[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1704 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1704
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 8, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To foster commercial relations with foreign countries and support
United States economic and business interests abroad in the conduct of
foreign policy, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Championing American Business
Through Diplomacy Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the 2017 National Security Strategy of the
United States of America, ``Retaining our position as the
world's preeminent economic actor strengthens our ability to
use the tools of economic diplomacy for the good of Americans
and others.''.
(2) A November 7, 2018, cable from Secretary of State
Michael R. Pompeo to all diplomatic and consular posts--
``Boosting Commercial Diplomacy Around the World''--stated that
``helping American companies is a foreign policy priority * *
*. Promoting broad-based, responsible, and sustainable economic
growth helps to stabilize regions and creates new and growing
markets for U.S. companies. A transparent and level playing
field for U.S. investment in these countries counters real and
growing challenges such as China's Belt and Road initiative.''.
(3) In the January-February 2019 issue of The Foreign
Service Journal, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, the President
of the American Foreign Service Association, wrote ``Foreign
Service support for American business * * * is a major reason
why the U.S. Foreign Service was created.''.
SEC. 3. ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Subsection (c) of section 1 of the State Department Basic
Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new
paragraph:
``(3) Assistant secretary for economic and business
matters.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to the numerical
limitation specified in paragraph (1), there is
authorized to be established in the Department of State
an Assistant Secretary of State who shall be
responsible to the Secretary of State for matters
pertaining to international economics and business
matters in the conduct of foreign policy.
``(B) Matters contemplated.--The matters referred
to in subparagraph (A) include the following:
``(i) International trade and investment
policy.
``(ii) International finance, economic
development, and debt policy.
``(iii) Economic sanctions and combating
terrorist financing.
``(iv) International transportation policy.
``(v) Support for United States businesses.
``(vi) Economic policy analysis and private
sector outreach.
``(vii) International data privacy and
innovation policies.
``(viii) Such other related duties as the
Secretary may from time to time designate.''.
SEC. 4. CHIEF OF MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES.
Section 207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Promotion of United States Economic Interests.--Each chief of
mission to a foreign country shall have as a principal duty the
promotion of United States economic and commercial interests in such
country.''.
SEC. 5. INCREASED TRAINING IN ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY.
Section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Economic and Commercial Diplomacy.--The Secretary of State,
with the assistance of other relevant officials and the private sector,
shall establish as part of the standard training provided for economic
and commercial officers of the Foreign Service, chiefs of mission, and
deputy chiefs of mission, training on matters related to economic and
commercial diplomacy, with particular attention to market access and
other elements of an enabling framework for United States businesses,
commercial advocacy, and United States foreign economic policy, in
addition to awareness about the support of the United States Government
available to United States businesses, including support provided by
the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Export-
Import Bank of the United States, the Millennium Challenge Corporation,
the Trade and Development Agency, the Department of the Treasury, the
United States Agency for International Development, and the United
States International Development Finance Corporation.''.
SEC. 6. REPORT FROM EACH MISSION ON MATTERS OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the chief of mission at
each bilateral diplomatic mission of the United States and the Director
of the American Institute in Taiwan shall submit to the Secretary of
State the following:
(1) Data and other information regarding actions taken by
each such mission or Institute during the previous year to
foster commercial relations and safeguard United States
economic and business interests in the country or region in
which each such chief of mission and the Director serves.
(2) Each such mission's and Institute's anticipated
economic and commercial priorities for the coming year.
(b) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of State, after receiving
the information required under subsection (a), shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report, disaggregated by
country or region, on activities and initiatives, including with
appropriate examples, to create an enabling environment and otherwise
promote United States economic and business interests in each such
country or region, as well as information about significant foreign
competition to United States businesses in the relevant country or
region, including state-directed investments by foreign governments and
United States strategic competitors in such country or region.
SEC. 7. REPORT ON UNIFIED INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT AND COUNTRY
COMMERCIAL GUIDE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State and the Secretary of
Commerce shall jointly produce and make publicly available on a United
States Government internet website an annual country- and region-
specific report regarding commercial relations with foreign countries
and regions and safeguarding United States economic and business
interests abroad, including with regard to United States exports and
investments, including by small- and medium-size enterprises.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--Each report required under subsection
(a) shall include the following with respect to each country or region
covered by each such report:
(1) Information about doing business in each country or
region.
(2) Background information about each country's or region's
political environment.
(3) Information about selling United States products and
services in each country or region.
(4) Leading sectors for United States exports and
investment in each country or region.
(5) Information about trade regulations, customs, and
standards in each country or region, such as--
(A) information on import tariffs; and
(B) documentation about which United States
businesses should be aware when exporting, including
any prohibited items or temporary entry procedures.
(6) Investment climate statements describing each country's
or region's openness to foreign investments, such as
information relating to each country's or region's--
(A) investment policies;
(B) market barriers;
(C) business risks;
(D) legal and regulatory system, including dispute
resolution;
(E) level of public and private sector corruption;
(F) level of political violence and instability;
(G) adherence to internationally recognized core
labor standards; and
(H) protection of property rights.
(7) Information about trade and project financing in each
country or region, such as each country's or region's--
(A) banking and financial system, and how United
States businesses typically get paid;
(B) foreign exchange controls; and
(C) important sources of funding for project
financing.
(8) Relevant business travel information and business
customs in each country or region.
(9) Information about services and personnel of the
diplomatic mission of the United States available to United
States businesses to support their activities in each country
or region.
(10) Any significant trade or commercial agreement that
exists between the United States and each country or region.
(11) A point of contact at the diplomatic or consular
mission of the United States in each country or region for
United States businesses.
SEC. 8. IMPROVING AWARENESS OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TOOLS AND
SERVICES TO SUPPORT UNITED STATES BUSINESSES OVERSEAS.
The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall take
actions to improve United States businesses' awareness of United States
Government tools and services to assist such businesses overseas,
especially small and medium-sized enterprises, including by
coordinating with State trade agencies, Export Assistance Centers, and
Small Businesses Development Centers.
SEC. 9. NEGOTIATIONS TO ESTABLISH INTERNATIONAL QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT STANDARDS.
(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Secretary of
State, and in coordination with other relevant Federal agency heads,
shall initiate and pursue negotiations with countries to establish
international standards for government-supported quality infrastructure
investment overseas, including with respect to the following:
(1) Respect for the sovereignty of countries in which
infrastructure investments are made.
(2) Anti-corruption.
(3) Fiscal and debt sustainability.
(4) Environmental, social and governance safeguards.
(5) Local labor.
(6) Transparency.
(b) Report on Progress of Negotiations.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall provide a
briefing to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on
the progress of any negotiations described in subsection (a).
SEC. 10. REPORT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
report on United States economic and commercial diplomacy.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required under subsection
(a) shall include an assessment of the following:
(1) What is known about the effectiveness of United States
economic and commercial diplomacy in influencing foreign
governments and supporting United States businesses abroad.
(2) Coordination between the Department of State and the
Department of Commerce with respect to United States economic
and commercial diplomacy.
(3) The effectiveness of training provided pursuant to
subsection (d) of section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of
1980 (as added by section 4 of this Act) on matters relating to
economic and commercial diplomacy.
(4) The status and effectiveness of actions taken by the
Secretary of State under section 7 of this Act regarding
commercial relations with foreign countries and regions and
safeguarding United States economic and business interests
abroad.
(5) Recommendations to improve United States economic and
commercial diplomacy.
Passed the House of Representatives May 7, 2019.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.