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International Trade Administration

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Overview:

The ITA is responsible for promoting U.S. industry interests in international trade. The agency provides market intelligence to U.S. exporters, ensures their access to international markets and enforces foreign compliance with international trade agreements—in part by regulating unfair competition provisions and enforcing rules governing dumped and subsidized imports from foreign countries. The agency develops and implements the government’s foreign trade policy and acts as an advisor for the same. 

 
 
more
History:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most functions performed by the ITA have their origins in the Bureaus of Statistics and Manufacturers in the Department of Commerce and Labor, established in 1903. The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce was established in 1912 to develop and promote domestic manufacturing industries and related markets both in the U.S. and abroad.

The ITA was established in 1980 as a result of a reorganization of the government’s international trade functions—with the aim of creating a division for non-agricultural trade operations and assistance to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in the coordination of trade policy. The reorganization created the Under Secretary for International Trade; consolidated existing Commerce Department exports promotion, export administration and trade policy programs; transferred the administration of the antidumping and countervailing duty laws from the Treasury Department; and transferred the foreign commercial functions from the State Department to the new Foreign Commercial Service. In 1984, responsibility for industry sector analysis was transferred to ITA from the Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs.
 

Official ITA History

 

more
What it Does:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “defining purpose” of the ITA is to help create economic opportunity for American workers and businesses through the promotion and regulation of U.S. interests in international trade and investment. The agency is responsible for promoting and protecting U.S. industry interests in international trade through various research, policymaking and enforcement activities. ITA is divided into four main units: The Market Access and Compliance (MAC) ensures what they call “fair trade” practices, monitoring industry access to overseas markets and attempting to eliminate barriers for U.S. companies in product and service export; the Import Administration enforces trade laws and foreign compliance with international agreements—in the interest of U.S. industry, and consults with industry and represents its commercial interests in trade negotiations and the policy process; the Manufacturing and Services unit is charged with increasing US exports and enhancing global competitiveness; The U.S. Commercial service is responsible for promoting trade and provides assistance for U.S. companies to start up in export activities and/or navigate foreign markets.
 
In its capacity as enforcer against unfair trade practices and dumping, the ITA investigates and determines whether merchandise is being sold in the US at less than fair value. In the interest of US industry, the ITA imposes “countervailance” duties to offset the effects of subsidies granted to foreign manufacturers by their governments.
 
 
Manufacturing and Services - The MAS unit is responsible for enhancing U.S. market position, access, and global competitiveness for U.S. industry and increasing its exports. Industry experts and economists working for the department develop and implement trade policy—with the aim of creating conducive conditions for U.S. business and economic growth. Researchers analyze trade data and economic policy, as well as domestic regulation, trade policy development and negotiations, and act as a contact point for industry input into the policy process. The unit also works with industry and government agencies to manage regulation.
 
Import Administration - is the unit responsible for enforcing trade laws and agreements to prevent unfair trade in imports and safeguard U.S. jobs and industry competition. It enforces U.S. unfair trade laws through administration of antidumping and countervailing duty laws, develops and implements other policies and programs to counter foreign unfair trade practices, and administers the Foreign Trade Zones and Statutory Import programs, as well as certain sector-specific programs.
 
Market Access and Compliance - MAC is responsible for ensuring a “level playing field” for American companies in the international market. The unit deals with trade barriers, policy issues, and regulates compliance of US trading partners with agreement obligations. MAC country desk officers specialize in commercial, economic and political climates in their assigned countries, focusing on complaint resolution and market access issues such as intellectual property and piracy, quotas, standards, customs, transparency and contracts, etc. The unit works cooperatively with the Commercial Service staff and other government agencies.
 
U.S. Commercial Service - is responsible for promoting U.S. industry in international trade. Trade specialists in more than 80 countries assist U.S. companies with export and global market sales. Services include market research, trade events, networking, counseling and advocacy.
 

