Press Releases

Jan122017

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today issued a new report, Improving American Competitiveness: Best Practices by U.S. Port Communities, that documents operational best practices that leading U.S. ports and supply chains have implemented to overcome challenges associated with increasing vessel sizes, trade volumes, and industry complexity. The American Association of Port Authorities...

Jan122017

The U.S. Department of Commerce today released a report proposing steps the Department can take to advance the Internet of Things (IoT). The “green paper” examines the benefits and challenges of the evolving IoT landscape and suggests that the U.S. government should continue to foster an enabling environment for innovative technology to grow and thrive.

Jan092017

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced her intent to establish the Advisory Council on Trade Enforcement and Compliance (ACTEC) within the Department of Commerce. The ACTEC will provide a dedicated forum for stakeholders to advise the Secretary on trade enforcement and agreement compliance matters, thereby advancing the competitiveness of U.S. firms and workers.

Jan052017

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today submitted her exit memorandum to President Obama highlighting the Department of Commerce’s major accomplishments that helped grow the U.S. economy during the past eight years. Secretary Pritzker’s “Open for Business” agenda focused the efforts of the Department’s 12 bureaus and 46,000 employees on five pillars – trade and investment; innovation;...

Dec222016

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce released the 2016 National Export Strategy (NES), a report that details the U.S. government’s efforts to help U.S. companies conduct business abroad. The document serves both as a review of results and as a path forward, highlighting how U.S. businesses and workers have benefited during the past eight years.

Dec162016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced today an award of $70 million to the new National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), the eleventh institute in the Manufacturing USA network. This is the first institute with a focus area proposed by industry and the first funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).

Dec132016

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the appointment of 39 members to the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC). Initially established in 2008, the CINTAC is comprised of senior-level, private-sector representatives that advise the Secretary of Commerce on the development and administration of programs and policies to expand the export competitiveness of U.S. civil...

Dec122016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department of Commerce Digital Attaché Program will expand to six new markets, including South Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Germany, and France. The now 12 digital trade officers are Commercial Officers dedicated to helping U.S. companies navigate in the global digital environment. 

Nov232016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman today led a U.S. delegation in discussions with Vice Premier Wang Yang and other Chinese government officials as part of the 27th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Washington. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus also...

Nov162016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the release of a Department of Commerce report, “The Benefits and Costs of Apprenticeships: A Business Perspective.” This report, authored by the Economics and Statistics Administration in partnership with Case Western Reserve University, is among the first of its kind in the U.S. that captures the employer perspective on the value of the...

Nov162016

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker delivered a keynote address at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations on Privacy and Data in the Age of Surveillance. This symposium convened policymakers, business leaders, and academic experts for a candid discussion of online privacy in an era of fast-moving digital innovation.

Nov152016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced 35 organizations — including nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations — from 19 states will receive nearly $15 million to create and expand cluster-focused, proof-of-concept and commercialization programs, and early-stage seed capital funds through the Economic Development Administration’s (...

Nov142016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman today announced the schedule of events for the 27th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), which will take place November 21-23, in Washington. Secretary Pritzker and Ambassador Froman will host the Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier of the State Council Wang...

Nov102016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will host a high-level Government of China delegation for the 27th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), November 21-23, in Washington. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will also take part in the dialogue to address key agricultural trade issues between the two...

Nov072016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the winners of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) 2016 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. EDA is providing a total of $2,518,373 in grants to 24 colleges and universities in 16 states and Puerto Rico to run five-year programs that will leverage university assets to promote American innovation and...

Nov042016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the September 2016 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services monthly data. U.S. exports of goods and services increased to $189.2 billion in September from $188.2 billion in August. This was the highest monthly total goods and services exports since July 2015. In addition, total services exports...

Oct272016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker joined Argentina’s Minister of Production and Commerce Francisco Cabrera today to co-chair the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Argentina Commercial Dialogue (Dialogue). Announced in March during President Barack Obama and Secretary Pritzker’s visit to Buenos Aires, the Dialogue will strengthen the economic and commercial ties between the two nations by...

