Engineering Inc. - September/October 2016 - 33

institutional and social challenges facing countries in Latin America and l According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, exports of architectural and engineering serthe Caribbean and has approved more than vices by U.S. firms totaled $12.34 billion in 2014, the most recent year for which the bureau $251 billion in loans for has statistics. That compares with $12.87 billion in 2013 and $13.41 billion in 2012. projects in key sectors l U.S. Trade and Development Agency projects have helped generate more than $2.2 billion in such as transportation, engineering services contracts, supporting high-value jobs for more than 60 companies in energy, education, health, the U.S. water and sanitation, with l In the last 10 years, the Export-Import Bank of the United States has supported the export of an emphasis on poverty about $10 billion in U.S. engineering services. reduction, according to John Ferriter, lead communications specialist in the IDB's office of external relations. Historically, more than one-quarter of IDB lending has been in infrastructure, resulting in billions of dollars of contract awards to engineering firms based in most-if not all-of the bank's 48 member countries. "Every year, IDB loans and technical cooperation grants generate more than 20,000 contracts for the supply of goods, services and civil works related to development Office of the U.S. Trade "Whether through the World Trade Representative (USTR) projects in Latin America and the Organization or our bilateral and regional Caribbean," Ferriter says. "Contracts are USTR handles the development and trade agreements, we obtain commitments open to businesses, organizations and coordination of U.S. international trade, from other countries that ensure they treat experts from the IDB member countries." commodity and direct investment policy. U.S. firms no less favorably than they IDB doesn't manage the purchases Managed by the U.S. Trade Representatreat domestic firms, or firms from other and contracts derived from tive-who serves as a memcountries," Nissen says. "We also negotiate the projects it finances- ber of the Cabinet as the specific government-procurement rules project implementation principal trade adviser, and obligations." and administration are the negotiator and spokesperson Among the recent highlights of U.S. responsibility of borrowers. on trade issues-the agency trade policy as it pertains to the engineerHowever, IDB does review oversees negotiations with ing industry, the U.S. successfully chalprocurement and contracting other countries. Through an lenged the European Union's $18 billion to ensure compliance with interagency structure, USTR in Airbus subsidies. When the EU claimed its policies and procedures, coordinates trade policy, compliance without withdrawing its Ferriter says. resolves disagreements and subsidies, the U.S. initiated a compliance Loans from the bank frames issues for executive proceeding, which is still underway. A suc"We fund pilot are used to finance the decision. cessful resolution could potentially deliver construction, expansion and projects, which USTR's main role in assist- benefits to American firms by creating a demonstrate a renovation of a number of ing U.S. engineering firms more level playing field. facilities, such as hospitals, USTR does not provide technical U.S. company's seeking international work is schools, office buildings, to obtain and enforce legally assistance, business-promotion services equipment or factories, water and sewerage binding commitments for or other programs to help individual technology in an nondiscriminatory access systems, irrigation systems companies, Nissen says. ■ overseas setting." to other countries' markets, and power plants. Projects THOMAS HARDY also include roads, airports, says Todd Nissen, director of Bob Violino is a business and technology U.S. TRADE AND railways and other transit services trade negotiations at writer based in Massapequa Park, DEVELOPMENT AGENCY systems. USTR. New York. International Activity by the Numbers 2.2 $ SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 ENGINEERING INC. 33 d1sk/THINKSTOCK billion in engineering services contracts have been generated with assistance from the USTDA

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