National Export Initiative

This executive order creates the National Export Initiative (NEI) to double U.S. exports over five years and establishes an Export Promotion Cabinet of cabinet-level officials and agency heads to coordinate federal export promotion efforts. The order directs the Cabinet to develop programs supporting small and medium-sized business exports, increase export credit, reduce trade barriers, and produce a comprehensive implementation plan within 180 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 12433

Impact dates

Sep 7, 2010
Export Promotion Cabinet comprehensive plan to President due

Key directives

Establish Export Promotion Cabinet with 14 specified members plus additional presidential designees
Develop programs to enhance export assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises
Increase availability of Export-Import Bank credit to SMEs
Promote balanced global growth through G20 Financial Ministers' process
Improve market access by opening new markets, reducing trade barriers, enforcing trade agreements
Develop framework for promoting services trade
Ensure U.S. Government-led trade missions effectively promote exports
Coordinate commercial advocacy through Commerce Department Advocacy Center
Submit comprehensive NEI implementation plan to President within 180 days
Report implementation progress annually to Congress via TPCC chairman

Timeline

Immediate

Export Promotion Cabinet established with designated members
NEI formally launched as Administration initiative

Near term (90d)

Development of SME export assistance programs
Coordination with Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee begins
Steps to increase Export-Import Bank credit availability

Long term

Comprehensive plan due by August 2010
Five-year goal to double exports
Annual reporting to Congress on implementation
Ongoing trade barrier reduction through G20 and bilateral mechanisms

Risks & tensions

Goal of doubling exports in 5 years is aspirational without enforcement mechanism; EO explicitly states no private right of action (Sec. 5(c))
Implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' may limit program scale (Sec. 5(b))
Coordination burden across 14+ agencies with potentially competing interests
Macroeconomic rebalancing via G20 depends on international cooperation, not unilateral U.S. action
Vague on metrics for success beyond export volume target