Export Portal

 

more
Where Does the Money Go:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to USA Spending, between 2000 and 2009, there was a total of $70,738,335 worth of contracts distributed. Most of the contracts going to Program Management, Telecommunications, Data processing and training services.
 
33.1% or $23,401,279 of all contracts was available for free competition while 0.2% or $167,532 was actions necessary to continue existing competitive contracts for continuity. The number of contractors for this period totaled 246 with 747 transactions. The largest amount of total expenditures in this period was recorded in 2004 with a total of $20,786,102. There were no records for 2001.
 
Top 10 Contractors
 
Daniel J Edelman Inc
$18,289,725
Bae Systems PLC
$8,439,830
The Mil Corporation
$4,871,344
C I C Research Inc
$4,167,293
Accenture Ltd
$2,659,931
Bae Systems Information Technology LLC
$2,051,453
Fujitsu Limited
$1,998,434
Furmanite Corporation
$1,735,981
Square One Armoring Services Co
$1,269,379
Commonwealth Trading Partners Inc.
$1,206,000
 
Top 5 Congressional Districts Where Work Has Been Performed
 
District of Columbia (Eleanor Holmes Norton)
$37,890,052
Illinois 07 (Danny K. Davis)
$3,504,475
Virginia 08 (Jim Moran)
$2,528,992
Maryland 05 (Steny H. Hoyer)
$2,363,790
California 53 (Susan A. Davis)
$1,811,947
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daniel J. Edelman, Inc.: An independent global public relations firm founded in 1952. The firm specializes in dialogue, engaging NGOs, and enlisting credible spokespersons in the attempt to build brand names. Richard Edelman is the firm’s President and CEO.
Bae Systems PLC: A global defense, security and aerospace company headquartered in Rockville, MD. It delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services, with approximately 106,000 employees worldwide. Ian King is the current CEO. Maurice I. Long, Jr.
is the current President and Co-founder.
The MIL Corporation: Established in 1980 to provide agencies of the Federal government services in finance, information management, and quality assurance. Company benefits from multimillion-dollar contracts with 17 Federal agencies, including the U.S Departments of the Navy, Commerce, State, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture. Specialize in strategic business planning, process mapping, documentation and records control and auditing & resolution services among many others.
Contract Announcement
CIC Research, Inc.: Incorporated in 1965, the company is a marketing, economics and survey research firm. Based in San Diego, CA, the company provides expertise in the areas of marketing, economic, land use, financial analysis, survey design, data collection, coding, custom data processing, travel, tourism and events research, and full-service quantitative research.
 
Accenture, Ltd.: A global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Currently has more than 181,000 employees in over 52 countries. William D. Green is current Chairman and CEO.
 
 
more
Controversies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing in Afghanistan

more
Suggested Reforms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information on the ITA: Import Administration Assessment (OMB Assessment 2007)

 

 

more
Debate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under Chris Padilla’s leadership, the Bush Administration is currently pushing for an FTA with Columbia—a deal labor unions and most Democrats oppose. According to recent press reports, many believe that the administration will try to force Congress’ hand by introducing legislation to implement the deal to Congress under fast-track rules that would mean a vote under a strict time table and without recourse to amendments. See also CAFTA below.
Q&A with Chris Padilla (by Ian Swanson, The Hill)
Columbia FTA could harm working families (Opinion, America-in-Solidarity)
Bush Administration pushes for Columbia free trade deal (by Tom Steever, Brownfield Network)
The Bush Administration's Last Trade Policy Agenda Report (by Ross Korves, Truth about Trade & Technology)
 
CAFTA
The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is an expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to five Central American nations (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic. It was signed on May 28, 2004, and passed, not without controversy, in 2005. El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic have approved the Agreement. Costa Rica’s decision to approve it was controversial as opponents argued it would negatively impact certain vital national industries—and the country was awarded a 7-month deadline extension to implement required legislative reforms.
 
