Press Releases

Jul252016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Meets with U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox

Trade and InvestmentTransatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP)Penny Pritzker
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today met with the new U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox, who is making his first trip abroad in his new role. Secretary Pritzker and Secretary Fox both emphasized the importance of U.S.-U.K. commercial ties in light of the Brexit vote, and the indispensable partnership between the two countries not only in leading the world economy...

Jul062016

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on International Trade in Goods and Services in May 2016

Trade and InvestmentInternational Trade in Goods and ServicesTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the May 2016 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services monthly data. U.S. exports of goods and services decreased slightly to $182.4 billion in May from $182.7 billion in April. New monthly export records were established in Telecommunications, Computer, and Information services -- $3.1 billion...

Jun282016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to Join President Obama at the North American Leaders' Summit

Trade and InvestmentNorth American Leaders’ Summit (NALS)
On Wednesday, June 29, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will join President Obama in Canada at the North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS), hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This year’s Summit will focus on four pillars: climate, energy, and the environment; economic competitiveness; regional and global issues; and security and defense. President Obama will address a joint session...

Jun212016

Commerce Department Investment Summit Welcomes International Companies from 70 Markets, Touts Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

Trade and InvestmentSelectUSA Investment SummitForeign Direct Investment (FDI)Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition (SMLC)U.S. Investment Advisory Council (IAC)
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker concluded the Obama administration’s third and final SelectUSA Summit, which brought together international companies, domestic economic development organizations (EDOs), and a range of other stakeholders to explore job-creating investment opportunities throughout the United States. The highly successful, two-day Summit welcomed more than 2,500...

Jun202016

U.S. Commerce Department Releases New Report on Foreign Direct Investment Trends

DataTrade and InvestmentForeign Direct Investment (FDI)
The U.S. Department of Commerce today released a new report that highlights the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the U.S. economy. The Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Update to 2013 Report examines recent trends in FDI and highlights newly released “greenfield” FDI data from the Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The report notes that foreign direct...

Jun202016

Commerce Secretary Appoints Avi Bender as NTIS Head, Unveils New Joint Venture Opportunities in Data Sharing/Services

About the U.S. Department of CommerceDataInnovationAvi BenderData Sharing
The Commerce Department’s National Technical Information Service (NTIS) has reached a turning point. The agency published a Federal Register notice (FRN) announcing a new joint venture partnership (JVP) opportunity focused on improving access, analysis, and use of federal data and it is welcoming a new director, Avi Bender, formerly the chief technology officer at the U.S. Census Bureau.

Jun132016

U.S. Ambassadors to Lead Investor Delegations to 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit

Trade and InvestmentSelectUSA Investment SummitForeign Direct Investment (FDI)SelectUSAPenny Pritzker
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that 22 U.S. Chiefs of Mission will join President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and other administration officials at the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit, June 20-21, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. The Summit will bring together international companies, domestic economic development organizations (EDOs), and...

Jun092016

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on IANA Stewardship Transition

InnovationInternet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s determination that the proposal submitted by the global Internet multistakeholder community meets the criteria NTIA outlined in March 2014 when it announced its intention to complete the privatization of the Internet’s domain name system. ...

Jun072016

Commerce Department Establishes New Foreign Direct Investment Advisory Council, Appoints Inaugural Members

Trade and InvestmentForeign Direct Investment (FDI)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the appointment of 19 private and public sector leaders to the newly established U.S. Investment Advisory Council (IAC). IAC members — representing U.S. companies, entities, and organizations with missions or activities that include the promotion or facilitation of foreign direct investment (FDI) — will serve as a key conduit for...

Jun032016

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on International Trade in Goods and Services in April 2016

Trade and InvestmentU.S. International Trade in Goods and ServicesTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)Free Trade Agreement (FTA)Penny Pritzker
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the April 2016 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services monthly data. U.S. exports of goods and services increased to $182.8 billion in April from $180.2 billion in March. New monthly export records were established in telecommunications, computer, and information services -- $3.1 billion – and...

Jun032016

U.S. Department of Commerce Releases New Report On Digital Matching Firms

DataInnovationDigital EconomyAmerica's Innovation Agency
Today, the Department of Commerce released a report titled: "Digital Matching Firms: A New Definition in the 'Sharing Economy' Space." The report provides the first-ever government definition of "digital matching firms," which are companies that use Internet and smartphone-enabled apps to match service providers with consumers, help ensure trust and quality assurance...

Jun012016

Cabinet Secretaries and Governors to Join President Obama and Secretary of Commerce at SelectUSA Investment Summit

Trade and InvestmentSelectUSA Investment SummitForeign Direct Investment (FDI)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that four Cabinet secretaries will participate in the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit, June 20-21, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. In addition to Secretary Pritzker, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob J. Lew, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez, and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx...

