Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§4723 Market Development Cooperator Program

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - EXPORT ENHANCEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - EXPORT PROMOTION › § 4723

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Commerce can set up a Market Development Cooperator Program inside the International Trade Administration to grow foreign markets for U.S. nonagricultural goods and services. The Department will make contracts with cooperators — nonprofit industry groups, trade associations, State trade offices and their regional groups, or private firms when no other group represents an industry — to carry out the work. Costs are shared among the Department of Commerce, the cooperator, and sometimes foreign businesses. Commerce will support direct costs and the cooperator will support indirect costs. Cooperators do the activities with Commerce’s approval and help. Under the program, cooperators may detail people to the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service for not less than 1 year and not more than 2 years to help the Commercial Service. These people must have proven skill in at least 2 of: marketing, market research, and computer databases. They are not treated as U.S. employees under laws run by the Office of Personnel Management, except the Secretary of State may decide whether section 2669(f) of title 22 or other laws the Secretary of State runs apply abroad. The cooperator pays salary and benefits; Commerce pays travel and housing. Contracts can only be made when funds are provided in appropriations Acts.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §4723

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In order to promote further the exportation of goods and services from the United States, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to establish, in the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, a Market Development Cooperator Program. The purpose of the program is to develop, maintain, and expand foreign markets for nonagricultural goods and services produced in the United States.

(b)The Secretary of Commerce shall carry out the Market Development Cooperator Program by entering into contracts with—

(1)nonprofit industry organizations,

(2)trade associations,

(3)State departments of trade and their regional associations, including centers for international trade development, and

(4)private industry firms or groups of firms in cases where no entity described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) represents that industry,(in this section referred to as “cooperators”) to engage in activities in order to carry out the purpose of the Market Development Cooperator Program set forth in subsection (a). The costs of activities under such a contract shall be shared equitably among the Department of Commerce, the cooperator involved, and, whenever appropriate, foreign businesses. The Department of Commerce shall undertake to support direct costs of activities under such a contract, and the cooperator shall undertake to support indirect costs of such activities. Activities under such a contract shall be carried out by the cooperator with the approval and assistance of the Secretary.

(c)(1)(A)As part of the Market Development Cooperator Program established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce shall establish a partnership program with cooperators under which a cooperator may detail individuals, subject to the approval of the Secretary, to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service for a period of not less than 1 year or more than 2 years to supplement the Commercial Service.

(B)Any individual detailed to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service under this subsection shall be responsible for such duties as the Secretary may prescribe in order to carry out the purpose of the Market Development Cooperator Program set forth in subsection (a).

(C)Individuals detailed to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service under this subsection shall not be considered to be employees of the United States for the purposes of any law administered by the Office of Personnel Management, except that the Secretary of State may determine the applicability to such individuals of section 2669(f) of title 22 and of any other law administered by the Secretary of State concerning the detail of such individuals abroad.

(2)In order to qualify for the program established under this subsection, individuals shall have demonstrated expertise in the international business arena in at least 2 of the following areas: marketing, market research, and computer data bases.

(3)(A)The cooperator who details an individual to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service under this subsection shall be responsible for that individual’s salary and related expenses, including health care, life insurance, and other noncash benefits, if any, normally paid by such cooperator.

(B)The Secretary of Commerce shall pay transportation and housing costs for each individual participating in the program established under this subsection.

(d)Contracts may be entered into under this section in a fiscal year only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 4723

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73