The debate over CAFTA is a part of the larger debate over the U.S. government’s neoliberal policies in international development, specifically through trade policy. The current administration’s emphasis on neoliberal socioeconomic development, in part to ensure national security, are widely criticized as highly destructive to the societies in which they are implemented, where privatization of industry and social services leaves society’s most vulnerable members without basic rights, driving down living standards and exacerbating the divide between rich and poor in liberalizing economies.
 
According to critics (and common-sense analysis), CAFTA is based on the same failed neoliberal policies that underlie the NAFTA model, severely damaging labor and environmental standards in the process of economic privatization and public sector deregulation. The agreement has met with strong resistance from both American citizens and foreign governments.
 
According to the U.S. government, CAFTA provides tariff reduction and new market access for U.S. consumer, industrial and agricultural products—as well as “unprecedented access to government procurement” in partner countries. Liberalization of partner-country service sectors (and financial services) is seen as a protective measure for U.S. interests and investors, and their intellectual properties. The government argues that the agreement addresses issues of government transparency and corruption, labor rights, and environmental protection.
 
Opposition to CAFTA (from the Public Citizen website)
 
Congressional Concern and Opposition
 
U.S. Civil Society Opposition
 
International Opposition
 
From the Right
More Than CAFTA Is at Stake in Costa Rica (by Juan Carlos Hidalgo, Miami Herald)
The Case for CAFTA: Consolidating Central America's Freedom Revolution (by Daniel Griswold and Daniel Ikenson, CATO Institute)
 
Bias
The ITA has an historical reputation in the international community of being unfairly biased, including in regards to its antidumping regulation of foreign governments/entities.

Bias in the International Trade Administration: The Need for Impartial Decisionmakers in United States Antidumping Proceedings

(by Michael Anthony Lawrence, Social Science Research Network)

 

more
Former Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Founded: 1980
Annual Budget: $420 million (FY 2009 estimate)
Employees: 1,536 (2001)
Official Website: http://trade.gov/index.asp
International Trade Administration
Hyatt, Kenneth
Acting Under Secretary

Kenneth Hyatt, an attorney with a background in conflict resolution, took over as acting under secretary of the International Trade Administration (ITA) in 2016.

 

Hyatt is from the Washington, D.C., area. He attended Sidwell Friends School, where many children of presidents, other government figures and those in the media have gone. Hyatt went on to Yale, where he earned a B.A. in economics and political science in 1979, studied in Germany on a Fulbright scholarship and earned a J.D. from Harvard Law in 1982.

 

Hyatt worked beginning in 1983 for Bain & Co. in Boston, London and Munich. He struck out on his own in 1989 as a principal and partner in Conflict Management, Inc., which advised clients on conflict management and negotiations. He founded a similar firm, CMI New York, in 1997. Among other things, that company trained negotiators involved in constitutional talks between the old South African government and the African National Congress. Hyatt started a third such company, CM Partners, in 2002.

 

He left the private sector in 2010 to become a senior adviser for trade issues in the Commerce Department. The following year, he was made Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services, where he helped develop trade policies and served until 2012, when he was named Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the ITA. Hyatt became acting under secretary of the agency upon the departure of Stefan Selig.

 

 

Hyatt and his wife, Nancy, have two children. He speaks German and is a big NBA fan.

-Steve Straehley

 

To Learn More:

Official Biography

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Selig, Stefan
Previous Under Secretary

On November 6, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated mergers and acquisition specialist Stefan M. Selig to be his under secretary of Commerce for International Trade and head the International Trade Administration. President Obama was forced to renominate Selig on January 6, 2014, because his nomination had not been acted upon by the U.S. Senate by the end of the year. In that post, Selig will be promoting U.S. trade interests, including ensuring access to foreign markets and enforcing fair-trade legislation.

 

Selig was born in New York and grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He attended the Dalton School, graduating in 1980. Selig went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut as an undergraduate, earning his B.A. in 1984.