May242016

Commerce Department Releases Reports Ranking Top Export Markets

Trade and InvestmentTop Markets Series
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today released the second set of Top Markets Reports that provides the latest assessment of export opportunities for U.S. companies in 19 sectors. As part of the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Top Markets Series launched in 2015, the report ranks future export markets within a particular industry, delivering in-depth commentary on key...

May192016

Statement by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on Best Practices Related to Unmanned Aircraft Systems

InnovationUnmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement on the conclusion of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) multi-stakeholder process to develop best practices for privacy, accountability, and transparency issues regarding commercial and private use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

May162016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Honors U.S. Companies with Presidential Award for Export Achievements

Trade and InvestmentOperational ExcellenceE Awards
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today honored 123 U.S. companies and organizations that export goods and services overseas during the 2016 President’s “E” Awards ceremony. For the first time in the award’s 54-year history, winners represent every state and the District of Columbia. Of this year’s 123 honorees, 105 are small and medium-sized businesses, and 64 firms are manufacturers.

May102016

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, U.S. Department of Commerce, GSA Administrator Denise Turner Roth, and City Innovate Foundation Announce First-of-Its-Kind Innovation Lab Bringing Public, Private and Non-Profit Sectors Together to Solve Urban Problems

Innovation
Today, the City Innovate Foundation was joined by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Denise Turner Roth to announce a first-of-its-kind Innovation lab to solve urban problems and scale solutions at 50 United Nations Plaza. The 5,000 sq. ft. Superpublic will serve as a platform for the public, private, and non-...

May042016

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on International Trade in Goods and Services in March 2016

Trade and InvestmentInternational Trade in Goods and ServicesExportsTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)Penny Pritzker
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the March 2016 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services monthly data. The total trade deficit improved 13.9 percent in March, to $40.4 billion, driven by a $6.0 billion reduction in the goods trade deficit. In addition, new monthly export records were established in travel services -- $15.5...

Apr232016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to Attend 2016 Hannover Messe and Tour Hamburg Port in Germany

Trade and InvestmentHannover MesseForeign Direct Investment (FDI)EU-U.S. Privacy ShieldDigital Single Market (DSM)Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will travel to Hannover, Germany from April 24-27 to attend the 2016 Hannover Messe, the world’s largest trade fair for industrial technology. President Obama is leading the overall U.S. delegation. The visit is an opportunity to celebrate the deep partnership between the U.S. and Germany, showcase innovation taking place on both sides of the Atlantic,...

Apr192016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Endorse Statement Calling for Action to Address Steel Excess Capacity

Trade and InvestmentSteel Excess Capacity
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman today announced that several economies have joined together to issue a statement that includes steps to address steel excess capacity. The statement comes one day after Secretary Pritzker and Ambassador Froman expressed their disappointment that during the High-Level Meeting on global excess capacity in the...

Apr192016

Department of Commerce Releases R&D Roadmap for Using Data Analysis to Enhance Public Safety

InnovationDataThe Internet of Things (IoT)
The U.S. Department of Commerce today issued the Public Safety Analytics R&D Roadmap, which outlines opportunities to spur innovation and improve public safety by making data more accessible and useful for police, firefighters, emergency medical services and other first responders. Published by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), this report evaluates software,...

Apr182016

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Following the Conclusion of the High-level Meeting on Excess Capacity and Structural Adjustment in the Steel Sector

Trade and InvestmentU.S. Steel IndustryOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Penny PritzkerMichael Froman
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman issued the following statement after the conclusion of the high-level meeting in Brussels, Belgium on excess capacity and structural adjustment in the steel sector.

Apr132016

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity

InnovationCybersecurityCybersecurity National Action PlanPenny Pritzker
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today released the following statement on the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, which President Obama announced as part of the Cybersecurity National Action Plan on February 9, 2016. Today, President Obama named the 10 individuals who will serve on the non-partisan Commission. The Commission’s first meeting will take place tomorrow at the...

Apr112016

President Obama to Deliver Keynote at the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit

Trade and InvestmentSelectUSASelectUSA Investment SummitPenny PritzkerPresident Barack Obama
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced today that President Barack Obama will host the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit and deliver the keynote address on Monday, June 20. The high-profile event is organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce and will be held June 20-21, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. President Obama has attended every Summit since the inaugural event...

Apr082016

Commerce Department Appoints New Members to Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness

Trade and InvestmentAdvisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC)
U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker today announced the appointment of 11 new members to the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC) that was re-chartered in November 2015. Initially established on November 21, 2011, the ACSCC now totals 45 senior-level private sector representatives of multiple industries and supply chain experts that advise the Secretary of Commerce, the...

