Export Promotion Strategic Plan: Will It Be a Vehicle for Change?

GAO discussed the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee's (TPCC) role in prioritizing and rationalizing federal export promotion efforts. GAO noted that: (1) legislation establishes requirements for developing the strategic plan that guide TPCC efforts to reshape federal export promotion activities; (2) federal export promotion programs reflect no national priorities, and are fragmented, poorly designed, and inefficiently implemented; (3) TPCC will need high-level support from the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, Eximbank, and the Agency for International Development to make its strategic planning process a success; (4) it is important that the strategic plan utilize a well-reasoned analytical methodology for setting federal export promotion priorities; and (5) a cooperative effort to develop the plan could form the basis for more cooperation and integration in program delivery.