 

Upon graduation, Selig briefly considered making the Marine Corps his career, but went into business instead, joining First Boston in the mergers and acquisitions department. He also earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1988, and joined the investment bank Wasserstein Perella &Co. that year as an original member.  He then became a partner at Berenson Minella & Co., an investment banking boutique, where he organized several high-profile buyouts, including the $65 million+ takeovers by Chemical Venture Partners and Apollo Advisors of Gerber Products Co.’s Buster Brown subsidiary, the acquisition by Castle Harlan Inc. of MAG Aerospace Industries Inc. from Vestar Capital Partners Inc., and Chemical Venture Partners purchase of Chiquita Brands International’s Speciality Meat Group.

 

 Selig joined UBS in 1994 as head of its financial sponsor group as co-head of mergers and acquisitions, and moved to Société Generale in 1998 before landing at Banc of America Securities in 1999, rising to global head of mergers and acquisitions, vice chairman of global investment banking and, in 2009, executive vice chairman of global corporate and investment banking for Bank of America.,

 

Selig’s work included the initial public offering of Re/Max real estate brokers and the sale of Yankee Candle to Jarden Corp.

 

Shortly after Selig’s original nomination to the Commerce post, there was some controversy around a $9 million bonus he received upon leaving the bank. Many banks do offer such bonuses to senior executives leaving for high government or regulatory posts.

 

Selig is expected to continue helping the United States negotiate the Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact. The deal is controversial for several reasons, including the fact that it contains provisions that would empower corporations to sue governments to demand compensation for laws and regulations they claim undermine their interests.

 

Selig is married to Heidi Selig. and he previously sat on the board of New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

-Steve Straehley, David Wallechinsky

 

To Learn More:

White House Names Senior Bank of America Executive to Commerce Post (by Peter Lattman, New York Times)

Obama Admin’s TPP Trade Officials Received Hefty Bonuses From Big Banks (by Lee Fang, Republic Report)

Obama’s Secret International Trade Treaty Caving on Environmental Protections (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

more

Table of Contents
Bookmark and Share
Overview:

The ITA is responsible for promoting U.S. industry interests in international trade. The agency provides market intelligence to U.S. exporters, ensures their access to international markets and enforces foreign compliance with international trade agreements—in part by regulating unfair competition provisions and enforcing rules governing dumped and subsidized imports from foreign countries. The agency develops and implements the government’s foreign trade policy and acts as an advisor for the same. 

 
 
more
History:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most functions performed by the ITA have their origins in the Bureaus of Statistics and Manufacturers in the Department of Commerce and Labor, established in 1903. The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce was established in 1912 to develop and promote domestic manufacturing industries and related markets both in the U.S. and abroad.

The ITA was established in 1980 as a result of a reorganization of the government’s international trade functions—with the aim of creating a division for non-agricultural trade operations and assistance to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in the coordination of trade policy. The reorganization created the Under Secretary for International Trade; consolidated existing Commerce Department exports promotion, export administration and trade policy programs; transferred the administration of the antidumping and countervailing duty laws from the Treasury Department; and transferred the foreign commercial functions from the State Department to the new Foreign Commercial Service. In 1984, responsibility for industry sector analysis was transferred to ITA from the Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs.
 

Official ITA History

 

more
What it Does:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “defining purpose” of the ITA is to help create economic opportunity for American workers and businesses through the promotion and regulation of U.S. interests in international trade and investment. The agency is responsible for promoting and protecting U.S. industry interests in international trade through various research, policymaking and enforcement activities. ITA is divided into four main units: The Market Access and Compliance (MAC) ensures what they call “fair trade” practices, monitoring industry access to overseas markets and attempting to eliminate barriers for U.S. companies in product and service export; the Import Administration enforces trade laws and foreign compliance with international agreements—in the interest of U.S. industry, and consults with industry and represents its commercial interests in trade negotiations and the policy process; the Manufacturing and Services unit is charged with increasing US exports and enhancing global competitiveness; The U.S. Commercial service is responsible for promoting trade and provides assistance for U.S. companies to start up in export activities and/or navigate foreign markets.
 