Apr052016

U.S. Department of Commerce Seeks Comment on Potential Policy Issues Related to Internet of Things

InnovationThe Internet of Things (IoT)Digital Economy
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that as part of the Department’s Digital Economy Agenda, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Request for Comment (RFC) on questions posed by the growth of the Internet of Things (IOT). This Request is an important step in the Department’s continued effort to promote the Internet of Things, the broad...

Apr052016

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on International Trade in Goods and Services in February 2016

Trade and InvestmentDataInternational Trade in Goods and ServicesExportsTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)Penny Pritzker
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the February 2016 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services monthly data. U.S. exports of goods and services increased to $178.1 billion in February from $176.3 billion in January. In February, travel services registered a new record, with $15.3 billion of exports. In addition, growth in goods...

Apr012016

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on Addition of Eighth National Network of Manufacturing Innovation Institute

InnovationNational Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI)Smart FabricsTextilesPenny Pritzker
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker released the following statement on the addition of the eighth National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) institute. The Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts will be spearheaded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Mar292016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Announces Appointees to Inaugural Digital Economy Board of Advisors

InnovationDigital EconomyDigital Economy Board of Advisors
U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker announced today the appointment of 17 distinguished leaders with a wide range of expertise on digital policy and economic issues to serve on the U.S. Commerce Department’s Digital Economy Board of Advisors, which will provide recommendations on ways to advance economic growth and opportunity in the digital age.

Mar232016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Announces Kiersten Todt as Executive Director of Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity

InnovationCybersecurity National Action PlanCommission on Enhancing National CybersecurityCybersecurityKiersten Todt
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced today that she has selected Kiersten Todt to join the Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) team and serve as the Executive Director of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. This Commission, created by Presidential Executive Order and supported by NIST and the Commerce Department along with its...

Mar162016

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on Nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland

About the U.S. Department of CommerceSupreme Court JusticeChief Judge Merrick Garland
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker released the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court of the United States. “Today, the President made an outstanding choice in nominating Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. I have known Merrick for a long time, and he is a person of unquestionable talent, integrity, and...

Mar152016

Commerce Department's Tariff Tool to Include Trans-Pacific Partnership Countries

Trade and InvestmentFTA Tariff ToolTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s International Trade Administration has updated its Free Trade Agreement Tariff Tool (FTA Tariff Tool) to include the latest information on tariffs on U.S. products exported to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) partner markets. When enforced, the TPP will eliminate more than 18,000 foreign import taxes that various...

Mar152016

Commerce and Treasury Announce Significant Amendments to the Cuba Sanctions Regulations Ahead of President Obama's Historic Trip to Cuba

Trade and InvestmentCubaCuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR)Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced significant amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These changes, coupled with the arrangement recently announced by the Departments of State and Transportation allowing...

Mar142016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to Attend the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit

InnovationPresidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE)EntrepreneurshipGlobal Entrepreneurship Summit (GES)
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced she will attend the seventh annual 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), hosted by President Barack Obama in Silicon Valley. As the Administration's point person on entrepreneurship, Secretary Pritzker will be accompanied by 10 of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE). ...

Mar112016

First EU-U.S. Innovation and Investment in the Digital Economy Dialogue

DataTrade and InvestmentEU-U.S. Privacy ShieldDigital Economy
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker hosted the first Innovation and Investment in the Digital Economy Dialogue with Vice President of the European Commission, Andrus Ansip, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The high level exchange included a bilateral meeting between the two leaders, and a roundtable discussion with invited senior industry representatives from both...

Mar112016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to Join President Barack Obama in Cuba and Argentina

Trade and InvestmentCubaU.S.-Cuba Regulatory Dialogue
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will join President Barack Obama on his historic trip to Cuba and Argentina later this month. President’s Export Council Chair Ursula Burns, Chairman and CEO of Xerox, and Vice Chair Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International will also travel to Cuba in order to gather facts on the ground about the economic and commercial opportunities and...

Feb242016

Statement by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on Signing of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015

Trade and InvestmentTrade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015Intellectual Property (IP)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today released the following statement on the President’s signing of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. “By providing the Administration with additional tools to ensure that foreign governments live up to the commitments made in trade agreements, and by supporting the enforcement of U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty laws,...

Feb192016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Submits Annual Report and Strategic Plan for First Manufacturing Institutes

InnovationNational Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has submitted to Congress the first legislative reports required of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The NNMI Annual Report highlights the program’s initial success in spurring private-sector investment to support the development of manufacturing processes based on U.S. innovations.

Feb192016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to Travel to Mexico City for the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue

Trade and InvestmentU.S.-Mexico High Level Economic DialogueTornillo-Guadalupe Port of Entry
On February 24-25, 2016, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will travel to Mexico City, Mexico for the third U.S.-Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) along with Vice President Joseph Biden. They will be joined by members of the Obama Administration and Mexican government officials. Announced by President Obama and President Peña Nieto in 2013, the HLED is a forum through which the U...

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