Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) formulates and carries out U.S. foreign economic policy, integrating U.S. economic interests with our foreign policy goals so that U.S. firms and investors can compete on an equal basis with their counterparts overseas. It implements American economic policy in cooperation with U.S. companies, U.S. Government agencies, and other organizations. Under the direction of Assistant Secretary E. Anthony Wayne, the bureau negotiates agreements with foreign governments and advances U.S. positions in such international organizations as the International Monetary Fund or World Trade Organization. EB officers:

• Work with the World Trade Organization to establish fair rules of international trade
• Lead U.S. negotiations on bilateral civil aviation treaties
• Negotiate bilateral and regional investment treaties in partnership with USTR
• Combat bribery in international commerce;
• Negotiate debt relief with debtor countries;
• Coordinate issues related to economic sanctions; and
• Foster energy security.

The EB Bureau's organizational structure consists of five units, each headed by a Deputy Assistant Secretary:

• Energy, Sanctions and Commodities (EB/ESC);
• International Communications and Information Policy (EB/CIP);
• International Finance and Development (EB/IFD);
• Trade Policy and Programs (EB/TPP);
• Transportation Affairs (EB/TRA).

Civil and Foreign Service officers and support staff bring a wide variety of educational and private sector backgrounds to offices in Washington, DC. They develop U.S. policy, administer programs, negotiate, and represent the Department before Congress, U.S. business and industry, and international organizations. Overseas, embassy economic officers lay the groundwork for negotiations, report on economic trends and the commercial climate, and maintain constant contact with foreign governments to represent U.S. interests.