• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • News

    Fast-tracking global development?

    By Devex Editor // 20 January 2012

    EDITOR’S NOTE: Will U.S. President Barack Obama include trade agency consolidation in his State of the Union address next week? How will consolidation affect U.S. international development? These are some of the questions Jane Kaminski of the U.S. Global Leadership Council asks in this blog post.

    As he prepares to give his 2012 State of the Union address next week, President Obama returned to a proposal last week from his 2011 speech.  To make the government leaner and more efficient, President Obama requested “fast track authority” to reorganize and consolidate agencies in the federal bureaucracy, starting with the six agencies that focus primarily on commerce and trade:  the Department of Commerce, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM.

    Three of these agenices are funded by the International Affairs Budget:

    • OPIC, which supports investment in the developing world by providing loans and loan guarantees to small- and medium-sized American businesses, 

    • USTDA, which helps companies create American jobs by supporting trade missions and projects where U.S. companies build up infrastructure in the developing world, and 

    • EXIM Bank, which assists in the financing exports of U.S. goods and service through loans, insurance, and loan guarantees.

    The nature of this single trade agency has yet to be spelled out, so the impact of consolidation on individual agencies is not yet clear.  President Obama said in his announcement that he aims to create a “one-stop shop” by forming an agency dedicated “to helping our businesses sell their products to the 95 percent of global consumers who live beyond our shores.”  He proposed elevating SBA to cabinet level status, so that, presumably, the new agency would have three cabinet level representatives:  the head of the new agency, USTR, and SBA.

    While it remains an open question whether or not Congress will grant President Obama fast track authority at all, initial responses on the Hill praised efforts to make the federal government more efficient.  Reactions among experts raised concerns and questions about the details of the proposal.  Many have expressed concern that the U.S. Trade Representative will lose its authority.  Still others discuss the impact the reforms may have on U.S. international development.  Others express concern for the impact on the small, flexible development assistance organizations like OPIC, USTDA, EXIM, and USTR should they lose their independence to a new agency.  Christopher Coughlin, former Vice President for External Relations for OPIC, outlined the value of autonomy for OPIC, EXIM, USTDA, and USTR.

    We will be watching to see whether the trade agency consolidation appears in next week’s State of the Union.  The structure and future of U.S. trade and international economic relations could impact the International Affairs Budget with significant changes to several important economic development agencies.   Much of the debate has focused on USTR, but the development missions of OPIC, EXIM, and USTDA shouldn’t also be lost in the shuffle.

    Republished with permission from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. View original article.

    • Funding
    • Trade & Policy
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

    About the author

    • Devex Editor

      Devex Editor

      Thanks a lot for your interest in Devex News. To share news and views, story ideas and press releases, please email editor@devex.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    Devex InvestedDevex Invested: US DFC could face radically different future under Trump

    Devex Invested: US DFC could face radically different future under Trump

    The Future of US AidHow is this ‘reimagined’ proposal for USAID hitting the sector?

    How is this ‘reimagined’ proposal for USAID hitting the sector?

    United NationsExclusive: US aims to thwart Palestine's UN recognition bid

    Exclusive: US aims to thwart Palestine's UN recognition bid

    Development FinanceTrump's DFC nominee stresses 'dual mandate' of US development finance

    Trump's DFC nominee stresses 'dual mandate' of US development finance

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • 4
      How AI-powered citizen science can be a catalyst for the SDGs
    • 5
      WHO names new directors in ongoing restructure
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement