Jun 29 2011
Office of Health and Consumer Goods – Department of Commerce
The best way to go about explaining the mandate of the office I work for is to discuss the hierarchy of departments under which it falls. The Department of Commerce (DOC) was founded in 1903 to facilitate economic growth within the United States. Officially, its mission is to “promote job creation and improved living standards for all Americans by creating an infrastructure that promotes economic growth, technological competitiveness, and sustainable development.” The DOC boasts over 40,000 employees and an annual budget of approximately $10 billion.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is an agency within the Department of Commerce. Established in 1980, its mission it to “strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promote trade and investment, and ensure fair trade through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements.” The ITA achieves this goal by providing information to U.S. businesses on foreign markets & products, ensuring that industry has access to those markets as required by global trade agreements, and safeguarding industry from unfair competition from subsidized foreign imports.
The ITA is further divided into four branches. The unit I work for is the Manufacturing and Services Office (MAS). MAS is dedicated to strengthening the global competiveness of U.S. industry, expanding its market access, and increasing exports. Currently, the main priority at MAS is President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI). The NEI is a long-term, sustainable economic growth plan for the United States. President Obama has a goal of doubling exports over the next five years, an increase that will hopefully support two million American jobs.
Under MAS, I work for the Office of Health and Consumer Goods (OHCG). The OHCG Health Team focuses mainly on medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
The team, made up of about 10 international trade specialists, addresses challenges U.S. manufacturers face domestically and internationally by:
-Researching industry trade issues and publishing analyses
-Contributing to the development of U.S. trade policy
-Participating in trade negotiations
-Organizing trade capacity building programs
-Evaluating the impact of domestic and international economic and regulatory policies on U.S. manufacturers and service industries
-Working with other U.S. agencies in developing a public policy environment that advances U.S. competitiveness at home and abroad, and
-Participating in several initiatives, including the National Export Initiative