Trade, tariffs and industry

Executive Order 13534: National Export Initiative

President: Barack Obama

Mobilized cabinet agencies to expand export promotion trade finance market access and enforcement with a goal of doubling exports in five years.

Status: Completed/expired. Is Executive Order 13534 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13534 is completed or expired. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13534 do?

EO 13534 created an Export Promotion Cabinet and required an eight-agency plan for advocacy, small-business assistance, export credit, trade missions, market access and enforcement. US exports grew after the recession but did not double by the 2014 target. The initiative’s machinery evolved into later trade and commercial programs.

Administration position: The doubling figure was a policy goal, not a legal guarantee; global demand, exchange rates and private decisions also shape exports.
SignedMarch 11, 2010
GoalDouble exports over five years
Lead coordinationExport Promotion Cabinet and Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee

Before and after

Before the order

Export promotion was dispersed across agencies during a sharp post-crisis trade decline.

After the order

Agencies coordinated targets, advocacy, financing, missions and trade-barrier work.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Export Promotion CabinetDevelop and coordinate strategyHistorical structure
Commerce and partner agenciesExpand exporter assistance and advocacyContinues through later programs
Ex-Im Bank and SBASupport eligible export financeContinuing under statute

What happened next

EO 13534 launched the initiative.