Trade, tariffs and industry

Executive Order 13630: Establishment of an Interagency Task Force on Commercial Advocacy

President: Barack Obama

Created a Commerce-led task force to coordinate senior US government support for companies competing for foreign projects.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13630 still in effect? Yes. Active commercial-advocacy authority still used by the Commerce Department and its Advocacy Center.

What does Executive Order 13630 do?

EO 13630 organized a whole-of-government system for commercial advocacy. The Commerce Secretary chairs an interagency task force that prioritizes approved cases, coordinates cabinet-level engagement with foreign decision-makers and raises awareness of available help. Commerce still bases its advocacy policy on the order, while the Advocacy Center screens firms and projects for eligibility and national-interest considerations.

Administration position: Advocacy is not a guarantee of a contract or a subsidy, and Commerce screens requests for eligibility, competition, national interest and possible conflicts.
SignedDecember 6, 2012
ChairSecretary of Commerce
Operational hubCommerce Advocacy Center

Before and after

Before the order

Agencies supported exporters, but senior-level advocacy for foreign procurements was not coordinated by a standing task force.

After the order

Commerce gained a formal interagency mechanism to prioritize cases and align official engagement.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Commerce Advocacy CenterEvaluate cases and coordinate supportContinuing
Interagency task forcePrioritize cases and align agency leadershipContinuing
Eligible US firmsApply for advocacy on qualifying opportunitiesContinuing

What happened next

EO 13630 created the task force.