Oct272016

Recognizing the increasingly strong and close commercial ties that Argentina and the United States enjoy and the importance of promoting an open and predictable environment for trade and investment, we are pleased to take note of the progress made under the U.S.-Argentina Commercial Dialogue since its March 2016 launch.  We are committed to continue working cooperatively to improve overall...

Oct192016

Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) kicked off the first phase of its partnership with Colombia under the Agency’s Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value (GPI), with remarks from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak and Director General of Colombia Compra Eficiente Maria Margarita Zuleta. Over the course of the next three days...

Oct192016

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Technical Information Service (NTIS) announced today that it has selected 35 organizations through a merit-based process as eligible to be joint venture partners (JVPs). Once partner agreements have been signed, the organizations, which include small and large companies, nonprofits and research groups, will be eligible to compete to work with NTIS on...

Oct142016

A strategic partnership with the USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management aimed at improving the global competitiveness of the nation’s supply chains was signed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on October 14 at the University Park campus.

Oct122016

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews today announced he will lead representatives from 12 U.S. companies on a health care business development mission to Beijing and Chongqing, China, October 16-21. Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mary Wakefield will join the delegation in Beijing. This is the first time that HHS has participated in a...

Oct122016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the Commerce Department will double the number of global markets serviced by its Digital Attaché program during her remarks at the Internet Association’s Second Annual Virtuous Circle Conference in Silicon Valley. Introduced as a pilot project earlier this year, the program currently covers the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,...

Oct052016

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the appointment of 34 members to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEEAC). Initially established in 2010, the REEEAC is comprised of senior-level private-sector representatives that advise the Secretary of Commerce on the development and administration of programs and policies to expand the export...

Sep302016

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman issued the following statement regarding discussions on September 28 in Kyiv to accelerate economic reform, build a better business climate for all companies and increase U.S.-Ukrainian bilateral trade and investment.

Sep272016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has been designated by President Obama to lead a Presidential Delegation to Kyiv, Ukraine, for the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Babyn Yar Massacre on September 29. While in Kyiv, September 28-29, Secretary Pritzker will also continue the Department’s high-level engagement with Ukrainian officials on economic reforms that will strengthen...

Sep262016

Document(s) attached
The U.S. Department of Commerce today released a comprehensive report that finds that intellectual property (IP)-intensive industries support at least 45 million U.S. jobs and contribute more than $6 trillion dollars to, or 38.2 percent of, U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). The report, a joint product of the Commerce Department's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and...

Sep202016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the appointment of 23 private sector leaders to the second President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). PAC-DBIA members – representing small, medium, and large companies from a variety of industry sectors – advise the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, on ways to strengthen commercial engagement between...

Sep192016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the appointment of 30 private sector, nonprofit, and academic leaders to serve on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE). Selected from a pool of more than 200 accomplished applicants, the council members will offer recommendations for policies and programs designed to make U.S. communities, businesses,...

Sep122016

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the five recipients of the Department’s 2016 Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) awards. The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, The Maritime Alliance, and the U.S.-China Environmental Education...

Aug302016

On August 29, 2016, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and White House National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients co-hosted a roundtable discussion in New Delhi with NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant to discuss the current state of innovation and entrepreneurship in India and existing policies and programs designed to help Indian entrepreneurs, with a focus on how the U.S. and India can work...

Aug242016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will travel to New Delhi, India, August 29-31 for the second U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD) and the U.S.-India CEO Forum. Secretary Pritzker will co-chair the S&CD with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, and India Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman.

Aug012016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today released a new series of reports detailing current steel trade flows involving the world’s top importing and exporting countries.  The initial release from the Department’s International Trade Administration is comprised of 20 country-specific reports and a global summary that provides U.S. businesses with updated market intelligence. These reports...

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