The report is only a beginning. We plan to hold little “White House
Conferences” in all parts of the country starting next week so that the
export expansion story can be brought home to Americans everywhere.
May I thank you once again for your cooperation and support. The
enthusiastic reports we have been receiving from members of the
Conference on the way in which it was conducted and the results which
have been achieved are indeed gratifying.
We will now move forward promptly to develop appropriate action programs.
I am looking forward to your continued cooperation in this most
important task.
Attachment
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT ON THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
ON EXPORT EXPANSION1
It is remarkable that so much was accomplished in the two short days
devoted to the White House Conference on Export Expansion. The
employment of the committee technique enabled the Conference to
produce a wide variety of significant recommendations. It is a
tribute to the caliber of the conferees that these complex problems
were so ably pre-sented for our consideration. Although the
Conference participants represented many diverse interests and
deliberated in eleven different groups, their conclusions blend and
complement one another.
While each Committee recognized and carried forward its individual
task, reference was made to policies under consideration by other
Committees when it was felt their relationship was significant. I
should like to mention the most important of these.
Several Committees strongly urged that an export tax incentive based
upon increases in exports is of the highest priority in the Export
Expansion Program. The Committee on “Tax Policies and Export
Expansion” developed specific recommendations in this regard. Some
members
[Page 618]
of the Labor
Committee felt we should concentrate on the elimination of the tax
subsidies of other countries instead of recommending a U.S. tax
incentive program, but this represented the view of a small
minority.
While one Committee had responsibility for studying commercial
representation overseas, several Committees addressed themselves to
this subject.
It was the general view that since the Department of Commerce has
primary responsibility for trade promotion, it should also have
responsibility for the selection, training, appointment, and
assignment of all Commercial Officers. One Committee bluntly stated
that the Export Expansion Program would only be a success if the
Department of Commerce had direct control over all commercial
programs overseas. Each of these Committees recognized that the
Ambassador, as the President’s representative for all overseas
programs, would be in charge in the field.
Several Committees noted the need for more active participation in
commercial work by Ambassadors themselves. They also urged more
intimate relationships with the U.S. business community, greater
assist-ance and support, and suggested means for bringing this
about.
Another topic of general interest concerned U.S. trade with the
Soviet bloc. The views of a number of Committees were reflected in
the recommendation that the U.S. re-examine the extent to which
there might be an expansion of trade with the bloc in the light of
the changing world situation.
Several of the Committees urged the strengthening of the Department
of Commerce’s information services. They noted the importance of
attacking non-tariff barriers as well as seeking tariff reductions
in the forthcoming Geneva negotiations. A number of Committees also
recommended equalization of ocean freight rates and simplification
of AID procurement policies. It was
felt that present AID regulations
distort normal commercial practices and divert business from U.S.
exports.
Three Committees also called attention to the beneficial relationship
between foreign investment and U.S. exports. A number of the
Committees discussed ways and means of achieving an early and rapid
increase in U.S. exports. It was the consensus that a strong attack
on this problem must be directed on a person-to-person basis to
non-exporters. It was recommended that the Department of Commerce
and its National and Regional Export Expansion Councils mobilize
their resources to maximize this personal effort.
[Here follows a long summary of the most significant findings and
recommendations.]