In its capacity as enforcer against unfair trade practices and dumping, the ITA investigates and determines whether merchandise is being sold in the US at less than fair value. In the interest of US industry, the ITA imposes “countervailance” duties to offset the effects of subsidies granted to foreign manufacturers by their governments.
 
 
Manufacturing and Services - The MAS unit is responsible for enhancing U.S. market position, access, and global competitiveness for U.S. industry and increasing its exports. Industry experts and economists working for the department develop and implement trade policy—with the aim of creating conducive conditions for U.S. business and economic growth. Researchers analyze trade data and economic policy, as well as domestic regulation, trade policy development and negotiations, and act as a contact point for industry input into the policy process. The unit also works with industry and government agencies to manage regulation.
 
Import Administration - is the unit responsible for enforcing trade laws and agreements to prevent unfair trade in imports and safeguard U.S. jobs and industry competition. It enforces U.S. unfair trade laws through administration of antidumping and countervailing duty laws, develops and implements other policies and programs to counter foreign unfair trade practices, and administers the Foreign Trade Zones and Statutory Import programs, as well as certain sector-specific programs.
 
Market Access and Compliance - MAC is responsible for ensuring a “level playing field” for American companies in the international market. The unit deals with trade barriers, policy issues, and regulates compliance of US trading partners with agreement obligations. MAC country desk officers specialize in commercial, economic and political climates in their assigned countries, focusing on complaint resolution and market access issues such as intellectual property and piracy, quotas, standards, customs, transparency and contracts, etc. The unit works cooperatively with the Commercial Service staff and other government agencies.
 
U.S. Commercial Service - is responsible for promoting U.S. industry in international trade. Trade specialists in more than 80 countries assist U.S. companies with export and global market sales. Services include market research, trade events, networking, counseling and advocacy.
 

Export Portal

 

more
Where Does the Money Go:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to USA Spending, between 2000 and 2009, there was a total of $70,738,335 worth of contracts distributed. Most of the contracts going to Program Management, Telecommunications, Data processing and training services.
 
33.1% or $23,401,279 of all contracts was available for free competition while 0.2% or $167,532 was actions necessary to continue existing competitive contracts for continuity. The number of contractors for this period totaled 246 with 747 transactions. The largest amount of total expenditures in this period was recorded in 2004 with a total of $20,786,102. There were no records for 2001.
 
Top 10 Contractors
 
Daniel J Edelman Inc
$18,289,725
Bae Systems PLC
$8,439,830
The Mil Corporation
$4,871,344
C I C Research Inc
$4,167,293
Accenture Ltd
$2,659,931
Bae Systems Information Technology LLC
$2,051,453
Fujitsu Limited
$1,998,434
Furmanite Corporation
$1,735,981
Square One Armoring Services Co
$1,269,379
Commonwealth Trading Partners Inc.
$1,206,000
 
Top 5 Congressional Districts Where Work Has Been Performed
 
District of Columbia (Eleanor Holmes Norton)
$37,890,052
Illinois 07 (Danny K. Davis)
$3,504,475
Virginia 08 (Jim Moran)
$2,528,992
Maryland 05 (Steny H. Hoyer)
$2,363,790
California 53 (Susan A. Davis)
$1,811,947
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daniel J. Edelman, Inc.: An independent global public relations firm founded in 1952. The firm specializes in dialogue, engaging NGOs, and enlisting credible spokespersons in the attempt to build brand names. Richard Edelman is the firm’s President and CEO.
Bae Systems PLC: A global defense, security and aerospace company headquartered in Rockville, MD. It delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services, with approximately 106,000 employees worldwide. Ian King is the current CEO. Maurice I. Long, Jr.
is the current President and Co-founder.
The MIL Corporation: Established in 1980 to provide agencies of the Federal government services in finance, information management, and quality assurance. Company benefits from multimillion-dollar contracts with 17 Federal agencies, including the U.S Departments of the Navy, Commerce, State, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture. Specialize in strategic business planning, process mapping, documentation and records control and auditing & resolution services among many others.
Contract Announcement
CIC Research, Inc.: Incorporated in 1965, the company is a marketing, economics and survey research firm. Based in San Diego, CA, the company provides expertise in the areas of marketing, economic, land use, financial analysis, survey design, data collection, coding, custom data processing, travel, tourism and events research, and full-service quantitative research.
 
