A robust and secure U.S. economy that creates new American jobs depends on strong economic growth and promoting free, fair, and reciprocal trade relationships with countries around the world. American prosperity will also advance when we maintain and deepen relationships, encourage strong demand for U.S. exports in emerging and developing countries, and expand U.S. trade and investment opportunities in the global marketplace. We will also strengthen property rights and contract enforcement, competition policies, sound commercial law, and the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights around the world. International institutions must do more to promote economic rules that enhance free, fair, and reciprocal trade and set transparent standards to create enabling environments for investment, innovation, and cooperation in science and technology and health. American prosperity also requires internationally agreed norms for access and operations in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including on the high seas and outer space. Promoting entrepreneurship creates jobs and openings for U.S. businesses worldwide, strengthening global political stability and economic prosperity. In partnership with the Department of Commerce, the Department will expand its advocacy for U.S. commercial and defense products and services abroad, as well as promote foreign direct investment to the United States. The Department also collaborates with the Department of Commerce to advocate for U.S. companies bidding on foreign government tenders, to alert U.S. companies to new market opportunities, and to encourage investment in the United States. The Department leads negotiations on civil air transport agreements and telecommunications agreements, co-leads negotiations on investment treaties, produces annual country Investment Climate Statements, and participates in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Both the Department and USAID participate in interagency teams led by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to develop and vet U.S. trade policy positions including revising and negotiating new trade agreements. The Department of State, with other agencies, actively negotiates and promotes the regulatory and policy environment that sustains and strengthens a dynamic and open digital economy. Many of USAID’s assistance programs focus on supporting the creation of business friendly regulatory regimes around the world. The Department’s work on international environmental, oceans, science, health, and outer space supports hundreds of billions of dollars of economic activity in those sectors through efforts to negotiate rights and promote internationally agreed norms. Our engagement through international institutions and fora promotes agreement on technical standards and policies that drive the information technology and communications sectors. Our work with U.S. and foreign educational, non-profit, and private sectors promotes U.S. educational exports, and science fellows and science envoy programs enhance our science and technology outreach. Strategies for Achieving the Objective The Department will advocate on behalf of American workers by seeking to lower foreign trade and investment barriers and to attract new job-producing investment and legitimate foreign visitors and students to the United States. Through diplomacy. 

RENEW AMERICA’S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION