After going to the Tradeport website, I have decided to do my paper on a USfederal government agency. I explored a few of the agencies and decided tochoose the US Trade and Development Agency. The US Trade and Development Agency(TDA) is a small independent agency. It is comprised of about forty-one people.
The director is Mr. J. Joseph Grandmaison, who was nominated by President BillClinton. The TDA with the help of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committeeworks with the Department of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank, the OverseasPrivate Investment Corporation, and other agencies to advance American businessinterest in other countries. They are primarily involved in the agriculture,energy, environment, health care, information technology manufacturing, miningand mineral development, telecommunications, transportation, and water resourcesareas. This is the TDA Mission Statement: The U.
S. Trade and Development Agencyassists in the creation of jobs for Americans by helping U. S. companies pursueoverseas business opportunities. Through the funding of feasible studies,orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and variousforms of technical assistance, we enable American businesses to compete forinfrastructure and industrial projects in middle-income and developing countries(1). The TDA funds project planning activities which directly influences thedecisions related to major industrial projects.
In other words, these areprojects that represent millions of dollars in US export potential. “TDA worksto ensure that the services and products needed for projects will be stampedMade in the USA” (How TDA Operates 1). An example of some of the goodsand services are radar for airports in Asia and process controls for refineriesin Latin America. The TDA is active in over forty countries throughout theworld. Sometimes, however, statutory, and policy restraints either prevent orlimit the availability of TDA programs in certain countries.
All activities ofthe TDA are carried out by US firms. The TDA looks at many things beforedeciding to implement a project. The look at eligibility of the country, theenvironmental impact, effect on US jobs, need to work with other trade promotionagencies, the relationship with financing institutions, cost sharing and successfees, feasible studies, and definitional missions and desk studies. DefinitionalStudies are teams of technical specialists contracted to visit a host countryfor a short time.
These teams gather any additional information needed for theproject. A Desk Study also involves gathering information for the project, butthere is no need to go overseas. TDA also sponsors conferences and reverse trademissions called “orientation visits”. Both of theses activities familiarizeforeign decision makers with American-made products and services, build businessrelationships, and encourage US companies to export to developing andmiddle-income countries (How TDA Works 2). Also in certain regions, the TDAprovides trade-related training, which provide the means for host countryproject personnel to receive technical and managerial support. There are noapplication fees for TDA services.
However, in most feasible study grants, TDArequires that the company share the cost. If the project is implemented, thenTDA requires reimbursement for their share of the study cost. ” Because of itsfocused mission, TDA only considers projects that have potential to mature intosignificant business opportunities for US companies” (TDA Questions &Answers 1). For projects to be considered, they must: 1) Face strong competitionfrom foreign companies 2) Be a development priority of the country where theproject will be located 3) have the endorsement of the US Embassy in that area4) Represent an opportunity for sales of US goods or services 5) Be likely toreceive implementation financing, and have a procurement process open to USfirms (Questions & Answers 1). To obtain TDA funding one must do a fewthings. First and foremost, project must meet the above requirements.
Next oneneed to prepare documentation and research that clearly shows how the projectmeets the above requirements. The information should include a one to two pagesummary. Be sure to include information about your company, its resources,capabilities, and the personnel. One should also obtain a copy of TDAs”Feasible Study Model Format”, which one can get from the website. Followthe instructions carefully and fill in the appropriate information. After allthis is done, contact the TDA Country Manager who is responsible for the countrywhere the project is located.
The Country Manager will set up an officeappointment for an informal review of the proposal. The TDA does have a limitedbudget, so not all proposals will be accepted (Question & Answers 2). Belowis a short summary of some of the things that should be included in theapplication of the TDA Feasible Study Model Format. A) Executive Summary B)Project Proposal C) Developmental Priority D) Justification E) ImplementationFinancing F) US Export Potential G) Foreign Competition H) Impact on US Labor I)Qualifications J) Terms of Reference K) Budget A more detailed version of theabove can also be found on the US Trade and Development Agency website.
BibliographyUS Trade and Development Agency. “About TDA. ” Online. March 1, 2000. Available: www.
tda. gov/abouttda/index. html US Trade and Development Agency. “From the Director. ” Online. March 1,2000.
Available: www. tda. gov/abouttda/director. htmlUS Trade and Development Agency. “How TDA Works.
” Online. March 1, 2000. Available: www. tda. gov/abouttda/howworks.
html US Trade and Development Agency. “TDA Feasibility Study Model Format. ” Online. March 1, 2000. Available:www. tad.
gov/resources/feasibility_us. html US Trade and Development Agency. “TDA Questions & Answers. ” Online.
March 1, 2000. Available: www.tda.gov/abouttda/qanda.html
