State of the Union Address: How Many Different Government Agencies Actually Deal With Exports?

In describing the need for a more efficient federal government in the State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress this week, President Obama said "there are 12 different agencies that deal with exports."

How did the White House come up with this number?

Depending on how one counts, there are more than 12 agencies that "deal with exports." The total number depends on how one defines "agency" and "deal with exports."

The Washington Post's SOTU Fact Checker columnist stated that:

The government's Export.gov lists 11 federal agencies that deal with exports: the Energy Department, Export-Import Bank, International Trade Association, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Small Business Administration, the State Department, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Trade Representative.

While the U.S. Trade Representative, a cabinet level position, handles policy-related issues associated with free trade agreements and other issues that impact exports, they do not have a day to day role in regulating export activities. Similarly, the Trade and Development Agency and U.S. Agency for International Development are involved in overseas programs that lead to U.S. companies exporting goods and services. Should the Small Business Administration qualify as dealing with exports?

In reviewing USA.Gov's list of federal agencies one can come up with more than 12 agencies that "deal with exports" on a regulatory and policy level. Here is the list that I came up with. Can you think of any others? Please leave your comments below.

U.S. Agencies Dealing With U.S. Exports

--Direct Involvement With and Regulation of U.S. Exports

1. Bureau of Industry and Security (Department of Commerce)

2. Census Bureau (Commerce) (EEI/AES filings)

3. Office of Foreign Assets Control (Treasury)

4. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (State)

5. Defense Technology Security Administration (Defense)

6. Customs and Border Protection (DHS)

7. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS)

8. Food and Drug Administration (HHS)

9. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Independent)

10. Food Safety Inspection Service (Agriculture)

11. Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (Agriculture)

12. National Nuclear Security Administration (Energy)

13. Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Independent)

14. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Defense)

15. Drug Enforcement Agency (Justice)

16. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Justice/Treasury)

17. Fish and Wildlife Service (Interior)

18. Environmental Protection Agency (Independent)

19. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Commerce)

20. National Security Agency (Defense) (Encryption issues)


--Other U.S. Agencies Involved With Export-Related Matters

• U.S. Trade Representative (Executive Office of the President)

• U.S. Trade and Development Agency (Independent)

• Agriculture Marketing Service (Agriculture)

• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (Homeland Security) (now requires export control certification on I-129 form.

Should the Federal Maritime Commission qualify? How about the National Security Council, which is currently involved with export control reform efforts? The U.S. International Trade Commission primarily deals only with imports, although they often conduct studies on export issues.

Update: Thanks to a reader for mentioning DSCA, which deals with government to government transfers of defense articles under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Update 2: Thanks to the comments and other input received, I have updated the list to reflect several additional agencies.