What is the U.S. International Trade Administration?

The U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) is an office within the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC).

In short, the ITA’s mission is to enhance U.S. prosperity by strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and enforcing trade laws and agreements.

To this end, the International Trade Administration provides export promotion services, works to enforce and ensure compliance with trade laws and agreements, administers trade remedies such as antidumping and countervailing duties, and provides analytical support for ongoing trade negotiations.

According to a U.S. Congressional analysis, the ITA reorganized in 2013, consolidating four organizational units into three more functionally aligned units: Global Markets; Enforcement and Compliance; and Industry and Analysis.

Also, the ITA has a fourth organizational unit, the Executive and Administrative Directorate, which is responsible for providing policy leadership, IT support and administration services for the entire ITA.

ITA is funded through a combination of direct appropriations and user fees collected for certain services.

International Trade Administration

For FY 2023, according to the congressional analysis, the Administration requests $630.8 million in direct appropriations for ITA, with an additional $12.0 million to be collected in fees, for a total of $642.8 million in authorized spending.

The budget request for direct appropriations for ITA is $71.8 million (12.8%) more than the direct appropriations enacted for FY2022.

The House bill (H.R. 8256) proposes $617.9 million in direct appropriations for ITA, with an additional $12.0 million to be raised in fees, for a total of $629.9 million in authorized spending.

The proposal is $58.9 million (10.5%) more than the amount approved through FY 2022 direct appropriations, and $13.0 million less (-2.1%) than the President’s request.

Among other program-level priorities, the committee also included language regarding a Ukraine reconstruction plan and directed the Secretary of Commerce and ITA to contribute to Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction plans, specifically «to help facilitate the expansion of the U.S. economic footprint in Ukraine and increase direct engagement with Ukrainian businesses.»

Finally, the Senate-reported bill proposes $613.0 million in direct appropriations for the ITA, with an additional $12.0 million to be raised in fees, for a total of $625.0 million in authorized spending.

The proposal is $54.0 million more (9.7%) than the amount approved through direct appropriations for FY2022 and $17.8 million less (-2.8%) than the President’s budget request.