International

Export Promotion and International Technical Assistance Programs

Issue
Stable, adequate funding for export promotion and international technical assistance programs is critical to ensuring the competitiveness of U.S. engineering firms overseas. Though U.S. engineers rank among the best in the world, they face disadvantages when pursuing work overseas. Governments of some developed nations, including some of our strongest competitors from Europe and Asia, heavily subsidize the export of engineering services. Federal export promotion and technical assistance programs are therefore critical to ensuring that U.S. engineering firms can compete fairly overseas. These programs are also a crucial link between exports and job creation. Whether through financing, risk insurance, trade promotion or other means, these programs increase the competitiveness of U.S. businesses overseas.

ACEC Position
ACEC advocates expanded federal funding of agency programs critical to bolstering the competitiveness of U.S. engineering in the international market. These programs are embodied in the following agencies:

• U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
• U.S. Agency for International Development infrastructure programs.
• Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
• Export-Import Bank of the United States.
• U.S. Department of Commerce, in particular the International Trade Administration and Foreign Commercial Service.