary of State’s annual Award for Corporate Excellence for U.S. companies.

"On behalf of Lockheed Martin, and also on behalf of American business in general, I want to tell you how much we appreciate the active, productive support of American ambassadors and their country teams...The U.S. Department of State continues to provide the support that enables American business to achieve a competitive advantage in the challenging international business arena" ... for commercial support in the Middle East.
--Lockheed Martin - Bethesda, MD

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The success of American business in international markets is of vital national interest.

“Expanded trade will mean more business for America’s farmers and manufacturers, better buys for American consumers, and good jobs for America’s workers.”
--George W. Bush
President

"U.S. economic interests and foreign policy are inseparable. We engage the business community in our foreign policy planning, advocate on behalf of U.S. business overseas, and promote innovation and American values around the world. The State Department values this partnership with the U.S. business community - it’s a partnership that promotes U.S. economic growth, international security, and democratic institutions everywhere."
--Colin L. Powell
U.S. Secretary of State

Contact Information:

U.S. Department of State Commercial and Business Affairs:
Telephone: 202-647-1625; Fax: 202-647-3953
Visit us on the Web at http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/cba

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
For travel information, passports, visas and information about American citizen services abroad: Website: http://www.travel.state.gov
Telephone: 202-647-5225; Fax: 202-647-3000

U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Information Center
For general export counseling and country specific export information:
Telephone: 1-800-USA-TRADE; Website: http://export.gov/tic

All Department of State programs and services are provided to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 10994

Office of Commercial and Business Affairs

Released October 2002

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