§4723 Market Development Cooperator Program

Summary

Creates a Market Development Cooperator Program in the International Trade Administration to help grow foreign markets for U.S. nonagricultural goods and services. The Secretary of Commerce can make contracts with groups like nonprofit industry organizations, trade associations, state trade departments and their regional groups (including centers for international trade development), or private firms if no other group represents an industry. Costs must be shared fairly among the Department of Commerce, the cooperator, and sometimes foreign businesses. Commerce will cover direct costs and the cooperator will cover indirect costs. Cooperators carry out activities with the Secretary’s approval and help. As part of the program, the Secretary must set up a partnership that lets cooperators detail people to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service for at least 1 year and no more than 2 years, with the Secretary’s approval. Those people do duties the Secretary assigns. They are not treated as U.S. employees under Office of Personnel Management rules, though the Secretary of State may decide if certain State Department laws (including section 2669(f) of title 22) apply when they serve abroad. Participants must have proven expertise in at least 2 of these areas: marketing, market research, or computer databases. Cooperators pay the person’s salary and benefits (like health care and life insurance); the Secretary of Commerce pays travel and housing. Contracts can only be made to the extent money is provided in appropriations Acts for that fiscal year.