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Overseas Staffing: U.S. Economic, Commercial, and Agricultural Staffing in Japan and Korea

NSIAD-92-162 Published: Apr 24, 1992. Publicly Released: May 14, 1992.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed staffing at U.S. embassies and their consulates in Japan and Korea, focusing on: (1) staffing levels in the economic, commercial, and agricultural sections; (2) embassies' views on their own efforts to analyze, report, and act on trade and economic issues; and (3) U.S. companies' views on embassy support in promoting U.S. exports.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and State, as they examine staffing, should identify ways by which additional resources could be added to enable embassies in Japan and Korea and their consulates to increase their capabilities to analyze, report, and act on trade and economic issues and support U.S. companies in promoting U.S. exports.
Closed – Implemented
The Foreign Agricultural Service is examining ways of reallocating resources and reviewing agricultural intelligence and reporting responsibilities. Scheduled reporting requirements for Japan are expected to be reduced, thereby freeing up staff for more analysis. However, budget constraints preclude adding extra resources to Japan and Korea at this time.
Department of Commerce The Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and State, as they examine staffing, should identify ways by which additional resources could be added to enable embassies in Japan and Korea and their consulates to increase their capabilities to analyze, report, and act on trade and economic issues and support U.S. companies in promoting U.S. exports.
Closed – Implemented
Commerce noted that it has been devoting more resources to Japan and Korea. Since 1990, US&FCS presence in Japan increased by ten positions, making it the largest US&FCS overseas operation. Staffing in Korea increased, making it the seventh largest US&FCS overseas operation. In fiscal year 1992, operating budgets for Japan and Korea increased 15 and 28 percent, respectively.
Department of State The Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and State, as they examine staffing, should identify ways by which additional resources could be added to enable embassies in Japan and Korea and their consulates to increase their capabilities to analyze, report, and act on trade and economic issues and support U.S. companies in promoting U.S. exports.
Closed – Not Implemented
The State Department reported, in March 1993, that it is in the process of implementing a major reorganization to, among other things, better match resources with objectives and rationalize post staffing.
Department of Agriculture Funding for export promotion and attention to trade and economic issues in Japan and Korea should receive a high priority within the Departments of Agriculture's, Commerce's, and State's budgets.
Closed – Implemented
The Foreign Agricultural Service said it gives its highest priority to overseas operations to Japan and a very high priority to Korea. In fiscal year 1992, total funding for Japan was $97 million and for Korea $15 million.
Department of Commerce Funding for export promotion and attention to trade and economic issues in Japan and Korea should receive a high priority within the Departments of Agriculture's, Commerce's, and State's budgets.
Closed – Implemented
In FY 1992, despite an austere overseas budget and increased resource demands in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the operating budget for US&FCS operations in Japan and Korea increased 15 and 28 percent, respectively.
Department of State Funding for export promotion and attention to trade and economic issues in Japan and Korea should receive a high priority within the Departments of Agriculture's, Commerce's, and State's budgets.
Closed – Not Implemented
The State Department reported, in March 1993, that it is in the process of implementing a major reorganization to, among other things, better match resources with objectives and rationalize post staffing.

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Agency missionsBusiness assistanceEconomic analysisEmbassiesExportingStaff utilizationInternational economic relationsInternational tradeSales promotionEmbassies