Accenture, Ltd.: A global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Currently has more than 181,000 employees in over 52 countries. William D. Green is current Chairman and CEO.
 
 
more
Controversies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing in Afghanistan

more
Suggested Reforms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information on the ITA: Import Administration Assessment (OMB Assessment 2007)

 

 

more
Debate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under Chris Padilla’s leadership, the Bush Administration is currently pushing for an FTA with Columbia—a deal labor unions and most Democrats oppose. According to recent press reports, many believe that the administration will try to force Congress’ hand by introducing legislation to implement the deal to Congress under fast-track rules that would mean a vote under a strict time table and without recourse to amendments. See also CAFTA below.
Q&A with Chris Padilla (by Ian Swanson, The Hill)
Columbia FTA could harm working families (Opinion, America-in-Solidarity)
Bush Administration pushes for Columbia free trade deal (by Tom Steever, Brownfield Network)
The Bush Administration's Last Trade Policy Agenda Report (by Ross Korves, Truth about Trade & Technology)
 
CAFTA
The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is an expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to five Central American nations (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic. It was signed on May 28, 2004, and passed, not without controversy, in 2005. El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic have approved the Agreement. Costa Rica’s decision to approve it was controversial as opponents argued it would negatively impact certain vital national industries—and the country was awarded a 7-month deadline extension to implement required legislative reforms.
 
The debate over CAFTA is a part of the larger debate over the U.S. government’s neoliberal policies in international development, specifically through trade policy. The current administration’s emphasis on neoliberal socioeconomic development, in part to ensure national security, are widely criticized as highly destructive to the societies in which they are implemented, where privatization of industry and social services leaves society’s most vulnerable members without basic rights, driving down living standards and exacerbating the divide between rich and poor in liberalizing economies.
 
According to critics (and common-sense analysis), CAFTA is based on the same failed neoliberal policies that underlie the NAFTA model, severely damaging labor and environmental standards in the process of economic privatization and public sector deregulation. The agreement has met with strong resistance from both American citizens and foreign governments.
 
According to the U.S. government, CAFTA provides tariff reduction and new market access for U.S. consumer, industrial and agricultural products—as well as “unprecedented access to government procurement” in partner countries. Liberalization of partner-country service sectors (and financial services) is seen as a protective measure for U.S. interests and investors, and their intellectual properties. The government argues that the agreement addresses issues of government transparency and corruption, labor rights, and environmental protection.
 
Opposition to CAFTA (from the Public Citizen website)
 
Congressional Concern and Opposition
 
U.S. Civil Society Opposition
 
International Opposition
 
From the Right
More Than CAFTA Is at Stake in Costa Rica (by Juan Carlos Hidalgo, Miami Herald)
The Case for CAFTA: Consolidating Central America's Freedom Revolution (by Daniel Griswold and Daniel Ikenson, CATO Institute)
 
Bias
The ITA has an historical reputation in the international community of being unfairly biased, including in regards to its antidumping regulation of foreign governments/entities.

Bias in the International Trade Administration: The Need for Impartial Decisionmakers in United States Antidumping Proceedings

(by Michael Anthony Lawrence, Social Science Research Network)

 

more
Former Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

Leave a comment

Founded: 1980
Annual Budget: $420 million (FY 2009 estimate)
Employees: 1,536 (2001)
Official Website: http://trade.gov/index.asp
International Trade Administration
Hyatt, Kenneth
Acting Under Secretary

Kenneth Hyatt, an attorney with a background in conflict resolution, took over as acting under secretary of the International Trade Administration (ITA) in 2016.

 

Hyatt is from the Washington, D.C., area. He attended Sidwell Friends School, where many children of presidents, other government figures and those in the media have gone. Hyatt went on to Yale, where he earned a B.A. in economics and political science in 1979, studied in Germany on a Fulbright scholarship and earned a J.D. from Harvard Law in 1982.

 

Hyatt worked beginning in 1983 for Bain & Co. in Boston, London and Munich. He struck out on his own in 1989 as a principal and partner in Conflict Management, Inc., which advised clients on conflict management and negotiations. He founded a similar firm, CMI New York, in 1997. Among other things, that company trained negotiators involved in constitutional talks between the old South African government and the African National Congress. Hyatt started a third such company, CM Partners, in 2002.

 

He left the private sector in 2010 to become a senior adviser for trade issues in the Commerce Department. The following year, he was made Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services, where he helped develop trade policies and served until 2012, when he was named Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the ITA. Hyatt became acting under secretary of the agency upon the departure of Stefan Selig.

 

 

Hyatt and his wife, Nancy, have two children. He speaks German and is a big NBA fan.

-Steve Straehley

 

To Learn More:

Official Biography

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Selig, Stefan
Previous Under Secretary

On November 6, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated mergers and acquisition specialist Stefan M. Selig to be his under secretary of Commerce for International Trade and head the International Trade Administration. President Obama was forced to renominate Selig on January 6, 2014, because his nomination had not been acted upon by the U.S. Senate by the end of the year. In that post, Selig will be promoting U.S. trade interests, including ensuring access to foreign markets and enforcing fair-trade legislation.

 

Selig was born in New York and grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He attended the Dalton School, graduating in 1980. Selig went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut as an undergraduate, earning his B.A. in 1984.

 

Upon graduation, Selig briefly considered making the Marine Corps his career, but went into business instead, joining First Boston in the mergers and acquisitions department. He also earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1988, and joined the investment bank Wasserstein Perella &Co. that year as an original member.  He then became a partner at Berenson Minella & Co., an investment banking boutique, where he organized several high-profile buyouts, including the $65 million+ takeovers by Chemical Venture Partners and Apollo Advisors of Gerber Products Co.’s Buster Brown subsidiary, the acquisition by Castle Harlan Inc. of MAG Aerospace Industries Inc. from Vestar Capital Partners Inc., and Chemical Venture Partners purchase of Chiquita Brands International’s Speciality Meat Group.

 

 Selig joined UBS in 1994 as head of its financial sponsor group as co-head of mergers and acquisitions, and moved to Société Generale in 1998 before landing at Banc of America Securities in 1999, rising to global head of mergers and acquisitions, vice chairman of global investment banking and, in 2009, executive vice chairman of global corporate and investment banking for Bank of America.,

 

Selig’s work included the initial public offering of Re/Max real estate brokers and the sale of Yankee Candle to Jarden Corp.

 

Shortly after Selig’s original nomination to the Commerce post, there was some controversy around a $9 million bonus he received upon leaving the bank. Many banks do offer such bonuses to senior executives leaving for high government or regulatory posts.

 

Selig is expected to continue helping the United States negotiate the Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact. The deal is controversial for several reasons, including the fact that it contains provisions that would empower corporations to sue governments to demand compensation for laws and regulations they claim undermine their interests.

 

Selig is married to Heidi Selig. and he previously sat on the board of New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

-Steve Straehley, David Wallechinsky

 

To Learn More:

White House Names Senior Bank of America Executive to Commerce Post (by Peter Lattman, New York Times)

Obama Admin’s TPP Trade Officials Received Hefty Bonuses From Big Banks (by Lee Fang, Republic Report)

Obama’s Secret International Trade Treaty Caving on Environmental Protections (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

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